Who's modding cheap guitars?
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VVladislav
New member
Re: Who's modding cheap guitars?
I am going to mod my Ibanez RG-120 ($199.99 used after taxes) and then later on my Jackson JS22-Dinky DKA ($199.99 New) both guitars were in some peoples words cheap. But I am starting with the RG-120 I have had it for a decade and recorded many albums with it all stock just added more springs to the bridge back in 2004. now I am looking into getting the SD Black Winter pickups then later on the same mod to my Jackson.:smokin:
I am going to mod my Ibanez RG-120 ($199.99 used after taxes) and then later on my Jackson JS22-Dinky DKA ($199.99 New) both guitars were in some peoples words cheap. But I am starting with the RG-120 I have had it for a decade and recorded many albums with it all stock just added more springs to the bridge back in 2004. now I am looking into getting the SD Black Winter pickups then later on the same mod to my Jackson.:smokin:
dominus
King Midas to Cheap Guitars
Re: Who's modding cheap guitars?
Just grabbed an Ibanez GIO model for dirt cheap. (Less than $100 shipped.)
Mahogany body, Edge III bridge. I'll probably strip the finish down.
Replace the tuners and electronics and it should be a fairly solid guitar. Since I'm not going to use the tremolo all that much the bridge should hold up okay.
Just grabbed an Ibanez GIO model for dirt cheap. (Less than $100 shipped.)
Mahogany body, Edge III bridge. I'll probably strip the finish down.
Replace the tuners and electronics and it should be a fairly solid guitar. Since I'm not going to use the tremolo all that much the bridge should hold up okay.
VVladislav
New member
Re: Who's modding cheap guitars?
I am now curious on how this will sound
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Just grabbed an Ibanez GIO model for dirt cheap. (Less than $100 shipped.)
Mahogany body, Edge III bridge. I'll probably strip the finish down.
Replace the tuners and electronics and it should be a fairly solid guitar. Since I'm not going to use the tremolo all that much the bridge should hold up okay.
I am now curious on how this will sound
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
muttznmongrelz
New member
Re: Who's modding cheap guitars?
I've modded a couple of relatively inexpensive guitars; First Act SFA CE140 Lola by swapping out the stock pickups/pots/switches/jacks...
Red Lola with Rio Grande Genuine Texas/BBQ Set to Gibson 500k Vol/Gibson 3 Way LP Toggle/Fender TBX/Switchcraft Jack
I've got a Blue Lola undergoing electronics swap and set up as we speak with a '91 SD Screamin' Demon NJ/'86 Invader BJ to DiMarzio 500k Push
ull Vol/Gibson 3 Way LP Toggle/Fender TBX/Switchcraft Jack
You can snag the SFA CE140 Lola fairly cheap because of the Brand Name and build a KILLER 24.75" Scale Monster Player out of each one.
- Beveled, single cutaway body shape designed in First Act’s Studio For Artists, featuring solid balance and great high fret access
- Beautiful, solid mahagany body for rich and warm sound
- Originally had Two Alnico 5 magnet vintage-style chrome bikini-clad humbucking pickups with crisp clean sound and warm distortion...(NO PICKUPS AT CURRENT...HENCE THE PROJECT DESIGNATION)
- Mahogany set neck, rosewood fingerboard with pearloid I-line inlays
- Tilted 3+3 headstock to maximize sustain
- Strings through the body with patent pending First Act String Retainer system with low profile bridge, for maximum sustain and tonal reproduction
- Chrome diecast tuning machines for accurate tuning
- Chrome-dome volume and tone knobs with 3-way toggle, for quick and easy access to sound tweaks
If I find a guitar with a GREAT Feeling/Playing Neck, Good Fretwork, Solid Mahogany, Ash, Maple or Poplar Body, quality components and a build/fit & finish with some attention to detail...then I don't care so much about the Brand Name, Country Of Manufacture or how "cheap" it is.
That said I've been watching used PRS SE 245 Soapbars and Fender Modern Player Jaguars/J90 for a good deal to upgrade with some Rio Grande P90s I have laying around.
I've modded a couple of relatively inexpensive guitars; First Act SFA CE140 Lola by swapping out the stock pickups/pots/switches/jacks...
Red Lola with Rio Grande Genuine Texas/BBQ Set to Gibson 500k Vol/Gibson 3 Way LP Toggle/Fender TBX/Switchcraft Jack
I've got a Blue Lola undergoing electronics swap and set up as we speak with a '91 SD Screamin' Demon NJ/'86 Invader BJ to DiMarzio 500k Push
ull Vol/Gibson 3 Way LP Toggle/Fender TBX/Switchcraft Jack
You can snag the SFA CE140 Lola fairly cheap because of the Brand Name and build a KILLER 24.75" Scale Monster Player out of each one.
- Beveled, single cutaway body shape designed in First Act’s Studio For Artists, featuring solid balance and great high fret access
- Beautiful, solid mahagany body for rich and warm sound
- Originally had Two Alnico 5 magnet vintage-style chrome bikini-clad humbucking pickups with crisp clean sound and warm distortion...(NO PICKUPS AT CURRENT...HENCE THE PROJECT DESIGNATION)
- Mahogany set neck, rosewood fingerboard with pearloid I-line inlays
- Tilted 3+3 headstock to maximize sustain
- Strings through the body with patent pending First Act String Retainer system with low profile bridge, for maximum sustain and tonal reproduction
- Chrome diecast tuning machines for accurate tuning
- Chrome-dome volume and tone knobs with 3-way toggle, for quick and easy access to sound tweaks
If I find a guitar with a GREAT Feeling/Playing Neck, Good Fretwork, Solid Mahogany, Ash, Maple or Poplar Body, quality components and a build/fit & finish with some attention to detail...then I don't care so much about the Brand Name, Country Of Manufacture or how "cheap" it is.
That said I've been watching used PRS SE 245 Soapbars and Fender Modern Player Jaguars/J90 for a good deal to upgrade with some Rio Grande P90s I have laying around.
Last edited:
Re: Who's modding cheap guitars?
Just replaced the neck on my 2013 MIM strat with a warmoth neck and it's the last upgrade that has taken the guitar where I had wanted to go. It now sounds and plays better than any strat I've owned before, including the last deluxe I had.
The stock neck was 21 frets and not stable enough to stay in tune. The new neck is 22 frets and stainless, both of which I've got to have, and is much more stable. It's maple with a rosewood fretboard, compound radius (another must have for me), and dual truss rod, which to my ears had no negative impacts on tone. Workmanship is great.
I had previously replaced all the electronics. Norton bridge, area 58 middle, and area 67 neck. 500k tone pot for the Norton, with push pull split, and 250k shared tone pot for the singles. 250k volume. Second to bottom pup selector combines neck and bridge. Fourth combines middle and neck.
Replaced saddles with graphtechs ferraglides. Sanded off the paint where the bridge rests. Blocked it by filling the entire cavity spaces, whose painted wood walls were also sanded off, on each side of the tremolo block with oak, all the way up to the plastic cover (versus narrow, short wood pieces). I left three springs attached to allow whatever ringing could still be achieved, and to allow the ground to remain there. The bridge does not lay flat on the body; instead it rests only the edge where the screws secure. Because of how I blocked it, it's locked in place.
I've been playing and modding long enough to know what I want, and no stock guitar has all the things I look for. Even if I did buy a higher end stock guitar, I know the stock pups would not be what I want and that I'd end up replacing them. And few stock guitars have stainless frets.
Cobbling together parts, whether all from scratch or starting with a cheap guitar and keeping it's body, is making more and more sense to me. Sure a dud tone wood may end up in the mix, but the overall cost savings are enough of a cushion to cover duds. I just keep working on it until I get there. And maybe the end tone result may not match the intention perfectly, but I rarely find in store guitars match exactly either as I test them, and they never have all the key parts I desire anyway.
Imo the neck plays a huge role in playability and tone, with body wood playing less of a tone role. So the concept of finding a cheap guitar with a decent base tone and replacing everything else can work out, which it did in my case. For this guitar it removed some undesirable high end, rounded out/balanced the tone, changed the attack from hard edged to slightly squishier (which is why I like rosewood), and made it fuller sounding overall. And at first I was unsure about the SS6105 frets I'd selected, but now I'm with them than the jumbo frets I'd owned more often.
My next build will be a full warmoth build though, because I'll be looking for a body color that won't be available in a cheap strat, as well as a rear route with only a bridge humbucker and a neck single coil.
Just replaced the neck on my 2013 MIM strat with a warmoth neck and it's the last upgrade that has taken the guitar where I had wanted to go. It now sounds and plays better than any strat I've owned before, including the last deluxe I had.
The stock neck was 21 frets and not stable enough to stay in tune. The new neck is 22 frets and stainless, both of which I've got to have, and is much more stable. It's maple with a rosewood fretboard, compound radius (another must have for me), and dual truss rod, which to my ears had no negative impacts on tone. Workmanship is great.
I had previously replaced all the electronics. Norton bridge, area 58 middle, and area 67 neck. 500k tone pot for the Norton, with push pull split, and 250k shared tone pot for the singles. 250k volume. Second to bottom pup selector combines neck and bridge. Fourth combines middle and neck.
Replaced saddles with graphtechs ferraglides. Sanded off the paint where the bridge rests. Blocked it by filling the entire cavity spaces, whose painted wood walls were also sanded off, on each side of the tremolo block with oak, all the way up to the plastic cover (versus narrow, short wood pieces). I left three springs attached to allow whatever ringing could still be achieved, and to allow the ground to remain there. The bridge does not lay flat on the body; instead it rests only the edge where the screws secure. Because of how I blocked it, it's locked in place.
I've been playing and modding long enough to know what I want, and no stock guitar has all the things I look for. Even if I did buy a higher end stock guitar, I know the stock pups would not be what I want and that I'd end up replacing them. And few stock guitars have stainless frets.
Cobbling together parts, whether all from scratch or starting with a cheap guitar and keeping it's body, is making more and more sense to me. Sure a dud tone wood may end up in the mix, but the overall cost savings are enough of a cushion to cover duds. I just keep working on it until I get there. And maybe the end tone result may not match the intention perfectly, but I rarely find in store guitars match exactly either as I test them, and they never have all the key parts I desire anyway.
Imo the neck plays a huge role in playability and tone, with body wood playing less of a tone role. So the concept of finding a cheap guitar with a decent base tone and replacing everything else can work out, which it did in my case. For this guitar it removed some undesirable high end, rounded out/balanced the tone, changed the attack from hard edged to slightly squishier (which is why I like rosewood), and made it fuller sounding overall. And at first I was unsure about the SS6105 frets I'd selected, but now I'm with them than the jumbo frets I'd owned more often.
My next build will be a full warmoth build though, because I'll be looking for a body color that won't be available in a cheap strat, as well as a rear route with only a bridge humbucker and a neck single coil.
Demanic
PenultimateTone Member
Re: Who's modding cheap guitars?
I picked up my RG-120 for a hundred bucks. Put Triple Shots and a Mayhem set in it, then a Graph Tech nut and string saddles, Grover locking tuners and 5 new springs into the back. I wound up swapping out the bridge pickup into a Jay Turser Les Paul because the pickup wasn't trem spaced, replacing it with a TB-15. It's one of my favorite guitars to play and sounds HEAVY through just about anything it's plugged in to. I think it was money well spent.
I picked up my RG-120 for a hundred bucks. Put Triple Shots and a Mayhem set in it, then a Graph Tech nut and string saddles, Grover locking tuners and 5 new springs into the back. I wound up swapping out the bridge pickup into a Jay Turser Les Paul because the pickup wasn't trem spaced, replacing it with a TB-15. It's one of my favorite guitars to play and sounds HEAVY through just about anything it's plugged in to. I think it was money well spent.
VVladislav
New member
Re: Who's modding cheap guitars?
Very nice. Do you have a sound clip of it?
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Very nice. Do you have a sound clip of it?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
VVladislav
New member
Re: Who's modding cheap guitars?
Before
And after
And the verdict ist kvlt! Not the best recording but it shows that you can make any guitar sound good with practice and patience.
http://youtu.be/hWNTrUFzRp8
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Before
And after
And the verdict ist kvlt! Not the best recording but it shows that you can make any guitar sound good with practice and patience.
http://youtu.be/hWNTrUFzRp8
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
muttznmongrelz
New member
Re: Who's modding cheap guitars?
Just got the Blue Lola back; as expected, it sounds AWESOME with the Vintage MJ Wound Screamin' Demon Neck/Invader Bridge and new electronics.
I've modded a couple of relatively inexpensive guitars; First Act SFA CE140 Lola by swapping out the stock pickups/pots/switches/jacks...
Red Lola with Rio Grande Genuine Texas/BBQ Set to Gibson 500k Vol/Gibson 3 Way LP Toggle/Fender TBX/Switchcraft Jack
I've got a Blue Lola undergoing electronics swap and set up as we speak with a '91 SD Screamin' Demon NJ/'86 Invader BJ to DiMarzio 500k Push
You can snag the SFA CE140 Lola fairly cheap because of the Brand Name and build a KILLER 24.75" Scale Monster Player out of each one.
- Beveled, single cutaway body shape designed in First Act’s Studio For Artists, featuring solid balance and great high fret access
- Beautiful, solid mahagany body for rich and warm sound
- Originally had Two Alnico 5 magnet vintage-style chrome bikini-clad humbucking pickups with crisp clean sound and warm distortion...(NO PICKUPS AT CURRENT...HENCE THE PROJECT DESIGNATION)
- Mahogany set neck, rosewood fingerboard with pearloid I-line inlays
- Tilted 3+3 headstock to maximize sustain
- Strings through the body with patent pending First Act String Retainer system with low profile bridge, for maximum sustain and tonal reproduction
- Chrome diecast tuning machines for accurate tuning
- Chrome-dome volume and tone knobs with 3-way toggle, for quick and easy access to sound tweaks
If I find a guitar with a GREAT Feeling/Playing Neck, Good Fretwork, Solid Mahogany, Ash, Maple or Poplar Body, quality components and a build/fit & finish with some attention to detail...then I don't care so much about the Brand Name, Country Of Manufacture or how "cheap" it is.
That said I've been watching used PRS SE 245 Soapbars and Fender Modern Player Jaguars/J90 for a good deal to upgrade with some Rio Grande P90s I have laying around.
Just got the Blue Lola back; as expected, it sounds AWESOME with the Vintage MJ Wound Screamin' Demon Neck/Invader Bridge and new electronics.
Last edited:
VVladislav
New member
Re: Who's modding cheap guitars?
She looks amazing!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Just got the Blue Lola back; as expected, it sounds AWESOME with the Vintage MJ Wound Screamin' Demon Neck/Invader Bridge and new electronics.
She looks amazing!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Demanic
PenultimateTone Member
Re: Who's modding cheap guitars?
I think you may have heard one of them already, but I'll post them up. https://soundcloud.com/demanic-1/ibanez-rg-120-with-sh-6n-and
https://soundcloud.com/demanic-1/more-rg-120-madness
I think you may have heard one of them already, but I'll post them up. https://soundcloud.com/demanic-1/ibanez-rg-120-with-sh-6n-and
https://soundcloud.com/demanic-1/more-rg-120-madness
VVladislav
New member
Re: Who's modding cheap guitars?
Nicely done what type of distortion are you using?
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Nicely done what type of distortion are you using?
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toneseeker74
New member
Re: Who's modding cheap guitars?
I bought an older USA made Peavey Predator when I had the urge for a Strat. The body has chips in it. The neck doesn't fit super tight in the pocket. The tuners are pretty cheesy. I replaced the bridge with a Wilkinson vintage style bridge with steel block. Installed Fender 57/62 pickups, CTS pots, and new capacitor. I probably have about $375 in the guitar including the hardshell case. This is seriously the best sounding "Strat" that I have ever owned or played.
I bought an older USA made Peavey Predator when I had the urge for a Strat. The body has chips in it. The neck doesn't fit super tight in the pocket. The tuners are pretty cheesy. I replaced the bridge with a Wilkinson vintage style bridge with steel block. Installed Fender 57/62 pickups, CTS pots, and new capacitor. I probably have about $375 in the guitar including the hardshell case. This is seriously the best sounding "Strat" that I have ever owned or played.
Re: Who's modding cheap guitars?
The MH-350 i would consider more mid-range than cheapo since it's a neck-thru with mahogany wings and a true maple top, but it's one if the best sounding/playing guitars upon which i have ever laid hands. I converted it to chrome hardware, cut it for a middle pickup, used the EMG battery box for the tone pot, added an independent volume for the bridge pickup, installed a bypass switch for the tone circuit, and put 3 burstbuckers in it(3/2/1). It NAILS classic 70's hard rock and blues tones, but the BB3 is just hot enough to do metal if i ever feel the need.
The m-100 i've had since '99 and have pretty much beaten it to ****. I had considered retiring it a few times but kept refretting it and adjusting it. It didnt sound very good naturally to me. The big brass block helped a lot, but the steve's special actually sounds SUPERB in it. So it gets used a lot now. In the neck, I'm using a GFS alnico classic with an A5.
I just picked up the dean avalanche 7 cheaply on ebay and really like it. The stock pickups are a little too fizzy, but I'm about to replace those with a blaze7/PAF and add a 2nd volume/splitter. I'm not sure if I'm going to paint it or not.if i do, I'll probably do a candy blue.
The MH-350 i would consider more mid-range than cheapo since it's a neck-thru with mahogany wings and a true maple top, but it's one if the best sounding/playing guitars upon which i have ever laid hands. I converted it to chrome hardware, cut it for a middle pickup, used the EMG battery box for the tone pot, added an independent volume for the bridge pickup, installed a bypass switch for the tone circuit, and put 3 burstbuckers in it(3/2/1). It NAILS classic 70's hard rock and blues tones, but the BB3 is just hot enough to do metal if i ever feel the need.
The m-100 i've had since '99 and have pretty much beaten it to ****. I had considered retiring it a few times but kept refretting it and adjusting it. It didnt sound very good naturally to me. The big brass block helped a lot, but the steve's special actually sounds SUPERB in it. So it gets used a lot now. In the neck, I'm using a GFS alnico classic with an A5.
I just picked up the dean avalanche 7 cheaply on ebay and really like it. The stock pickups are a little too fizzy, but I'm about to replace those with a blaze7/PAF and add a 2nd volume/splitter. I'm not sure if I'm going to paint it or not.if i do, I'll probably do a candy blue.
TIGEREYELASER
New member
Re: Who's modding cheap guitars?
I'm in the middle of trying to find a replacement pickguard for my Peavey Raptor I "Raptorcaster" aka "Annie" and after seeing dominus post on homemade finishes I think she might be going a bright shade of yellow if I get up the cash and the cajones to do so. Annie was my first electric that I bought after working a summer at a golf course so it's tough but I'd like to see her out of my six stringer infirmary and back in my arms at her best. I always did have a soft spot for blondes.
Maybe then I'll call her Phoenix. 
I'm in the middle of trying to find a replacement pickguard for my Peavey Raptor I "Raptorcaster" aka "Annie" and after seeing dominus post on homemade finishes I think she might be going a bright shade of yellow if I get up the cash and the cajones to do so. Annie was my first electric that I bought after working a summer at a golf course so it's tough but I'd like to see her out of my six stringer infirmary and back in my arms at her best. I always did have a soft spot for blondes.
Maybe then I'll call her Phoenix.
Demanic
PenultimateTone Member
Re: Who's modding cheap guitars?
I'm using a Seymour Duncan Twin Tube Mayhem that I picked up off e-bay for $100. In the first clip it's running into my Picovalve with a 6CA7 tube and an Eminence Canibix Rex in a closed cab. In the second clip it's going into an old ss Yamaha 115 with a single 15" in an open back config.
I'm using a Seymour Duncan Twin Tube Mayhem that I picked up off e-bay for $100. In the first clip it's running into my Picovalve with a 6CA7 tube and an Eminence Canibix Rex in a closed cab. In the second clip it's going into an old ss Yamaha 115 with a single 15" in an open back config.
VVladislav
New member
Re: Who's modding cheap guitars?
Not too bad of a setup. I haven't used many Amps since I got my half stack.
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Not too bad of a setup. I haven't used many Amps since I got my half stack.
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plasticscouse
New member
Re: Who's modding cheap guitars?
I found this Epi junior in a local pawn shop for £40
The p90 was stock on it, hence the reason I bought it. Ive sanded the neck replaced the pots for CTS, capacitor, done 50's wiring on it and replaced the ceramic magnets for alnico 5. It sounds and plays great and much more versatile than it was before.
I found this Epi junior in a local pawn shop for £40
The p90 was stock on it, hence the reason I bought it. Ive sanded the neck replaced the pots for CTS, capacitor, done 50's wiring on it and replaced the ceramic magnets for alnico 5. It sounds and plays great and much more versatile than it was before.
nightfall
New member
Re: Who's modding cheap guitars?
Nice axe!
Words are cheap, let your fingers do the talking
Nice axe!
Words are cheap, let your fingers do the talking