capmaster Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 I made and had made some better Fenders than available stock, but didn't fool around much with Gibson instruments except the EB 2013 bass. However, there are two completely reversible mods I am addicted to, both exclusively for convenience of use, and a third not really reversible one for an easy feeling as well as for safety. - Speed Knobs: Compared to top hat knobs, they are easier to grasp, easier to rotate about a certain angle without taking a look at them, and they are superior when pulling push/pull pots. I replaced all the top hat knobs with speed knobs. Witch Hats as on my SG Supra are OK since they are corrugated, and there are no push/pulls. - TP-6 Fine Tuning Stop Bar Tailpiece: This makes tuning much easier and allows to easily control strings that eventually show stick-slip problems in the nut. No more need to fool around because of step-wise tuning results missing the desired pitch. Sadly not available in a nickel-plated version. - Strap Security Locks: They are the best and cheapest instrument insurance for while I'm playing it. Especially my Les Paul and 2011 L6S guitars tend to get lost due to the strap slipping out of the upper strap knob. It is important to mount their parts properly and carefully to both guitar and strap, but then they work perfectly. I am sure that Alex Lifeson knows well why he wanted his signature Les Paul Axcess to be equipped with them. I am curious what your most favored modifications are, and so I am waiting for your informative and well-founded contributions. OK, since making music often is for fun, they may be funny, too ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unionman Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 Fretboard blinder http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.acefrehleylespaul.com/Smoker__99a.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.acefrehleylespaul.com/Smokers.html&h=600&w=800&sz=84&tbnid=TPUWB9LHUnjbTM:&tbnh=98&tbnw=131&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dace%2Bfrehley%2Bpicture%2Bwith%2Bsmoking%2Bguitar%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=ace+frehley+picture+with+smoking+guitar&usg=__mUAvCtS1VEQussXd5Jx4eBJ2jpY=&docid=tTOIrM9VYyKQ6M&sa=X&ei=XYT-UZ_iBYjMyQGPv4CIBw&ved=0CC8Q9QEwAQ&dur=5137 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Plains Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 Always Schaller strap locks. and a nylon nut. Most often better pots/caps and pickups. The only Gibson I have, which has not had the wiring pulled out of it, is my Pearly Gates LP. Some of mine also have other mods - like different bridge, tailpiece, tuners, inlays. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 The only real "mod" I do, to ALL my Gibson's, is putting in a "bone" nut! Plek'd, or not...I just cannot get along, with the Corian nuts, that come stock, on most Gibson's, these days. In fact, my dealer knows to just change the nut, on any Gibson I buy from them, as just a part of the "deal." As to knobs, bridges, tuners, or pickups. Only, if I want a certain look, or don't like the sound, for some reason...AFTER playing it awhile! I never change pickups, until I'm convinced, some other's will be better, for what "I" want/need. If I didn't like the sound, initially, I doubt I'd have purchased the guitar, in the first place. But, one example (for me) was, several years after I bought my Les Paul Classic, I just felt the stock Ceramic pickups were just too "hot" for me, and changed them to '57 Classic's! I've never looked back. The LP tone I remembered, and grew up on, in the '60's, was right there, after that one change! So, I do change more, than the nut, in rare instances. CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unionman Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 I haven't had to make any mods to Gibsons. Instead of Straplocks I use Lock It Guitar Straps. I have considered putting pickup covers and witchhat knobs on my Flying V '67 reissue, since that would be more accurate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Searcy Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 I put Dunlop strap locks on everything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfpup Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 Definitely Dunlop strap locks on the first day. But I'm a restless tinkerer, so nothing generally remains stock. I think my SG Classic is still stock, but it will probably get caps at least (if not pots). My faded LP Standard has probably seen the most mods... pickups, covers, knobs, pots, caps, bridge and studs, tailpiece and studs. Before and after pics... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NHTom Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 My only "automatic" mod is Straplocks. I tend to use the Shcallers but I have used the Dunlops with success also. I won't have a guitar without them.....even if I have to modify a screw to fit the stock hole/lock combination.......just such cheap insurance and completely reversible. Other than that, My days of cutting up guitars is over. I'll play with "bolt on" stuff like color changes on plastics, knobs, etc. I might even consider a pickup swap, but not drilling/routing/etc. The "tinkerer" in me has been considering buying a kit or building a guitar off a site like Warmouth or something that way I can do what ever I want without ruining an original instrument. NHTom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dponzi Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 I've left all my guitars pretty much alone, except my Les Paul Studio. I installed P-rails and triple-shot trim rings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 Most all of my "modding" is long, long in the past. Currently I've added a front strap button to an acoustic that didn't come with one on the heel of the neck; I'm still using a TOM bridge on a '50s archtop that came with wood, was modded to something of a metal bar bridge and I added the TOM. I've messed with some AE bridges to lower the action. Otherwise... just strings and general "setup" stuff. My olden days were a different tale, but... m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksdaddy Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 I don't mod anymore unless it's totally warranted from a functionality standpoint. I may tweak the nut slots but I don't put on a bone nut unless the existing nut is crap. If it's decent hard material I'm cool with it. And even the cheesiest guitars nowadays come with decent pickups and tuners. I guess my days of 'improving for improvements sake' are behind me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 I think as one ages one tends to consider various mods less important and general functionality more important. That's pretty much otherwise known as "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." I'm personally utterly convinced that technique is the most important part of a guitar sounding "good." Yeah, you can mod this or that, but once a great setup (strings included) is achieved for a given guitar and player technique, all the tonal changes of pups, bridge, nut, etc., ain't what an audience is gonna care about - they're listening to the playing. Granted, I sound different playing "Misty" fingerstyle on a flattop, a classical and an archtop. But I've never had anyone from a "just listener" to guys a lot more talented and skilled than I am, suggest that it would have been "better" with the different tones from a different guitar or pups or whatevers. It's the pickin'... I keep thinking too that excepting a "close-cover" style of band and pickin, that an audience wouldn't be as accepting of an AE or archtop doing Chicago blues as long as the thing didn't blast out feedback all the time and the playing was quality pickin'. m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 . Strap locks. And very good straps. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGY34vGdZrg in the whole video @1:59 @0:23 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZuByf7gGC4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chewy60 Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 yeah, first mod is the easiest: schaller straplocks. i don't have any stock parts left on my '94 lp classic plus except the volume and tone knobs. there was a time in the late '90s when i just went crazy with mods, some needed and others desired. my local custom shop guys sure got to know me pretty well as i was coming in to get something done every few months.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 I guess I just don't get it when it comes to straplocks. I played rock and country in some pretty "active" sorts of circumstances and never once lost a guitar. That even includes pickin' while "dancing" with a girl during one rock gig back in the '60s. In that same era I've done splits, jumped all over the stage and beyond, used my guitar as a bayonet, even tossed it a bit - and never lost one. I do have concerns about endpin jacks on AE guitars because they're bigger than average strap buttons and have less "lip," but... I don't hop around much nowadays either. m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfpup Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 That's pretty much otherwise known as "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." Not nearly as much fun as the "it's good, but I can make it better" approach! Though I admit I don't find myself modifying my acoustic instruments as all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksdaddy Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 A guy I know did one if those silly "throw the guitar in the air" stunts in 1985 with a 1969 Les Paul Personal. It already had a repaired headstock. The strap came off, came down headstock first on his foot, broke two toes, then bounced across the carpet. All it did to the guitar was knock two strings out of tune. Idiot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 Surf... In the '60s and '70s I'd buy up yuckie guitars and make them playable - even sounding good - and then selling them. I modded more than a few I kept a while for myself but... bottom line is that I don't own one of them today and I have five from that era I'm still quite happy with unmodded except for setup and one '50s archtop I added a TOM bridge to. m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badbluesplayer Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 I have straplocks and aluminum tailpieces on all my Gibsons. I think they all have Tonepros bridges too. And I install new caps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riffster Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 The one that is a must since it is so easy and cheap is PIO Caps. Other mods it depends how much improvement I am going to get out of them. P.S. I hate speed knobs, if I did buy a guitar with them they would have to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVOL! Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 Both of my Gibsons have Bigsbys, roller bridges, and bone nuts, so those would be mine. Cosmetically, I sometimes change the knobs. My SG Classic has witch hats and my Jazzmaster has Tele style dome knobs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btoth76 Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 Dunlop Strap-Locks and real high-end PIOs: Jensen 0.022 Cheers... Bence Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bender 4 Life Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 all my guitars regardless of brand pull pin straplocks on horn mounted straps.... push pin locks on neck pocket mounted straps... teflon grease in the nut-slots.... my old LP has had a complete rewire due to an amp shorting out melting half the guitars wiring better aftermarket p'ups .223 Russian PIO caps Flying-V p'up covers .223 Russian PIO cap SG Std. no mods....no need for any i'm MUCH more prone to modding/upgrading Asian & Mexican guitars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzoboy Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 The only mods I'd ever consider doing to a Gibson or Epi is to take off the strings that come with them and install Rev. Willie's Texas Lottery Strings. I may consider a Bigsby on some but that would be the most I'd do after all I find them just fine as they come from the factory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capmaster Posted August 6, 2013 Author Share Posted August 6, 2013 ... my old LP has had a complete rewire due to an amp shorting out melting half the guitars wiring better aftermarket p'ups .223 Russian PIO caps ... Oooouuuuch! Hope no one was injured. It must have been a very bad shortout with both high voltage and current capability. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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