All these guitar/gear "Mods"....Why?! ;>)

[charlie brown]

Going to play a bit of "Devil's Advocate," here...

And, I'm NOT talking about visual mods, so much.

But...Are we just "tinkerers," or...are there really necessary

changes that need/have to be made?! If so, why hasn't

Epiphone addressed that?!

 

Maybe if you're "playing professionally," I can understand it,

BUT....All these new Pickups (sometimes changed several times,

new caps, new switches, new pots....

All to sit in your bedroom/garage, and play through

a small solid state (or, even tube) amp, at nowhere

near the "sweet spot," volume or tone wise, through a

multi-processor or a "s... load of pedals??! Am I

missing something?! LOL! :>)

 

CB

[RobinTheHood]

Most of my mods have been out of necessity. Aside from that I like to tinker a little.

 

I would imagine for many it is fun or a hobby. Why not?

[Figstrum]

Going to play a bit of "Devil's Advocate' date='" here...

And, I'm NOT talking about visual mods, so much.

But...Are we just "tinkerers," or...are there really necessary

changes that need/have to be made?! If so, why hasn't

Epiphone addressed that?!

 

Maybe if you're "playing professionally," I can understand it,

BUT....All these new Pickups (sometimes changed several times,

new caps, new switches, new pots....

All to sit in your bedroom/garage, and play through

a small solid state (or, even tube) amp, at nowhere

near the "sweet spot," volume or tone wise, through a

multi-processor or a "s... load of pedals??! Am I

missing something?! LOL! :>)

CB[/quote']

 

 

I like to mod my guitar. When I play, I like the "Dude, where did you get that" response. True, mods do not make you play any better. But, I like to keep up with new stuff. I appreciate the best sound just from the guitar, instead of having multiple pedals, j stations, ect. You are not missing anything, just the fact that we are all different, and we are all driven by the divine art of rocking out.

[charlie brown]

No right or wrong answer...Robin...just curiosity. When you say "out of necessity," what do you mean,

really? Was it non-playable, as it was (and if so, why would you buy it?), or just you wanted to change

things, for YOUR personal reasons? Tone, or aesthetics, etc.? Again...no right or wrong answer...just

curious. It's fun...and interesting to see what everyone comes up with, on their guitars, and "why(?),"

if there IS a reason...that's all.

 

Cheers,

CB

[charlie brown]

All the "mods" I've ever done, were (mostly) for personal aesthetic reasons, rather than

function, or tone. One exception was when I changed pickups in a Strat and Telecaster for

"Noiseless," just to get rid of the 60-cycle Hum! I'm not sure, in all honesty, if I could tell

any appreciable difference in humbucker pickup tone, at my age...and hearing capacity?!

I can tell P-90, from P-100 (usually), from Mini-humbucker...when "I'm" playing, but if I was

not in visual sight of the player, it would be a bit tougher, I think. But, maybe that's just me?

:>)

 

CB

[JefferySmith]

And I thought this would be yet another rant about moderators.

 

My mods have been conservative...swapping out knobs with speed knobs.

[RobinTheHood]

No right or wrong answer...Robin...just curiosity. When you say "out of necessity' date='" what do you mean,

really? Was it non-playable, as it was (and if so, why would you buy it?), or just you wanted to change

things, for YOUR personal reasons? Tone, or aesthetics, etc.? Again...no right or wrong answer...just

curious. It's fun...and interesting to see what everyone comes up with, on their guitars, and "why(?),"

if there IS a reason...that's all.

 

Cheers,

CB[/quote']

 

All the modding I did to my S-500 was out of necessity. Long story shot, I loaned it to a friend and didnt get it back for 5 years. It sat in a basement and rusted. I replaced the PUPs, guard, pots, wiring, and the bridge. They were all unuseable when I got it back.

 

I modded the pickups in my G-310 because I happened upon a set of good DiMarzios very cheap. The stock PUPs were really bad...even for an armchair warrior. I might not have a great knowledge of good tone, but I sure can hear bad tone. lol.

 

I want to mod the PUPs/electronics and bridge on my EBM. The bridge is old, jury-rig repaired and out of production. No replacement parts. The PUPs are active with the pots soldered to a pre-amp circuit board. Its scratchy, intermittent and the volume knob it either on or off. I've dealt with it for years and now that I'm consistently jamming and gigging, I'm tired of the quirks. Plus, it sounds pretty unprofessional when you are setting up at a gig and the bass is making god-awful scratching and popping noises. It stops once I get it set, but those first few seconds are pretty embarrassing.

 

Thats my story and I'm stickin' to it.

[charlie brown]

Cool! But, what's with all these "Friends" I keep reading about on this forum, who borrow someone's guitar, and

keep it, for a year or 5 years, and then give it back in terrible condtion?! That amazes me! I guess being "old as

dirt," I was raised NOT to borrow anything, unless you could return it in (at least) the same condition, or better

(cleaned up, etc.) But then, I never loan my guitars (or cameras), and don't expect to use other peoples, either.

So...??? I'm actually reasonably generous, in most other areas, though.

 

CB

[BlueLesPaul2006]

Going to play a bit of "Devil's Advocate' date='" here...

And, I'm NOT talking about visual mods, so much.

But...Are we just "tinkerers," or...are there really necessary

changes that need/have to be made?! If so, why hasn't

Epiphone addressed that?!

 

Maybe if you're "playing professionally," I can understand it,

BUT....All these new Pickups (sometimes changed several times,

new caps, new switches, new pots....

All to sit in your bedroom/garage, and play through

a small solid state (or, even tube) amp, at nowhere

near the "sweet spot," volume or tone wise, through a

multi-processor or a "s... load of pedals??! Am I

missing something?! LOL! :>)

 

CB[/quote']

 

I don't think that most mods are necessary unless something is broken, however, I truly enjoy modding my guitar. I have changed my pickups and am 100% glad that I did. other than that my mods are simple cosmetic changes. I do not feel that I should change everything since I am not playing professionally. but on the other hand a change in parts and tone makes me more excited about playing and works to push me to enhance my skill. since i put the Seymour Duncans in my LP i have been able to play more styles of guitar with better tone and enjoyment. having said all that i am a tinkerer and hate it when things are stock

[BluezOldy]

A very rude question has often been on my mind since I first started visiting guitar forums:

 

So many members (not just here!) seem to spend so much time on forums, so much time modding, so much time GASing, looking at and talking about new models, manufacturing origins etc etc., that I often wonder if they ever actually play and are more into acquisition and/or admiration of their acquistions.

 

In one sense ownership of a collection of guitars, amps, pedals etc. is the primary concern.

[Axe2Grind123]

. . . that I often wonder if they ever actually play and are more into acquisition and/or admiration of their acquistions.

 

See thread ==> http://forums.epiphone.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=9762

[pohatu771]

The only mods I've done are as follows:

 

Installed Strap Locks on all electric guitars

Installed pickup in my Martin acoustic

stripped the finish off of my Fullerton acoustic

 

 

Most of the mods I'd like to do are entirely cosmetic, other than replacing the failing electronics in my Casino. The only big sound mod I want to do is the BitMo in my Valve Junior, to give me a few different sounds.

 

My Spirit mod is actually entirely cosmetic, when it comes down to it. The sound mods were already done when I got it, and it was perfectly playable, from an electronics standpoint. My only modifications are making it more presentable.

[lpdeluxe]

CB, you knew I'd come out from under my rock if you waited long enough, didn't you?

 

I mod guitars to make them more playable, more like something I can't afford, or just for the hell of it.

 

Let's see: Epi Sheraton II, completely rewired with Seymour Duncans and Alpha pots, creme pickup rings and gold speed knobs to...what? To make it closer to a 335. I eventually gave up, and bought a 335. Lesson learned? Damned if I know.

 

Classic '50s Precision, replaced pickup with SD Quarter Pound and installed TI Jazz Flats. Why? It turned a good bass into a great one. I gigged with it as my primary bass from then on -- to the present, in fact.

 

MIM FRS Precision, same mods as the Classic '50s, and replaced the neck with a fretless Warmoth. The point? Fender doesn't make one, but I got me a natural ash/maple fingerboard fretless. I saved Fender a bunch of tooling expense.

 

My latest, a '90s Samick ES-5 copy in tobacco sunburst. I'm replacing the knobs, did a complete tune up/set up and I now have a cool big jazz box. The reason? Because I can.

 

I'm leaving out lots of pawn shop prizes, like the Japanese Strat Lead (one pickup, one knob) that I routed out, converted to a "real" 3-pickup Strat complete with vintage Fender pickups that mostly served to prove to me that I didn't like Strats, or the SG Faded that's a work in progress (next up: Bigsby!)

 

So there you are. I keep on gigging, and burning myself on the soldering iron, and having fun, and making music.

 

Or am I missing something?

[BlueLesPaul2006]

The only mods I've done are as follows:

 

Installed Strap Locks on all electric guitars

Installed pickup in my Martin acoustic

stripped the finish off of my Fullerton acoustic

 

 

Most of the mods I'd like to do are entirely cosmetic' date=' other than replacing the failing electronics in my Casino. The only big sound mod I want to do is the BitMo in my Valve Junior, to give me a few different sounds.

 

My Spirit mod is actually entirely cosmetic, when it comes down to it. The sound mods were already done when I got it, and it was perfectly playable, from an electronics standpoint. My only modifications are making it more presentable.[/quote']

 

Strap locks are a must. I change to strap locks first thing.

[brianh]

I just do it for fun and for my ongoing education as a guitar repair hobbyist. But I've been around long enough to know when to leave a classic axe alone. No point in trying to improve a vintage instrument unless it's got real problems. Even then, probably best to take it to a real luthier - the rare pros who have 20+ years textbook-type experience.

 

My motto is from Erlewine - "Practice on junk".

[RotcanX]

Are we just "tinkerers' date='" or...are there really necessary

changes that need/have to be made?! If so, why hasn't

Epiphone addressed that?![/quote']

Are we not men? We are DEVO!

A bit of both, CB. Some mods are necessary and improve the guitar. Others just make it look good. The reason Epiphone hasn't addressed the needed changes is simple. You never paid them to.

[BluezOldy]

 

Strap locks are a must. I change to strap locks first thing.

 

 

I just drink two bottles of Grolsch wiretops and whack the leftover rubber washers on the guitar strap buttons.

 

Seriously.

 

[RotcanX]

 

Way cool avatar, Jeff

[duane v]

Other than my JL LP Jr. project, and changing the pups on my Faded SG, it's all been maintenance..... Fret replacements on three guitars so far, and one waiting..... I'm very particular about fret type for some reason.

[Gordy01]

A very rude question has often been on my mind since I first started visiting guitar forums:

 

So many members (not just here!) seem to spend so much time on forums, so much time modding, so much time GASing, looking at and talking about new models, manufacturing origins etc etc., that I often wonder if they ever actually play and are more into acquisition and/or admiration of their acquistions.

 

 

I usually play about 1 hour a day. I only spend about 1/2 hr on this forum or any other.

So my playing time is definitely more than my internet time.

 

I always put strap locks on all my guitars.

The only other mod I always do is to put locking tuners on.

I believe that the guitar stays in tune a lot better using them.

I've become a part time guitar tech, so I do practice on my guitars, and repair other guitars in the evening.

And I recently changed the knobs on my Ultra 2.

[larkin38]

I only do mods out of necessity.

Bad *** bridge on Olympic. Kluson tuners on Olympic. Old ones just wore out.

DiMarzio SD pick up on Gibson SG Standard for the sound.

DiMarzio SD again on Coronet for the sound. And JP Player tremelo system on Coronet.

Some people get so wound up in modding a guitar I don`t know why they don`t just buy a kit and re-build from the ground up. Seems they treat guitars like vintage Detroit muscle cars. Tear down to the frame and re-build everything.

[Figstrum]

So, I guess if there is a question regarding modifications to a guitar, I should take my questions elsewhere since mods are not an approved subject in this forum?

 

All these "Mods"....Why?! ;>).............because I want to!

[bluelake07]

Are we just "tinkerers' date='" or...are there really necessary

changes that need/have to be made?! If so, why hasn't

Epiphone addressed that?!)

 

CB[/quote']

Epiphone guitars are not high-end and are built with parts that get the job done, but no more than that. They are playable as-is, but a lot of us want to make them better. I'm left-handed and was fortunate to find a lefty MIK Casino; there weren't any Kalamazoo or Elitist Casinos built for us so if we want a better guitar we have to modify what we've got. I will probably keep my Casino 'til the end of my days. We only have a limited time on Earth and when I pick up my guitar to play I want the experience to be as good as it can be, even if I don't perform for an audience. The addition of a bone nut and a new wiring assembly (CTS pots, Orange Drop caps, higher-quality pickup selector) improved the sound and controls feel. The Epi P-90's are decent and probably won't be switched out for something else, but if I have some extra bucks sometime it could happen. Finally, having a luthier do a setup was the icing on the cake. I'm very pleased with the guitar and that's important to me.

[charlie brown]

So' date=' I guess if there is a question regarding modifications to a guitar, I should take my questions elsewhere [i']since mods are not an approved subject in this forum?[/i]

 

All these "Mods"....Why?! ;>).............because I want to!

 

"Not an approved subject in this forum???" Mods are asked about, and done all the time! As stated, I was

only playing "Devil's Advocate" (and not being too serious, at that), just to find out why people DO

mod their guitars. It's totally OK...to do that, and...as I also stated...there are not right or wrong answers, about

this. Just thought it would be fun to talk about, and find out where various members are coming from,

in that regard. So...it's certainly no big deal. "Because I want to!"...IS as good a reason, as any...obviously,

but I thought it would fun to see if there was a common reason, more than most, or just how varied,

it/they might be.

 

I'm sorry, if any of you took the question too much to heart, as a critique, or some such? Wasn't meant

that way. In fact, I included the "wink" in the title, so (hopefully) people would understand it wasn't meant

to be all that serious. But..."C'est La Vie," I guess?

 

CB

[antwhi2001]

I've done some mods to every guitar I've owned in the last 5 years or so. Most have been improvements in my opinion.

 

My Gibson flying V is a good example :

1. I didn't like the relative harshness / lack of warmth of the stock ceramic humbuckers. I swapped them for alnico 5 Burstbuckers to get warmer, bluesier tones.

2. I also wanted one with a maestro, because I wanted to emulate the way Andy Powell plays. Vs with maestro are hard to find so I bought one without and added one.

3. Having done that it made sense to fit locking Grovers

4. And rolling bridge saddles.

5. I also use the volume control a lot and when playing live I prefer to have a "master" volume, so I changed the wiring from 2x volume and master tone to 1x volume 2x tone.

6. Finally I recently removed the pup covers to reduce feedback when standing close to my amp.

 

There's an example of me buying a damn good guitar, but then doing several mods to get as close as I can to "my" perfect V. They all made sense to me.

 

 

I should also say that I've learned how to do a lot of this through this very forum and some of it's helpful and knowledgable members, past and present.