Thoughts on good guitars for modding?

[Shooter.556]

Re: Thoughts on good guitars for modding?

A slight word of caution that applies to the US and Japanese Charvel Pro Mods (I'm guessing also to the Mexican ones) . . . they aren't quite as simple to mod as you might hope. The bridge cavity isn't big enough to mount a slanted single coil pickup (need to route), and the heel cutout is non-standard (square and wide). You can't just grab a cheap strat pickguard and pop it on.

I've been looking on Stratosphere at the Pro Mod Hardtails.. I am wanting to build one...
I love that Jake E Lee style.. I am debating selling the Strat I just got and the LTD I just finished and buying a pile of parts..

 

[loversmoon]

Re: Thoughts on good guitars for modding?

My body actually came from the stratosphere. Came super clean.

 

[Will S-T]

Re: Thoughts on good guitars for modding?

For me, the guitar that can take on any guitar personality out there and do it convincingly,
in function, form and cosmetics is the Tele. It can handle ANY bridge, pickup, electronics,
Body and neck material and construction, and hardware available.

You can build anything you want and it will work, a bit like a Model-T Ford.


Having said that, a good mid priced Strat, Tele and Les Paul type guitar
allow for countless mods that are reversible and only limited by $ and imagination.

The moral of this story is you need one of each, sorry:headbang:

 

[blueman335]

Re: Thoughts on good guitars for modding?

You can build anything you want and it will work, a bit like a Model-T Ford.

And Model T 's haven't been around for many decades. Probably not the best analogy.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Thoughts on good guitars for modding?

I would say that any of the Epi's out there that are in the $300-$500 range are probably good candidates as well as the Ibbys in this price range. Also, the medium range ESP's that I have come across have for the most part seen some improvement from a decent set of pickups.

 

[Will S-T]

Re: Thoughts on good guitars for modding?

And Model T 's haven't been around for many decades. Probably not the best analogy.

Man, you can build a brand new Model-T or sixties Mustang from brand new parts readily available.

The context is the Tele platform as well as the Car can morph into any imaginable configuration.

It's versatility is that it can accommodate anything you throw at it and it will work.
Try putting strat PU's and a vintage term on a LP? Not a creation God would have intended.
However, LP configuration on a suitably timbered and equipped Tele, no problems.

 

[Will S-T]

Re: Thoughts on good guitars for modding?

I see you lurking Loversmoon! You should have kept that gorgeous HH mahogany Tele body.

At least it's gone to a good home


Oops, it's Little Pigbacon, I get you two confused.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Thoughts on good guitars for modding?

Man, you can build a brand new Model-T from brand new parts readily available.

Haven't seen one on the road in decades. Got to be a better analogy.

 

[Will S-T]

Re: Thoughts on good guitars for modding?

Haven't seen one on the road in decades. Got to be a better analogy.

Like the Tele, you can build it with any drivetrain and in any style on a brand new body and chassis.
Wether it be a pickup, Tudor, convertible, limo, racer, etc................check out the Rod scene

And they both were the first mass produced products of their type

 

[greekdude]

Re: Thoughts on good guitars for modding?

IMHO the american standard strat (trem, bolt-on). Why a bolt on? Cause you can upgrade everything, tuners, pups, trem bridge, neck, body including the guitar itself!. Why a strat? Cause of the parts available as lots of ppl already said.
Why not the MIM, or MIC? Cause when you start looking for trem blocks, nuts, spacings, offsets, etc... you will see that the almost guaranteed to almost work parts (emphasis to almost) are the ones for the american standard strat. Otherwise you get into a hell of incompatibilities between the various asian makers and the mexicans. (An example are the GFS sustain blocks - disclaimer - not that I think they could make a difference anyway, I was a kid back when I tested one).

 

[Brandenburg]

Re: Thoughts on good guitars for modding?

IMHO the american standard strat (trem, bolt-on). Why a bolt on? Cause you can upgrade everything, tuners, pups, trem bridge, neck, body including the guitar itself!. Why a strat? Cause of the parts available as lots of ppl already said.
Why not the MIM, or MIC? Cause when you start looking for trem blocks, nuts, spacings, offsets, etc... you will see that the almost guaranteed to almost work parts (emphasis to almost) are the ones for the american standard strat. Otherwise you get into a hell of incompatibilities between the various asian makers and the mexicans. (An example are the GFS sustain blocks - disclaimer - not that I think they could make a difference anyway, I was a kid back when I tested one).

yea.. i installed a vtrem with the brass block on my squire strat.. block sticks out just a hair because the body isnt the traditional 1 3/4 width ...and 2 or 3 holes didnt line up on the bridge.. eventually ill get around to trimming the block a bit.. tremolo is still far superior to the original..

when i mod , i expect that i might have to persuade parts to fit properly.. seriously anyone just can pop on and off parts.. IMO you earn the title of modder when you must make those parts work/fit