[psicosis]

Hi all needs some advice on guitars this will be my first time buying a

guitar let alone playing one. I decided on a squire strat affinity series

to learn on but can't decide between the single or the fat strat.

I've done some research on the two and I know the single has the hum

noise problem I read about on the forums and the humbucker stops that

but what are the disadvantages of the humbucker. Any advice is truly

welcomed. I though about the standard squire strat but the read the

wood is made out of agathis I hear alder is better.

[Maddog54]

I've heard good things about both....someone with a bit more experience can tell you the difference in the single vs humbucker debate, but from experience so far, I like having the humbucker there, but I've rarely used it. I guess it depends what kind of music you want to play. 90% of the time I run the switch with the middle and neck because I like that sound. When I'm playing something like AC/DC, I flip it in the lead(humbucker) and it seems to be louder and sound better with the gain turned up. Of course this is all my opinion and rambling, but I was in your position not long ago. I passed on the Squire and picked up a Yamaha PAC012DLX. Short and sweet, my advice would be if you're decided on one of those 2, play both in all positions on a good amp. See which YOU like better for sound, feel, etc...

Good Luck! Let us know how it works out for you.

[Stratrat]

The humbucker at the bridge sounds fatter than a single-coil pickup. It will push your amp a bit harder and you'll get a little more "break-up" (overdrive) out of it.

The single-coil "hum" is much mentioned, but it's not as big a problem as it sounds like (at least IMO). If your house wiring is properly grounded and you don't have hum-inducing appliances going (neon lights, dimmer switches, etc.), it's quite possible that you won't even notice it. It just comes down to whether you like the single-coil or humbucker sound better.

I though about the standard squire strat but the read the wood is made out of agathis I hear alder is better.

Ahhhh, the "tone woods" debate. There are some who swear they can hear the difference (just as there are those who swear they can tell the sonic difference between nitro and poly finishes), but I'm not one of them. I have electric guitars with alder, ash (two types), basswood and agathis bodies, and I seriously doubt that I'd be able to tell the difference between them if you blindfolded me and played them in turn. I'm of the opinion that once you plug the guitar in and crank it up, the pickups, bridge and string gauge (not to mention the amp and pedals!) make much more difference in sound than the body wood (note that I said opinion - I'm not stating it as fact).