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Not modding?


ES335Pro

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I am going to have to disagree with you.

And I think it really depends on what model Epi we are talking about. The basic "Student/Entry" level models, i would not mod, it is far less expensive to replace them with an upscale model.

My Les Paul Plus top pro already has better stuff in it, and the pick up sound wonderful.

The last guitar I "Upgraded" was a Mexican strat, buy the time I got the new pick ups and scratchplace and better cap in it, I could have bought and American standard.

 

My LP pro here has only two thing done to it, a screw on Dimarzio strap (So it won't fall) and a clear scatchplate so that beautiful top can be seen. I also changed the strings to Optima Gold strings.

 

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I called enhancements more then mods, as there all reversible and enhance it's playing.

 

That's one nice guitar! I like it!

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  • 3 weeks later...

I regard a mod as a significant replacement or addition of components, usually pickups or electronics. Installing a Bigsby is obviously a mod.

 

I regard most other things as improvements. If we consider certain parts in high-end guitars it's obvious they yield an insanely high margin per part eg Grover 18:1 tuners.

 

Changing tuners, switches, nuts and bridges is a small price to pay for stability, a lack of headaches, peace of mind, etc. Mass-produced guitars have advanced light years in terms of variances/tolerances thanks to automation but haste still makes waste and attention to detail - and alterations thereof - will ultimately pay off in playability and tone.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I have no problem modding a guitar. I have two Epis, a Casino and a Dot, and both are heavily modified. Tuners, nut, bridge, pickups, pots, switch, jack, even the strap buttons. Replaced the stop on the Dot with a trapeze, and a DeLisle Pentatone will be going in there soon, too.

 

F-hole guitars should have sealed pots, period. I put Bourns 95 (or 82 when I can find them) in open guitars.

 

I have three custom-built guitars which I of course did not mod because I spec’d them exactly as I wanted in the first place.

 

I even modded my beloved Martin OM-21 - Waverlies, Greven pickguard, strap locks, pickup, Buffalo horn pins.

 

I like the Epis. They are my cheapest guitars but they play well and sound good, and get a lot of playing time.

 

Steven

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If I buy a guitar, it's because I fell in like with the bare bones of the guitar. Everything else is modifiable. Pickups, oh hell yes. Nut, bridge, tuners, whatever, again yes. Blowtorch or bandsaw, whatever it takes to bring out the best of that guitar. Sometimes, nothing gets done, because it just right. 97 Sheraton II is a perfect example of that, same with my 79 Genesis. My Peerless made Casino? Had the guts ripped out and replaced within ten minutes of walking in the door. Also threw out the rattle tarp bridge that came with it.

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I liked my 2004 Sheraton enough to buy it (cheap and second-hand), then the fun started. Now, it still has its original strap buttons and tailpiece. And it's a great guitar, exactly as I want it, and it feels and sounds like a very much more expensive instrument. I couldn't have afforded to go and buy something of a similar spec outright. Modding meant I could buy bits when I was able, and experiment with pickups to get it as I wanted it.

 

The basic construction of a guitar has to be sound though, for it to be worth modding. Some things just won't be worth the effort.

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When I buy a guitar, it's because I love the way it looks, plays, feels and sounds but not necessarily in that order. If it suits me in all other categories but needs a little something, I don't mind modifying it. If it's an expensive guitar, I will keep the original parts for resale value. A lot of us used to throw in DiMarzio's back in the day in a less expensive guitar, if the action was great and it looked good. I have a $200.00 guitar that I put a couple new pickups in, a Kahler locking whammy, and it's been a guitar that's stood the test of time since buying it used in 1983. But, it's my guitar and I'll do with it what I want.

 

If I spend a lot of money on a guitar, I'll want it pretty much perfect with no mods.

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[tongue] Nope not a modder here. I buy them because I like them so I have no desire to change them.

 

+1 :-)

 

On VERY few occasions I have bought a git and either HAD to mod it (dead pup(s) or other electrical problem) or I knew that the git played great but the PO previously "modded" it and I was putting it back to the way it left the factory.

Funny over the years I collected a slew of pups (maybe 20 or so from SD, Benedetto, Gibson, Schaller, Dimarzio, Bartolini, Ibanez) and have only used one pair in a Harmony 335 clone which had pups that were dead.

 

 

 

 

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The Gibsons I could effort were not "hot" enough for my style of music, so I changed the pickups on all of em. It would restrict me to a quite tiny circle of guitars if I would try to 100% match my desires in terms of shape, color, electronics etc. So I virtually always want to change something.

Beside pickups I often install strap-locks and do "soft-mods" like string-wrapping.

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