Guitar Modding Bonanza
I've been deeply into guitar modding lately... it's very fun, but takes time.
I always tend to underestimate how much time it takes...
One benefit with guitar modding is that you can get a really good guitar without spending a fortune, but you need to put in an effort and have some experience in the handiwork, and also know what to look for on second hand auction sites.
(I pm
@Mondayman , since is think he was into guitar modding too, if I remember correctly
)
Some recent guitar additions to the collection:
1. Squire Affinity Strat 2004 (Metallic Red)
This will become my main Stratocaster. It's an
incredibly comfortable guitar; it's thin (thinner than normal Stratocasters) and lightweight and very, very nice to play on. Actually the nicest Stratocaster I've played. It almost looks like a toy, but it definitely is not. I normally don't like metallic colors on guitars, but this one looks really nice, I think (the photo does not make it justice).
It's heavily modded (e.g. custom wiring, lockable tuners, roller bridge etc), but there's more to do (change pickups and pickguard).
2. Ah, the next one is a cool beauty, a
Fender Sonoran acoustic guitar in Candy Apple Red.
I was not very fond of the other steel-stringed acoustic I had (it's ok, but nothing special), and I saw this one being auctioned and read
this review that said they were really comfortable to play on.
Indeed it is. It is really nice and easy to play on; actually the best acoustic guitar I've ever played.
And it sounds great. It is a bit big/thick though for my taste, but hey, you can't get everything.
It's also an unusual look for being an acoustic guitar; you don't often see red acoustic guitars and definitely not with a standard Fender headstock like on this one.
3. Next up we've got a
Yamaha Pacifica 112V in Vintage White.
I've heard that these are good beginner guitars, and I've always wanted to try one, so when I saw this one for a good price I thought "why not?" I can't say I fancy white guitars myself, but I got it for a very, very good price.
It's heavily modded (finished today, actually).
- custom wiring, lockable tuners, roller bridge and changed pickups (two single coils and one humbucker, all Alnico 5)
- airbrushed pickguard (from white to antique gold because I felt like it)
How does it perform? Well, it sounds
way better than the price suggests
.
I've tried it with Vox amplifier settings on my guitar multieffect today and it sounded fantastic.
An added benefit is that now I know which beginner Stratocaster I would recommend to others.
I would not recommend Yamaha Pacifica (but they are good guitars, well made and nice to play on).
I would recommend
Squire Affinity Stratocasters, without a doubt. They feel a bit more comfy to me.
I've got two of them, and they are really, really nice guitars (though the two I have were already quite good set up, and I have modded them into my liking),
4. Here's the other one, a
Squire Affinity 2012 (Black).
It's currently being modded, so what you see in the photo below is the guitar body without any pickups. You can see through the holes in the pickguard that I have shielded the interior with copper foil (this greatly reduces noise).
This guitar will become a Surf/Dream pop guitar; it will be loaded with two
GFS Surf 90 Rockabilly single coil pickups (neck & bridge), and one lipstick pickup (
Artec LSA70 Alnico 5) in the centre.
I have no idea how it will sound, so it will be a real surprise to try it out the first time, since I've never tried these types of pickups before.
I got this guitar dirt cheap, probably the cheapest guitar I've ever bought
.
I paid... well... are you ready? $75. Seventy-five dollars.
That is a ridiculously low price; the guitar is way, way better than what that price suggests.
5. Bonus photo; my cat wanted to be part of the photo shoot too
:
