To mod. or not to mod.

[Mincer]

Re: To mod. or not to mod.

The Custom Shop will build pretty much anything, but my guess is that they would ask several questions as to why you needed a trembucker made. I had misunderstood your question, though- if you want more mids, they might come at a sacrifice: usually those pickups would use A2 magnets, which sort of un-tighten the bass end. It almost sounds like you are a good candidate for actives, too.

 

[dpaterson]

Re: To mod. or not to mod.

Hi.

Thanks for the input.

Well maybe I find out just for the sake of interest how much more it would cost.

I realise it will not (should not) make any difference with Invaders. Just me being pedantic I guess.

I've never changed a pickup before (only tone pots and the rest) so don't even know what's underneath (one of the reasons I'm doing one of my Jacksons first).

Somebody mentioned these on another thread (Synyster Gates Invader): https://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/product-news/synyster-gates-invader. They're sold is sets apparently. Not listed on SD's main website though. Also need to know what the Tone Profile is.

The DM Super Distortion has the same amount of bass and mids. but treble taken down a tad (in answer to Mincer who posted while I was typing the above) unlike the Invader with less bass. I think before I do anything I need to install the DM SUper Distortion in one of my Jacksons (you know the story already) and then go from there.

Regards,

Dale.

 

[NegativeEase]

Re: To mod. or not to mod.

I'd mod it -do what you want to have fun playing -screw any other consideration.

-the market is smaller for 80s style Super Shredder Strats anyways -especially a guitar that niche in nature -contrary to popular belief -for collecting, being highly custom is not usually a good thing -rather, in collecting -you want some special attributes, but more need universal acclaim, popularity and demand instead -so there is a large market that will drive the price up -and the vintage guitar market will tail off dramatically in the next 20 years -like the vintage car market has already -The world is moving forward and I wouldnt hold off your good times banking on a Blaze guitar being MORE desired or popular in decades to come.

I'd also paint that guitar -maybe three times -but that's me.

Edit -after careful consideration -I'd paint it 4 times.

 

[RorySquier]

Re: To mod. or not to mod.

Hi.

Behold: the cleanest guitar on the planet (below)!!! LOL!!! Gets taken out about once per month, checked, humidified, polished, photo shoot, and back in the case!!! LOL!!!

While waiting for the build I bought a Jackson and then later another Jackson and those are what I play. When this thing arrived it took my breath away though. But after getting used to the fact that I actually owned this thing I then started to play it and took it to show some people. General consensus is that it's "dark". Nothing wrong with that at all. Just not my tone (there's an entire CRAZY thread going on there that I started on this topic of "my tone": https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?331933-Vivian-Campbell-s-Dio-tone-from-1984-which-pickups).

Dunno. On the one hand I'm in awe of this guitar every single time I see it. On the other hand it does seem like a bit of a waste to not be playing it (humongous, landed, cost aside) . I ordered it and had it made because of its shorter scale length and thin (ultra thin actually) neck. I have small(ish) piano/keyboard player hands (not with those wiry/spidery fingers that my guitar heroes have) so I've always battled especially with the Charvels I had (the one had a neck that felt like a tree trunk in my hands) (at the time anyway). Had the privilege of trying out a Kramer Nightswan II back then but couldn't afford it at the time but never forgot what it felt like and, well, here, after all this time: I have "it". Irony is that I've now learned to get by on my Jacksons so scale length and neck dimensions etc. are no longer an issue.

Hmmmnnn... After taking this pic. this morning and composing the above I think I've answered my own question (until next month that is!!! LOL!!!). But yeh alright: input would still be appreciated.

View attachment 94190

Regards,

Dale.

Great looking guitar you have! I really like the Nightswans...especially the Vivian Campbell model.

;>)/

 

[dpaterson]

Re: To mod. or not to mod.

Hi.

The original Kramer Nightswans were indeed beautiful guitars. I seem to remember looking around for a used one some years ago and it sure looked like to me that they'd appreciated in value (at the time anyway).

As far as my guitar is concerned: I didn't really buy it as an investment per se. I guess it just means something to me really (especially given its pedigree) (and that I couldn't afford a new Kramer Nightswan II back in the late '80's or very early '90's i.e. so I waited a LONG time for this). And there's no questioning Buddy's work i.e. this really is a prize. But yeh: after all this discussion I'm decided that it needs to be sorted out and played. To be clear though to anyone that has not read the whole thread: nothing wrong at all with the guitar. It's just not "my tone" in its current form (which is ironic because "my tone" is Dio/Vivian's 1983/1984 Charvel tone i.e. pre-Nightswans) (and which I ALMOST get with my beloved Jacksons) (that’s irony for you).

One technical question that I never thought to ask:

Given that it has a bridge and MIDDLE pickup and no neck pickup: should I be looking to replace the MIDDLE pickup with a neck pickup or another bridge pickup??? As it stands now: they're both bridge pickups. Assuming I now put Invaders in (or those Synyster Gates Invaders that I mentioned above if I can get them i.e. sent an email to SD already) then should I be putting in two bridge Invaders or one bridge and one neck Invader (or two bridge F-spaced Synster Gates Invaders if I can get them)???

Not gonna lie though: on the very VERY few occasions I've played it the middle pickup is a pain i.e. I play heavy handed and I found myself digging in to the middle pickup on occasion.

Regards,

Dale.

 

[Obsessive Compulsive]

Re: To mod. or not to mod.

Everybody is telling you to mod mod mod the f outta that sucker but I got a feeling that you strive to keep it as pristine and immaculate as possible. I feel for ya man. I have a guitar whose sound and feel I hate but it's too precious to let go.

Besides, who in their right mind would alter a custom-ordered instrument? Sure, you can put the original pickups back in order to preserve the value but still, it wouldn't be the same.

I would try using a 15 or even a 31-band EQ and brightest strings available before doing any pickup change, which I assume you are actually hesitant about, correct?

By the way, that thing is gorgeous. I just love the lightning bolt graphics, very classy and elegant. Did Buddy himself paint it? It can't be a print I presume. Looks expensive, how much did you pay for it, 5000 dollars?

 

[dpaterson]

Re: To mod. or not to mod.

Good morning.

Everybody is telling you to mod mod mod the f outta that sucker but I got a feeling that you strive to keep it as pristine and immaculate as possible. I feel for ya man. I have a guitar whose sound and feel I hate but it's too precious to let go.

Besides, who in their right mind would alter a custom-ordered instrument? Sure, you can put the original pickups back in order to preserve the value but still, it wouldn't be the same.

I would try using a 15 or even a 31-band EQ and brightest strings available before doing any pickup change, which I assume you are actually hesitant about, correct?

By the way, that thing is gorgeous. I just love the lightning bolt graphics, very classy and elegant. Did Buddy himself paint it? It can't be a print I presume. Looks expensive, how much did you pay for it, 5000 dollars?

"Obsessive Compulsive"!!! That kinda sums it up (sums me up)!!! LOL!!!

I thank you for your post. I'm going through stages here i.e. one minute I think it's a waste to not be playing it and the next minute, especially when I take the thing out of its case, and see a post like yours (which I really appreciate), I think "no way". As I've sort of noted above: when I ordered it I was thinking "Kramer Nightswan II" really and was pretty "matter of fact" about it at the time. But when it arrived it really did take my breath away (and still does). And I feel privileged to own something like this. And it represents a whole lot of things to me too e.g. the '80's, Kramer Nightswans, it's connection to Vivian Campbell, what life was like back then, the list goes on. Most significant to me is its "by default" connection to Ronnie James Dio through Vivian Campbell (dunno if that makes sense given that Vivian wasn't playing Nightswans in his 1983/1984 Dio days) (but maybe it will make sense to some). So yeh. As much as I'm trying to convince myself otherwise: it's a bit more than just a guitar to me.

I guess I should err on the side of caution and follow the saying "when in doubt do nothing" (not quite sure who said that but seems to be apt right now).

Interesting idea about the EQ. Never thought about that. The only EQ I do use is a Boss GE-7 (per Vivian). This assuming that I want to muck it up and play it of course!!! LOL!!!

Only thing I've done thus far is change the strings from 09/42 to 10/46 which, given the shorter scale length, work better and did brighten things up a little (but still a lack of mids.).

Thanks for the compliment. Yip. Aside from it being so well crafted: it's indeed a thing of beauty (if that's your thing of course). And yeh: all hand painted, certified (by Vivian) (as well as the pickups being certified by Seymour Duncan), the works.

It did cost around there (slightly more by the time it was landed here and in my hands). But it came with a real robust case (insisted on this because of it having to be shipped) which cost a little.

Yeh. I guess it's "special" (to me anyway).

For anybody interested there's a whole history behind this thing. Was going to post some links but there are just so many. Google something like "Vivian Campbell Buddy Blaze Kramer" and there's loads of info. about this particular guitar not to mention some wonderful videos on YouTube with good 'ol Buddy and Vivian there!!! In one or two of the videos the two of them actually discuss the reasoning behind its actual design and its construction (scale length, pickups, etc. etc. etc.). And there's even some interesting info. floating around re: some legal wrangling with Dean Guitars re: the "Lightning Storm" graphic. As I said: it has a "pedigree"!!!

I dunno. As I think is noted above somewhere (at very least on another thread): I've got two Jacksons which I absolutely love too and those are my "players". And as I've also noted: irony is that I get very close to my desired (Dio/Vivian 1983/1984) tone with the Jacksons. So dunno. Maybe it should be back to "Plan A" (which was to not do anything to this guitar and order another Blaze TO PLAY next year). Tell you one thing though and as much as I love my Jacksons: in the future and if I don't have the cash I'd rather wait until I can get another Blaze. Buddy is a true "master craftsman". Not sure how he feels about me though because I reckon I could very well have been his most difficult customer at the time i.e. I was so "over" (obsessed???) this guitar and questioned everything which, in hindsight, wasn't the right thing to do and I sure had no cause to be concerned about anything. In my own defense though: never had a hand made "anything" in my life so didn't quite know how things worked especially when it comes to hand made guitars. Don't worry Buddy: I promise that next time I'll leave you in peace to do what you do so well!!!

The only other guitar that could mean any more to me would be that white Charvel that Vivian played with Dio in 1983/1984 (that ACTUAL guitar) and this for very obvious reasons. I've tried to buy it but no luck. But if anybody is closer to Vivian than I've managed to get well, then, be sure to steer him in the direction of this thread!!! LOL!!! I know in an interview he talks about having a whole bunch of his old stuff sitting in storage somewhere. I've always kinda hoped that particular guitar is in there!!!

I'm still gonna see if I can get those Synyster Gates Invaders though (but I guess given the above they'll end up in one of my Jackons) (if I can still get them that is).

(And tomorrow or later today I'll be "singing a different tune" I suppose!!! LOL!!!) (but I do appreciate all on this thread, and my other threads, indulging me, painful as it must be!!! LOL!!!).

Thanks again for the post.

Regards,

Dale.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: To mod. or not to mod.

Dale,
Let me ask you this...

If you were to email Buddy and ask him why he put those particular pickups in the bridge/neck positions, and he responded by saying “oh, I made a mistake and meant to put the JB in the bridge and FS in the neck”.
Would you still hesitate to switch them?

Maybe it’s just me, but I can’t for the life of me figure out why you wouldn’t swap those pickups.
It’s not “really” a mod in the sense that you’re permanently changing some aspect of the guitar.

That said, I’m not a collector. Every guitar that I buy is for playing and not collecting. I want my stuff to perform how I want it to.
I’ve owned my LP Standard for 6 years now and I’ve swapped pickups about 5-6 times now. I just changed them yesterday!!

But it’s your guitar to do with as you see fit.

 

[dpaterson]

Re: To mod. or not to mod.

Gtrjunior,

Let me answer you like this... :newangel:

If I emailed Buddy and he told me he had the pickups in the wrong places then (after losing my marbles and saying something I'd regret the next time I order a guitar from him) I'd have no problem and would swap the pickups around (in a heartbeat I might add).

BUT:

I know he didn't make a mistake. Bear in mind that this guitar is based on Buddy's original Shredder designed with/for Vivian BEFORE the Kramer Nightswan(s). The Kramer Nightswan(s) were in their turn based on Buddy's original Shredder. And so on and so forth. The original Shredder and the Kramer Nightswan(s) had the exact same pickups in the exact same positions. So as it stands now: it's "original" Blaze Shredder/Kramer Nightswan II (at very least insofar as the construction and configuration is concerned anyway).

As it also stands now: it's exactly Vivian's Whitesnake tone (actually found some footage this morning oddly enough). And therein lies the issue i.e. I want(ed) Vivian's (live) Dio tone not Vivian's Whitesnake tone. That's why I've been sure to note that there's absolutely nothing wrong with the guitar (it's "perfect"). It's just me really.

I've also had a look (since our last discussion) at the Tone Profiles of the Full Shred and the JB SH-4. To me they're pretty much identical so I'm not (no longer) entirely convinced that swapping the pickups around is going to make enough of a difference to warrant it.

I know you must be sick and tired of this discussion by now!!! LOL!!! Sorry. I do appreciate your input and insight and your indulging me though.

Anyways and in spite of my initial enthusiasm I'm "flip flopping" again and I reckon I'm just gonna keep it safe and sound for now. And if I do decide to mod. it at some point then I may as well go for broke and put Invaders in it (or, better yet, those Synyster Gates Invaders which, if they're still available, I'm gonna get anyway). But thanks to this thread and to everyone posting on it and sharing their different thoughts and insights: it's given me cause to pause.

Hmmmnnn... Didn't Vivian have an LP Standard at some point??? I seem to recall reading about this somewhere in the last day or two. Matter of fact that was apparently his favorite guitar (he probably still has that one for definite). They sure do have a very unique tone let's face it (you will know for sure what I mean). What pickups did YOU put in yesterday as a matter of interest???

And by the way: anybody notice how skew the bridge pickup is on that Kramer Nightswan in the pic. that was posted earlier??? LOL!!!

Looking forward to hearing from ya (again).

And thanks.

Regards,

Dale.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: To mod. or not to mod.

I've used the Full Shred and the JB. It's been a long time, but I remember the FS being the brighter of the two.

I also used Invaders for a long time. If you're using the word "bright" the same way that 99.9% of the world uses it, it is by no means brighter than either of the other two pickups.

More importantly than all that, are you using the right amp and pedals for the sound you're after? If this has already been stated, I apologize.

 

[dpaterson]

Re: To mod. or not to mod.

Hello.

I've used the Full Shred and the JB. It's been a long time, but I remember the FS being the brighter of the two.

I also used Invaders for a long time. If you're using the word "bright" the same way that 99.9% of the world uses it, it is by no means brighter than either of the other two pickups.

More importantly than all that, are you using the right amp and pedals for the sound you're after? If this has already been stated, I apologize.

To me the word "bright" means "loads of tops" and "loads of bottom" but "not enough middle" which is exactly the tone I get from this guitar as well as from one of my Jacksons (for which there is a DM Super Distortion on its way as we "speak") (and people are gonna kill me for having a duplicate discussion on here!!! LOL!!!).

Given that I'm "almost there" tonewise with my other Jackson and my amps. and pedals I reckon I'm good to go on the amp. and pedal front. I actually do have a Boss GE-7 but I find it's like trying to EQ something (mids.) that isn't there in the first place (easier to tone something down because there's too much of it than boost something because there's not enough of it) (to me anyway) (well: my amps. appear to prefer it that way anyway).

Regards,

Dale.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: To mod. or not to mod.

Gtrjunior,

Let me answer you like this... :newangel:

If I emailed Buddy and he told me he had the pickups in the wrong places then (after losing my marbles and saying something I'd regret the next time I order a guitar from him) I'd have no problem and would swap the pickups around (in a heartbeat I might add).

BUT:

I know he didn't make a mistake. Bear in mind that this guitar is based on Buddy's original Shredder designed with/for Vivian BEFORE the Kramer Nightswan(s). The Kramer Nightswan(s) were in their turn based on Buddy's original Shredder. And so on and so forth. The original Shredder and the Kramer Nightswan(s) had the exact same pickups in the exact same positions. So as it stands now: it's "original" Blaze Shredder/Kramer Nightswan II (at very least insofar as the construction and configuration is concerned anyway).

As it also stands now: it's exactly Vivian's Whitesnake tone (actually found some footage this morning oddly enough). And therein lies the issue i.e. I want(ed) Vivian's (live) Dio tone not Vivian's Whitesnake tone. That's why I've been sure to note that there's absolutely nothing wrong with the guitar (it's "perfect"). It's just me really.

I've also had a look (since our last discussion) at the Tone Profiles of the Full Shred and the JB SH-4. To me they're pretty much identical so I'm not (no longer) entirely convinced that swapping the pickups around is going to make enough of a difference to warrant it.

I know you must be sick and tired of this discussion by now!!! LOL!!! Sorry. I do appreciate your input and insight and your indulging me though.

Anyways and in spite of my initial enthusiasm I'm "flip flopping" again and I reckon I'm just gonna keep it safe and sound for now. And if I do decide to mod. it at some point then I may as well go for broke and put Invaders in it (or, better yet, those Synyster Gates Invaders which, if they're still available, I'm gonna get anyway). But thanks to this thread and to everyone posting on it and sharing their different thoughts and insights: it's given me cause to pause.

Hmmmnnn... Didn't Vivian have an LP Standard at some point??? I seem to recall reading about this somewhere in the last day or two. Matter of fact that was apparently his favorite guitar (he probably still has that one for definite). They sure do have a very unique tone let's face it (you will know for sure what I mean). What pickups did YOU put in yesterday as a matter of interest???

And by the way: anybody notice how skew the bridge pickup is on that Kramer Nightswan in the pic. that was posted earlier??? LOL!!!

Looking forward to hearing from ya (again).

And thanks.

Regards,

Dale.

I completely understand!
I wish you the best in your quest!!

That is something all do here.
I just spent the last couple of hours or so, tweaking my pedal board and saving midi patches so that they are “perfect”. Lol

 

[dpaterson]

Re: To mod. or not to mod.

I completely understand!
I wish you the best in your quest!!

That is something all do here.
I just spent the last couple of hours or so, tweaking my pedal board and saving midi patches so that they are “perfect”. Lol

Thanks. You never did say what pickups you put in today???

Yeh. This notion of "perfect". I waste so much time on "perfect". Matter of fact: I myself have spent the last (almost) two weeks just trying to RECAPTURE a particular tone that I MYSELF actually recorded MYSELF about two weeks ago but never noted all my amp. settings etc. down and never saved the presets either. It was a "perfect" tone. But do you think I can create it again??? I'm really going of my head with this and sadly I cannot "let it go" until I figure out exactly what the hell I did!!! But I tell ya that if I spent as much time PLAYING as I do mucking about with all this stuff (forums included I might add) and "perfect": David Coverdale himself would be calling!!! LOL!!! I'm making light of it but it's actually not funny. Eighteen months down the line (and then some) and I don't even have a complete setlist together to go try get a gig (lack of a vocalist to cover Dio aside of course) (suppose that'll take another few years to find too) (if ever) (truth be told sometimes I think I've set my sights a bit high).

Oh well...



Regards,

Dale.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: To mod. or not to mod.

I put actually 2 sets of pickups in 2 different guitars.
My LP Standard got Fokin pickups.
Hot Breeze bridge and Rocket Queen neck.
And my LP Special got a set of Fokin custom wound p90’s.

 

[dpaterson]

Re: To mod. or not to mod.

I put actually 2 sets of pickups in 2 different guitars.
My LP Standard got Fokin pickups.
Hot Breeze bridge and Rocket Queen neck.
And my LP Special got a set of Fokin custom wound p90’s.

Nice (I think) i.e. cannot comment. Not only have I never heard of those pickups but as you know this is my very first foray into the pickup world (and as of today I'm familiar with exactly four different pickup models) (five if you count Invaders separate from Synyster Gates Invaders!!! LOL!!!) (and sadly that figure includes my Jackson stock pickups). I shall look them up though for the sake of interest (always keen to learn if nothing else).

The guitars I know though. A Standard AND a Special!!! So to coin a phrase: when do we get pics.??? LOL!!!

Regards,

Dale.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: To mod. or not to mod.

Here ya go!

 

[dpaterson]

Re: To mod. or not to mod.

Wow!!!

Those are the “real deal”!!! Very, very, nice.

Hate to be the one to break the news to you but those are probably more collectible than any Nightswan or derivation thereof. Look after them (can see you do though).

Thanks for the pics.

Regards,

Dale.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: To mod. or not to mod.

To me the word "bright" means "loads of tops" and "loads of bottom" but "not enough middle"

What happens if you use a Tubescreamer? Or set that EQ pedal like an inverse V?

I'd try out that Super D in both guitars. Regardless, if a different pedal doesn't work, I'd either swap the pickup or the guitar.

five if you count Invaders separate from Synyster Gates Invaders!!!

It's the same pickup with silver poles, so no, not a different model.

 

[Obsessive Compulsive]

Re: To mod. or not to mod.

Dale,
Let me ask you this...

If you were to email Buddy and ask him why he put those particular pickups in the bridge/neck positions, and he responded by saying “oh, I made a mistake and meant to put the JB in the bridge and FS in the neck”.
Would you still hesitate to switch them?

Maybe it’s just me, but I can’t for the life of me figure out why you wouldn’t swap those pickups.
It’s not “really” a mod in the sense that you’re permanently changing some aspect of the guitar.

That said, I’m not a collector. Every guitar that I buy is for playing and not collecting. I want my stuff to perform how I want it to.
I’ve owned my LP Standard for 6 years now and I’ve swapped pickups about 5-6 times now. I just changed them yesterday!!

But it’s your guitar to do with as you see fit.

No, the guitar wouldn't be the same anymore cause it's been tampered with. It's like taking back a spouse who has cheated on you; physically the person is the same but the innocence has lost and you know something has happened. Life will never be the same again.

Besides, tampering with it would dispel Buddy's magic touch, which realistically only exists in your head but hey, god doesn't exist but if you want to believe then so be it.

And don't forget, there is always risk involved in pickup chagning: screwdriver falls on the body, accidental scratch, tip of soldering iron burning the wires or worse the finish, etc. etc.

 

[dpaterson]

Re: To mod. or not to mod.

Good morning all.

Here ya go!

Just had a look at them on the BIG screen (was on my iPad last night which didn't do them justice). REAL nice!!! Like I said: take care of 'em. Am jealous of your studio there!!!

What happens if you use a Tubescreamer? Or set that EQ pedal like an inverse V?

I'd try out that Super D in both guitars. Regardless, if a different pedal doesn't work, I'd either swap the pickup or the guitar.



It's the same pickup with silver poles, so no, not a different model.

I'm playing through Marshall CODE50 amps. (x 2 for stereo at any given time). They don't take too kindly to stuff like external EQ unfortunately and for some reason (have tried an inverse V type setting as suggested). I can EQ stuff but the noise levels rise considerably. I have tried subtractive EQ but it ends up not sounding good. As noted: with my current pickups (in the Blaze as well as in my one Jackson) it's like trying to EQ something that's not there (mids.). Have not tried a Tubescreamer (don't have one) but do have a Boss SD-1 and this thing seems to only boost the highs on these amps. (which I sure don't need more of) and again raises the noise levels considerably. I'm waiting for delivery of a Boss NS-2 for this reason (should have been here last week already). The CODE amps. do have a built in noise gate but with the type of pedals and simulations I'm using: the noise levels rise so high that if I use the built in gate to suppress most it ends up choking the sound.

The above all being said: I got no problem and great sound with my other Jackson. That tells me it's the pickups in the other two guitars (for now anyway).

Cannot wait for the Super D!!! LOL!!! Should also arrive this week. But I'm only gonna try it in one of my Jacksons. I'm "sticking to my guns" here i.e. not going to modify the Blaze is any way, shape, or form.

Hopefully will also hear about the Synyster Gates Invaders today (or tomorrow due to timezone difference).

Not ONLY different color poles!!! LOL!!! They come (used to come) in an F-spaced flavor as well (that's the MAJOR difference) (to me anyway). But alright: so I only know FOUR different pickups at this time!!! LOL!!!

No, the guitar wouldn't be the same anymore cause it's been tampered with. It's like taking back a spouse who has cheated on you; physically the person is the same but the innocence has lost and you know something has happened. Life will never be the same again.

Besides, tampering with it would dispel Buddy's magic touch, which realistically only exists in your head but hey, god doesn't exist but if you want to believe then so be it.

And don't forget, there is always risk involved in pickup chagning: screwdriver falls on the body, accidental scratch, tip of soldering iron burning the wires or worse the finish, etc. etc.

ALL AGREED!!! And I love the way you put things!!! LOL!!! You could not explain it better!!!

I shall admit that YOUR post of yesterday was the "clincher" for me. I mean to say I'd already, kinda anyway, decided to not mod. the thing but this could have gone either way. Until I read your post that is!!! Thanks a lot!!!

And you are right. Oddly enough I said this EXACT same thing the other day to somebody i.e. I said "things happen". I am very careful and neat and tidy when I work (I try anyway) and never have a problem. What happened the other day when I was mucking about with tone pots. and capacitors in my one Jackson??? The tiniest piece of solder had fallen onto the mat that I used to protect the guitar that I'm working on and it scratched the finish. I managed to polish it out but "things happen". Oh and when I got up from the workbench, guitar in hand, I almost tripped over an extension cord too. Could have been FAR worse (although I suppose I would have broken an arm, a leg, or something else, before letting the guitar touch the ground!!! LOL!!!).

So nah. Blaze is "safe and sound". Put another way: I'd rather buy it its own amp. which may allow for MORE EQ or something before resorting to modding it. Would sure look good with Synyster Gates Invaders though......... Only joking!!! LOL!!!

Thanks for ALL the posts everyone.

Good start to my day!!!

Regards,

Dale.