Mods and attitudes

[BatUtilityBelt]

Today on Reverb I saw a guitar I never got my hands on. It's quirky and has some switching features I'd probably like (an Eastwood Deerhoof EEG). Plus, I have a thing for P90s and P100s. I was already over my spending limit when Eastwood introduced it, but I thought "maybe in a few months or next year", and suddenly it was no longer offered. Oh well, I have enough guitars.

Seeing a lefty Deerhoof up for sale today, I started renewing that interest, but then I read the seller had swapped out the pickups for FLEORs. Yup, those $20 or $30 per set Amazon 2 wire pickups. Now I haven't tried those pickups I might even like them. But that's not a pickup swap I would have made to that guitar. With FLEORs swapped in, the guitar would no longer have a coil tap mode, and the phase reverse mode, if even still there, probably doesn't sound right. All because they're 2 wire pickups.

So I asked the seller a simple question: "Would you include the original pickups?". He answered as if I was crazy for asking. It made me decide I had no interest in his guitar. I might still want to eventually buy a Deerhoof, but not his. It got me thinking just how attitudes in working with a seller or buyer can be a deal breaker.

I did answer him though, to let him know why so many of us only make reversible mods on most guitars and keep the original parts with the guitars. I am not a fan of Deerhoof (the band), so I don't care about the signature aspect of that model, but the next person who buys it might want it because it's a Deerhoof signature model. They'd want it original. I liked the model for its odd shape, P100s, and tone switching options. So knowing those were busted, the only way I'd buy that guitar is if I could put those back.

Finally, for all modders: It's your guitar and you can do what you want with it. But if you actually want to sell it, don't treat others as cranks for not agreeing your mods are the bomb. We all have different tastes and interests. Most modded guitars are not worth as much as an original, even if the upgrades are higher quality components. For today's example, FLEOR P90s from Amazon are a definite downgrade. I do customize some of my guitars, but I don't expect everyone to think I made them superior. They're just more "me".

[mozz]

I tried coil splitting/ tap, and out of phase mods back in early 80's. Didn't like it then and don't like it now. Maybe he got a good deal on it and didn't like the mods, so he swapped pickups. Maybe they are his favorite brand, who knows. Maybe he modded it with out even giving it enough time. I've ripped out circuit board vol tone pots on Gibsons and replaced them with 500k after 5 minutes.

[BatUtilityBelt]

I tried coil splitting/ tap, and out of phase mods back in early 80's. Didn't like it then and don't like it now. Maybe he got a good deal on it and didn't like the mods, so he swapped pickups. Maybe they are his favorite brand, who knows. Maybe he modded it with out even giving it enough time. I've ripped out circuit board vol tone pots on Gibsons and replaced them with 500k after 5 minutes.

I agree with you on coil-tapping most humbuckers. On P100s I like it though. But that's not really my point. I'm saying mods are personalizations and as such shouldn't be assumed to add value. In collector terms, they destroy value. Only if we're lucky do we find buyers who would have wanted the same mods we make.

[glasshand]

I agree with you about mods in general. In rare cases they can add value, like "I replaced the notoriously cheap stock tuners with high-quality locking tuners", but more often it's a wash or even cheapens the instrument, because now it's not a Flerkenberger CX1000, it's a "Flerkenberger CX1000 that somebody has monkeyed with". And don't even get me started on the sellers who are all "This guitar cost me $200 new, and then I put in pickups that retail for $300, so you should pay me $500 for it now."

[andrewsrea]

I tried coil splitting/ tap, and out of phase mods back in early 80's. Didn't like it then and don't like it now. Maybe he got a good deal on it and didn't like the mods, so he swapped pickups. Maybe they are his favorite brand, who knows. Maybe he modded it with out even giving it enough time. I've ripped out circuit board vol tone pots on Gibsons and replaced them with 500k after 5 minutes.

When I was gigging in small venues and could only afford to have one amp, two guitars on stage, I used coil spitting. However, it was always something I had to prepare for and make adjustments. I have since replaced all my direct coil splits with a trimmer in series, then dial in a less pushy off-balance humbucker. I find it gets that 'lighter - bouncy - jangly' sound without feeling like I need to turn up the amp.

I have my main LP wired 50's standard and has a P-P neck tone pot to throw the bridge pup out of phase. I enjoy playing old Peter Green stuff and employ that slightly out of phase by rolling the bridge volume down a tad. Takes some practice to find the sweet spots.

[toomanycats]

I completely misinterpreted the title of this thread. I was thinking some new member might have got out of line, @tobijohn had to toss them out, and now they've come back to talk trash.

Sometimes I miss the periodic drama of the old days. We haven't had a real entertaining psychopath on the forum for a while now.

[Chocol8]

I only have one attitude and it's bad!

[Rollin Hand]

I try to make mods reversible where possible, but since I generally do cheap mods, it's not the end of days if I can't reverese them. And if the mod is a true upgrade, it'll be factored in somewhat to an asking price.

Some mods however really hurt value, like the guy here who is selling an RG550 with the fretboard scalloped from the 15th fret up. He's asking $450, and so far hasn't got it.

[mickey]

I completely misinterpreted the title of this thread. I was thinking some new member might have got out of line, @tobijohn had to toss them out, and now they've come back to talk trash.

Sometimes I miss the periodic drama of the old days. We haven't had a real entertaining psychopath on the forum for a while now.

When I first saw the thread I thought someone was p.o.'d because of the attitude of the moderators.

[Chocol8]

When I first saw the thread I thought someone was p.o.'d because of the attitude of the moderators.

That would be a "ban me now!" thread!

On topic...

Most of my mods are reversible, but it might cost a bit, like a new pick guard if I add a hole or two to the old one or going back to regular tone pots instead of the no-load versions I use on some guitars. I do generally save the old parts, except when they are junk. Like if I put quality pickups into an Agile that came with crappy ones, I might not keep the crap. For my Fenders, I keep the original pickups and parts even if they are not that great.

That said, I almost always make a decision on a guitar fairly quickly and I know they are a keeper before they get modded. It has been a LONG time since I sold a modded guitar!

[Partscaster]

I've ripped out circuit board vol tone pots on Gibsons and replaced them with 500k after 5 minutes.

Me too, on 2 Gibsons that came with those plug-in pickup harnesses...adios.
Maybe I was hasty, not giving them a chance,. The pickups sounded awful to me too. Double adios.
Made way for beautiful humbuckers in both, and 50's style harnesses.

[BatUtilityBelt]

When I first saw the thread I thought someone was p.o.'d because of the attitude of the moderators.

Sorry, LOL. That did come to mind shortly after I posted it. Glad it wasn't drama.

[Rollin Hand]

I try to make mods reversible where possible, but since I generally do cheap mods, it's not the end of days if I can't reverese them. And if the mod is a true upgrade, it'll be factored in somewhat to an asking price.

Some mods however really hurt value, like the guy here who is selling an RG550 with the fretboard scalloped from the 15th fret up. He's asking $450, and so far hasn't got it.

And now an addendum: a local guitar "shop" snagged it, cleaned it, set it up, and is trying to sell it for $850.

[LightWingStudios]

So I asked the seller a simple question: "Would you include the original pickups?". He answered as if I was crazy for asking. It made me decide I had no interest in his guitar. I might still want to eventually buy a Deerhoof, but not his. It got me thinking just how attitudes in working with a seller or buyer can be a deal breaker.

I would have given him a one word reply...

"DICK!"

[LightWingStudios]

I completely misinterpreted the title of this thread. I was thinking some new member might have got out of line, @tobijohn had to toss them out, and now they've come back to talk trash.

Sometimes I miss the periodic drama of the old days. We haven't had a real entertaining psychopath on the forum for a while now.

When I first saw the thread I thought someone was p.o.'d because of the attitude of the moderators.

Me too...I mean I run a fairly tight ship when it comes to joining this group trying to keep out the riff-raff and at the same time letting people hands off express themselves so I was indeed surprised...until I READ the post.

[nomadh]

I only have one attitude and it's bad!

I love the despair inc meme with the 1 lit match burnung down to the stack of matches.
It says attitudes are contagious.
Mine might kill you