Davec629 Posted February 15, 2014 Posted February 15, 2014 I just went on an upgrade bender and have come to a personnel opinion. Save your money and keep your original hardware. Since I cannot follow my own advise, do as I say, not as I do. I've tried the RS solid aluminum tailpiece, the original Schaller and a Callaham solid steel. The RS didn't sound good to me with Elixir strings but sounded good with Ernie Balls. The Callaham sounded better (to me) with the Elixirs. I tried a graph tech rezo bridge and prefer the Schaller. I have a brand new Callaham steel bridge but it doesn't fit my bridge posts and I'm not preforming surgery to use it. I'll be selling my unused stuff to recoup a fraction of my money. I've settled on the original Schaller bridge with the Callaham tailpiece (string over top). It has a tremendous unplugged tone but is it much different then the original? I wouldn't bet on it but I've got to justify throwing all this money at it. Everybody needs a hobby. The guitar went from 7.77 lbs. to 7.87 lbs. The solid steel bridge added 1 oz.
Kuz Posted February 15, 2014 Posted February 15, 2014 Everybody mods their guitars. This why Joe Bonamassa likes these pickups, Robben Ford that hot Tele Bridge pup, Larry Carlton went from Schaller hardware back to original but added a graphite bridge, ect, ect, ect.... It is a hobby, but it is also trial & error to determine what you like. And like you said you can sell most of your stuff and regain some of your loses. If you never try then you will never know what you like. It is a never ending quest, but it is fun. I, for one, have learned over the year just about exactly what I like. But it was through trial and error. Enjoy the journey.
tsp17 Posted February 15, 2014 Posted February 15, 2014 Can I agree with both of the above? I know the feeling...DOH! Why did I do that?!? Spent all that time and money on stuff, guessing at what might be great, and ending up with less than where you started in terms of tone and money. But that's how we find our way.
Davec629 Posted February 15, 2014 Author Posted February 15, 2014 I was just kicking myself for buying the Callaham and it not fitting. Lighting just struck. The Callaham wont fit with the Schaller studs but does fit with the Graph tech studs. Hi my name is David and I'm an upgrade-a-holic.
tsp17 Posted February 15, 2014 Posted February 15, 2014 ...Hi my name is David and I'm an upgrade-a-holic. Word/LOL. Is there a 12 step for us? I hope not.
Davec629 Posted February 16, 2014 Author Posted February 16, 2014 My wife had a friend of hers complaining about her husbands dirty magazines hidden all over the house. She said I have that problem with guitar magazines.
bolero Posted February 16, 2014 Posted February 16, 2014 haha that is hlarious I have a couple gtrs I've upgraded to boutique parts...while I do prefer it, I can also live with normal stuff. of course everyone has different preferences... we are lucky to live in a time when there are so many options out there....imagine, back in the day: all they had were dimarzio super distortion's
Davec629 Posted February 16, 2014 Author Posted February 16, 2014 I know its great fun changing things but it still border line insanity. I love to share the results though. The Callaham steel bridge makes my H-140 vibrate like crazy. Strum a chord and feel it through your body. The bridge , besides being made of steel, also locks down to the bridge post.
yuominae Posted February 16, 2014 Posted February 16, 2014 I know the feeling. I'm pretty sure my guitar's great, until I get that nagging feeling that it might be just a tad better with X piece of hardware. And then the feeling nags and nags until I have to give in... one upgrade at a time. Oh yea, and then time comes to sell the guitar and I think what a shame it is after spending all that time upgrading it
Davec629 Posted February 16, 2014 Author Posted February 16, 2014 You have to love, after putting top of the line everything on it, someone asking if you have the original parts.
JeffB Posted February 16, 2014 Posted February 16, 2014 You have to love, after putting top of the line everything on it, someone asking if you have the original parts. LOL!! Thats a fact. Most people arent terribly interested in mods on guitars. They want them original. My main guitars are all original. My H150 is stock since 07 except for a new tail piece that had to be replaced and a p/up ring that had cracked. I have put h/buckers in strats but always kept the original p/up.
DetroitBlues Posted February 16, 2014 Posted February 16, 2014 As someone who re-sells way too often, a guitar is better off being resold without upgrades. Just because you like the upgrades, doesn't mean the next person will.
yuominae Posted February 16, 2014 Posted February 16, 2014 Yeah, I'm sure everybody else likes customising their guitars just as much as I do, but then I've turned it into MY guitar which don't fit everyone else's taste. Saying that, most people are usually don't complain about pickup upgrades.
Davec629 Posted February 16, 2014 Author Posted February 16, 2014 You will most likely lose money by selling with the upgrade. I've sold original parts to help cover the replacement parts. My biggest mistake was changing out a 60's P-90 for a Dimarzio and using the old pickup to pay the tech for the install. I was 15, but I did notice the tone turned to shat.
yuominae Posted February 16, 2014 Posted February 16, 2014 You will most likely lose money by selling with the upgrade. I've sold original parts to help cover the replacement parts. My biggest mistake was changing out a 60's P-90 for a Dimarzio and using the old pickup to pay the tech for the install. I was 15, but I did notice the tone turned to shat. Ouch!! Talk about learning the hard way
rockabilly69 Posted February 16, 2014 Posted February 16, 2014 If you never try then you will never know what you like. It is a never ending quest, but it is fun. I, for one, have learned over the year just about exactly what I like. But it was through trial and error. Enjoy the journey. This!
rockabilly69 Posted February 16, 2014 Posted February 16, 2014 When I sell a guitar that I've modded, I will list it with and without mods, and with tone clips both ways. Many times the new buyer wants the mods after hearing the improvement. But, I always keep the original parts.
Yooper Posted February 16, 2014 Posted February 16, 2014 Upgrades, mods, different guitars, different amps....still end up sounding like me...
Kuz Posted February 16, 2014 Posted February 16, 2014 Well, I think one of the reasons why my "59 Burst/Greeny" 150 sold so quickly was because of the upgrades: Throbak pups, RS guitarworks pots & caps, vintage looking pick guard and pup rings. I got my fair asking price and the guitar sold in less than 3 hrs because the buyer knew how much these upgrades would have cost if he had to do them himself.
Gitfiddler Posted February 16, 2014 Posted February 16, 2014 Well, I think one of the reasons why my "59 Burst/Greeny" 150 sold so quickly was because of the upgrades: Throbak pups, RS guitarworks pots & caps, vintage looking pick guard and pup rings. I got my fair asking price and the guitar sold in less than 3 hrs because the buyer knew how much these upgrades would have cost if he had to do them himself. John, there are upgrades...and then there are UPGRADES! What you did to your 150 seriously improved every aspect of it, taking it to another level. Plus you have a reputation for demanding high quality.
Billgelder Posted February 16, 2014 Posted February 16, 2014 Well, I think one of the reasons why my "59 Burst/Greeny" 150 sold so quickly was because of the upgrades: Throbak pups, RS guitarworks pots & caps, vintage looking pick guard and pup rings. I got my fair asking price and the guitar sold in less than 3 hrs because the buyer knew how much these upgrades would have cost if he had to do them himself. I was planning my next custom build when your guitar came up for sale. The Cuz 150 was almost exactly what I was think of ordering except for the finish. I thought this guitar was close enough to what I wanted. I know John (Kuz) is a honorable man and it is a fantastic price, so I sent the PM. Plus I have a problem. Hi my name is Bill (hi bill) And I am a guitaroholic. It has been 153 days since I last purchased a guitar. I have tried to curve my jonesing for a new 6 string by buying, an amp, a couple of pedal, a multi effects processor, and some GT-Cables. Unfortunately none of these attempts have subsided my lust for a beautiful new Heritage guitar. I am tweeking out all the time. I can't sleep at night, and there is a hole in my guitar rack that needs to be filled. My health insurance will not pay for me to go to rehab. They say it is a pre-existing condition. I need help. Wont someone please help me.
peterbright Posted February 17, 2014 Posted February 17, 2014 You should get a pin...I have bought 7 guitars and 3 amps in the last 130 days.
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