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Banekiller01
Guest
I've always wanted to upgrade a cheaper guitar and make it into an amazing guitar. I picked up a very solid, very resonant affinity strat from a pawn shop, and i was wondering, is it worth the money to upgrade?
phil_104
Cheesesteakologist
Re: Is it worth upgrading?
I personally wouldn't, as to me, the feel of the physical instrument (finish, inherent resonance, precision of the build) are the main reason I get a guitar. ''Upgrading'' is something I do to fix an issue on an instrument that is otherwise up to spec. If the price of the upgrade outweigh the price of the guitar itself, it does not seem to be worth it to me. Depends on what you want to do, but you might be better off just investing in an overall better instrument.
If you are getting into it, because you want to learn and love working on guitars, then fill your boots.
I personally wouldn't, as to me, the feel of the physical instrument (finish, inherent resonance, precision of the build) are the main reason I get a guitar. ''Upgrading'' is something I do to fix an issue on an instrument that is otherwise up to spec. If the price of the upgrade outweigh the price of the guitar itself, it does not seem to be worth it to me. Depends on what you want to do, but you might be better off just investing in an overall better instrument.
If you are getting into it, because you want to learn and love working on guitars, then fill your boots.
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Banekiller01
Guest
Re: Is it worth upgrading?
The guitar plays and feels great. The main upgrade is the pickups. I got it super cheap, so the new pups would outprice the guitar, since theres three of then.
The guitar plays and feels great. The main upgrade is the pickups. I got it super cheap, so the new pups would outprice the guitar, since theres three of then.
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: Is it worth upgrading?
At the end of the day - that guitar is only so good. You may think it feels good, but it doesn't. Any real strat will remind you of this in an instant. Even a Made in Mexico one.
But, that said, party on Garth. Go for it. If it's a Heavy Metal Beater - go buck wild. But for trying to eek some serious tone and playability? I wouldn't.
I often think of grabbing one of those myself - but purely for the purpose of attempting to disguise it as a road worn real start. That would be fun. But no illusions about it ever being awesome. Same with an Epi LP 100.
At the end of the day - that guitar is only so good. You may think it feels good, but it doesn't. Any real strat will remind you of this in an instant. Even a Made in Mexico one.
But, that said, party on Garth. Go for it. If it's a Heavy Metal Beater - go buck wild. But for trying to eek some serious tone and playability? I wouldn't.
I often think of grabbing one of those myself - but purely for the purpose of attempting to disguise it as a road worn real start. That would be fun. But no illusions about it ever being awesome. Same with an Epi LP 100.
Re: Is it worth upgrading?
If you're doing the work yourself, and can do a decent job, go for it. Keep all the cheap parts so you can put them back in if you decide to get rid of the guitar, as you will lose a lot of your investment if you sell a cheap guitar with good parts in it.
A while back I needed a strat type guitar quick, so I got a cheap strat copy that physically felt good and I swapped out all the electronics for good stuff. I've performed live with the guitar a few times and have used it a bunch for rehearsals. It's done a good job so far.
Good luck!
If you're doing the work yourself, and can do a decent job, go for it. Keep all the cheap parts so you can put them back in if you decide to get rid of the guitar, as you will lose a lot of your investment if you sell a cheap guitar with good parts in it.
A while back I needed a strat type guitar quick, so I got a cheap strat copy that physically felt good and I swapped out all the electronics for good stuff. I've performed live with the guitar a few times and have used it a bunch for rehearsals. It's done a good job so far.
Good luck!
Andrew Lamprecht
Minion of One
Re: Is it worth upgrading?
I say go for it but be careful. Make sure it's something you will enjoy playing a couple years from now. Make sure you like the guitar as it is now and the upgrades will only make it better. Sure it won't be a custom shop instrument but that doesn't mean it can't be a great sounding, great playing workhorse. My main guitar is a Squier Classic Vibe Strat I got for $200 used and I put over $300 of upgrades into. I had an offer after a guy played it, he wanted to trade me my Strat, a wah I have, and $150 for his 1992/93 American Standard Strat. It was a great instrument but I said no just because I didn't want to trade my Strat I worked so hard on. There is no reason why if you put the time into something it can't be amazing in itself.
Pink Floyd Darkside doesn't come around here anymore but he had multiple amps and hundreds of pedals, his main guitar was an Epiphone LP that he had for years that he just really liked. A guitar is a guitar and music can be made with anything. I say if you really like it as is, start upgrading and if you just like it more, keep going and you will have a great instrument.
I say go for it but be careful. Make sure it's something you will enjoy playing a couple years from now. Make sure you like the guitar as it is now and the upgrades will only make it better. Sure it won't be a custom shop instrument but that doesn't mean it can't be a great sounding, great playing workhorse. My main guitar is a Squier Classic Vibe Strat I got for $200 used and I put over $300 of upgrades into. I had an offer after a guy played it, he wanted to trade me my Strat, a wah I have, and $150 for his 1992/93 American Standard Strat. It was a great instrument but I said no just because I didn't want to trade my Strat I worked so hard on. There is no reason why if you put the time into something it can't be amazing in itself.
Pink Floyd Darkside doesn't come around here anymore but he had multiple amps and hundreds of pedals, his main guitar was an Epiphone LP that he had for years that he just really liked. A guitar is a guitar and music can be made with anything. I say if you really like it as is, start upgrading and if you just like it more, keep going and you will have a great instrument.
PunkMetalhead42
New member
Re: Is it worth upgrading?
Taking care of a guitar you love is always worth any money related expense. I'm doing a similar thing right now; replacing the pots and pickups in an Epiphone SG I got for around $50. The neck pup alone is worth more than the guitar, but it's worth infinitely more to me.
Taking care of a guitar you love is always worth any money related expense. I'm doing a similar thing right now; replacing the pots and pickups in an Epiphone SG I got for around $50. The neck pup alone is worth more than the guitar, but it's worth infinitely more to me.
loversmoon
New member
Re: Is it worth upgrading?
I just made a pretty decent sounding strat out of an affinity. I put cts pots, new pups, made in mex tremolo, switchcraft jack and a tusq nut on it. I say if u wanna upgrade it then do it. Keep the old parts so u can strip it back down to original if u decide to get rid of it. then u got nice spare parts to upgrade the next one.
I just made a pretty decent sounding strat out of an affinity. I put cts pots, new pups, made in mex tremolo, switchcraft jack and a tusq nut on it. I say if u wanna upgrade it then do it. Keep the old parts so u can strip it back down to original if u decide to get rid of it. then u got nice spare parts to upgrade the next one.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Is it worth upgrading?
Upgrading PU's? Yes, hundreds of guys here have done it. I've done it many times. Better PU's do more to improve a guitar's sound than everything else put together. Now, the debate begins when you start changing hardware. If you decide to, keep the original parts so you can put them back on if you decide to sell the guitar later. You don't want to lose hundreds of dollars if you sell the guitar.
Upgrading PU's? Yes, hundreds of guys here have done it. I've done it many times. Better PU's do more to improve a guitar's sound than everything else put together. Now, the debate begins when you start changing hardware. If you decide to, keep the original parts so you can put them back on if you decide to sell the guitar later. You don't want to lose hundreds of dollars if you sell the guitar.
TheLivingDead
Dawn Of The Shred
Re: Is it worth upgrading?
Do what feels right.
Do what feels right.
Kramer Guy
New member
Re: Is it worth upgrading?
Go ahead and do it. Last year, I had a Squier Standard Strat which I modded with all new Fender 250K Pots and Custom Shop 57/62 pickups along with putting on the headstock, a 1970's Fender Strat waterslide decal and a Fender logo plate on the back heel. I ended up selling it for a couple of hundred bucks and to this day, I'm kicking myself in the butt for doing so. I'm now using a LTD Viper 100-FM which I installed a Sprague .047 Orange Cap on the Tone pot and a new set of Wilkinson Tuners. I'm now going to see about getting a set of Duncan Humbuckers for it and that'll be it .
Go ahead and do it. Last year, I had a Squier Standard Strat which I modded with all new Fender 250K Pots and Custom Shop 57/62 pickups along with putting on the headstock, a 1970's Fender Strat waterslide decal and a Fender logo plate on the back heel. I ended up selling it for a couple of hundred bucks and to this day, I'm kicking myself in the butt for doing so. I'm now using a LTD Viper 100-FM which I installed a Sprague .047 Orange Cap on the Tone pot and a new set of Wilkinson Tuners. I'm now going to see about getting a set of Duncan Humbuckers for it and that'll be it .
Grindspine
New member
Re: Is it worth upgrading?
Ugh @ naysayers... TOTALLY UPGRADE. If you snag a cheapy guitar that FEELS good to play and SOUNDS good acoustically, new pickups can make it shine through an amp.
Ugh @ naysayers... TOTALLY UPGRADE. If you snag a cheapy guitar that FEELS good to play and SOUNDS good acoustically, new pickups can make it shine through an amp.
tubecrunch
New member
Re: Is it worth upgrading?
1. It's a fabulous idea.
2. It's the final step in converting to the dark side.
3. Welcome
1. It's a fabulous idea.
2. It's the final step in converting to the dark side.
3. Welcome
Andrew Lamprecht
Minion of One
Re: Is it worth upgrading?
Nah, hardware it seems the companies cheapen up on almost as much as the pickups.
Nah, hardware it seems the companies cheapen up on almost as much as the pickups.
Re: Is it worth upgrading?
Completely true, but if you're going purely for tonal upgrades, as many above me have correctly stated, a good set of pickups will have a bigger impact on tone than any other hardware upgrades.
In my mind, most hardware upgrades negate those annoying niggles on low end guitars - poor tuning stability due to crap tuners and a badly cut/cheap nut, sustain issues caused by using cheap, not very resonant bridges/tremolo systems.
So i reckon putting for instance, gotoh, schaller or sperzel hardware on a cheap guitar to be a waste of time - there's only so much polishing of a turd you can do :lmao:
Completely true, but if you're going purely for tonal upgrades, as many above me have correctly stated, a good set of pickups will have a bigger impact on tone than any other hardware upgrades.
In my mind, most hardware upgrades negate those annoying niggles on low end guitars - poor tuning stability due to crap tuners and a badly cut/cheap nut, sustain issues caused by using cheap, not very resonant bridges/tremolo systems.
So i reckon putting for instance, gotoh, schaller or sperzel hardware on a cheap guitar to be a waste of time - there's only so much polishing of a turd you can do :lmao:
zenmindbeginner
New member
Re: Is it worth upgrading?
But why does it have to be "worth it"? You'll need new pickups, but I don't see much gained in swapping hardware.
if you're worried about cost... visit the GFS site and pick up a set of their greybacks or a set of their "professional" grade pickups.
Sig worthy fo shizzle.
But why does it have to be "worth it"? You'll need new pickups, but I don't see much gained in swapping hardware.
if you're worried about cost... visit the GFS site and pick up a set of their greybacks or a set of their "professional" grade pickups.
Sig worthy fo shizzle.
