First upgrade

A

Araya

New member
So at the moment i'm looking into upgrading my first guitar the Ibanez grg 121 dx WNF.
With some help of people around me i was able to find all these things to upgrade.
Am i missing anything or is there something not right or something you would change?
The links are all to Dutch sites as that is were i will order them.
Nut:
https://www.bax-shop.nl/overige-gitaar-onderdelen/graph-tech-pt5010-topkam-voor-fender-gitaren
Tuners:
https://www.tho.mn/nl/harley_benton_parts_locking_tuners_6l_chrome.htm
or
https://www.bax-shop.nl/stemmechani...ners-6l-stemmechanieken-chroom#productreviews
Pickups:
https://m.thomann.de/nl/seymour_duncan_nazgul_sentient_6_set_bk.htm
Bridge:
https://www.tonefactory.nl/gotoh-gtc-102-brug-chrome
or
https://www.tonefactory.nl/fender-g...idge-assembly-custom-tele-fmt-6-saddles-black
Wire:
https://www.tonefactory.nl/kabel-1-aderig-afgeschermd-1m
Killswitch:
https://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Stain...F8&qid=1495453812&sr=1-7&keywords=Kill+switch
Potentiometer
https://www.tonefactory.nl/ep-0286-000-500k-dpdt-push-pull-audio-pot
 
Re: First upgrade

Look into a kill pot also. The tone knob on my Epi. V has one and it works really well and it's one less thing to install. I think shadow makes it.
 
Re: First upgrade

Thanks for the tip but i was thinking about replacing the tone knob with the kill switch as i always have the tone knob fully open.
Edit: looked it up this is a tone knob with a kill switch built in i understand?
 
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Re: First upgrade

Don't do that unless you're dead set on your signal chain. Later additions of FX pedals and specifically stacked OD/Fuzz pedals will make you wish it was still there.
 
Re: First upgrade

Okay thanks! So if i put the mentioned knob in i have the toneknob and a killswitch in one?
 
Re: First upgrade

Not that there's anything wrong with this, but wow the upgrade parts would cost much more than the guitar itself O__O

I'm actually about to do the same things to my PGM Mikro too though! :D
 
Re: First upgrade

daenius said:
Not that there's anything wrong with this, but wow the upgrade parts would cost much more than the guitar itself O__O

I'm actually about to do the same things to my PGM Mikro too though! :D
Click to expand...
Didn't want to spend much on it at first as i was not sure if playing guitar was my thing, well it was. But don't want to spend 1000 eu on a new guitar with locking tuners and nazgul pickup.
 
Re: First upgrade

Honestly, all of those upgrades probably cost more than the guitar itself. I'd say you might think about getting a better guitar overall....

HOWEVER - if you are cool with the upgrade spend, and don't expect to ever get your money back, the it will be one heck of an upgrade do-it-yourself education.

GO FOR IT!

But seriously...think about the cost and trade for a better guitar, buy a Nazgul used.
 
Re: First upgrade

Well it would probably cost me around 450/500 euro, ofcourse i will keep the stock stuff if i would ever buy a second one. But i don't think i'm going to find a guitar with locking tuners and decent pickups for that price.
 
Re: First upgrade

If you like the guitar then I say go for it - first guitars always hold immeasurable sentimental value. Keep all the old parts, then if you sell the guitar you can return it to standard and not loose too much money, and have parts for any new guitar upgrades
 
Re: First upgrade

If you'll ever decide selling it go back to the original parts... upgrades add close to nothing to a guitar's used price.
 
Re: First upgrade

Haha yes don't think i'll ever sell it but i will keep the cureent stuff if i ever buy a new one.
 
Re: First upgrade

The Nazgul/Sentient is a pretty mighty set. I say, do that, certainly.
 
Re: First upgrade

Any other things i should upgrade like the jack? And any big differences between those bridges and tuners or should both be fine?
 
Re: First upgrade

Araya said:
Any other things i should upgrade like the jack? And any big differences between those bridges and tuners or should both be fine?
Click to expand...

Tuners: If you have an Ibanez, you should look at Gotoh's locking tuners, they have a higher chance of being a perfect direct fit. Other brands you might have to drill new holes for the small mounting screw even if the main hole is the same size. Take a look at the Gotoh SG381 MG-T

Bridge: DEFINITELY Gotoh! It'll most likely be a better direct fit, whereas the Fender may or may not require you to drill new holes. Not only that, Gotoh makes way better bridge hardware than Fender does.

Jack and switches are nice to upgrade too! They're cheap to upgrade. What I like about better quality switches and jacks is that they FEEL better. You toggle the switch basically every time you play guitar, so if it feels nicer, it's just nicer, haha. Same for the jack, you plug in, unplug... basically everyday, so it's good to have it be more durable.
 
Re: First upgrade

Sell that POS Gio, hold your breath while saving more money. Once you get to probably 900 EUR (this is just my estimation. I don't know how much it costs in the EU), get an FGN that comes stock with the upgrades you want: Gotoh tuners, bridges, Seymour Duncan pickups and it's made in Japan too.

Or if you are looking for a faster route, get a regular fixed bridge RG like RG421. No need to replace the tuners if you have a fixed bridge, speaking from own experience.

I reckon Gotoh tuners aren't direct replacement for non Japanese Ibanez. THe China and Indonesian made Ibanez use crappy Chinese tuners with no screws visible.
 
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