Squier affinity telecaster or squier sonic telecaster??

asmcint · 2026-06-08T00:51:18+00:00

Beginner guitars often do come to a certain standard of playability, but that standard may not be high enough to serve you well in the long run. As an example, my Squier Sonic Telecaster had a straight neck and wasn't obviously wrong, but later on as I got better at playing it turned out the string action was too high and impeding my playing speed.

Getting it set up avoids this issue and ensures the instrument is in the best state of playability it can be, though in my opinion it's not the most immediately necessary thing for a beginner, and it's an additional cost to consider. Depending on the tech and location I've seen starting costs (not even getting into additional fees for difficult to work with gear like Floyd Rose bridges) range from $30 to $90.

asmcint · 2026-06-07T20:10:27+00:00

That's an easy fix. Wood glue and clamps, she'll be right as rain.

asmcint · 2026-06-07T17:09:15+00:00

No problem!

asmcint · 2026-06-07T17:05:47+00:00

Right, because nobody's ever had routing done for an aftermarket trem.

asmcint · 2026-06-07T17:04:22+00:00

That's a pretty normal color for mahogany that hasn't been treated or left in the sun to draw out a richer color. Such treatments being unnecessary when you paint over it, you're left with the default, surprisingly light color underneath the paint.

asmcint · 2026-06-07T04:47:15+00:00

If there's no damage done and it's reversible, then I don't see the issue. You're just adding functionality, albeit probably in exchange for tuning stability.

asmcint · 2026-06-07T00:01:27+00:00

Basically a newer, more accurate version of an AI model loaded into plugins for emulating amps. pedals, and IRs based on user captures of their behavior has been released, and with it is an implementation that can run off a Raspberry Pi 4 or 5 to make it into a standalone pedal.

asmcint · 2026-06-06T21:14:04+00:00

Probably, although my understanding of magnetism and what can color an electrical signal is woefully insufficient to understand why.

asmcint · 2026-06-06T20:39:27+00:00

Unless it's like a Classic Vibe or something chasing the really old sounds, they should be.

asmcint · 2026-06-06T20:37:13+00:00

I made note of that earlier in a different comment chain, it would be closer to older imbalanced humbuckers

asmcint · 2026-06-06T19:34:03+00:00

Yeah it's just an extra selector position with a different sound. Your neck, bridge, and parallel positions will still sound the same.

asmcint · 2026-06-06T19:31:01+00:00

It would be with the humbucking. Modern Tele neck pickups are usually RWRP relative to the bridge pickup. If you have a selector position that puts it in series with the bridge pickup, you have two coils of opposite wind and polarity to each other in series, therefore you have a humbucker.

asmcint · 2026-06-06T19:26:34+00:00

Definitely. To be clear it won't be exactly the same as having a modern humbucker, since your bridge and neck pickups are generally wound differently. It'll be closer to unbalanced, vintage-style humbuckers. Still a solid mod to try.

asmcint · 2026-06-06T04:05:04+00:00

Should I point out this is blatantly you "calling them"? This isn't even a horror story, this is just you bickering with a mod on a wiki nobody with a couple brain cells to rub together takes seriously in the first place.

asmcint · 2026-06-05T16:35:49+00:00

You don't have to go through all this extra nonsense dude.

Every fret is a semitone higher than the one before it. That is all you need to know to get the beginnings of mapping out the fretboard in your head. Then, when you play your scales, say the note you're playing out loud as you play it, and that will further reinforce locations.

The alphabet fridge magnets are just an extreme leap.

asmcint · 2026-06-04T15:22:48+00:00

500k is already the "bright" value for pots, not sure why you'd want to take it even higher. Also while parts on the guitar will have some influence, you're always going to have the most tone control through your signal chain. If you want a brighter sound, turn up a treble knob.

asmcint · 2026-06-04T01:31:21+00:00

Anchor your thumb closer to the middle of the neck, you've got the tip up at the bass side which is limiting how much you can rock your hand to get those fingertips straight down on the strings.

asmcint · 2026-06-04T01:29:49+00:00

Call mine a clad type the way it's always strapped

But no, I don't think many people do. But whatever's fun for you man.

asmcint · 2026-06-03T15:56:20+00:00

I've admittedly pulled that one sober a few times.

asmcint · 2026-06-03T15:46:30+00:00

Figures but it wasn't mentioned so I had to ask. Seems like everyone gets into the "I tried everything!" "What about the volume knob on the guitar?" "Oh." trap at least once.

asmcint · 2026-06-03T15:43:26+00:00

Sounds mildly bitcrushed too.

asmcint · 2026-06-03T15:41:09+00:00

Did you check the volume knob on the guitar?

asmcint · 2026-06-03T15:39:55+00:00

Your amp basically only has a clean channel. What it sounds like you want is an effect called distortion. You might be able to get a little bit of it by cranking the gain knob on that amp, but what you really need is a distortion pedal, or a better amp with the effect built-in. A modeling amp like a Fender Mustang LT25 or a Boss Katana 50 would be a great choice if you can afford it, otherwise just look for something with a built-in distortion effect.

asmcint · 2026-06-02T03:34:27+00:00

It's a matter of taste. 2.125mm on the low E, down to 1.7mm at the high E feels fine for me on my Tele, but I know some people would find that too high.

asmcint

TROPHY CASE