For anyone who is a keen owner of an electric guitar there will almost certainly
come an occasion when you just can't help yourself and you will want to customise your axe. There's a need amongst a lot of guitar players to get every little bit of extra performance possible from their guitar before inevitably selecting to obtain a different type. So what tweaks and performance upgrades are achievable and just how challenging could they be?
Listed here are my 3 favourite electric guitar custom upgrades. I have also giving them a score out of 5 for difficulty with 5 being the most complex and 1 being the easiest.
1. Pickup replacing. Here is the improvement that can have the most effect as more often then not this can be an area where brands cut corners and costs. There are some fantastic aftermarket pickup builders who specialise in all kinds of guitar pickups including humbucker and single coil versions. These gurus will use the best components on the market and frequently wind by hand for excellent results. A big difference can definitely be heard. Difficulty is a 4 as some soldering is going to be required.
2. Bridge /tailpiece changing. This upgrade is a great deal simpler compared to pickup swap and once again will have a very beneficial impact on the sound. Another area where manufacturers scrimp is in the quality of the metals utilised in this area. Replacements are frequently manufactured from brass or lightweight aluminium hence improving the all important sustain. There's typically also a noticeable improvement with the intonation as a consequence of greater adjustment options. Difficulty is only a 2, just make sure to purchase the correct size and type for your electric guitar.
3. My last improvement is the tuners. If your guitar is fighting to stay in tune or maybe has rattling tuners, the moment is here for something different. There are various styles out there, some chrome, some gold and some with plastic material tips. Some will be 3 each side and others will be 6 in line. The workings of a alternative set will be way superior than that of an inexpensive guitar, and also some costly varieties. You'll definitely love to havea guitar that continually remains in tune. Difficulty is a 2. Yet again make sure you check out the correct specifications.
So there it is. My 3 best custom improvements for your valued electric guitar. If you wish to have a go with any of these but aren't so confident, browse the book stores, there are numerous great books written on the subject. Be warned though, if you catch the tinkering bug you'll never leave that guitar alone.