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What mods have you made that significantly improved your guitars?
Posted on 9/29/19 at 4:31 pm
Posted on 9/29/19 at 4:31 pm
I have an old squire Strat that sat in the case for the past 15 or so years because I just really never enjoyed playing it. It never stayed in tune, had crap tone and was just a hassle in general. The only reason I never got rid of it was because it was my first guitar. It wasn't until my step daughter began playing last year that I had the urge to revisit it.
So far I've made two mods that have turned this crap guitar into something I now can't put down. I tossed the old pot metal trem block in the trash and replaced it with a solid steel block. I then replaced the standard Fender saddles with Highwood saddles from Stewmac. As you can see from the image, the adjustment posts are recessed into the saddles where they can't destroy your hands. For less than a hundred bucks this guitar now stays in tune, the intonation is spot on, it sustains better and it's significantly louder when played without an amp. I'll probably get around to replacing the electronics at some point, but for now I'm more than happy.
So far I've made two mods that have turned this crap guitar into something I now can't put down. I tossed the old pot metal trem block in the trash and replaced it with a solid steel block. I then replaced the standard Fender saddles with Highwood saddles from Stewmac. As you can see from the image, the adjustment posts are recessed into the saddles where they can't destroy your hands. For less than a hundred bucks this guitar now stays in tune, the intonation is spot on, it sustains better and it's significantly louder when played without an amp. I'll probably get around to replacing the electronics at some point, but for now I'm more than happy.
This post was edited on 9/29/19 at 10:56 pm
6
Posted on 9/29/19 at 6:36 pm to Blizzard of Chizz
:inb4lipstickonapigcomment:
I modded my Squier bullet strat as well.
GraphTech nut, Straplocks, GuitarFetish saddles & solid steel tremolo block from GF instead of the zinc one it comes with as well + an American Standard sized tremolo arm that fits the new block. All of this (minus the arm & strap locks) greatly improved tuning stability. I feel the sustain is a bit better too, but probably not that significantly.
Also put in some overwound pickups from Dragonfire.
So in total probably spent somewhere between 230-275 on this guitar (originally 120).
All this being said...If I did it all again I would have just bought a Telecaster or SG style in the 300-350 dollar range to begin with for a starter guitar.
Like you said it has some sentimental value as my first guitar and I don't plan on getting rid of it (doubt anyone would want to buy it anyways
), but I don't play it nearly as much as my other guitars. If my kids or nephew or niece decide in the future they want to learn to play it'll be one they can borrow.
I modded my Squier bullet strat as well.
GraphTech nut, Straplocks, GuitarFetish saddles & solid steel tremolo block from GF instead of the zinc one it comes with as well + an American Standard sized tremolo arm that fits the new block. All of this (minus the arm & strap locks) greatly improved tuning stability. I feel the sustain is a bit better too, but probably not that significantly.
Also put in some overwound pickups from Dragonfire.
So in total probably spent somewhere between 230-275 on this guitar (originally 120).
All this being said...If I did it all again I would have just bought a Telecaster or SG style in the 300-350 dollar range to begin with for a starter guitar.
Like you said it has some sentimental value as my first guitar and I don't plan on getting rid of it (doubt anyone would want to buy it anyways
), but I don't play it nearly as much as my other guitars. If my kids or nephew or niece decide in the future they want to learn to play it'll be one they can borrow.
Posted on 9/29/19 at 7:11 pm to Blizzard of Chizz
Strap locks are a must. I badly damaged the finish on one of my guitars because I was too cheep/lazy to install strap locks. Don’t be like that.
For my LP’s:
Grover locking tuners were the most massive improvement for the money. I almost never have to worry about my guitar going out of tune in a set, even a 3 hour one.
As for tone, the gibson classic 57 was a really nice upgrade to my bridge pickup in one guitar, and in the other, a pearly gates neck pickup was seriously nice.
Some other improvements I have considered making to one guitar or another are:
Bigsby tremolo system
B-bender
For my LP’s:
Grover locking tuners were the most massive improvement for the money. I almost never have to worry about my guitar going out of tune in a set, even a 3 hour one.
As for tone, the gibson classic 57 was a really nice upgrade to my bridge pickup in one guitar, and in the other, a pearly gates neck pickup was seriously nice.
Some other improvements I have considered making to one guitar or another are:
Bigsby tremolo system
B-bender
Posted on 9/29/19 at 7:17 pm to InwardJim
The most common performance-enhancing mods/upgrades in my shop, by client requests and/or my recommendations, are conversion to bone nuts; pickup and pot/cap upgrades and circuit mods; and tuning key replacement.
My personal guitars? Man, too much stuff to list. Every guitar I own is not only modified in various ways but basically a work in progress haha.
My personal guitars? Man, too much stuff to list. Every guitar I own is not only modified in various ways but basically a work in progress haha.
Posted on 9/29/19 at 10:01 pm to Blizzard of Chizz
A mastery bridge and a good setup from someone that knew their way around a jazzmaster changed the way my guitar feels and plays entirely.
Posted on 9/29/19 at 11:12 pm to TheFretShack
My next upgrade will definitely be the electronics, but the only thing holding me back is what pickups to install. I also plan to drop in a solder-less wiring harness from Obsidian wire. I came across them a while back while doing some research and was really impressed. Makes changing pickups a breeze. If you’ve never heard of them, check them out
LINK
LINK
This post was edited on 9/29/19 at 11:14 pm
Posted on 9/30/19 at 1:49 pm to Blizzard of Chizz
I modded a Strat and it made a world of difference. This was a '74 that had the cheap tin sustain block, etc. I replaced the whole trem system & tone block with Callaham parts, new GraphTech bridge saddles, tuners, nut, even string trees. Also put in new pickups (a couple of Duncans and a '69 Fender CS). It's like a different guitar (it sort of is).
I also have a Jay Turser that I paid a couple hundred for. I replaced the pickups with a Seymour Duncan Seth Lover (neck) and '59 (bridge). Sounds great now.
I also have a Jay Turser that I paid a couple hundred for. I replaced the pickups with a Seymour Duncan Seth Lover (neck) and '59 (bridge). Sounds great now.
Posted on 9/30/19 at 7:01 pm to MountainTiger
quote:
Callaham parts
Made BY the American working man, FOR the American working man.
Posted on 9/30/19 at 9:20 pm to Blizzard of Chizz
Never messed with a Squier Strat, but I can tell you, upgrading the electronics on the Squier affinity Tellies, makes it seem like a different guitar. I imagine it would be the same on the strats. As Fret Shak said, bone nut, as well. That little stuff makes a big difference.
I have an affinity telecaster that I have been upgrading, just for a project and out of curiosity. Changed out all the electronics with all parts stuff, and put in some pick ups off of a junked out classic vibe. Nu-bone nut. Next, I'm going to change out the bridge for the one off of that same classic vibe telly, and drill string holes through the body. The affinity tellies just string through the bridge. It's already turned into a sweet sounding/playing guitar. I don't know if running the strings through the body, will make much difference, but it might, so what the hell.
I have an affinity telecaster that I have been upgrading, just for a project and out of curiosity. Changed out all the electronics with all parts stuff, and put in some pick ups off of a junked out classic vibe. Nu-bone nut. Next, I'm going to change out the bridge for the one off of that same classic vibe telly, and drill string holes through the body. The affinity tellies just string through the bridge. It's already turned into a sweet sounding/playing guitar. I don't know if running the strings through the body, will make much difference, but it might, so what the hell.
Posted on 10/1/19 at 11:31 am to auggie
quote:
Never messed with a Squier Strat
From the research I did, Fender changed the specs somewhere in the mid 90’s to what is now a much smaller version of a strat. Every measurement I took matches the specs of an American standard, so mine was obviously produced before the change was made. The body thickness, trem cavity depth, scale length, all match that of a standard strat.
Posted on 10/1/19 at 12:26 pm to Blizzard of Chizz
I took the advice of my teacher and tried to play at least 5 minutes per day in instead of shredding for 4 hours straight on Saturday. My guitar sounds so much better now!
This post was edited on 10/1/19 at 12:36 pm
Posted on 10/2/19 at 12:04 pm to Crow Pie
rolling the fret ends and fretboard edges has probably been the most impactful improvement I've noticed. It just makes playing any guitar feel better. It's a must do to any guitar that doesn't already have a great feel in hand. If a guitar doesn't feel great, you aren't going to want to play it. And it is super easy to do, especially if you have no binding on the neck.
Posted on 10/2/19 at 12:11 pm to MrBobDobalina
quote:
mastery bridge
must have for an offset guitar
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