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dnabbet2

Active member
Joined
May 31, 2017
Messages
211
I'm not suggesting this as a standard approach to buying guitars, but since you asked ... I have a TH '54 Custom and a Robbie Krieger '54 Custom with a SD replacement staple pickup in the neck position. So, basically, two of the "same" guitar. And the TH I leave stock, and it sounds and plays great anyway. But the Robbie Krieger needed a repair, so it's been treated to a Jaeger Makeover 2.

And since it's not stock anymore, I can make any changes I want with a clear conscience -- if I want to swap out the staple/P90 for mini-humbuckers, for example, I'm not "wrecking" anything. So I've tried several pickups and a couple of bridges and a different set of machines, and I think I have the guitar the way I like it best, and it's mostly what I play now. But it's cool to have the box-stock number too.
 

El Gringo

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
I'm not suggesting this as a standard approach to buying guitars, but since you asked ... I have a TH '54 Custom and a Robbie Krieger '54 Custom with a SD replacement staple pickup in the neck position. So, basically, two of the "same" guitar. And the TH I leave stock, and it sounds and plays great anyway. But the Robbie Krieger needed a repair, so it's been treated to a Jaeger Makeover 2.

And since it's not stock anymore, I can make any changes I want with a clear conscience -- if I want to swap out the staple/P90 for mini-humbuckers, for example, I'm not "wrecking" anything. So I've tried several pickups and a couple of bridges and a different set of machines, and I think I have the guitar the way I like it best, and it's mostly what I play now. But it's cool to have the box-stock number too.
The way I look at it is it's your guitar and if it's not a vintage instrument go for it . As long as it's yours for the long haul . Now if you go to sell it , modifications do play a major part in value .
 

dnabbet2

Active member
Joined
May 31, 2017
Messages
211
I agree, Gringo. Thanks. I always appreciate the reality-check: "It's yours, just go play it and enjoy it."

BUT current guitars eventually become vintage. I mean, I'm pretty old, and I remember, putting brass nuts and Schaller tuners on on my early 1970s Strats 'cause that was the thing to do at the time. Swapped out the pickups for Seymour Duncans when that got popular. And now early 1970s Strats're collectible.

I also remember putting Seymour Duncans in early 1980s Dan Smith Stratocasters, and now the X-1 lead pickups on those're recognised as part of the personality of the guitar -- what makes the model special. It's not just a matter of resale dollar value ... besides, you can't always tell what'll be desirable in forty years.

IF I've got two candidates for experimentation, I'd rather work with the one that's already non-standard.
 

DutchRay

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 15, 2015
Messages
872
I've modded 50% of my historics, my '07 CR8 has had many pickups, pots and hardware upgrades and my '10 R0 has different pickups as well, both got them used and allready modded so I keep these to try out things. My CC3 and CC18 are bone stock and sound great so I'll keep um that way.
 

Pappy35

New member
Joined
Aug 9, 2020
Messages
5
I replaced the bridge with a Faber ABR-1 Tone-Loc. The OEM pots were all over the place (404kOhm to 565kOhm) so I replaced them all with matched VIPs. Finally, I replaced the neck cap with an .015 PIO from Luxe Radio.
 
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renderit

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 19, 2009
Messages
10,951
I've modded 50% of my historics, my '07 CR8 has had many pickups, pots and hardware upgrades and my '10 R0 has different pickups as well, both got them used and allready modded so I keep these to try out things. My CC3 and CC18 are bone stock and sound great so I'll keep um that way.
Aboot the same here.

Some I decided later that they could use some "extra" here or there.

I have enough that when I start developing a "favorite" I generally figure out my "least favorite" and decide what I think it lacks.

Or "what could make it more interesting".

Some I bought because they were different from my others.

On a rare occasion I question my previous judgement so I always keep the original chit bagged and labeled.

And I have noticed changes over time on all of them.
 

corpse

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 9, 2007
Messages
4,876
Aboot the same here.

Some I decided later that they could use some "extra" here or there.

I have enough that when I start developing a "favorite" I generally figure out my "least favorite" and decide what I think it lacks.

Or "what could make it more interesting".

Some I bought because they were different from my others.

On a rare occasion I question my previous judgement so I always keep the original chit bagged and labeled.

And I have noticed changes over time on all of them.
The same- I haven't touched the '18 R9. A guitar is a living-breathing thing and they change, even when "properly" maintained. As do (tube) amps.
 

stephan_l

Member
Joined
Jul 8, 2007
Messages
582
Put some correct RS log pots in my ´07 cloud9 (lin pots installed from factory). Everything else is stock and it is by far the best soundi.......whatever ;)

I dont liked the zebra custom buckers in my 2016 bourbon burst and was able to buy a set of burstbuckers from 2007 (like my cloud9)......and dont liked them there. Very surprising to me. For the look and out of curiosity i bought a set of creme dimarzios 36th. Well, they sound amazing. Very dirty, less output compared to the cloud9 what is a good thing. So i have two different sounding les pauls. Great :)

 

Monroe

Active member
Joined
Mar 11, 2008
Messages
1,139
Art of Tone CTS pots, NOS Russian PIO caps, "Mapleflame" posts, Faber no wire bridge, Throbak E.R. Customs
Bone nut is next.
 

pdfiddler

Active member
Joined
May 25, 2006
Messages
144
Put some correct RS log pots in my ´07 cloud9 (lin pots installed from factory). Everything else is stock and it is by far the best soundi.......whatever ;)

I dont liked the zebra custom buckers in my 2016 bourbon burst and was able to buy a set of burstbuckers from 2007 (like my cloud9)......and dont liked them there. Very surprising to me. For the look and out of curiosity i bought a set of creme dimarzios 36th. Well, they sound amazing. Very dirty, less output compared to the cloud9 what is a good thing. So i have two different sounding les pauls. Great :)

What do we have here? Interesting!
 

MapleFlame

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 3, 2005
Messages
14,044
Just did the @MapleFlame mod (pretty nice improvement), and changed the PU covers to Throbacks because I hated the look of the originals...
Did you go Standard length or go a tad deeper? Cool that it worked out for you. Obviously every guitar is different and may not have an improvement, some worse. I have even only added one side stainless.
 

wild.joz

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 19, 2008
Messages
1,934
Did you go Standard length or go a tad deeper? Cool that it worked out for you. Obviously every guitar is different and may not have an improvement, some worse. I have even only added one side stainless.
I used the long SS posts. 2’’ I believe.
 

vim

Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2008
Messages
28
Faber ABRH and stoptail with locking studs, brass thumbwheels, 550k vintage taper pots, PU replaced, PIO cap.
 

Brek

Member
Joined
May 23, 2020
Messages
62
Started down that path with a few bits, then looked at how much it would cost for a full makeover or plastics etc and thought sod that. So leaving everything as stock. Only possible thing i may consider is, if i could find a genuine set of 'good' pafs, to add them to my ML '58.
 
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