Is it a sin to modify a Fender American guitar?

[jcthejester13]

I'm curious about whether or not I should mod Fender American stuff? Will it devalue to the guitar?

I'm not talking about cutting in a new pickup or swapping out necks or cutting my name into the body of the guitar. I'm just talking about doing a simple pickup swap, maybe change the pickguard, change out some of the electronics?

If I were to perform those sorts of things, would it be fair to sell the guitar for used Fender American prices, still?

 

[phil_104]

Re: Is it a sin to modify a Fender American guitar?

With mods, expect to take a bit of a hit. Unless the seller is looking for exactly the mods you have, they are likely to look for something stock.

With that said ; mod away. If you dig the guitar, then make it your own. If you already know you want to sell it down the road, do so now, and get something you love and don't have to mod, or know you can tweak and turn into a keeper!

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: Is it a sin to modify a Fender American guitar?

You won't really devalue the guitar, you'll just lose the money you spent on the new stuff. Keep the old electronics in case you want to sell so you can put it back in and sell as normal.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Is it a sin to modify a Fender American guitar?

Strats are THE mod guitar! Just unsolder the current pickguard and drop in a new one with new electronics. If and when you sell, you can return it to stock in 5 minutes, plus you keep the new (and probably more preferable) pickups. Shoot, swap necks, bridges, anything... They are so awesomely modular no one will have an idea you did anything...

 

[jtougas]

Re: Is it a sin to modify a Fender American guitar?

What PFD said.

Take out the pickguard, put it in a box, buy an after market (that matches the screw pattern!, if you can), and go crazy.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Is it a sin to modify a Fender American guitar?

Yep, no money gain with extra/better gear on a guitar.

 

[Chocklit_Thunda]

Re: Is it a sin to modify a Fender American guitar?

It's a sin not to. Unless you're buying the guitar for investments to flip later for profit, you should do whatever you want to make it suit you. If that means cutting your name into it ten by all means, go ahead.

 

[MikeRocker]

Re: Is it a sin to modify a Fender American guitar?

Look at all of the classic, well-loved "rock star" guitars - most are beat to hell, modded, finish chipped off, etc. If it's from the 50s or early 60s, maybe think twice and be EXTREMELY cautious (for the record, if you're gonna rout a 50s or early 60s Strat or Tele for a Floyd and humbuckers or something similarly ghastly, send it to me and I will buy you whatever current production guitar you want in exchange)...otherwise, go for it! The only stuff that goes up in value is stuff that no one expects to go up in value, e.g. old baseball cards and comic books and Star Wars action figures that most people threw away 'cause they figured they were worthless trifles. Modern production Fenders are almost certainly guaranteed NOT to go up in value, so use it for what it is: a tool, best adapted to you and your needs.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Is it a sin to modify a Fender American guitar?

Always make it reversible, keeping the stock pickguard/pickups in case you sell it. Move your aftermarket stuff to another guitar or sell it separately.

And always resist the temptation to swap the tuners out. They're never responsible for shortcomings, your nut slots are.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Is it a sin to modify a Fender American guitar?

No - but in your case, you should have to ask permission first.

 

[LReese]

Re: Is it a sin to modify a Fender American guitar?

Please don't 'ding' a Fender.

 

[hareek]

Re: Is it a sin to modify a Fender American guitar?

I swapped the pickups out of my American strat with Duncans. I kept the original single coils in case I want to restore it to original later. In my opinion modding electronics is not a big deal. It's when you start routing the wood or swapping necks that in my opinion turns people off as far as resale goes.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Is it a sin to modify a Fender American guitar?

Keep the old electronics in case you want to sell so you can put it back in and sell as normal.

right. keep the old stuff and put it back on when you sell it. any permanent mods will devalue the guitar

 

[JohnnyGuitar]

Re: Is it a sin to modify a Fender American guitar?

You buy guitars to play them or to sell them? if you're not a dealer or a collector - mod the hell out of your guitars and don't look back. Life's too short to think about how much you would get for the guitar 10 years from now.

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: Is it a sin to modify a Fender American guitar?

My US Strat has more mods on it than any other guitar I own - it's just too easy to do, and so easy to reverse.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Is it a sin to modify a Fender American guitar?

Is it a 'sin to modify a Fender American guitar?' I believe that is specifically answered in the gospels, my son. You might also look to the Pope's teachings on the subject; musical instruments have been discussed at length, especially electric guitars, even by brand name.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Is it a sin to modify a Fender American guitar?

I'm curious about whether or not I should mod Fender American stuff? Will it devalue to the guitar?

I'm not talking about cutting in a new pickup or swapping out necks or cutting my name into the body of the guitar. I'm just talking about doing a simple pickup swap, maybe change the pickguard, change out some of the electronics?

If I were to perform those sorts of things, would it be fair to sell the guitar for used Fender American prices, still?

As long as its reversible I think you should be able to what you want. In my case I have a 57 RI Strat that I bought new in 87. It has a tortoise ppickguard, Texas Hots, I replced the neck with a birdseye maple neck & brazillian fingerboard and sperzel locking tuners. I also have replace the saddles with graphite. All of this can be reversed. I have the original neck, I have the tuners, saddles & pickups. BUT I love the way this guitar plays & sounds now.... DO IT!!!!!!

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Is it a sin to modify a Fender American guitar?

Sin does not exist. It is a religious construct used to control the masses.
Modify the heck out of your axe if it gives you the sounds you want.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Is it a sin to modify a Fender American guitar?

Of course it's not a sin. But it would probably be smart to keep all the stock parts. That way, if you ever sell the thing, you can put them back in. That will get you more money in the end. It will both keep your guitar from being devalued, and allow you to sell the aftermarket parts separately (or reuse them).

 

[MisterE]

Re: Is it a sin to modify a Fender American guitar?

Yes, it's a sin if you spent more than $1,000 USD on the guitar but send me the guilty pickups and I'll grant you absolution.