Squier Sonic HT Stratocaster - Review and Demo

Part 1 or 2 - In Part 1 we will take a look at the Squier Sonic Strat and run it through it's paces. Is this a worthy cheap guitar that can be used by guitarists of all makes and models? Or, just a cheap toy better left alone. Let's find out!!
TIME STAMPS:
Intro - 0:00
First impressions/Specs - 0:15
Stock Demo - 5:35
Basic Tones - 7:13
Outro - 9:38
Keith Leedham is an independent recording artists/studio owner/tinkerer.
He owns "The Tape Farm" a recording studio that specializes in transferring "pro-sumer" analog tape formats from manufactures like Tascam and Fostex.
Website: www.thetapefarm.com
Facebook: / thetapefarm
As an independent recording artists Keith has released singles, EPs and full length albums. With styles ranging from Progressive Rock to Country to Singer/Songwriter to Hard Rock to what ever the song dictates.
Website: www.keithleedham.com
He also tinkers with various audio equipment such as tape machines, guitars and guitar amps. When he comes across something interesting he posts the progress/results on KZbin.

[@MichaelVician]

Ordered one earlier today, they are 139 now on Fender.

[@misterknightowlandco]

I own bullet strats old and new… I like cheap stuff… the bullets were great and so are these. I think they just switched the names and added a few colors and options to the line.

[@Keithphotorama]

I really like the color, a must have!

[@TheTapeFarm]

It’s hard not to be seen.

[@rogerlipson1183]

Hope your knee is healing well! Thanks for the review!!! I'm glad I found your channel.

[@douglepong]

I tried one out at a guitar shop here in town. I love the neck. There's no fret sprouts at all. It's silky smooth!

[@Fred-gi4uz]

I have the exact guitar, haven’t upgraded it yet it does feel and play good, great guitar to play around the fire pit

[@bruceselenka7181]

I have a Squier Affinity Telecaster that had an annoying ringing. After your video, I slipped a cleaning cloth through the strings and, no ringing. I just installed a second string tree to correct the break angle. Problem solved. Thank you.

[@anorak211]

I have just ordered one of these, it looks fantastic !

[@philsequeira3180]

Good luck with the knee! Waiting for the upgrades. I did up a Sonic Tele for my brother in law, fun little mod project.

[@renemies78]

Great review. Good luck on your surgery!

[@augustmathews650]

Hope to see part 2 sooooooon! Lol

[@TheTapeFarm]

Working on it now. Hopefully will be posting it early next week.

[@thebenefactor6744]

I ordered one of these simply because i was impressed by the pickups. Ive got other strats that I've worked up to sound like the strattiest strats you've ever heard, and they play and sound well. But now that I'm coming down the other side of the tone mountain,I find I'm looking for tones that are different, and I like the tone of these pups. I know they're cheap, but they have their own thing going on.

[@user-yv9fz3vj8k]

I thought I was the only person to say strattiest

[@thebenefactor6744]

@@user-yv9fz3vj8k it's probably because I'm guitarded.

[@ernestschultz5065]

I have the red sonic strat hard tail and it's a really nice guitar

[@TheMerc1950]

The Banana Cream Strat. I dig it!

[@TheTapeFarm]

Ha… that’s awesome… may steal that for the mod video!

[@pfg_pedals]

Good review. That thing with the strings ringing above the nut happens with a lot of guitars. Others will ring behind the saddles on a Tuneomatic or like Jazzmaster where there’s a long stretch of string from the saddles to the tail piece. That’s why metal guys often have the fret wraps around the headstock, but I’ve even seen Nashville players stuff foam in the gaps on everything from a Tele to a 335 because they were picking it up on the track.

[@TheTapeFarm]

Yup… probably should have pointed that out. I have seen many of my metal buddies with that accessory. Also jazz players using trapeze tailpieces often have a strip of felt woven through the string. Thanks for pointing out for folks!!

[@gwugluud]

The "in-between pickups" settings on Strats have always sounded puky to me. Sharp finish on that. Good demo.

[@joehansonguitar]

Awesome demo! Just subscribed to your channel

[@TheTapeFarm]

Thanks Joe!!

[@notanthony_c]

I bought one of these as a mod platform too. So far I swapped out the neck for a 1998 Maple MIM neck, bought Fender '57/'62 PUPs, and ordered an Obsidian wiring kit. I can't seem to find any options for a new bridge. Suggestions are welcomed!

[@TheTapeFarm]

Replace the saddles. That’s what I’m going to do. I’ll be putting on stainless steel saddles when I’m back up and around.

[@LonePigsyAndCub]

Thanks for the review! I have a hardtail Bullet, which I love, and often prefer over my custom shop Strat. I was wondering if you know if these Sonics are thinner than Bullets? Yours does appear to be in the video, I like light guitars, but I'm concerned the thin body will just feel... wrong. Any thoughts appreciated! Bonus points if you know anything about the old "Standard" Squire hardtails - I'm assuming they were a step up from Bullets at the time. Anyhow, thanks again! I'm obsessed with hardtail Strats!

[@benligil]

I fell in love with color. Install a set of Duncans Everything Axe Set and it's a gigging machine

[@Neshek023]

So, why Gilmour had the G- string loose? Maybe the topnut was better..

[@jeromewagschal9485]

Not all guitars are created equal, if you take a batch of 10 guitars ( regardless of brand, price, etc... ) most will sound good, some will sound great some will be below average... Another thing to consider is the material of the nut and how it's been cut, a well-cut bone nut ( or tusq which is my favorite) will have a positive impact on the resonance of the strings, then there's the string gauge, the weather, the place where you play, your mood of the day, etc... As far as as I know Dave Gilmour uses a 10.5/50 ( or something like that ) so his G string might be thicker than what you'd find in a 9/42 set... Personally I never use a string tree on my D and G string because I love the resonance of the G string without it, It's also easier to bend and if there's a little bit of unwanted vibrations it's a small price to pay for the playability of my guitars... I also often use locking tuners with staggered posts so there's no need for that second string tree... Sorry for the long reply and have a good night 🙂

[@fridec1]

Can a humbucker be added to this guitar? I can’t seem to find a picture of this guitar with the pick guard removed.

[@TheTapeFarm]

I’ll go over all that in part 2. I’m a week out of surgery. So hopefully should be up and around in the next couple of weeks.

[@Moonmaster85]

Oh i spent 12 years doing plumbing talk about beating up your body, i own 2 sonics California blue and black havent played them a ton bc up here in Chinada amazon temporary had the firefly yellow bat in stock so i ordered it, havent been able to put it down yet! But the sonics do seem nice also have a sonic tele in blonde

[@TheTapeFarm]

For me it was a combination of football, soccer, 13 year of climbing utility poles and my drummer running over my knees with our band van. Drummers 🙄

[@Moonmaster85]

@TheTapeFarm yep that will do it lol hopefully the operation goes well up here in Canada u would wait 2 or 3 years now for that surgery lol

[@TheTapeFarm]

@@Moonmaster85 yeah but you have Rush, so it all evens out. Thanks man!

[@DeerCreekAudio]

hope the knee affair went well. Heal quickly like a puppy dawg.

[@TheTapeFarm]

Just without the cone of shame…

[@jamesonpace726]

Enjoy the meds, man....

[@TheTapeFarm]

Yeah… I don’t take any of that stuff. The strongest stuff I’ll take is OTC Tylenol. But I appreciate the sentiment.

[@sixstringfrenzy238]

OMG how gross. Video reported!!

[@TheTapeFarm]

Which part? Or is it just the color??