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Epiphone Les Paul Special
Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS
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Playability
73
Sound
65
Build
54
Value
79
Score
64
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Playability
67
Sound
67
Build
55
Value
73
Score
63
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Epiphone Les Paul Special vs Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS

Reasons to Get
Epiphone Les Paul Special over Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS

Release Year
2020 vs 2019
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
Vintage 50s vs Modern C
Great if you like to hang your thumb over the fretboard
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Pickups
P90P90 vs HSS
Vintage tone with decent versatility
Number of Frets
22 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 9.5'' (241.3mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
79 vs 73
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS over Epiphone Les Paul Special

Neck Profile
Modern C vs Vintage 50s
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Bolt-On vs Set
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Pickups
HSS vs P90P90
High output with beautiful cleans and tone versatility
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
9.5'' (241.3mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings

Other Key Differences
Epiphone Les Paul Special vs Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS

Bridge Pickup
P-90 PRO Soap Bar vs Standard Humbucking
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
P-90 PRO Soap Bar vs Standard Single-Coil Strat
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Mahogany vs Poplar
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Mahogany vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Headstock
3-3 vs 6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Ivory Tusq vs Synthetic Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Epiphone Les Paul Special vs Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS

Fretboard Wood
Laurel
Same Fretboard Wood
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Tone Knobs
2
Same tone control
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut

Common Weaknesses

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Locking Tuners
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Epiphone Les Paul Special is probably the better product overall with its final score of 64 compared to the Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS's 63 score, although not by a lot.

The Epiphone Les Paul Special wins when it comes to playability, value for the money. On the other hand, the Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS has the upper hand when it comes to sound, build quality.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS is the better choice.

The Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Epiphone Les Paul Special meets only 3. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.

New Player Friendliness

Epiphone Les Paul Special
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable neck
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Epiphone Les Paul Special Overview

  • From Epiphone's 2020 Original Collection series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany single neck
  • Indian Laurel fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: P-90 PRO Soap Bar (P90/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Lightning Bar Wrap Around bridge
  • Vintage 50s Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Vintage style Deluxe Tuners with Ivory Buttons tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS Overview

  • From Fender Squier's 2019 Affinity Series series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar body
  • Maple neck
  • Indian Laurel fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Standard Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Standard Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Standard Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo bridge
  • Modern C Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Standard Die-Cast tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in Both

Laurel wood pattern used for guitar building
Laurel

There are many types of Laurel, but East Indian is the most common for guitar building. Its color can vary from dark to light brown with black lines. Many people find its tonality similar to Rosewood, which favors the warmer frequencies. Find out more about Laurel.

Woods Used in the Epiphone Les Paul Special

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

Woods Used in the Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Poplar wood pattern used for guitar building
Poplar

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Poplar is a cheaper and heavier alternative to Alder wood. It terms of tone, it emphasizes the low-end and has cutting mids. It's relatively soft compared to most body woods. Find out more about Poplar.

Winner: Epiphone Les Paul Special.

Pickup Configuration

The Epiphone Les Paul Special has an P90P90 configuration while the Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS has HSS pickups.

P90P90 gives you two P90s for a crunchy vintage tone. The tone sits somewhere in the middle between typical single-coils and humbuckers. They also produce less hum than single-coils, but they don't cancel it completely like humbuckers.

On the other hand, HSS provides a great balance if you like to play with a lot of distortion, but also love to use clean tones. You'll get a lot of output at the bridge position, but you'll be able to play bright clean tones at the other positions.

Pickups Quality

The Epiphone Les Paul Special has pickups from a more specialized brand than the Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS. Its pickups should simply give you a better, fuller sound, although it all depends on what type of music you're going to play. We recommend these pickups for Blues and similar genres.

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Winner: Epiphone Les Paul Special.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

The Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS gives you 5 switch options while the Epiphone Les Paul Special gives you 3. This means that the Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Neither of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility.

Epiphone Les Paul Special pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Epiphone Les Paul Special's switch options
Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS's switch options

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Epiphone Les Paul Special
Pickups 70
Sustain 65
Versatility 53
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 65
Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS
Pickups 60
Sustain 70
Versatility 72
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 67

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Epiphone Les Paul Special compares to the Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in China.

China has a bad reputation when it comes to building quality. However, times have changed and now respectable brands use China's cheap labor to build good instruments for a lower price. Don't discount a guitar only because it was built in China, but also expect more quality from countries like Korea.

Winner: Tie

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

The Epiphone Les Paul Special has a Ivory Tusq nut. Ivory used to be considered the best material for guitar nuts due to its beauty, durability, and the rich harmonics and sustain you could get from a guitar with it. However, the way to obtain it is simply unethical. Enter TUSQ ivory nuts, which are made synthetically to imitate ivory. Technically, it's better than ivory because it is consistent piece-to-piece, while natural materials can vary a lot, even if they're made from the same.

On the other hand, the Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS comes with a Synthetic Bone nut. Bone is the best natural material for guitar nuts. However, its tonal properties can be inconsistent. That's the problem that synthetic bone fixes. This is much better than using a plastic nut because the nut is more slippery—which helps with tuning stability—, and it gives your open strings rich harmonics.

Winner: Tie.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

The Epiphone Les Paul Special's brige is a Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

On the other hand, the Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS's is a Tremolo. Tremolo bridges give you more versatility than fixed bridges. They let you perform the intense vibrato effects that would be impossible with a fixed bridge. However, since the bridge floats and there's less contact with the body, the strings lose sustain slightly faster. They can also be a bit harder to restring and set up correctly than fixed bridges.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Epiphone Les Paul Special's are Vintage style Deluxe Tuners with Ivory Buttons while the Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS's are Standard Die-Cast

Winner: Tie.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

The Epiphone Les Paul Special has a Set neck joint. This neck is tightly glued to the body. They give you the least versatility because you can't swap them for a neck that fits your hand better if you want to, unlike bolt-on necks. Some people think this gives more resonance and sustain, but there's no real difference if the bolt-on joint is well built.

On the other hand, the Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS comes with Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

Winner: Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Epiphone Les Paul Special
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Epiphone Les Paul Special
Quality of materials 56
Features 50
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 54
Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS
Quality of materials 56
Features 55
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 55

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Epiphone Les Paul Special Nut Width
Epiphone Les Paul Special Nut Width
Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS Nut Width
Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Epiphone Les Paul Special has the wider nut with 43mm (1.693'') vs 42mm (1.654''). This is a 1mm (0.039'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Epiphone Les Paul Special, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Epiphone Les Paul Special's Scale Length
Epiphone Les Paul Special's Scale Length
Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS's Scale Length
Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS's Scale Length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

The Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS has the longest scale: 25.5". The Epiphone Les Paul Special is only 24.75" long. This is a 0.75'' (19.1mm) scale length difference.

This longer scale means that the strings need more tension to get in tune. This is good if you want to avoid fret buzz, which can happen when the strings are too loose and touch the frets while vibrating. This is especially important when playing in lower tunings. This will also let you reduce the gap between fretboard and strings (low action) to make them easier to press down. However, this higher tension will also make it harder to perform bends and vibratos as the strings will feel stiffer.

This also means that the frets have a longer separation between each other, so this will make it harder for people with smaller hands when playing some chord positions.

Another characteristic of a longer scale is that it makes the guitar sound 'snappier' or brighter. This is due to the extra separation between harmonics and overtones produced by the tension. This influences tone more than any other factor (except the pickups).

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Epiphone Les Paul Special Neck Profile
Epiphone Les Paul Special's neck profile
Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS Neck Profile
Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

In this case, both have different neck shapes:

The Epiphone Les Paul Special has a V type of neck. This neck shape was more common during Fender's early years. Some people like it because they use their thumb over the edge of the fretboard to press the lower strings. It's rather thicker than most modern necks, so it's not usually used for playing fast solos.

The Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS, on the other hand, has a C neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

Fretboard Radius

Epiphone Les Paul Special Fingerboard Radius
Epiphone Les Paul Special's Fingerboard radius
Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS Fingerboard Radius
Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS's Fingerboard radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

In this case, the Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Epiphone Les Paul Special's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the Epiphone Les Paul Special.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Epiphone Les Paul Special favors large hands more than the Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS.

Epiphone Les Paul Special:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Epiphone Les Paul Special and Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS Frets Size
Both have a similar Medium Jumbo fret size

Both have a Medium Jumbo fret size. These are slightly shorter than full Jumbo frets, so you'll still feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings. However, they interfere less with your fretting hand than medium-size frets. This is a good size if you like easy-to-press frets, but would still like to feel a bit of the fretboard when playing.

Final Playability Scores

Epiphone Les Paul Special
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 60
Playability 73
Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS
Bending & Vibrato Ease 60
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 60
Playability 67

Specs Side-by-Side

Epiphone Les Paul Special vs Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS
General Epiphone Les Paul Special Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS
Brand: Epiphone Fender Squier
Year: 2020 2019
Configuration: P90P90 HSS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China China
Series: Original Collection Affinity Series
Colors: Yellow White, Black, Green, Gray
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Poplar
Bridge: Lightning Bar Wrap Around 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Bolt-On
Tuners: Vintage style Deluxe Tuners with Ivory Buttons Standard Die-Cast
Fretboard: Indian Laurel Indian Laurel
Neck Material: Mahogany single Maple
Decoration: Pearloid Dot Pearloid Dot
Scale Size: 24.75" 25.5"
Shape: Vintage 50s Modern C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.88'' (22.4mm) - 12th Fret: 0.96'' (24.4mm) 1st Fret: - 12th Fret:
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 21 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 9.5"
Nut: Ivory Tusq Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: P-90 PRO Soap Bar (P90 / Passive) Standard Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Standard Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: P-90 PRO Soap Bar (P90 / Passive) Standard Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Bell Bell
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 2 1
Tone Controls: 2 2