Swap
Swap
Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops
Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster
VS
Playability
78
Sound
74
Build
77
Value
76
Score
76
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logoAmazon logoMusician's Friend logo
Playability
68
Sound
65
Build
54
Value
72
Score
62
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logoMusician's Friend logoFender logo
Add to Compare
Add to Compare
Add more to comparison
Show Full Spec Comparison
Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops vs Squier Affinity Series Telecaster Specs Comparison
Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops Squier Affinity Series Telecaster
General
Brand: Schecter Fender Squier
Year: 2024 2019
Configuration: H SS
Strings: 8 6
Made in: Indonesia China
Series: Diamond Affinity Series
Colors: Back White, Black, Green, Orange, Red, Yellow, Gray, 2-Color Sunburst
Left-Handed Version: Yes Yes
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Poplar
Bridge: Hipshot 8 String Multiscale Fixed 6-Saddle Hardtail with Cast Saddles
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Bolt-On
Tuners: Schecter Locking Standard Die-Cast
Fretboard: Ebony Maple
Neck Material: Mahogany 3pc w/ Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Rods Maple
Decoration: None Black Dot
Scale Size: 27.5" to 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Thin "C" Modern C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.787'' (20mm) - 12th Fret: 0.866'' (22mm) 1st Fret: - 12th Fret:
Frets: 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel 21 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 20" 9.5"
Nut: Black Tusq XL Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 56mm (2.205'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Fishman Fluence Open Core Modern-8 (Humbucker / Active) Standard Single-Coil Tele (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Standard Single-Coil Tele (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 0 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Black Chrome
Show Diagrams Comparison
Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster's switch options

Reasons to Get
Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops over Squier Affinity Series Telecaster

Country of Manufacturing
Indonesia vs China
Built with higher quality standards
Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Release Year
2024 vs 2019
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
XL Jumbo vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Scale Length
27.5" to 25.5" vs 25.5"
Less fret buzz with less string stiffness
Pickups Brand
Fishman vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Strings
8 vs 6
Allows you to play lower notes
Pickups
H vs SS
Hum-free with more right hand freedom and sustain
Number of Frets
24 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Nut Width
2.205'' (56mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Fretboard Radius
20'' (508mm) vs 9.5'' (241.3mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Pickups Power
Active vs Passive
More output
Value Score
76 vs 72
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster over Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops

Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs XL Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Scale Length
25.5" vs 27.5" to 25.5"
Easier to adapt to
Neck Joint
Bolt-On vs Set
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Strings
6 vs 8
Narrower neck and fewer strings to change
Tone Knobs
1 vs 0
More tone control
Pickups
SS vs H
Beautiful cleans
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 2.205'' (56mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Fretboard Radius
9.5'' (241.3mm) vs 20'' (508mm)
Easier to play chords without muting strings
Pickups Power
Passive vs Active
Cleaner sound and no battery needed

Other Key Differences
Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops vs Squier Affinity Series Telecaster

Bridge Pickup
Fishman Fluence Open Core Modern-8 vs Standard Single-Coil Tele
Different Bridge Pickup
Body Wood
Mahogany vs Poplar
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Mahogany vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony vs Maple
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
4-4 vs 6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Black Tusq XL vs Synthetic Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops vs Squier Affinity Series Telecaster

Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut

Common Weaknesses

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Price History Comparison

SET PRICE ALERT
SET PRICE ALERT

These are affiliate links. We may earn a fee if you purchase after clicking. These prices are prone to error. Make sure you're buying the right product after clicking on a link from our site. We are not liable if you buy the wrong product after following these links. As an Amazon Associate site we earn from qualifying purchases.

Hand Size Comfortability

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops favors large hands more than the Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster.

Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Beginner Friendliness

The Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops meets only 5. 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

Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

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

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 the Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany
Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony

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.

Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

Woods Used in the Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster

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: Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops.

Pickup Configuration

The Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops has an H configuration while the Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster has SS pickups.

A single H pickup gives you the advantage of having a little longer sustain (all other things being equal) because there will be less magnetic fields from other pickups affecting the strings' vibration. However, they also give you the least versatility because you won't have other pickups at different distances from the bridge to create different tones. A single humbucking pickup is used for noiseless high output, which is used mainly for Hard Rock genres.

On the other hand, SS is the classic Telecaster configuration. It's used mainly for playing clean or with low-gain distortion, and it's very popular for the country genre because of their brightness. It doesn't give you as much versatility as a Strat SSS configuration, but you might like the cleaner look of a guitar body with fewer pickups.

Pickups Quality

The Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops has pickups from a more specialized brand than the Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster. 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 Heavy Metal and similar genres.

The Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops's pickups are Active while the Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster's are Passive.

Passive pickups are what most guitars use. These have a normal output that works well for most genres. However, Active pickups are the preferred choice of heavy metal players because they offer extra output thanks to their 9v battery, which results in a heavier, more distorted sound. Bear in mind that achieving a completely clean tone with them won't be easy. So if you want to also use clean tones, you might want to avoid Active pickups.

Winner: Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops.

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

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

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

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 Telecaster.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops
Pickups 85
Sustain 90
Versatility 42
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 74
Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster
Pickups 70
Sustain 65
Versatility 54
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 65

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 Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops compares to the Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops is built in Indonesia while the Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster is made in China.

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.

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: Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops

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 Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops has a Black Tusq XL nut. TUSQ nuts are usually the highest quality you can get. Black TUSQs are made from a special slippery material that helps the strings get back to its original position (one of the keys to tune stability).

On the other hand, the Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster 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.

In this comparison, the Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops is the only one that has stainless steel frets. These frets will basically last for the entire life of the guitar. They will never need polishing nor replacement. And not only that, but some people also notice that bending and vibratos are much easier to perform when they upgrade to stainless steel.

Winner: Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops.

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

The Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops has the best tuners of the two because they are locking tuners. They'll help to keep your guitar in tune because they allow you to tune it without wrapping the strings around the posts. This avoids variations in the tuning due to the strings changing position at the post after a bend. They come at the disadvantage of being slightly heavier than regular tuners. Also, it makes it a lot easier to restring.

Winner: Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops.

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 Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops 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 Telecaster 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 Telecaster.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Black Tusq XL Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • 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 Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops
Quality of materials 86
Features 70
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 77
Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster
Quality of materials 56
Features 50
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 54

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

Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops Nut Width
Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops Nut Width
Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster Nut Width
Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops has the wider nut with 56mm (2.205'') vs 42mm (1.654''). This is a 14mm (0.551'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops's Scale Length
Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops's Scale Length
Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster's Scale Length
Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster'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.

In this case, the Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops features a multi-scale of 27.5" to 25.5" while the Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster has a regular scale of 25.5".

A multi-scale fingerboard incorporates two scale lengths at the same time. This is present in some instruments with long scale to give a different tension to the lower strings than the higher strings. The thickest strings need more tension to avoid fret buzz (especially when tuned low), so the scale is longer for these strings, while the thinnest strings will need less tension (because they have a lower gauge), so they have a shorter scale to reduce stiffness for bends.

It can feel awkward if you've never played a multi-scale because the frets will have more separation for the higher strings, but a lot of people love their versatility.

On the other hand, the Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster's 25.5" regular scale means it has a fixed scale for all the strings.This is the scale used in most Stratocasters. It's slightly longer than the typical 24.75'' size found in Les Pauls, and it's one of the main reasons why Stratocasters have such a bright sound in general. A longer scale also means that the strings will have higher tension. This will help you get lower action without suffering fret buzz, which will also be helpful when playing in lower tunings without having to increase your string gauge.

However, this also means that there will be more separation between frets, which can make it more difficult to play. Also, bending the strings will require more strengths due to the increased tension, but remember that a tremolo guitar will offset this difficulty.

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

Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops Neck Profile
Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops's neck profile
Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster Neck Profile
Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster'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 Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops and the Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster 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

Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops Fingerboard Radius
Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops's Fingerboard radius
Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster Fingerboard Radius
Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster'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 Telecaster's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops'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 Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops.

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

Fret Size

Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops Frets Size
Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops's Frets Size
Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster Frets Size
Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster's Frets Size

The Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops has XL Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster's Medium Jumbo 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

Schecter PT-8 MS Black Ops
Bending & Vibrato Ease 90
Chord Playability 55
Solo Playability 90
Playability 78
Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster
Bending & Vibrato Ease 65
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 60
Playability 68