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Post by clydeslide on Nov 19, 2014 14:54:39 GMT
Why is this question, and ones similar, so common among electric guitarists? They give no reason as to why they want to mod it and what effect they want the mod to have, they just want to do something to it.
There seems to be a fairly common trend of changing out pickups before even trying the stock ones! It's insane... unsurprisingly, confirmation bias means they LOVE the new pickups and they are SO MUCH BETTER than the stock ones (that they didn't actually try...).
So I've decided to come up with creative suggestions when these questions are asked. Most recently I suggested that someone acquire a mahogany rod, cut it into sections, drill holes in his telecaster body and hammer the rod sections into it to improve sustain, along with cutting a top horn for a more strat like sound and replacing the pickups with 4 high distortion humbuckers wired in series with no controls (and mentioned he may have to hack up the bridge plate to fit them and even alter the scale length...) Well, he did just ask for mods...
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Nov 19, 2014 15:06:42 GMT
Paint it red. Unless it's already red. Red is just better
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Post by clydeslide on Nov 19, 2014 15:13:15 GMT
Paint it red. Unless it's already red. Red is just better Will it make my fingers go faster? Or do I have to paint my nails for that..?
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Nov 19, 2014 15:22:14 GMT
Almost worthy of the Curmudgeonly Old Gits thread is this clydeslide! Nice! Keith
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Nov 19, 2014 16:37:00 GMT
Paint it red. Unless it's already red. Red is just better Will it make my fingers go faster? Or do I have to paint my nails for that..? Who needs a reason to paint their nails?
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Post by Mike Floorstand on Nov 19, 2014 19:59:10 GMT
If you think electric guitarists are bad, you should check out banjo-players. Every component is replaceable, so every component must be replaced! Regularly!!!
In my case I blame my parents for denying me a meccano set as a child ...
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Post by grayn on Nov 21, 2014 20:42:27 GMT
I'm not one for modding but in many cases, it's done by knowledgable musicians, who want to improve, one or more aspects of their guitar. There maybe some who mod for the sake of it but i think they are the minority. If I could be bothered and had the cash, I'd put Schaller locking tuners on all my electrics, they're effing brilliant. And one day I'll put some Bare Knuckle P90s on one or more of my electrics. Not for the sake of it, or that I haven't enjoyed my stock pickups but I've heard BKs and they sound fantastic. But seeing as I'm skint, I'll put a go-faster stripe on one, instead.
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maninashed
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Post by maninashed on Dec 5, 2014 17:39:13 GMT
Because you can!
I stopped looking at electric guitar forums because it just goes round and round. Endless discussions about tone and mods and not much about actually playing!
The thing that did it for me was a debate about the effect of strap buttons on tone. I assume it was started as a joke but too many people took it face value for me to feel comfortable.
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Post by colan on Dec 7, 2014 15:53:15 GMT
I've just invented the totally nude leccy guitar ! All the controls are in the strap ! Porn or eye-candy, waddyareckon ?
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Post by wildworld on Dec 10, 2014 16:02:16 GMT
Mods on electric?
Well it's a bit like mods on motorbikes. Now I am not referring to those strange creatures of the 60's, with very bad taste, who used to swan around on Vespas ; no, I refer to people with good taste who still insist on adulterating very serviceable vehicles just 'cos they must. It's the same mentality with guitars: only tweak 'em if you need to. Ok set up is personal and that's ok but if it ain't broke don't fix it is my opinion. Just ride your bike and play your guitar and the world will be a happier place.
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Post by colan on Dec 10, 2014 16:17:54 GMT
Sure sounds like a dull ol' consumer existence to me, wildworld- but happiness is arbitrary, is it not ?
Well, Orwell thought so.
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Post by wildworld on Dec 10, 2014 16:22:27 GMT
Sure sounds like a dull ol' consumer existence to me, wildworld- but happiness is arbitrary, is it not ? Well, Orwell thought so. Oh no, not at all: bikes and guitars are very spiritual. Flippin' eck, I thought everyone knew that
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Post by colan on Dec 10, 2014 16:36:29 GMT
Oh yes, Zen and the art of guitar maintenance is one of my favourite book ends.
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Post by wildworld on Dec 10, 2014 16:48:00 GMT
Oh yes, Zen and the art of guitar maintenance is one of my favourite book ends. Thar you go: it's all writ large in the cosmic entirety of nothingness or alternatively in a Haynes manual, which is a little easier to obtain.
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Post by colan on Dec 10, 2014 16:59:26 GMT
Do Haynes publish a manual for the Gretsch Tennesseean yet ? I've just paid twenty quid for the new VW T4 Transporter, 2001 and it needs a shelf companion. All that bling !
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