Ugrade pickups or buy a new guitar

[Steve Merrill]

I am trying to either buy a new guitar or custom the one I have now. Can anyone advise please. I have a Epiphone Special and was thinking of putting in some Seymour Duncan SH6's or SH13's or TB 12's or a combo of them. I like to play heavy metal music. Or should I just go ahead and get a Jackson or an ESP that already has them in it?

Would it be a waist of money to upgrade the Epiphone?

Thanks for any help

[Marcel]

Re: Ugrade pickups or buy a new guitar

welcome to the forum!
if the guitar feels and plays good and you like how it sounds unplugged I would definatly upgrade the axe.. (but maybe coz i never have much money or i like modded things...)

waste of money.. i would say no you can easily resell or trade the duncans without much lost...

[Steve Merrill]

Re: Ugrade pickups or buy a new guitar

Thank you very much

[rocksoldier]

Re: Ugrade pickups or buy a new guitar

Get yourself a nice jackson But remember that the pickups in the cheaper jackson are "duncan designed" not real duncans.
I would suggest getting a used mij jackson and uppgrade to the real duncans.

[Jeff5]

Re: Ugrade pickups or buy a new guitar

If you like the Epi, then get yourself some new pups. Really, any guitar can do metal, it truly doesn't matter. PuPs, and more importantly your amp, make the biggest difference.

[rocksoldier]

Re: Ugrade pickups or buy a new guitar

Well, any guitar can do metal, but i just think that a jackson is a superior guitar to the epi.
i have a epi g-400 that i thought was great sounding/playing, but my jackson rhoads (cheap model, bought it used) just blow it away in every possible aspect.

just imo of course.

[mjsever]

Re: Ugrade pickups or buy a new guitar

I would only buy a new guitar if you'd be upgrading the whole thing- pickups, playability, woods, etc. But try some out- there is definitely a difference in better-made axes. If you like your Epi better, stick with it. If not, upgrade. Just don't buy a guitar that's the same price range/quality range as your old one- keep moving up.

[Guitarist]

Re: Ugrade pickups or buy a new guitar

If you have the money, the guitar. If you don't, the pups. Either way, the tone will be drastically improved. Good luck!

[diggamark]

Re: Ugrade pickups or buy a new guitar

do both....

get the pup upgrade, then save up for the jackson.. you always need a backup/2nd/3rd/4th/etc axe....

[texasguitarslinger]

Re: Ugrade pickups or buy a new guitar

Welcome to the boards! I have owned an Epi special II before and they are fine guitars for their price range but I would recommend going for the Epi Les Paul Classic if your budget allows. Drop some SDs into that and you will be well on your way to some great tone.

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Ugrade pickups or buy a new guitar

I'd say, list the guitar for sale, as you're saving up extra cash. As soon as it sells, go buy the new guitar. Just my 2 cents.

[presa_tito]

Re: Ugrade pickups or buy a new guitar

If you actually do like the way the epiphone plays and looks then go for the pickup upgrade. If you think it's a mediocre guitar, then go for the jackson/esp.