CUSTOMISING YOUR GUITAR HAS THE POTENTIAL TO TRANSFORM IT FROM A WORKHORSE INTO A THOROUGHBRED. WE ASKED SOME OF THE WORLD’S FINEST CUSTOMISERS TO SHARE THEIR PRO TIPS ON HOW TO UPGRADE YOUR GUITAR’S TONE AND MAXIMISE ITS MOJO…
Most of us have experienced that rare but special moment in a guitar shop, where you pick up an instrument and instantly connect with it. Something about its tone and the way it plays – and even the way it looks – fits your musical world perfectly. That’s great when it happens, of course, but if you take the right approach to modding, you might not have to wait for that magical moment to occur by chance. If you have a guitar that offers a solid platform for customization and you take a considered, well-informed approach to modify it, it’s possible to make ‘nearly right’ into ‘really right’. That’s why, in the following pages, we invited some of the world’s leading tone tweakers, hardware enhancers and finish fettlers to share their professional tips on how to coax more satisfaction from your guitar.
Some of the ideas they share are completely practical and can form the basis of tone upgrades that you can undertake at home, or commission from a qualified tech. Others might inspire you to personalize the finish and styling of your guitar. With guitars, like food, the first bite is often with the eye – and if a custom finish makes you feel the mojo that bit more, it’s fair game for modding, too, provided you are aware not only of the benefits of undertaking the work but also how to avoid potential pitfalls before you make any changes to your beloved instrument.
So join us as the pros give their seasoned advice on topping up the tone, perfecting playability and burnishing the beauty of your guitar…
WIRED FOR SOUND
SOME OF THE CHEAPEST YET MOST EFFECTIVE MODS YOU CAN MAKE TO YOUR GUITAR INVOLVE RELATIVELY EASY TWEAKS TO ITS ELECTRONICS. TIM MILLS OF BARE KNUCKLE PICKUPS EXPLAINS HOW YOU CAN TAILOR YOUR TONE FOR JUST A FEW POUNDS – AVOIDING THE NEED FOR MORE EXPENSIVE UPGRADES
Denne historien er fra Summer 2019-utgaven av Guitarist.
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Denne historien er fra Summer 2019-utgaven av Guitarist.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
QUICK CHANGE
As Gibson finally adds some Quick Connect pickups to its Pickup Shop line-up, Dave Burrluck revisits this simple no-solder method to mod your Modern guitar
Return Of The Rack
A revered rackmount digital delay makes a welcome comeback in pedal form.
Pure Filth
This all-analogue preamp pedal based on Blues Saraceno's amp is a flexible powerhouse with a variety of roles.
Reptile Royalty
From Queen to King - there's another Electro-Harmonix royal vying for the crown of octave distortion
Tradition Revisited
Line 6 refreshes its Helix-based modelling amp range by doubling the number of available amp voicings - and more
Ramble On
Furch's travel guitar folds down so you can transport it in its own custom backpack and, the company claims, it returns to pitch when you reassemble it. Innovation or gimmick?
Redrawing The 'Bird
A fascinating reimagining of one of Gibson's more out-there designs, the Gravitas sticks with vintage vibe and mojo. Oh, and that sound...
1965 Fender Jazz Bass
\"They made them later on, but it's not something I've ever seen this early.
Boss Cube Street II
Regular readers will know that the last time I took the Boss Cube Street II out, I was in rehearsal for a debut gig in London.
STILL CRAZY
One of the most creative yet reliably great-sounding effects makers out there, Crazy Tube Circuits grew out of a fetish for old valve amps. We meet founder Christos Ntaifotis to find out more
