changing pickups on cheap guitarss
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2ndhandband
New member
Re: changing pickups on cheap guitarss
The vast majority of an electric guitar's tone is the electronics. Put good pickups, pots, and capacitors in and it'll sound fantastic.
The vast majority of an electric guitar's tone is the electronics. Put good pickups, pots, and capacitors in and it'll sound fantastic.
Derpottsie
New member
Re: changing pickups on cheap guitarss
If its a cheap guitar, just changing the pickups will help but you might as well do what 2ndhandband said to do. Gut it and put quality pots and capacitors in there too. That'll make a bigger difference than just swapping pickups
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If its a cheap guitar, just changing the pickups will help but you might as well do what 2ndhandband said to do. Gut it and put quality pots and capacitors in there too. That'll make a bigger difference than just swapping pickups
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Re: changing pickups on cheap guitarss
got it thanks! the reason i wanna change them is because the notes cant be heard that it makes me pick harder, i have another GIO that cost me less money and that one is fine. if i change the pickups and the issue continues, than its the capacitors and pots? sorry im new at this. thanks
got it thanks! the reason i wanna change them is because the notes cant be heard that it makes me pick harder, i have another GIO that cost me less money and that one is fine. if i change the pickups and the issue continues, than its the capacitors and pots? sorry im new at this. thanks
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2ndhandband
New member
Re: changing pickups on cheap guitarss
If you have a cheapy guitar i would just gut it and put all new stuff in it. Pots and caps are cheap so why screw around?
If you have a cheapy guitar i would just gut it and put all new stuff in it. Pots and caps are cheap so why screw around?
Re: changing pickups on cheap guitarss
ok ill change the pots and caps first. how will that help with the stock pickups?
ok ill change the pots and caps first. how will that help with the stock pickups?
2ndhandband
New member
Re: changing pickups on cheap guitarss
That's not quite what I meant. I mean yes... good pots and caps will even make your crappy pickups sound a little better but what I meant was just do everything in one shot. New pickups, pots, caps, and a quality switch that isn't going to crap out in the middle of a show.
That's not quite what I meant. I mean yes... good pots and caps will even make your crappy pickups sound a little better but what I meant was just do everything in one shot. New pickups, pots, caps, and a quality switch that isn't going to crap out in the middle of a show.
Re: changing pickups on cheap guitarss
ok got it. i think i found the issue , this guitar has 10s and the other has 9 guage on them, so when i tune it down to Eb my tone got i little better. so it means in E standard i have to use more finger strength with the 10s and more pick attack because of string tension. i cant believe that effects my technique allot lol maybe ill keep in Eb and play some guns and roses or put 9s and a 46 or 50 on the E string for drop D.
ill probably do the upgrade or sell it and buy a new quality guitar, what you think? any estimate on how much will it cost the upgrade? i hope not more than 150
ok got it. i think i found the issue , this guitar has 10s and the other has 9 guage on them, so when i tune it down to Eb my tone got i little better. so it means in E standard i have to use more finger strength with the 10s and more pick attack because of string tension. i cant believe that effects my technique allot lol maybe ill keep in Eb and play some guns and roses or put 9s and a 46 or 50 on the E string for drop D.
ill probably do the upgrade or sell it and buy a new quality guitar, what you think? any estimate on how much will it cost the upgrade? i hope not more than 150
2ndhandband
New member
Re: changing pickups on cheap guitarss
Depends. You'll be pushing it if you go with Duncan or dimarzio, but GFS makes some surprisingly good budget pickups that would be a major upgrade and bring you in nicely under budget.
Depends. You'll be pushing it if you go with Duncan or dimarzio, but GFS makes some surprisingly good budget pickups that would be a major upgrade and bring you in nicely under budget.
VinceT
New member
changing pickups on cheap guitarss
150 what? US dollars, Canadian, Rupees? (We don't know where in the world you are!)
If you're talking US dollars, then any pickup set you buy below $150 is risky in terms of being an upgrade from what you have. Pots and caps will be cheaper.
To be honest, I'd sell the Ibby and put that money together with the $150 to trade up.
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150 what? US dollars, Canadian, Rupees? (We don't know where in the world you are!)
If you're talking US dollars, then any pickup set you buy below $150 is risky in terms of being an upgrade from what you have. Pots and caps will be cheaper.
To be honest, I'd sell the Ibby and put that money together with the $150 to trade up.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Re: changing pickups on cheap guitarss
dollars, and what is the difference between a 500 dollar rg vs a gio? i know its the electronics, and i played one at GC and the build quality was the same as my 200 dollar gio. i heard when you get a custom shop guitar its another story but its expensive
dollars, and what is the difference between a 500 dollar rg vs a gio? i know its the electronics, and i played one at GC and the build quality was the same as my 200 dollar gio. i heard when you get a custom shop guitar its another story but its expensive
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DeadandBuried
New member
Re: changing pickups on cheap guitarss
Depends on the wood and the electronics, string thickness, etc.
I put an Everything Axe Set into my Squier Strat and it sounds so much better, could be a bit more bassier but I like it how it is anyway.
Depends on the wood and the electronics, string thickness, etc.
I put an Everything Axe Set into my Squier Strat and it sounds so much better, could be a bit more bassier but I like it how it is anyway.
ehdwuld
A Ficus
Re: changing pickups on cheap guitarss
I have two RGs
The neck is different from Gio
As you move from Gio to RG2 to RG4 etc, the fit and finish level goes up
My RG4 feels like it has nicer appointments than my RG2
The necks are the same But the lighter basswood body of the 2 feels cheapish
I like that
I changed pickups in both
The stock Ibanez pickups in the low end guitars are horrible
In the 2 I went with a JB/Jazz set
In the 4 I put a Carvin S22 set and a Fender Vintage Noiseless center
Both sound much better
I have two RGs
The neck is different from Gio
As you move from Gio to RG2 to RG4 etc, the fit and finish level goes up
My RG4 feels like it has nicer appointments than my RG2
The necks are the same But the lighter basswood body of the 2 feels cheapish
I like that
I changed pickups in both
The stock Ibanez pickups in the low end guitars are horrible
In the 2 I went with a JB/Jazz set
In the 4 I put a Carvin S22 set and a Fender Vintage Noiseless center
Both sound much better
Artie
Peaveyologist
Re: changing pickups on cheap guitarss
Maybe I'm misinterpreting you, but changing pots, switches, and caps, shouldn't affect the tone. They'll affect reliability, longevity, and "feel", but not tone. I'm excluding, of course, changing cap value or replacing faulty pots or switches. Changing pups, on the other hand, could have a huge impact on the sound.
Maybe I'm misinterpreting you, but changing pots, switches, and caps, shouldn't affect the tone. They'll affect reliability, longevity, and "feel", but not tone. I'm excluding, of course, changing cap value or replacing faulty pots or switches. Changing pups, on the other hand, could have a huge impact on the sound.
The JEM Ghost
New member
Re: changing pickups on cheap guitarss
If you look for second hand pickups, you should be able to upgrade it under 150 dollar, even if you decide to change pots, jack and pickup selector switch.
So my advice is to go look for second hand pickups that you may like, and use those for your upgrade (I do hope it"s a HH guitar and not a HSH, cause when you need to get 3 pups instead of 2, you won't be far from that 150).
Upgrading the pickups in your Gio to decent models that suit you will give you a better tone undoubtably!!
If you look for second hand pickups, you should be able to upgrade it under 150 dollar, even if you decide to change pots, jack and pickup selector switch.
So my advice is to go look for second hand pickups that you may like, and use those for your upgrade (I do hope it"s a HH guitar and not a HSH, cause when you need to get 3 pups instead of 2, you won't be far from that 150).
Upgrading the pickups in your Gio to decent models that suit you will give you a better tone undoubtably!!
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