Thinking about souping up my cheap Strat copy--suggestions?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Whoopysnorp
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Whoopysnorp

Whoopysnorp

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My first guitar was a Peavey Predator, which cost around $240 and which I still have. It's really a pretty nice axe. It stays in tune, plays well, and feels good. I've been thinking it might be a good time to put a little more money into this guitar and try to get a sweeter sound out of it. I'm not unsatisfied with any specific aspect of it, but I'm sure I could get it sounding a little sweeter with some upgrades. Right now I have a cheap set of EMG Select pickups in it (yeah, I know, but I got them out of a cheap guitar my dad used in a sculpture). Does anybody have any suggestions about what I ought to do to this guitar electronics-wise? I'm not looking for any really out-there configurations for it, just your standard three single-coil Strat setup.
 
Changing your volume pot to a 1 Meg will open up the top end a little. Mechanically, you may want to change to a set of locking tuners. It helps tuning stability substantially, especially in "budget" type guitars. Maybe a new bridge or graphite saddles?
 
How about modding in the Fender S1 Switching System?

I played some new Fenders with it and they sound pretty good with the switching activated.

I'm considering it for my strat.. maybe evetually... maybe not... maybe so...
 
Get a Bone nut for it (You'll probably have to cut it yourself with a Dremel, which smells like the dentist drilling your teeth). IMHO Bone transfers the best balance of tone and sustain through the headstock. I have done probably a dozen bone nuts now for friends and myself (I know that sounds perverted!!!), and there has been a noticeable difference with that mod alone, and I and my friends have been pleased with the results each time. Note: the benefit is really noticed with a clean tone thru the neck pick-up.
 
I did a mod on a squire srat, and can't tell you how much better this thing sounds. You should really consider shielding it, click here and read through it a few times, it helps tremendously!
 
Thanks guys, these sound like pretty good ideas, especially the bone nut. I'll probably leave the tuners, bridge, and saddles alone, because like I said, I have basically zero problems with this guitar going out of tune. Whether I'm playing it a lot or leaving it in the case for weeks, I never need to tune very often at all.
 
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