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Fender Squier Affinity Series Starcaster
Ibanez AZES31
VS
Playability
72
Sound
65
Build
54
Value
74
Score
64
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Playability
72
Sound
66
Build
55
Value
74
Score
64
FIND IT ON:
Amazon logoSweetwater logo
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Squier Affinity Series Starcaster vs Ibanez AZES31

Reasons to Get
Squier Affinity Series Starcaster over Ibanez AZES31

Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Narrow Tall vs Medium
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Body Type
Semi-Hollow vs Solid Body
Lighter and allows more gain than a hollowbody
Pickups
HH vs SSS
High output without hum
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 25'' (635mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
9.5'' (241.3mm) vs 9.843'' (250mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings

Reasons to Get
Ibanez AZES31 over Fender Squier Affinity Series Starcaster

Release Year
2021 vs 2019
From a more recent year
Type of Frets
Medium vs Narrow Tall
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickup Mods
Series Split vs None
Connects pickups in series to imitate a humbucker
Body Type
Solid Body vs Semi-Hollow
Feedback free
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Pickups
SSS vs HH
Beautiful cleans and good tone versatility
Scale Length
25'' (635mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Fretboard Radius
9.843'' (250mm) vs 9.5'' (241.3mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend

Other Key Differences
Squier Affinity Series Starcaster vs Ibanez AZES31

Bridge Pickup
Standard Humbucking vs Essentials
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Standard Humbucking vs Essentials
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Maple vs Poplar
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Maple vs Jatoba
Different Fretboard Wood

Shared Features
Squier Affinity Series Starcaster vs Ibanez AZES31

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Plastic
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Locking Tuners
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Nut
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood
  • 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 both instruments scored 64 out of 100, which makes them similar in terms of quality.

The Ibanez AZES31 wins when it comes to sound, build quality. On the other hand, the Fender Squier Affinity Series Starcaster has the upper hand when it comes to.

If you got small hands, none of these instruments will make a big difference when it comes to comfortability.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

Both meet 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. 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. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

New Player Friendliness

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

New Player Friendliness

Ibanez AZES31
  • 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.

Fender Squier Affinity Series Starcaster Overview

  • From Fender Squier's 2019 Affinity Series series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • Laminated Maple body
  • Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Standard Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Standard Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • 6-Saddle Adjustable Bridge Fixed bridge
  • Modern C Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Narrow Tall frets
  • Die-Cast tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Ibanez AZES31 Overview

  • From Ibanez's 2021 AZES series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25"'' scale
  • 9.843" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar body
  • Maple neck
  • Jatoba fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Essentials (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Essentials (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Essentials (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • F106 w/ Comfort round Steel saddles bridge
  • AZES Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium frets
  • Ibanez machine heads w/ Split shaft 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

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple

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.

Woods Used in the Ibanez AZES31

Jatoba wood pattern used for guitar building
Jatoba
Poplar wood pattern used for guitar building
Poplar

Jatoba is a hard and dense wood that emphasizes the mid-lows, giving a fuller, more round sound than, for example, Mahogany. However, it also has a lot of clarity in the top end. Find out more about Jatoba.

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: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

The Fender Squier Affinity Series Starcaster has an HH configuration while the Ibanez AZES31 has SSS pickups.

Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. Humbuckers also get rid of the hum noise that plague single-coil pickups. They can work out for almost any genre going from Djent to even Jazz.

On the other hand, SSS is perfect for players who like to play clean. The definition you get between notes and the crispiness is unmatched by most other configurations. You can still use it for distortion, but you won't get the same kind of output and power compared to a humbucker, and the hum they produce also makes them less adequate for high gain.

Pickups Quality

The Ibanez AZES31 pickups from a more specialized brand than the Fender Squier Affinity Series Starcaster. Its pickups should give you a fuller, richer sound, although it all depends on what type of music you're going to play. We recommend these pickups for Funk 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: Ibanez AZES31.

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 Ibanez AZES31 gives you 5 switch options while the Fender Squier Affinity Series Starcaster gives you 3. This means that the Ibanez AZES31 gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Only the Ibanez AZES31 comes with some kind of pickup modification: Series Split.

The Series Split feature allows it to split and connect some of the pickups in series. When wired in series, the resulting tone is similar to a Humbucker's. The pickups will work together and produce a fuller tone with more output than single-coils, but less than Humbuckers.

Fender Squier Affinity Series Starcaster pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Squier Affinity Series Starcaster's switch options
Ibanez AZES31 pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Ibanez AZES31'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: Ibanez AZES31.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender Squier Affinity Series Starcaster
Pickups 60
Sustain 80
Versatility 54
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 65
Ibanez AZES31
Pickups 70
Sustain 60
Versatility 70
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 66

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 Fender Squier Affinity Series Starcaster compares to the Ibanez AZES31.

Country of Origin

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

Indonesia is becoming the most popular country for guitar building because they can make good instruments for a low price. Some people think that they're 'the new China' when it comes to build quality. But the truth is that Indonesian guitars are more consistent, although Chinese quality has improved a lot in the last few years.

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.

In this case, both have Plastic nuts. This is a low-quality nut that you might want to consider upgrading soon. Bone and TUSQ nuts are the best for guitars with a fixed or simple tremolo bridge.

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.

Both come with a similar bridge: 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.

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 Fender Squier Affinity Series Starcaster's are Die-Cast while the Ibanez AZES31's are Ibanez machine heads w/ Split shaft

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.

Both have a 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: Tie.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Squier Affinity Series Starcaster
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Ibanez AZES31
  • Series Split Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Fender Squier Affinity Series Starcaster
Quality of materials 41
Features 55
Quality Control 65
Build Quality 54
Ibanez AZES31
Quality of materials 46
Features 55
Quality Control 65
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

Fender Squier Affinity Series Starcaster Nut Width
Both Guitars Have The Same Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, both have a nut width of 42mm (1.654'').

This is considered a narrow width for a 6-string guitar. This means that this guitar will have a narrower string separation at the nut, which will affect your fretting hand.

If you are a player with big hands, you might find it difficult to play chords without muting strings. However, this is good for players who have smaller hands, as it will allow them to reach each string more easily at the nut.

Scale Length

Fender Squier Affinity Series Starcaster's Scale Length
Fender Squier Affinity Series Starcaster's Scale Length
Ibanez AZES31's Scale Length
Ibanez AZES31'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 Starcaster has the longest scale: 25.5". The Ibanez AZES31 is only 25" long. This is a 0.5'' (12.7mm) 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

Fender Squier Affinity Series Starcaster Neck Profile
Fender Squier Affinity Series Starcaster's neck profile
Ibanez AZES31 Neck Profile
Ibanez AZES31'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.

Both the Fender Squier Affinity Series Starcaster and the Ibanez AZES31 have a C-shaped 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

Fender Squier Affinity Series Starcaster Fingerboard Radius
Fender Squier Affinity Series Starcaster's Fingerboard radius
Ibanez AZES31 Fingerboard Radius
Ibanez AZES31'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 Starcaster's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Ibanez AZES31'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 Ibanez AZES31.

Still, both are closer to a Stratocaster radius than a Les Paul, so both of them will favor chord playing rather than soloing.

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.

After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both in this comparison favor small hands .

Fender Squier Affinity Series Starcaster:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Ibanez AZES31:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Fender Squier Affinity Series Starcaster Frets Size
Fender Squier Affinity Series Starcaster's Frets Size
Ibanez AZES31 Frets Size
Ibanez AZES31's Frets Size

The Fender Squier Affinity Series Starcaster has Narrow Tall frets, which should be taller than the Ibanez AZES31's Medium frets.

Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

Fender Squier Affinity Series Starcaster
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 72
Ibanez AZES31
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 85
Solo Playability 60
Playability 72

Specs Side-by-Side

Squier Affinity Series Starcaster vs Ibanez AZES31
General Squier Affinity Series Starcaster Ibanez AZES31
Brand: Fender Squier Ibanez
Year: 2019 2021
Configuration: HH SSS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: Affinity Series AZES
Colors: White, Black, Red, 3-Color Sunburst Red, Yellow
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Semi-Hollow Solid Body
Body Material: Laminated Maple Poplar
Bridge: 6-Saddle Adjustable Bridge Fixed F106 w/ Comfort round Steel saddles
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Die-Cast Ibanez machine heads w/ Split shaft
Fretboard: Maple Jatoba
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Black Dot White Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25"
Shape: Modern C AZES
Frets: 22 Narrow Tall Nickel Silver 22 Medium Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 9.5" 9.843"
Nut: Plastic Plastic
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Standard Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive) Essentials (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Essentials (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Standard Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive) Essentials (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Bell Bell
Pickup Mods: None Series Split
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1