I just bought a Squire Affinity Strat. I was wondering since it came out of the box should I take it in and have it setup? When you get a new guitar should you immediately have it setup if you don't know how to. That is the one reason why I bought the Squire so I could learn how to adjust it. I also have a Epiphone Les Paul 100 and Yahmaha acoustic. I have Line 6 Spider IV 30 watt amp, POD and footboard. I had them for several years but now I have been playing for 4 months straight. Any help will be greatly accepted.
Squire Affinity Strat.
- Thread starter chrish57
- Start date
MetalManiac
Li'l Junior Member
Re: Squire Affinity Strat.
Hi Chris.
The superstructure of your guitar is a great platform for upgrades .
You'll get great results a few fun and worthwhile modifications. New Seymour Duncan pickups make a huge difference for the better, new hardware to include upgraded pots and switch, a good set-up ( probably some levelling and finishing of the fret work).
One essential upgrade is the really bad tone sucking tremolo and small pot metal block. It must be changed.There are places to get replacements, just check around
Good upgrade tuners are a consideration, although I never had problems with the stock tuners.
KISMAIF ( Keep it simple, make it fun).
Hi Chris.
The superstructure of your guitar is a great platform for upgrades .
You'll get great results a few fun and worthwhile modifications. New Seymour Duncan pickups make a huge difference for the better, new hardware to include upgraded pots and switch, a good set-up ( probably some levelling and finishing of the fret work).
One essential upgrade is the really bad tone sucking tremolo and small pot metal block. It must be changed.There are places to get replacements, just check around
Good upgrade tuners are a consideration, although I never had problems with the stock tuners.
KISMAIF ( Keep it simple, make it fun).
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F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Squier Affinity Strat.
Re: Squier Affinity Strat.
This is a job for ...
Superdan!
At the risk of appearing to be a spammer, the best move that you could make right now is to invest in either (or both) of these DE repair/set-up books. http://www.danerlewine.com/guitar_repair_books.html (First two titles on webpage.)
Re: Squier Affinity Strat.
This is a job for ...
Superdan!
At the risk of appearing to be a spammer, the best move that you could make right now is to invest in either (or both) of these DE repair/set-up books. http://www.danerlewine.com/guitar_repair_books.html (First two titles on webpage.)
Re: Squier Affinity Strat.
Re: Squier Affinity Strat.
Darn you guys and your advice specially you Funkfingers. Now you got me thinking what can I do to this guitar but then again that is why I bought it. i wanted a strat but I do want to try my hand at upgrading it. When I saw the webpage that Funkfingers gave. I am hooked thank you guys again. :yourock:
Re: Squier Affinity Strat.
Darn you guys and your advice specially you Funkfingers. Now you got me thinking what can I do to this guitar but then again that is why I bought it. i wanted a strat but I do want to try my hand at upgrading it. When I saw the webpage that Funkfingers gave. I am hooked thank you guys again. :yourock:
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Squier Affinity Strat.
Re: Squier Affinity Strat.
Consider it my good deed for the day / parting gift / whatever.
Re: Squier Affinity Strat.
Consider it my good deed for the day / parting gift / whatever.
rgand
New member
Re: Squire Affinity Strat.
I have a Squier Affinity Strat I picked up used recently. The first thing I did was get new pickups for it and it came alive. It was interesting to see how the tone range increased just with good pickups. Higher highs, lower lows and crystal clear tones all the way through. The exact pickups you get probably don't matter as long as you get quality American-made ones. Mine was already routed for humbuckers so that's the way I went. A quick peek under the pickguard will let you know if yours is also. Here on the Duncan forum, you can probably get a lot of good recommendations for your playing style. There are a number of other things that can be done to improve it but pickups seems a good place to start.
Oh, yeah, take the tremolo cover off the back. It makes a huge difference in tone to open up the back. It's the best quick mod you can do.
Here's a good list of simple Strat mods: http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/10-easy-strat-mods-to-improve-primary-tone-1
I have a Squier Affinity Strat I picked up used recently. The first thing I did was get new pickups for it and it came alive. It was interesting to see how the tone range increased just with good pickups. Higher highs, lower lows and crystal clear tones all the way through. The exact pickups you get probably don't matter as long as you get quality American-made ones. Mine was already routed for humbuckers so that's the way I went. A quick peek under the pickguard will let you know if yours is also. Here on the Duncan forum, you can probably get a lot of good recommendations for your playing style. There are a number of other things that can be done to improve it but pickups seems a good place to start.
Oh, yeah, take the tremolo cover off the back. It makes a huge difference in tone to open up the back. It's the best quick mod you can do.
Here's a good list of simple Strat mods: http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/10-easy-strat-mods-to-improve-primary-tone-1
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ehdwuld
A Ficus
Re: Squire Affinity Strat.
What?
there is no evidence that removing plastic from the back of a strat
aids the electric signal or sustain
What?
there is no evidence that removing plastic from the back of a strat
aids the electric signal or sustain
rgand
New member
Re: Squire Affinity Strat.
A few minutes later-
OK, I did a quick search and found these results.
Scroll down to item 2: http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/10-easy-strat-mods-to-improve-primary-tone-1
And number 3 here: http://http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/columns/the_guide_to/8_ways_to_improve_your_tone.html
7 or 8 paragraphs down Eric Johnson mentions it, too: http://www.musicradar.com/us/reviews/guitars/fender-eric-johnson-stratocaster-25067
I've read about this in a couple different places. I tried it and it made a very noticable difference with mine. That's evidence enough for me. Heck, it's only 6 screws to find out...
A few minutes later-
OK, I did a quick search and found these results.
Scroll down to item 2: http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/10-easy-strat-mods-to-improve-primary-tone-1
And number 3 here: http://http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/columns/the_guide_to/8_ways_to_improve_your_tone.html
7 or 8 paragraphs down Eric Johnson mentions it, too: http://www.musicradar.com/us/reviews/guitars/fender-eric-johnson-stratocaster-25067
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Re: Squire Affinity Strat.
I bought one that was going cheap locally and planned on flipping it to make some cash. Ended up keeping it, turns out they're actually really great guitars.
Swapped out all the stock electrics and pickguard, set it up with an H-x-S setup with an Ibanez V8 and a Seymour Hot Stack.
I bought one that was going cheap locally and planned on flipping it to make some cash. Ended up keeping it, turns out they're actually really great guitars.
Swapped out all the stock electrics and pickguard, set it up with an H-x-S setup with an Ibanez V8 and a Seymour Hot Stack.
Vajazzled
New member
rgand
New member
Re: Squire Affinity Strat.
Mark, I thought about getting a Warmoth body and going that route. Then I found mine and when I learned it had an alder body, basically did what you did. I'm going a little further with a new neck but as Vajazzled says, "They're too much fun not to mess with."
If this thread is still alive when I get mine done, I'll post a pic of it.
Mark, I thought about getting a Warmoth body and going that route. Then I found mine and when I learned it had an alder body, basically did what you did. I'm going a little further with a new neck but as Vajazzled says, "They're too much fun not to mess with."
If this thread is still alive when I get mine done, I'll post a pic of it.
daan
New member
Re: Squire Affinity Strat.
Affinity's are fun to mod. Plus you know your parts will fit on it, as opposed to some "brand-X" thing. Well, SOME Affinity's have "shallow depth" bodies (1.5" instead of 1.75") and then it's harder to replace the tremolo block. I have a Squier with a thin body, I was able to cram a large tremolo block into it because I trimmed the bottom of the block.
Everything else bolts right up, though. Honestly the first mod to any Strat-type should be the large block.
Affinity's are fun to mod. Plus you know your parts will fit on it, as opposed to some "brand-X" thing. Well, SOME Affinity's have "shallow depth" bodies (1.5" instead of 1.75") and then it's harder to replace the tremolo block. I have a Squier with a thin body, I was able to cram a large tremolo block into it because I trimmed the bottom of the block.
Everything else bolts right up, though. Honestly the first mod to any Strat-type should be the large block.
rgand
New member
Re: Squire Affinity Strat.
How much did you have to take off? Mine is ±1.65" thick. I may have to think about changing to a steel block.
Brandenburg
New member
Re: Squire Affinity Strat.
I bought a squire strat a few months ago for the express purpose of modding...was disappointed it had a plywood body but i made it work for the most part
When I brought her home
after I worked my magic..
I bought a squire strat a few months ago for the express purpose of modding...was disappointed it had a plywood body but i made it work for the most part
When I brought her home
after I worked my magic..
Brandenburg
New member
Re: Squire Affinity Strat.
since we are also talking about bridges.. my brass block sticks out a bit but really isnt a big deal as I usually leave the trem covers off all of my guitars..
Brass is so much better than that little zinc/pot metal block they come stock with
since we are also talking about bridges.. my brass block sticks out a bit but really isnt a big deal as I usually leave the trem covers off all of my guitars..
Brass is so much better than that little zinc/pot metal block they come stock with
GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
Re: Squire Affinity Strat.
Eric Johnson is an accomplished musician . . . but he's also the source of an astounding amount of bull**** mysticism around tone.
Eric Johnson is an accomplished musician . . . but he's also the source of an astounding amount of bull**** mysticism around tone.
rgand
New member
Re: Squire Affinity Strat.
I find it interesting that so many want this idea to be incorrect. There's no threat here. It's only 6 screws. Take them off and see for yourself. Your ear may not notice a difference, but then again, it may...
That could be, but to my ears the difference is very noticeable. After all, it's all about what sounds good to each of us.
I find it interesting that so many want this idea to be incorrect. There's no threat here. It's only 6 screws. Take them off and see for yourself. Your ear may not notice a difference, but then again, it may...