How can one improve a "bad" electric guitar?

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Mdk

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I have an electric guitar that was a gift that I've never really used to much because it would not stay in tune and I like playing acc/elec. It's a hammer slammer?!?! Anyway I blocked of the tremolo with a block of wood(don't laugh) and now it stays in tune. Well I'm still not satisfied with the sound for the most part. I'm not looking for it to be a strat, just sound decent thats all. My question is what can I do to make it sound better. Should I use metal to block of the tromolo instead of wood? I was going to replace the tuners and pickups. How much will that help? Should I rewire it? Would it be practical to replace the neck? What else can I do?
To give you a better idea of my guitar:

The tuners are not smooth-action and there is no way to finely adjust them, there's 3 pickups, 1 volume knob,2 tone knobs(not even sure if the work), and a 5-way selector switch that the wiring seems bad in. Also the neck is held on with four screws and there's a 5th hole in the middle of the base(but not in the neck). As far as I can tell it is a strat clone. I guesss my spending range for fixing it is $100 to $150, or more depending on what I can get out of it. Also please no replies on how I should scrap it and buy a "real" guitar.

Thanks in advance,
Matthew
 
There must be some sentimental value involved.

Actually, I took a Fender Mexican Strat and kind of did what you are looking at doing, sort of. I did it over time, but now I have the best playing guitar I have ever played. I sometimes like it better than my Parker Fly.
First, make sure the neck is straight. If that's ok, you're set. I first replaced the pickups. My choice was the Texas Specials. whatever. Next came the tuners, not locking, I hate locking, but if you like. whatever. Then I got an American Standard bridge. Then I ripped out the guts (wires) and re-wired and re-potted everything. And placed nice aluminum foil sheilding on insode of the pickguard to reduce hum. While I had everything off the body, I wook fine sandpaper and steel wool and Old English to it to make it look 'old'. Oh well, I'm sadistic. whatever.


My lead guitar player has this brand new Fender Strat Plus Deluxe or something like that that cost him like $1600. He likes playing mine more. A $250 guitar (sort of).
Hey...so do I. Whatever floats your boat.

Oh, and keep the wood block...not metal, wood is like your guitar's body.

PS - I'll never be able to sell this guitar and get jack squat out of it. Just a labor of love kinda thing.
Have fun
 
Sounds like the first problem is a poor setup. Tremelo out of adjustment, slips, etc. Spend a few bucks and get it set up, get some advice from someone who sees the unit, and then figure out what to do first. Might be a bridge or different tremelo unit. Then pickups, or shielding, or pots, and sooner or later, Gotoh or Schaller tuning machines. Wallet hurting yet?

H2H has a good point in that these guitars allow you to improve them gradually, learn the art of setup, and sooner or later (after money and time) have a pretty hot axe. But you should get some brutal advice from someone who has looked at the unit, up front, about whether the guitar merits the effort. If it does, then where will the line of diminished returns be found? You want to be aware of it.

Don't expect much from the electronics on a budget guitar, though. That's one reason it's not a $900 unit. And when selling time comes, you're still looking at a Hamer Slammer used price, about the same as the retail you will have paid for one of the two pickups you installed ...

So it isn't going to be about money. But it might be about something else worth the effort.
 
First, thankyou for the replies. I was thinking maybe I might build another body for the guitar out of maple or something. Then salvage what I can, basically the pick guard. With the neck, what should I be concerned with? It's strait. What's the difference between a neck on a cheap guitar and a 900 dollar guitar?

Well thanks again,
Matthew
 
You are going to spend WAY too much money fixing up a mediocre guitar. Hamer makes some great guitars and yours might be worth holding on to. There are some really good guitars for $500 out there. I know some snobs might tell you otherwise but some of the electrics made in Korea sound fantastic played through a good amp. The pick-ups have a lot to do with it....look for a well known brand such as Seymour Duncan. Before you butcher that guitar I would go out and play through some mid-priced guitars and see if yours is worth keeping, it might be better to just trade it towards a new one that stays in tune. This time stay clear of tremelos...I've always hated those things.
 
Changing out your pickups and tuners are great ways to improve your guitar, but htere are some FREE things you can try in order to improve the sound and playability or your guitar: If your guitar is an inexpensive Strat copy, then it most likely has three springs located beneth a plastic cover on the back side of the guitar. Adjusting these spings will improve the tuning problems. The springs will be secured by screws at one end and will be connected to some sort of metal plate at the other, the plate will be secured to the guitar body by two or more screws. Tighten the screws that hold the plate and this will bring the base of the tremelo closer to the top of your guitar. By doing this you will make the tremelo stiffer and less affected by string tension. Use good quality strings that are medium/light to medium gage. Cheap strings never stay in tune for more that five minutes. Also when you install new strings, tune them and then stretch them slightly and re-tune. As for the fith hole on the neck plate, this may be an adjustment for the neck angle. Look inside the hole and see if there is a hex screw. If so, turning the screw will adjust the neck angle up or down, causing the strings to be closer or further away from the finger board. You should also be able to adjust individual string hieght at the bribge. Each string should have saddles that have two screws for adjustment up or down as well as a screw inside a spring that holdes the saddle to the bridge. Turning this screw will adjust intonation of each string. As for tonal and sound quality, ther are some things you can do before spending money: Each pickup should have two screws that hold it to the pick guard, these screws also raise and lower the pickups. The closer the pickup is to the strings the more volume it will have. You can raise or lower each side to different hieghts to balance out the pickup's treble and bass. I don't want to insult any one, but make sure you are using strings made for electric guitar. The strings need to have a high amount of steel in order for the electromagnets in the pickups to do thier job. Also make sure all of the screws on your guitar are tight and that none of the parts are vibrating and causing a buzz. Check your guitar for a ground drian. This is a wire that connects the D.C. negetive side of the electronic parts to the bridge. This wire will help ease electric hum that you hear through your amp. I didn't mean to write a novel, but there are so many things to do to guitar before you give up and throw it in the trash. For example: I play semi professionaly and I often use a Harmony Strat copy I bought from a pawn shop for $60.00 It's bone stock and after setting up the guitar and making minor repairs to some of the wiring, it sounds deccent enough to play at local gigs. I've even used this guitar for recording Rock-a-billy through my old tube amps. So don't give up and have some fun goofing around with your guitar. It might surprise you.........

[Edited by Daddy-O on 09-01-2000 at 15:12]
 
Wow. I printed that one out and it goes into the tricks book. Thanks, Daddy-O!
 
No problem, when you've had as many junk guitars as I've had, you learn a few things along the way.......
 
Harmony Strat Copy!

I've got one too, and I did much the same things that you did, setup and what not. I play mine for rock a billy and that old 60's junk tone sound. I did put a new 5 way switch in there. I have always thought that this guitar was well worth the 65$ I put out for it originally. So, if you get a cheap guitar, and don't mind working on it, go for it!

MIKE
 
Just some quick comments. Remember what Fr. Flannagan (founder of Boystown) said: "There is no such thing as a bad guitar, just a guitar that's done some bad things." And, of course, let's not forget what the National Rifle Association has to say: "Remember, guitars don't make sounds that kill people, people make guitars make sounds that kill people." :D

'Nuff said.

Peace, Jim

P.S. I just couldn't resist!
 
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