changing pickups on cheap guitarss

[beaubrummels]

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

What amp are you using? How much gain are you using? What are the amp settings? What speaker(s)?

 

[LtKojak]

Re: changing pickups on cheap guitarss

Upgrading a cheap guitar is a great way to make it sound better.

If you know what you're doing, I agree, I concur, and it's FUN!

It won't play better

Oh, I beg to differ... I've made play "better" plenty of "economic" instruments.

and the electronics won't last longer

Longer? Longer... than what? How long should they last? I'm confused...

but if it turns the guitar into something you enjoy playing, it is worth it to me.

I've made several instruments just to be used on an specific project, then I sold'em, and in most cases I even made a small profit.



That was the last one I made with an specific project in mind.

Enjoy!

 

[Mincer]

Re: changing pickups on cheap guitarss

My point is that upgrading the hardware on a cheap guitar won't make it an expensive guitar. If you are great at setups, or even a luthier, you have a better chance..but it is what it is. It can still be an awesome guitar. I am all for upgrading anything and everything you want.

 

[STLMTLHD79]

Re: changing pickups on cheap guitarss

Im about to change the bridge pickup on one of my "cheap" guitars, a Samick Les Paul style (I call it Sam Paul) from about 8-10 years ago. Its a beautiful guitar and a great sounding heavy mass of mahogony and Maple. I have a Duncan Designed HB-104 that has gone terribly microphonic but its about to be wax potted. The stock pickups are not bad and sound better now that i put CTS 500k pots in the thing but i still want something with a little more power and "umph" so to say. The HB-104 is a pretty heavy sounding pickup, much like a Duncan Distortion i would say. I think it will make a good combo for next to no cost (minus the cost of the wax).

 

[Mincer]

Re: changing pickups on cheap guitarss

Im about to change the bridge pickup on one of my "cheap" guitars, a Samick Les Paul style (I call it Sam Paul) from about 8-10 years ago. Its a beautiful guitar and a great sounding heavy mass of mahogony and Maple. I have a Duncan Designed HB-104 that has gone terribly microphonic but its about to be wax potted. The stock pickups are not bad and sound better now that i put CTS 500k pots in the thing but i still want something with a little more power and "umph" so to say. The HB-104 is a pretty heavy sounding pickup, much like a Duncan Distortion i would say. I think it will make a good combo for next to no cost (minus the cost of the wax).

Come back and let us know how the wax bath went. I want to know if it solves the problems you were having.

 

[rgand]

Re: changing pickups on cheap guitarss

My point is that upgrading the hardware on a cheap guitar won't make it an expensive guitar. If you are great at setups, or even a luthier, you have a better chance..but it is what it is. It can still be an awesome guitar. I am all for upgrading anything and everything you want.

I turned a crappy sounding Squier into a real player. Sounds great and plays like a dream. BUT, all that remains of the original guitar is the bridge, body and output jack.

Would I do it again? Probably, but I'm a hopeless modder that loves to fiddle with things. I fully support mods because you get something you can't just buy. If money is an issue, though, go find something that plays good right off the rack. I was in a pawn shop the other day and there was a clean American made Strat on the rack for $799. There are good deals out there waiting for the right players to show up and take them home.

 

[Adieu]

Re: changing pickups on cheap guitarss

If you know what you're doing, I agree, I concur, and it's FUN!


Oh, I beg to differ... I've made play "better" plenty of "economic" instruments.


Longer? Longer... than what? How long should they last? I'm confused...


I've made several instruments just to be used on an specific project, then I sold'em, and in most cases I even made a small profit.



That was the last one I made with an specific project in mind.

Enjoy!

Is that one of those recent GC holiday special $99 bullets with the black hardware??

How was the metal? Ive always shied away from modding China cheapies, strongly preferring Japanese or at least Mexican used guitars for projects --- based off a few HIGHLY unpleasant experiences of screws breaking or disintegrating on the first attempt to disassemble a modern budget guitar

Also, the woods tended to be soft, fragile, and full of fail.

Once modded a $25 gio bass with a $35 duncan pup --- sounded awesome, but the neck was so disappointing it HAD to be used with only the lightest bass strings on the market, or the darn thing warped immediately (truss rod? Useless)

 

[Adieu]

Re: changing pickups on cheap guitarss

I turned a crappy sounding Squier into a real player. Sounds great and plays like a dream. BUT, all that remains of the original guitar is the bridge, body and output jack.

Would I do it again? Probably, but I'm a hopeless modder that loves to fiddle with things. I fully support mods because you get something you can't just buy. If money is an issue, though, go find something that plays good right off the rack. I was in a pawn shop the other day and there was a clean American made Strat on the rack for $799. There are good deals out there waiting for the right players to show up and take them home.

$799 for USA fender??

Overpriced. Offer $500-600

I once even got one for $325 (it was lefty though and rather bland looking, but a fullfledged 90s Fender American Standard Strat nonetheless)

 

[rgand]

Re: changing pickups on cheap guitarss

$799 for USA fender??

Overpriced. Offer $500-600

I once even got one for $325 (it was lefty though and rather bland looking, but a fullfledged 90s Fender American Standard Strat nonetheless)

Yeah, 500-600 sounds more like it. If I had been interested, I might have made an offer if it played right. It wasn't on my radar, though.