Most Overrated Modification

Guitarist

Mesa-ologist
JW what you think people overly obsess about. Something that doesn't affect tone as much as other mods do. Just thought this would bring up some interesting opinions... :cool3:

Jon
 
Re: Most Overrated Modification

I never valued the idea of phase switches, or any other tricky mini-toggles all over the front of a guitar. Those seem like switches that get used on the first day you own the guitar, then never get touched again.
 
Re: Most Overrated Modification

Gearjoneser said:
I never valued the idea of phase switches, or any other tricky mini-toggles all over the front of a guitar. Those seem like switches that get used on the first day you own the guitar, then never get touched again.

:laugh2:

Then don't come close to my floyd rose axe. An ibanez S470, with 3 miniswitches to activate any pickup full or split; and 2 dual concentric 500/500K pots (3 vols 1 tone). I myself often forget how the damn thing works. :smack:

I remember someone who installed a mini graphic eq on the body of his guitar! :smash:
 
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Re: Most Overrated Modification

Pickup Changes Of Course!!!!!!!!!!!



















Kidding, Kidding, Kidding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Re: Most Overrated Modification

Out of Phase switches. Makes your guitar sound like a mosquito. Worthless tone, IMO.



Lew
 
Re: Most Overrated Modification

Lew, so you don't like Peter Green huh? :cussing:

B :firedevil

:lmao:
 
Re: Most Overrated Modification

dr.barlo said:
Lew, so you don't like Peter Green huh? :cussing:

B :firedevil

:lmao:

I like Peter Green...but I liked his tone before he screwed up his Les Paul better than his tone afterwards. I'll take his tone with John Mayall on "SUPERNATURAL" over his later pinched mosquito tone any time. :) Lew
 
Re: Most Overrated Modification

Fretboard scalloping. A lot of my favorite players do it and I think if it works for you, then go for it. Personally, however, I don't find that it helps as much as some people would have you believe. You either have a light touch or you don't.
 
Re: Most Overrated Modification

Gearjoneser said:
I never valued the idea of phase switches, or any other tricky mini-toggles all over the front of a guitar. Those seem like switches that get used on the first day you own the guitar, then never get touched again.
I´m with Jonesy. All those funky bells, whistles, grenade launchers, and railguns on a Carvin or an old BC Rich are fun, sure, but I´d say most people find about 5 tones they like and stick with those.

I see the value of them, and there actually are players that use that many options. but for me, more than a five way and 2 toggles at max is just cluttered. It "doesn´t look right", and it gets confusing anyway ;)
 
Re: Most Overrated Modification

Outside of maybe a Series/Parallel and Series/Split ... I don't get most things out there.

The old BC Rich Mockingbird and Bich settups with the 4 or 5 miniswitches, Varitone thing, and other knobs is quite confusing
 
Re: Most Overrated Modification

TS808 mods...a few cents worth of parts that usually cost $50 or so for the mod...
 
Re: Most Overrated Modification

Splitting low output pickups, unless you have some way of boosting the signal, such as combining them in series or using something like the SD pickup booster.

Ryan
 
Re: Most Overrated Modification

People may disagree with me on this, but I never found the tone control on my guitars very useful. I always used my volume knob or pick attack to control my tone. I'd just as soon screw the tone control, make my volume split my humbuckers and say it's over with.

The Bardens I'm looking at actually use the tone control to fatten up the sound without getting muddy. So after I get one, I may be thinking twice about tone controls. However, for my guitars, it just never worked out right (half the tone control movement made no difference and then all of a sudden I'd get this nasty, muddy tone).
 
Re: Most Overrated Modification

the_Chris said:
People may disagree with me on this, but I never found the tone control on my guitars very useful. I always used my volume knob or pick attack to control my tone. I'd just as soon screw the tone control, make my volume split my humbuckers and say it's over with.

The Bardens I'm looking at actually use the tone control to fatten up the sound without getting muddy. So after I get one, I may be thinking twice about tone controls. However, for my guitars, it just never worked out right (half the tone control movement made no difference and then all of a sudden I'd get this nasty, muddy tone).
I can see what you're getting at - some like to control, like you explained, simply by picking hand attack and volume control and/or the amplifier's EQ, pedals, etc.

However, I, myself, use those tone controls somewhat exclusively. I find a tone I like for the bridge and pretty much stick with it - unless I'm going for a specific clean. As for the neck - the neck is usually stated as the "fat" channel, and usually sticks to a tone value of 4. I consider tone controls a quick way to alter the tone, and a much more convienient way then messing with the amp's interface.

$.02
 
Re: Most Overrated Modification

The TBX tone pot I find useless :13: If your guitar came with a Floyd Rose
GREAT !! But I hate to see people carve up Les pauls and CBS Strat's
for a Trem!
 
Re: Most Overrated Modification

Lightweight tailpieces. Nothing like spending $50 or more for a minute tone change. If you're going to mod a regular USA Les Paul, at least change the Nashville TOM to an ABR-1. At least then you'll actually hear a difference. :headbang:
 
Re: Most Overrated Modification

Scalloping somewhat, tone controls, coil splitting period, middle switch positions, neck pickup for rythm with distortion.
 
Re: Most Overrated Modification

DeadSkinSlayer3 said:
Scalloping somewhat, tone controls, coil splitting period, middle switch positions, neck pickup for rythm with distortion.
Oh gosh...just about everything I disagree with!! Tone controls, coil splitting, bridge/neck selector, AH! :smack: I guess that's diversity for ya!

Just a reminder guys, this is a post about MODS, make sure the things you are talking about are things that don't come stock with your axe!
 
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