Do I pimp/part out my first ever guitar?

grungebob

I still have my first ever guitar my Dad bought me its a hohner rockwood strat copy in black. I've played it so much over the years theres nothing left of frets 1-7, its had a new nut fitted, the bridge was swapped to a wilkinson and a new pickguard was added to accomodate a humbucker at the bridge.

Is it already a bit of a triggers broom ?

In its current state its not really playable, the pots are goosed, the switch needs a massive wiggle when changing pickups and the action is higher than I'd want it. It sits in an old gig bag for all but one day a year when I have a little play on it.

would you leave it as is for sentimental reasons or would you tart it up and make it playable?

Im thinking at the very least it needs a new neck ( old one isnt worth a refret), a full rewire and perhaps new pickups, but if I do this is it still my first guitar? Like I said my Dad bought me this guitar when I was young so i'll never get rid of it but if I change it, even to start using it again is it no longer what i once was?

I honestly dont know, i've chimed in before on similar threads but when its your own it makes you think twice, help/opinions please.

hotpot

You cant get rid of your first guitar. I had a similar issue with my first guitar. I went to town on it replaced frets/pots/caps/wiring etc. the guitar plays superb (epi LP) & I'd never part with it.

joeyowen

My first was an Epi Les Paul.

I would nevverrr evverrr sell it.  However I've made a lot of mods for it  

It wasn't getting played as stock, so new things here and there (mostly hardware) and new I actually use it

lloyd

Mod it until it becomes a bit more playable. It will become more valuable to you as you get older.

BigMonka

If it means that you'll start playing it again, then yeah, crack on and improve it!

stickyfiddle

My first guitar was a sherwood green Squier Strat. Including the original parts it's had approximately:

4 necks

4 pickguards

4 bridges

6 nuts

5 sets of tuners

4 sets of pickups

2 jackplates

2 neckplates

and god knows how many rewires. 

It's still my first guitar, a sherwood green Strat, only now it's better

scrumhalf

stickyfiddle said:

My first guitar was a Squier Strat. Including the original parts it's had approximately:

4 necks

4 pickguards

4 bridges

6 nuts

5 sets of tuners

4 sets of pickups

2 jackplates

2 neckplates

and god knows how many rewires. 

It's still my first guitar, only now it's better

All at the same time? Must be a bit of a bugger to play.

SNAKEBITE

Get it to a playable state, but just don't change it beyond recognition.

If you have the money then do whatever needs doing.

I still have my first guitar, a Squire Bullet, it's not worth anything except to me and I have no intention of getting rid of it.

Beexter

hotpot said:

You cant get rid of your first guitar.

You can. Mine was a Satellite from my mum's Great Universal catalogue and it was horrid. Although at the time, being just 15, I didn't care 'cos I had an electric guitar (aka fanny magnet).

SRich

+1

Of course this would've been better under the 4 necks comment above, but tfl.

Sassafras

Daft as it looks, I quite like that.

xmrchi

Non playable = parts harvest :-D

grungebob

Thanks guys but I've decided if I separate the body and neck it's no longer the same guitar so I'll leave it be.

seany65

stickyfiddle said:

My first guitar was a sherwood green Squier Strat. Including the original parts it's had approximately:

4 necks

4 pickguards

4 bridges

6 nuts

5 sets of tuners

4 sets of pickups

2 jackplates

2 neckplates

and god knows how many rewires. 

It's still my first guitar, a sherwood green Strat, only now it's better

Yup, it's still the same guitar. After all, it has still got the original strap buttons and original body...

octatonic

Don't do it.

DrBob

Use it as a mule to learn hot to do refrets & fret dressing yourself ?

usedtobe

DrBob;666698" said:

Use it as a mule to learn hot to do refrets & fret dressing yourself ?

This.

stickyfiddle

seany65 said:

stickyfiddle said:

My first guitar was a sherwood green Squier Strat. Including the original parts it's had approximately:

4 necks

4 pickguards

4 bridges

6 nuts

5 sets of tuners

4 sets of pickups

2 jackplates

2 neckplates

and god knows how many rewires. 

It's still my first guitar, a sherwood green Strat, only now it's better

Yup, it's still the same guitar. After all, it has still got the original strap buttons and original body...

Actually, I'm not sure if it has the original strap buttons. It had Schallers for a while...