Where do you "draw the line" on modding a guitar?

[kill your scene]

Re: Where do you "draw the line" on modding a guitar?

duuuuuuuude. I want that bass soooooo bad. Thats sooo fukkin sweet.

Are you being sarcastic? Sarcasm doesn't work on the internet.

Anyway, you can't have it. No one can. You have to EARN an axe that's that beaten up. Half the fun of modding/maiming an instrument is that whatever damage you do is completely your own.

 

[strat_master]

Re: Where do you "draw the line" on modding a guitar?

I would stop when i had to eitehr replace the body or the neck. If thats gone then you change it its not even the same guitar anymore!

 

[butnut]

Re: Where do you "draw the line" on modding a guitar?

I would'nt do the stuff I do on a vintage Fender...no matter how beat up it is. If only I could find one. I mod to make my guitars look, sound and play better, no rules, my tastes are not everyones, but I have fun and know what each guitar can do.

 

[Robert S.]

Re: Where do you "draw the line" on modding a guitar?

If you really like the neck, build a guitar around it. While some folks may thing that putting a ton of money into a personal project is a waiste of money, I am of the thinking that it your money, your time and your guitar. So what if you spend more money than the guitar will ever be worth. As long as you are having fun and you end up with a guitar that you want to play (is playable) then I see no harm, no foul.

My big things when evaluating a guitar for expensive mods is the body and neck. If the wood is good the guitar will most likely be worth the effort. But thats my personal spin on things. I've spent an additional $1000 on what started out as a $500 97 MIA Strat and it will never be valued anywhere near that price, but I now have a guitar that I will pick up and play.

If anything, you'll probably learn alot. Neck pockets and bridge location can be trickier than they seem.

 

[Mattt]

Re: Where do you "draw the line" on modding a guitar?

You could send the peavey neck to a good luthier and they'll make you an exact copy out of better wood.... then sell the peavey to pay for it.

 

[some_dude]

Re: Where do you "draw the line" on modding a guitar?

I choose my mods based on mojo.

If I think it will add mojo, I do it.

I have a bone stock Strat, and a heavily modded Strat, but both have huge mojo, and I love playing both.

I have a bone stock Les Paul with no mojo what so ever. I keep playing it, trying to get that well played mojo going on, but it's still a work in process. It's going under the knife soon, I have some mojo parts on order :wink:.

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Where do you "draw the line" on modding a guitar?

I prefer to keep vintage instruments (and ones that will one day likely be vintage collectibles) stock. If replacing parts becomes necessary, then at least with ones that require no modification to the instrument itself or even better with NOS parts.

On a guitar where it´s unlikely that the value will ever go up, total makeovers, including major woodwork, are ok

 

[Davey]

Re: Where do you "draw the line" on modding a guitar?

making cavities for new buckers.. making your OWN pickguard.. next project is making a string through body setup (right now it's a wrap around bridge) then i'd prolly go to a pain shop and get it refinished and maybe add a lightning graphic to it .. or i wont refinish and do a relic job =)

i like modding =)

 

[beandip]

Re: Where do you "draw the line" on modding a guitar?

I've got several guitars that are beat up and modded, I'm just saying that I like the idea of a natural finished beater. I've got sunburst, silver, black, and acoustic beaters, but I dont have a natural finished guitar. I never did get why he scalloped the last couple of frets, but then again, I never really listened to Mr. Big or anything.

 

[kill your scene]

Re: Where do you "draw the line" on modding a guitar?

I've got several guitars that are beat up and modded, I'm just saying that I like the idea of a natural finished beater. I've got sunburst, silver, black, and acoustic beaters, but I dont have a natural finished guitar. I never did get why he scalloped the last couple of frets, but then again, I never really listened to Mr. Big or anything.

Actuallyl, he scalloped the last frets because, according to him, he can do bends and "meedly-meedly" parts easier when they're scalloped. You know what's weird? That's not a natural finish bass. He's just worn the original finish completely off.... that's bare wood showing.

 

[TheProphet]

Re: Where do you "draw the line" on modding a guitar?

Let's look at Yamaha #2

New saddles
New Electronics
Expanded Electronics cavity
New Pickups
New strap holders.

To do

New Finish
New Tuners
New Neck it's Wenge/Ebony time
New Nut
New Inlay

 

[Guitarist]

Re: Where do you "draw the line" on modding a guitar?

When? When your bank is broke, or in the all too hard to achieve thought that you have truly found your tone.

 

[B2D]

Re: Where do you "draw the line" on modding a guitar?

I believe that the neck and the body are the heart and soul of the guitar. If you swap out those actual peices you're playing a different guitar now.

I think shaving a neck or putting holes in/sanding the body is acceptable for me, because it's a major mod but the original element is still there.

 

[Artie]

Re: Where do you "draw the line" on modding a guitar?

Great comments and suggestions everybody. Thanks.

I think I'm going to use this comment by Robert as my foundation, however:

If you really like the neck, build a guitar around it.

I really like the neck, and oddly enough, I just seem to like having the Peavey name on it. So, perhaps I'll make a swamp ash or mahogany body, and call it a Patriot Plus.