r/Guitar • u/ninjaface Fender • Jan 23 '25

OFFICIAL Official No Stupid Questions Thread - Winter 2025

Ahh yes! Feel that chill in the air? Feel those fret ends digging into your hands as you slide up and down the fretboard? If not, then you're in good shape. If you are experiencing some "shrinkage" due to low moisture, please follow my recommendations below:

Generally, the summer months in the Northern hemisphere require some dehumidification, while the winter months require the opposite (a humidifier). Let’s keep things super simple and economical. Get yourself a cheap hygrometer (around $10) and place it where you keep your guitar the most. Make sure that you maintain that space’s ambient conditions within the following range:

Humidity: 45-52%RH Temp: 68-75F

These ranges aren’t absolute. I actually prefer my guitars to be at 44-46%RH. They just sound better to my ears. They are drier and louder, but this is also getting dangerously close to being too dry. Use this info to help guide you through the drier months. These ranges will keep you safe anywhere on the planet as long as you carefully maintain the space at those levels.

As for other business, the current hot issue is Twitter/X links.

WE HAVE NEVER ALLOWED LINKS TO TWITTER/X, AND NEVER WILL.

It's got nothing to do with our absolute innate hatred of fascist nazi scumbags. It's just part of our policy for keeping this place free of social media links and spam from influencers, etc.

Now that that's out of the way, please use this post as you usually would, and that's to ask whatever guitar-related questions you have. The userbase here is one of the best and most informed in the world of guitar expertise (or at least they think they are ;)). Have a great winter guitar people! Stay warm, and keep those guitars well used and in a safe range for optimal use and longevity.

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u/___breadd Jan 27 '25

If im looking for my first electric guitar, should I go for a cheap entry level guitar or put more money into it and get something thats I really like? Im trying to choose between a squier affinity strat and an epiphone custom ebony but im a little hesitant to dump a thousand dollars into a hobby that Im basically brand new to.

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u/bythog Jan 29 '25

I wouldn't go super expensive but I also wouldn't do a really cheap one. Get something affordable (to you) that you still want to pick up and play often. If it feels cheap and you don't like it then you're less likely to play as often as you should.

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u/Fender19 Feb 02 '25

i realize this is several days late potentially, but here's my 2 cents: Try it in person first and get the one you like. If you like it and you feel cool when you pick it up, you're going to pick it up and play, and you're going to get better.

Personally, I'm a buy once cry once kind of guy. I still actively play my first guitar, a used American Standard stratocaster, almost 21 years later.

The good news is that even the entry level guitars these days are made quite well, and used prices are rather low these days. You can usually get something on Reverb at close to 50% of MSRP. If you have a friend or family member who does know guitars to help you, that might be a great way to get maximum value.

I am not super familiar with the squires, but a little googling seems to be telling me that the classic vibe series might be the best value. The epiphone will certainly be enough guitar to carry you through several years, if not your whole life. They're very solid guitars.

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u/LordKappachino Jan 28 '25

If this is your first guitar I'd say affinity strat is good place to start. It's what I started on. You could spend a bit more on something like the classic vibe but personally I say don't overthink it. Get the affinity, stick to it, and you can upgrade to a better guitar in a couple of years if you like playing.

The squier won't hold back your playing. I still play it from time to time even though I have a better guitar now.

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u/___breadd Jan 28 '25

alright thanks

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u/Skipper07B Feb 20 '25

Hey, I know it’s an old thread but can I ask your general opinion on the Affinity series? I’m not new to playing just expanding my collection. I really like that lake placid blue Strat. I don’t currently have a Strat, more of a LP/single-cut guy but everyone should have at least one Strat right?

Would that be a good choice for a non Strat guy who occasionally wants the Strat sound?

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u/traceitalian Fender Feb 25 '25

Not who you asked but it depends on the user. I personally think they're really solid instruments that give an excellent facsimile of their more expensive namesakes. If you're a bedroom player who isn't recording professionally or using it as their only gigging guitar they're great.

That said if you're planning to use it a lot I would pay the extra couple hundred for a Vibe which is an absolutely excellent instrument.

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u/Skipper07B Mar 07 '25

Hey, I just saw this, thanks for the reply. As luck would have it, a lake placid blue affinity strat popped up on marketplace about 2 days after I wrote that comment. Virtually brand new for $150 bucks (I’d been seeing $250-$260 new everywhere else), so I jumped on it. Still had the plastic on the pick guard, neck plate and the back cover. Apparently the guy bought it and then instantly got in to drums instead.

I am quite happy with it. It was set up pretty well, I had to adjust the intonation a bit but no biggie. I’m not saying it’ll turn me in to a “strat” guy but, I think I’ll always have to have a Strat in the lineup going forward.

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u/traceitalian Fender Mar 07 '25

Fantastic, sounds a lot like Bob Mould's strat colour. You've got a hell of a guitar there for not much money, really jealous. That thing should be an absolute workhorse.

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u/Skipper07B Mar 07 '25 edited Mar 07 '25

Thanks! I will say, I’d have been happy even if I had paid full price. It plays like it should cost more.

Here it is! I freaking love the color of it. Got a bit of a metallic flake to it. And I’m one of the weirdos that likes the CBS headstock so that was a bonus.

https://i.imgur.com/SX97YD1.jpeg

I am thinking I’ll put together an HSS pick guard and swap it in. Gonna go cheap for now and I have a couple humbuckers sitting on shelves. I’d imagine an HSS configuration would be quite versatile. And wouldn’t be too much of a hassle to switch back if I wanted some day.

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u/Skipper07B Mar 07 '25

Agreed on the workhorse comment also. Good, general purpose guitar.

For a price that low, I’m okay if and when it gets a little banged up which translates to taking it with me more places and thus getting more playing time. I usually bring a guitar to work me and play when I have downtime, this one has probably already been to work 5 times.