Cheap HH guitar to mod?

[waltschwarzkopf]

Hi guys,

I have a couple of SD sets coming to me soon, and I want to have a guitar as a test bench to try them on and eventually keep her with the pair that sounds best. Therefore, I am looking for a cheap but decent used guitar to mod.

After a quick search on the classifieds, I found mostly crap and overpriced used low quality guitars… Then I saw on my list of saved ads a PRS copy.

It is new like, I remember seeing the ad about a month ago and when I asked for a discount, the seller said that he had bought from thomann and that if he does not sell it he would return it for a full refund. Seems like it did not work out, because a month later the same guitar is in a new ad from the same person. I will try to bring it down to 150CHF, as I almost bought an RG321 for the same price.

It is a Harley Benton CST-24 Paradise Flame (https://www.thomann.de/intl/ch/harley_benton_cst_24_paradise_flame.htm?ref=intl&shp=eyJjb3VudHJ5IjoiY2giLCJjdXJyZW5jeSI6NDAsImxhbmd1YWdlIjoxfQ%3D%3D). Pretty much thomann’s version of the PRS Custom 24, HH configuration, 3-way toggle, 1vol 1tone + push/pull and a wraparound bridge. It has excellent reviews, and in my experience with HB and thomann, they make good products. I have owned a shallow body electric-acoustic guitar and a 6-string bass and both exceeded my expectations for the price.

What do you think? Any pros/cons of this guitar? Is the price ok? Should I go for something else? The sets that I have coming are a 59/JB and a Jazz/JB, also used. I am really looking forward to them. I have also been craving for a PRS for a while, so this should help me calm down. The other PRS’s I’ve found are a SE Billy Martin (375CHF), a SE Baritone (500CHF) and a PRS SE Custom 24 Ltd Maple (550CHF)

Any advice and comments would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Walter

P.S. If you live in Zürich and want to get together and jam, send me a PM.


Here are some pics of the actual guitar for sale

 

[waltschwarzkopf]

Re: Cheap HH guitar to mod?

THESE ARE NOT what I would consider "cheap guitars to mod". Here are the Billy Martin, Baritone and Ltd Maple pictures in case you were curious.

 

[CaptainWhizz]

Re: Cheap HH guitar to mod?

If you want something cheap to mod, a Squier Bullet Mustang is €126 new on Thomann. For a little more, that Harley Benton is a lot nicer looking, and you might even get something for the Wilkinson pickups.

 

[waltschwarzkopf]

Re: Cheap HH guitar to mod?

If you want something cheap to mod, a Squier Bullet Mustang is €126 new on Thomann. For a little more, that Harley Benton is a lot nicer looking, and you might even get something for the Wilkinson pickups.

Thanks! I’m not buying new as ir will be a sure loss. That HB might give me little loss if I decide to sell it. I hadn’t thought about selling the Wilkinsons, but it’s a good idea. Any idea of what O could het for them?


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[CaptainWhizz]

Re: Cheap HH guitar to mod?

Probably not a great deal, but maybe enough to cover one of the Duncan’s you got.

 

[waltschwarzkopf]

Re: Cheap HH guitar to mod?

Probably not a great deal, but maybe enough to cover one of the Duncan’s you got.

That’s fair enough.


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[Lovegun]

Re: Cheap HH guitar to mod?

I would check the bridge and string height on it before buying it. If the bridge set as low as it can go and the strings are too high then you can't adjust it. Other than that just :headbang: rock on.

 

[waltschwarzkopf]

Re: Cheap HH guitar to mod?

I would check the bridge and string height on it before buying it. If the bridge set as low as it can go and the strings are too high then you can't adjust it. Other than that just :headbang: rock on.

True, I would not like to replace hardware right away. And maybe a blade switch would have been better than a toggle, as I could replace it with a super switch that I have. But the push/pull tone pot may bring some of that flexibility.

 

[waltschwarzkopf]

Re: Cheap HH guitar to mod?

If you want something cheap to mod, a Squier Bullet Mustang is €126 new on Thomann.

Now that I think about it, I still have my old strat copy... It has one humbucker one tone, but is HSH routed and still have the old pickguard, so that my be a good starting point at zero cost and zero loss if a mess something up...

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Cheap HH guitar to mod?

Now that I think about it, I still have my old strat copy... It has one humbucker one tone, but is HSH routed and still have the old pickguard, so that my be a good starting point at zero cost and zero loss if a mess something up...

bullet mustang has two hums and a 24 inch scale

 

[waltschwarzkopf]

Re: Cheap HH guitar to mod?

bullet mustang has two hums and a 24 inch scale

Yeah, I didn't mean that they were the same. I'd prefer a longer scale like Gibson or Fender. As for the electronics, since I'm gonna change them, I just need the body to be routed for HH, HSH or "swimming pool".

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Cheap HH guitar to mod?

My bad I read your post to say
The mustang only had one pickup

 

[CaptainWhizz]

Re: Cheap HH guitar to mod?

Now that I think about it, I still have my old strat copy... It has one humbucker one tone, but is HSH routed and still have the old pickguard, so that my be a good starting point at zero cost and zero loss if a mess something up...

The great thing about that would be that you could have a few pickguards with different pickup combinations in, and swap pretty easily.

 

[waltschwarzkopf]

Re: Cheap HH guitar to mod?

The great thing about that would be that you could have a few pickguards with different pickup combinations in, and swap pretty easily.

YES! I already have one with H + vol, I can reuse the old one for HSH or HH + vol + tone, or a switch for out of phase. And also buy an HH for another set that I have coming.

 

[waltschwarzkopf]

Re: Cheap HH guitar to mod?

I also found this “real” PRS for 200 bucks. I would like to paint over the camo and block the trem. I don’t know if it’s worth it or better to find another one...

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[waltschwarzkopf]

Re: Cheap HH guitar to mod?

The other guy won’t go down on the price, so I ruled it out.


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