Modification Reviews

[PNG123]

So i came up with this idea to open a thread were we can all post the modifications we have done to our guitar.

This would help you and others, in idenifying usefull modifcation or those tht are just pains in the ass, time consumers or money wasters

This should be presented as follows:

Name: (Enter name of Modification)

Use/Aim: What is the aim of this modification, what will it improve

Difficulty: (Range= Very Easy, Easy, Intermediate, Advanced, Very Advanced) (coulb be Easy-Intermediate (this would indictae difficulty is between Easy and Intermediate)

Time: (Time taken to do this modification)

Effectiveness: How effective was this on your guitar on a scale from 1-10 (ex: 0/10 being 'no difference', 10/10 'changed your guitar totally' (for the better)

Expence: (How much did you spend on materials for this modification (Approx)

Source: (This must be a link to the Schematic and Explanation of your modification) If you invented the modification your self, Just include your own explanation

Comment: (Your Comment about this modification)

Over-all Rating: Was it worth the hassle?/ Would you recommend it? (as above Scale 1-10, 0/10 being 'No it is horrible, a waste of time and money, and 10/10 being 'A must'

NB: PLEASE REVIEW BOTH GOOD AND BAD MODIFICATIONS YOU HAVE DONE

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I will go first:

Name: Nicer-Sound (Very original ;D

Aim/ Use: Gives a new and unique(er) sound to your playing

Difficulty: Very Easy

Time: 5 Mins

Effectivness: 6.5/10

Expence: $0

Source: My own brain 8-) :

Explanation:

I did this modifcation on my Yamaha Pacifica.

It has S-S-H Pick-up set-up.

The pick-ups are screwed in as follows:

Layer 1:Screw (top_. ______l====l_________

Layer 2: Pick guard_________| |__________

Layer 3: Spring ___________+++__________

Layer 4: Pick-Ups __________| | __________

Layer 5: Screw (bottom) _____\/____________

--

All you need to do is keep on fastening the screw and you will notice the pick up rising.

Keep on going till the pick-up is about 2mm from the Strings (no need to mesure, but make sure strings are not touching the pick-up

Advantages:

Easy, Cheap and Reversable.

Disadvantages:

Inccreases hum, and picking noise (SLIGHTLY!)

Comment: A must-try modification for beginners,

Over-all Rating: 7/10

Side Explanation:

What is happening:

''it's kinda like when a pretty girl is a block away.

when she gets closer, she looks even better.''

unklmickey

Edited September 21, 2006 by PNG123

[Desopolis]

not to screw this up, but most guitars have adjustible height pickups. Ill post my latest:

Name: Strat Rewire

Use/Aim: Squire pickups are terrible, time to upgarde

Difficulty: Intermediate

Time: alot of planning, maybe 1 or 2 hrs of work.

Effectiveness: 8/10 Sounds extremely better and the value in my mind has increased dramaticly.

Expence: I hunted arround and Id say 180ish for 3 Seymour Duncan pickups, a Hot rail, duckbucker and vintage single coil. about $20 for pots and wiring

Source: www.Seymourduncan.com, www.stewmac.com and radio shack.

Comment: I lost alittle of that strat tone from the bridge with the hot rail, but mixed with the vintage its still pretty nice.

The original wiring was terrible, I also changed all of the pots over because the original were fuzzy.

I also changed the second tone to adjust the rear pickup instead of the middle one.

Over-all Rating: 7/10 Its intense.. the gain alone over the stockers is insane.. I could never get a good harmonic, or tap from the old ones and now I'm avoiding slide noise. also one thing that bugs me is I used to rest my hand on the strings when playing high notes to mute the low notes, but now the magnets are so strong that I get to close and it yanks the string down. and even though its muted when the pickup and string contact it makes a tone..

hard habbit to break

Edited September 21, 2006 by Desopolis

[PNG123]

not to screw this up, but most guitars have adjustible height pickups. Ill post my latest:

Name: Strat Rewire

Use/Aim: Squire pickups are terrible, time to upgarde

Difficulty: Intermediate

Time: alot of planning, maybe 1 or 2 hrs of work.

Effectiveness: 8/10 Sounds extremely better and the value in my mind has increased dramaticly.

Expence: I hunted arround and Id say 180ish for 3 Seymour Duncan pickups, a Hot rail, duckbucker and vintage single coil. about $20 for pots and wiring

Source: www.Seymourduncan.com, www.stewmac.com and radio shack.

Comment: I lost alittle of that strat tone from the bridge with the hot rail, but mixed with the vintage its still pretty nice.

The original wiring was terrible, I also changed all of the pots over because the original were fuzzy.

I also changed the second tone to adjust the rear pickup instead of the middle one.

Over-all Rating: 7/10 Its intense.. the gain alone over the stockers is insane.. I could never get a good harmonic, or tap from the old ones and now I'm avoiding slide noise. also one thing that bugs me is I used to rest my hand on the strings when playing high notes to mute the low notes, but now the magnets are so strong that I get to close and it yanks the string down. and even though its muted when the pickup and string contact it makes a tone..

hard habbit to break

(nice review, I know must Guitars have adjustable Pick-ups but some people might not know the effect).

Also you mgiht wanna try lowering your pick-ups You will loose some of the current sound you have but atleast you will rock comfortably, And it is not just the habit, You will need to mute in many songs ,so might aswell ajust the pick-ups.

Also i agree with you,

I have a pair of Seymour Duncan Humbuckers on my Fender Showmaster and the sound is much thicker and heavier than when you put on Fender (or Fender like) single coils.