Mods to cheaper guitars

Sp8ctre said:
Define cheap guitar so I may expound with my thoughts on this....
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Cheap is defined by the situation. Guitars from $200 down to free or in the world of expensive guitars a cheap one may be $700 bucks or more. My Les Paul Studio had a ticket on it for $1470 dollars but I bought it a year later for $950 and I thought that was cheap. It came with a cheap gig bag. The cheaper Epiphones came with a case.
 
WavMixer said:
A guitar that Adrian and I can afford.
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Both you guys seem to finagle some nice guitars...and I have "Free" stuff over here waiting on you bro!

So here is what I'm going to say...there is a big difference in "Cheap" and "Inexpensive". My $79 Epiphone LP Special II is cheap. No sum of money is
going to change that fact or make it a "Great" guitar. My $199 (Sale Price) MII Squier VM Strat on the other hand is inexpensive. The body and neck are just as well
put together as any MIM or MIJ I've owned and rival my MIA. The tuners were also perfectly fine. The electronics on the other hand were crap
and had to go. A loaded pickguard for $249 solved that.

So for $450 I have an incredible guitar that plays and sounds just as good as my $1500 American made Strat...which by the way had terrible sharp frets and had to be
taken in under warranty to repair...

Going to the Gibson side, the Les Paul CM I bought just didn't cut it even for the sale price of $399 and it goes for $699 regular price which is ridiculous.
I also bought 2 brand new SG's that were complete dogs. Poor fit and finish, sharp frets, bad tuners. Even my brand new R8 failed to impress me. But, my
2014 SG Standard was a fantastic guitar right out of the box and never saw a mod. My 2013 LP Trad Pro is also fantastic, but the wiring and pickups had
to be swapped out...

...where does cheap end and inexpensive begin? I guess that is up to the owner of the guitar. Can you recoup your money selling a heavily modded low end
guitar??? NEVER!
 
Sp8ctre said:
Can you recoup your money selling a heavily modded low end
guitar??? NEVER!
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I quite agree.

But, if resale is not your intention, and if recouping the expenditure on mods is not a concern, and if you actually have a twisted fascination with the idea of putting the Ferrari engine in the Ford F-150...

...well...you get the idea!
 
smitty_p said:
I quite agree.

But, if resale is not your intention, and if recouping the expenditure on mods is not a concern, and if you actually have a twisted fascination with the idea of putting the Ferrari engine in the Ford F-150...

...well...you get the idea!
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My old Squirecaster - a 1987 made in Korea - was originally $169.95, brand new, at White's Music in Tulare, California in 1988.

It still has the original "Fender" closed tuners, but its probably had a small fortune invested in it, over the years, in pickups and loaded pickguards.

In 2003, I bought a Carvin loaded pickguard M22SD/C22B and a custom wire harness and that purchase alone amounted to over $200.

Currently, the vintage DiMarzio Virtual Vintage Solo/HS3/YJM combination add up to more than the guitar's fair market value, but I kept it all these years, probably because it just wasn't worth anything, so I couldn't get any money out of it.

I will say, however, that its one of the quietest guitars I've ever owned, and that's always been an important consideration for me. I would still not hesitate to use it on a recording where a Strat-esque tone was needed...
 
I do not think you can do better than a custom body and neck, from a company like B. Hefner, Musikraft or Warmoth.

By the time I buy cheap guitar, (my 2016 Gibson SG T Series for example) upgrade tuners, bridge/trem, pickups (Thro-Baks are around $565/pair) electronics, (Tone Man Hatness Average $80-$100) plus full level and crown, I have paid for, and in many cases, exceeded the amount required for a premium body and neck.

My double neck was a contract build to my specs. It cost less than 2/3 of the retail price of a 2017 Gibson EDS-1275 and was exactly right the moment I picked it up. Zero issues.
 
I have never taken a free guitar because there were no strings attached! Right off the bat I had work to do. The others did have too many strings attached. Lie for his physical for work or change the mental health status for what ever reason it smells of gun powder and lunch with a X mrs nut case.
 
kevinpaul said:
I have never taken a free guitar because there were no strings attached! Right off the bat I had work to do. The others did have too many strings attached. Lie for his physical for work or change the mental health status for what ever reason it smells of gun powder and lunch with a X mrs nut case.
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A free guitar with no strings attached? That means you have to buy a whole new set of strings so in practicality the guitar is not free.:wink::D


;>)/
 
kevinpaul said:
You can make a guitar good but a great guitar happens at birth. The term " a good one " is a rare guy or amp that comes to you when you never expect it. Good guitar you can pull off, a good one comes from above or the like. A good one is very rare and a great guitar is not too far away. My Les Paul Standard is a great guitar, same deal with my Studio is a great guitar. My Burny is a good one.
I found nothing to do to it because it was born like that. I have a bunch of good guitars and some great guitars but only two that I call a good one. White Strat and my Burny Japanese Les Paul.
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80.00 bucks Sp8ctre.......
Ive actually made playable models from 48.00 ebay China specials.........

there are even several I made WONDERFUL--- (and profitable) that where ----FREE----------

I cant set the bar lower than that ;)
 
Sp8ctre said:
Can you recoup your money selling a heavily modded low end
guitar??? NEVER!
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floyd_zps20a71055.jpg

YOU SIR are 143.8% correct ---the KEY my Pretties is not to take a 40.00 guitar as seen below (scored at a yard sale ---during a DIVORCE---)
strat2_zpsa4320c30.jpg

strat_zps23543b77.jpg
...............
40.00.....some elbow grease---and a new pack o CHEAPO strings.......and for under 50 smackers (after a good set up and a couple "adjustments" ) SOLD in just over 24 hours ----for 300.00 .........yeah thats profit baby.......

No I didnt drop 400.00 worth of custom pickups or locking tuners or a golden latinum tone amplifying trem block in it---- I shot the pots with cleaner---- polished it ---strung it and CHACHINGED it !!

YOu must know ---within a few seconds of fondle----weather its a goer or a show-er---- a keeper or a sleeper---- a dawg or PROFIT-----if its a FLIP---then get it gone FAST --- dont spend a crapton on it--- polish the turd and flush....wash rinse repeat......make $$$ ---

I am testament to you CAN make $$$ of flipping low end gear ---
You must
A. KNOW THY GEAR
B. KNOW THY MARKET
C. not be afraid to be considered a cheap bastard.

---throw a lowball offer ----- (I will give you 75.00 for it if it doesnt sell in 3 weeks) ---funny---I get calls BACK----"hey I will take 75.00" ---"Really ?? crap dude I just bought a new muffler for my scooter----will ya do 65??)

---boom--

polish set up--- market properly to the "target" for that instrument--- and make $

I got a DRUM SET (really a complete functioning drum set--full sized) for 1.00 !!! 1 STINKING dollar --- sold for 250.00 to a buddy/coworker......

Look chillin I aint special ----you boys and girls have the knowledge--- go ye forth and PROFIT!
 
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