I've been thinking about doing this on and off for some time - modding a guitar instead of buying a new one.
I've got the Les Paul Studio in my 'profile' pic on here. A lovely wine red finish. I've seen lots of Studios come with dot inlays rather than trapezoids, too. It's an Epiphone - important note!!
What exactly would I like to change, though, you might be wondering? Well...
I don't really like the black plastic. The pickup surrounds being black, in my opinion, too dark. I fancy getting cream surrounds. And replacing the pickup selector plastic plate with a cream one too.
Plus the little plastic doody (hahahaha - maturity...) off the end of the switch has broken off years ago, so it'd be nice to get a new one of those. My understanding is those you can just pop on and off pretty easily. The problem with the original was that the plastic cracked at the bottom so eventually it just broke off.
I also fancy swapping the pickups. Though I don't know what for! I really want a nice, warm, vintage sound. I don't know - is it possible to get something close to what would be in a '59 burst? Something with "that tone". Something that'd be good for knocking out some funky blooze.
Know what I mean? I've contemplated it on a looks level too. So the covers would have to be chrome if I went for covered pickups again. I don't like gold. And it'll look like wank with the cream plastics. What about zebras? Maybe? Slash signatures? Some DiMarzio zebras? I really am not too sure what I am looking for in the pickup department.
Then I'm not sure if I should replace the machineheads too! They're stock chrome Grovers.
The nut will need to be replaced. It's not stuck to the guitar anymore. I'd get a cream one obviously and get it all filed and sorted out.
Oh and just for the sake of it, to make it really personal, can you easily get blank truss rod covers and get those engraved? I'd get my name on it! My signature! Just to feel like I made it... Sad old fart. Heh heh heh.
I wouldn't replace the strap locks. No point. They're black. They're the most solid damn strap locks I've had on any guitar. So they're staying!!
Oh and maybe I'll replace the jack socket plate too because the jack socket itself has been kinda loose for some time too.
Or would I be better off just throwing the thing out and getting a new guitar? :P
Comments
If you mean the plastic bezel around the switch, it should just come off. Might be self-adhesive, so be prepared to clean off any residue that's left behind.
For knobs, you could consider speed knobs. I got a set of no-name gold ones for my Lemon Drop on ebay, for 4 quid or so. I also took off the switch bezel - thought it looked better without it. Gratuitous pretty picture...
http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y521/Nomad_Zamani/Misc/V100-LD-Roverall_zps7c83d12a.jpg
Nomad
Nobody loves me but my mother... and she could be jivin' too...
I'm not sure about "no plastic bezel", I love the plastic bezels! I think they're ice cold. But admittedly it does work for the Lemon Drop again...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v425/smorgdonkey/Les Paul/IMG_0237.jpg
or, perhaps?
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff106/l60n/user6284_pic18767_1260805530.jpg
p.s. I believe the correct term, at least on the LP fora, is poker chip.
Maybe replace one thing at a time and then if that isnt making you exponentially happier then abort, abort!
I did a similar thing last summer to my old Epi Sg. New knobs, truss rod cover, scratchplate, P90s instead of HBs. It sounded great but at the end of the day it was the same guitar id had since i was 16 that i didnt find as inspiring to physically pick up and play as my newer guitars and pretty soon it went back to gathering dust. I changed the strings just before Christmas and on a whim half way through took the pickups out to save for something else.
It sounds like you really enjoy playing this guitar though so possibly the project will have a happier ending! Even with the bits and bobs i mention above i spent no more than about £100 on it(£80 of that was on a Tonerider and a SD Phat Cat). Its not crazy money - you might enjoy doing the job and there is satisfaction to be had in that whether entirely successful or not.
Maybe not play at all for a while, even 'force' yourself to not play, even if you want to, and then when you can't stand it any more run over to one of the guitars without thinking about which one and play.
I knw what you mean about changing the 'bits' on a guitar. I took the crappy-looking scratch plate off and bunged on some black and chrome knobs with writing on (am I a real guitar 'tech' now?) and she looks so much better. I won't say 'it' looks better as one of us is playing a few decent notes, and I'm pretty sure it aint me.
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Looking for one of those I've stumbled across this website, with my propensity for tacky pinup girls on guitars it's rather dangerous:
http://www.greasygroove.com/products.php?cat=1214