Who's modding cheap guitars?

Re: Who's modding cheap guitars?

I suppose this one qualifies. I got it for $150 (though I'm sure it was worth more when new).
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I didn't do much to it, didn't have to. Jack and switch were shot so had to be replaced anyway, so the only mod is the 59/Jazz in the neck I had in my parts drawer; the stock blahbucker in the neck needed to go. Also turned it into a hardtail and swapped the Kahler style string lock with a Floyd type retainer bar. It's very resonant and has serious balls, great for harder music. Also good for softer styles with the low ouput hybrid neck pup.
 
Re: Who's modding cheap guitars?

^
That generation of Ibanez RS guitars is overdue for a comeback. The stock pickups are the weak point.

I enjoy extracting the best out of "budget" guitars. PRS SE, Hamer XT, Squier Vintage Modified, all prime candidates in my opinion.

Of the older stuff, check out Squier Silver Series (MIJ) and the Westone Thunder.
 
Re: Who's modding cheap guitars?

Where does one insert the coin? :scratchch
 
Re: Who's modding cheap guitars?

Little Pigbacon said:
I don't think I'm done working on cheap guitars. I still find it a lot of fun, and it's a great way to learn about what factors make which differences in tone and playability. Plus, it's nice to find a guitar that has something great going for it but maybe has a serious compromise or two. Address those issues within a reasonable boundary of money and time, and you get an instrument that really pays off.
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+1. I've done all kinds of experiments on mid-price imports that I would NEVER do on a Gibson. I've learned a lot about PU's, magnets, pots, alternative wirings, even making hybrid PU's. I don't keep any guitar stock, no matter what the cost of it is, so there's no point in me spending a bundle on an American-made one and changing a bunch of things on it and lowering it's market value (people usually want them stock). I also share what I've learned and have been able to help many members here.

It's a great way to learn about guitars. I'm hands-on now, and wuld never want to go back.
 
Re: Who's modding cheap guitars?

If I had a Gibson, I'd be modding it anyways. Why waste the extra money on mods on a guitar that costs $1000. I don't pay for names right now. In the future, I will most likely own my fair share of Gibbies, but until then Used Epis and Hamers are more than fine.
 
Re: Who's modding cheap guitars?

Big Flannel said:
Whats up guys? I'm curious as to who has taken a cheapo guitar or a beater and turned the unassuming chunk of wood into a contender. Thought popped into my head while cleaning the guitar room and finding an epi lp junior I forgot I had.

Ps: feel free to post pics of your hard work.
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Working with one right now.
sometimes just because a guitar doesn't cost much doesn't make it "cheap" and substandard.
My project is this $100 Pawn Shop find called a Mr Potato. This one is a hand built Korean CS guitar that is a very solidly built neck and body but used a POS Floyd and junk electronics. It's getting a new Gotoh Floyd + a JB and Alnico II set with all new pots and switches.
This thing will be a BEAST when done because I had a solid platform to build on. On the other hand it's hard to polish a TURD!
Here she is as it sits right now I plan to order the Gotoh this week and have the rest on hand.



 
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Re: Who's modding cheap guitars?

ArtieToo said:
Sorry man. I gotta disagree. Most of my guitars are inexpensive. (Not the same as "cheap".) There are many good guitars that simply don't have the perceived "status" of "better" guitars. Older MIA Peaveys come to mind. I have three MIA Peavey Patriots/Predator. They're every bit as good as any Fender Strat, IMHO. And they sell "cheap" because many don't know how good they are.

Just my 2-cents worth. :)

Artie
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ABSOLUTELY!!
I picked up this Tele like USA 1990 Peavy Generation S-1 as a basket case in a Pawn shop for $150 OTD.
This thing is an absolute BEAST, will smoke the regular MIA Fender Teles badly and give the Fender CS guitars a run! Just because it said PEAVY not Fender on the headstock it sold CHEAP!



 
Re: Who's modding cheap guitars?

My old MIJ Ibby S540 Saber/7-String Saber aside ...all my guitars were sub $500 (mostly in the 4-500 range) ..they're all worked on and upgraded like hell & they all sound/play fantastic.. I could'nt be happier with them...my cheapest one (by far) is the AXL 1216 I just bought a few months ago ($150 or so..) & it's awesome....& totally stock!
 
Re: Who's modding cheap guitars?

A great deal indeed on the Potato axe. Looks like a nicely made guitar regardless of the $$. The neck on the Pv is killer.

Funkfingers said:
^
That generation of Ibanez RS guitars is overdue for a comeback. The stock pickups are the weak point.
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Yeah. They'd have to do the '86 spec though - e.g. none of these crappy pre-Edge trems -, like they've done with the new Genesis series. Lots of people dislike the butter knife headstock but I think it's cool - you see it and you know it's a Roadstar straight away. I'd also kill for a Proline reissue...

Agree about the pups (especially the single coils), though the bridge model of these IBZ triple ceramic buckers is pretty good, kinda like a SuperD/Invader. Can't mod them unfortunately because the whole thing is epoxied into the cover. One of my favourite things about these is the neck - Fendery type with a flat radius. My RG410 feels a bit slimmer all around but it's not painted.

Regarding the 50¢ posterior grab, how long is a grab able to last? Is it a quick squeeze or a longer caress?
 
Re: Who's modding cheap guitars?

I would think Frankenstein was a cheap axe. Parts scarfed from all over, and it not only made music but made history. I love that cheap doesn't have to mean junk.
 
Re: Who's modding cheap guitars?

I've got several inexpensive guitars that have benefitted immensely from modding. A gold 20th Anniversary Squier that I put a set of GFS's into, and swapped out the neck. A candy apple red Squier Strat now housing a full set of EMG SA's. An Ibanez ART100 upgraded with G&B pickups from a PRS SE. An OLP MM4 that got a Bartolini pickup - a particularly disturbing example, given the end result. And that's just the top of the list.
 
Re: Who's modding cheap guitars?

This probably counts. See all that horrible fake aged looking hardware?



Now look...



Add a Seth set, new wiring harness, Gotoh bridge & tailpiece, Grover tuners and some chrome strap buttons, and look what you get. It plays and sounds like it looks now.
 
Re: Who's modding cheap guitars?

I guess my first inspiration was to learn but now that I have I will not be modding any more Squier Bullets, Affinities, no name beaters and anything along those lines. The last modded guitar is a Squier 2002 20th Aniversary Strat HH that I bought for $42.00. After new electronics, GFS single coil pickups and a tremelo block she is playing much better than her original price, a keeper for sure, now an HSS and in the near future an HSH.

Now, if I should come across a PRS SE, A Hamer ,Schecter, Cort or Samick at a good price I might decide to invest time and money to make it a better playing guitar.
 
Re: Who's modding cheap guitars?

MisterE said:
Hamer, Schecter, Cort or Samick.
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Most of these are emerging from the same factory. The fret work is the same, regardless of the brand name on the headstock.
 
Re: Who's modding cheap guitars?

I love messing with inexpensive guiars. Some are homeruns and some aren't but these days the hits are more frequent than the misses.

I just fixed one of those Epi Jr's for a friend of mine. A fret polish, cleaned up nut slots, a cool new pup ring and an older Epi pickup that wasn't doused in wax that got a spare SD A5 mag I had laying around. Gave it a real setup and it sounds and looks waaaay better and plays pretty well. I had the action bumped up and it made a pretty hot little slide guitar. He keeps it tuned to open G and loves it.
 
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Re: Who's modding cheap guitars?

It depends on what kind of cheap youre talking about. If you're talking about a cheap guitar that is made out of decent tone woods and has a decent neck, hell yeah I'll be willing to fix it up. But if you're talking about something made out if mystery wood that doesn't sound good or has a crappy neck, meh, I'll pass on it or use it for parts if there's soemthing on it I could use and it's cheap enough.

In fact, the current home of my Duncan Black Winter set is in my cheap Jackson JS Series King V. It sounds and plays great. ;)
 
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Re: Who's modding cheap guitars?

I have my LTD M-50 which I got for ~$240. first thing I did was replaced the bridge, knobs and strap buttons with black ones, I got black Carvin tuners for $39 (awesome tuners). I then spent $12 on a Graph Tech nut which I installed. The pickups was where I splurged, I spent $200 on two AHB-1B pups. For $8 (I think) I got the Hammett skull/cross bone sticker inlays from Jockamo. For 100% free I painted the body deep black with a green Mushroomhead face all with high-end professional auto paint.

For what I did to it, I would say with absolute confidence it could hang with anything in the $700-$900 range. I have a guitar that is f@cking great and I had a lot of fun doing the mods myself
 
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