HOW TO MODIFY YOUR STRAT FOR METAL MUSIC

#guitartutorial #guitar #guitarist
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[@xanderraymondcharles]

BUY THE D'ADDARIO NYXL STRINGS HERE: sweetwater.sjv.io/6yPmNm

[@BinarySecond]

I got a squier affinity off FB marketplace for £80, dropped a pre loaded plate with a bridge humbucker in and it's a killer guitar now.

[@axeslinger]

One trick that I do to cheaply block a floating trem, is take some quarters and stack them and wrap with black wiring tape. Slide it into place and voila! Easy to remove if desired as well.

[@Clinthopanonymous]

i’ve actually got a similarly modded strat. Put one of the 27” mexican baritone necks on it, new pickguard with just i single tone knob (used for volume) and threw a bareknuckle silo in it. Totally awesome, plays and sounds great.

[@HalLewis-k8z]

i love your vibe and the mods you make on your guits i must say that i loved the cherry hill strat the way it was before the paint before the sanding as im generally not into relicing and the like i thought it was perfect as is but as you’ve stated they’re your instruments therefore you can do what you want i’m so happy for your success X and your girl is rad

[@autoenemy]

My first guitar was a black squier Strat that I swapped the pups and pick guard out on. Love how a cheap guitar can sound so good with a few little upgrades.

[@josephbinaco4142]

Damn man, I used to go to that same Sam Ash all the time 30 years ago. Lol. I'm originally from Pemberton. Love the content man!!! 🤘🤘🤘

[@DBSG1976]

Love your attitude about Strats!

[@robilorik835]

Its nice to see metal strat love. My favorite mod not mentioned is putting 30 inch scale necks on strats, it seems scary because you need too move the bridge back about an inch to get the scale correct. But the secret tech ive learned is that full size tele bridges work really good for it and cover up alot of the gaping hole you make by having to move the bridge back an inch.

[@dannyllerenatv8635]

Always loved the NYXLs. I tend to alternate between those and Ernie Balls. One recommendation I can give is the vega tremolo, look's like it would slay in that guitar.

[@eric_casper5150]

You forgot to mention one thing about going with thicker gauge strings, also gonna have to have the nut slots opened up to accommodate the thicker strings!! Digging that Strat!!!

[@finishin.my.coffee8780]

That Strat with that creme/vintage white finish and the red tortoise color pickguard makes me instantly think of Bruce Kulick from Kiss. On the Revenge Tour in 1992, he had an ESP that looked just like your Strat, except it had a Floyd, a rosewood fingerboard and the hockey stick headstock. I think the pickup was a DiMarzio Super Distortion. I call it "The Kulick-Caster." Some of Kiss' heaviest songs were played on that guitar. The Gibson knob you have, that's a nice touch, too! Very cool. I used to watch Kiss Konfidential on VHS constantly when I was 16 and that's what popped into my head when I saw your Strat.

[@rileypaynestewart]

Good information here brother. I like the pick guard idea to swap pickups from single coil to humbuckers!

[@Bruddermane]

Aw man, fun video I was just waiting the whole time to hear you rip on that guitar! hahaha I'm sure I'll hear it soon enough!

[@MichaelSheaAudio]

Did this with a Mexican Strat in 2023, bought it used for $700 CAD. Lake Placid Blue, super dark rosewood board, 21 frets, but I like Maple and wanted 22 frets, so the neck came off and so did all the guts. Got a parchment single humbucker pickguard and a Wilkinson humbucker because who cares about pickups, hardtailed it too. The thing rips because it has no reason not to. Awesome guitar, have it in Dropped C with 10-46 strings, I have small dainty hands so I play lighter strings and it works just fine.

[@MarioHernandez-zc7dv]

So sick man! It almost looks like my number 1!

[@n34z3r]

I like wbat you did. I Have a few strats that I took and moded. 2 went from 3 SSS to H. It was a black strat with white PG and transformed into a black w/ black PG with a red H EMG and an antique bronze Fine Tuner FR with a maple neck. Another 1 was a red w/white PG start with SSS and again transformed into a red and white with a red H Seymour Duncan and a maple 4x2 neck. Looks and plays cool.

[@brian1749]

I still love my EMGs! People hate on 'em, but they do exactly what I want them to do!

[@ledthrax]

Looking great dude! You wasted zero time after the trade! 🤘🤘🤘🤘

[@xanderraymondcharles]

Yeah dude I'm so stoked on it!

[@juanrodriguez-ze6rb]

ahhh single pickup strats are so awesome

[@xanderraymondcharles]

so sick

[@BobbyLegs]

every person i have ever met who is from south jersey says they live 15 minutes from Cherry Hill

[@xanderraymondcharles]

that's very accurate haha

[@erikrummel6277]

They also refer you to their GSPW exit number 😂 ever notice that.

[@davidnilsen2983]

Im 15 minutes from cherryhill. I even worked at Winner Ford for a handful of years. Bought my Audi rt of rt 70. Lol

[@tommedvedich]

When I met my wife, I told her everything is 15 minutes away. Nothing is ever 15 minutes away even when it’s 15 minutes away. And that’s just life in New Jersey my friend. 😂

[@slagmaggot]

And Cedar Point

[@1NathanielBowden1]

I actually bought your old baritone strat because of how you had spec’d it out 😅

[@xanderraymondcharles]

do you still have it?!

[@viniciusaraujo2374]

That's cool bro! I'm planning on getting an all black strat with just 1 chrome EMG on the bridge or a black one with a white pickguard and 1 black EMG on the bridge. I'm undecided for now haha

[@getshwiftygaming447]

I bought an all blavk strat with the intention of swapping to EMGs but I've found that the stock pickups were actually more than adequate for the style of metal I play.

[@viniciusaraujo2374]

@@getshwiftygaming447 awesome!

[@brandoncorbeil6698]

I love this style of video. I actually use the same exact strings on my Ltd SN1

[@mikerampolla701]

I play a John Mayer Silver Sky and I kept it single coil and replaced the bridge pickup with a seymour duncan JB jr mini humbucker . The mofo is a BEAST.

[@evenzeroescanbeheroes6875]

I absolutely adore D'Addario strings. Of all brands I've tried,they feel the best. I only use Ernie Ball strings because they have more guages readily available. If D'Addario had more,I'd be exclusively a D'Addario player

[@Thearcherfl]

Used entire EB for years. Particularly their skinny top heavy button and mammoth. I find them to be the best value in sound to longevity. Obviously they work for me. But like any gear, it’s subjective. I’ve not ever disliked dadario. I think it’s more about being readily available.

[@marc-andreboudreau9282]

Personaly i would have routed it to throw a floyd in there and maybe throw an emg killswitch in that small hole but im pretty sure than that strat will be a monster one day keep it up brother

[@victorradu7874]

For myself i modded 2 mex strats, graphtech ratio tuners and saddles, bone nuts, parts of Callaham trems, and of course ONE splittable humbucker (Jupiter and Sh4 duncans, no Tone pot, Bare knuckles 550k Volume). Even in standard tunning with Ernie Ball 10/46 cobalts it does delivers metal and everything else

[@southernpanda33]

5:55 that Strat is why I have the SA/SA/81 set in my Samick.

[@shanewalton8888]

I like EMGs, but my favorite actives are the SD livewires that came with my Dean VMNT.

[@Lopsiders]

Hands down, the best guitar, Hendrix, EVH,what more would you need 😅

[@kiezersosay49]

This is a Fn grest video, but i think there's another good one! "How to make the cheapest/best strat from scratch/parts." Like getting a used loaded squire body and a used warmoth neck, and cheap, but decent pickup replacement(if needed). Awesome video either way dude...rock on! And 1 more thing! Fender does a good metal 'bucker. My 1st guitar was a '00 mexian fat strat with fender's "atomic humbucker." I never realised how cool it was till the 1st time i showed it to my cousin. Lol hes in bands like nunpuncher and T.O.I.L (torture of innocent lives) and he was shocked when he saw i didn't need one of his distortion pedals. He kept asking if i needed it and i was like, "uhhhh... why?"

[@slagmaggot]

Nunpuncher is awesome ne

[@datooch]

What’s crazy is I just ordered a loaded KH20 EMG pickguard for my hardtail strat today and now I’m seeing this video which makes me feel a little better about the purchase. I never tried EMG pickups before so I’m looking forward to it. I had my strat made to order using the MOD shop in 2021. Bad experience overall because the guitar came with a paint blemish. Someone held the buffer too long on the lower edge of the guitar. The stock electronics are not good. The hardtail bridge also came with the vintage bent saddles which suck for palm muting so I got some hipshot saddles.

[@liviughitulescu9889]

Is definently nice Ray.....I think that i'll do this on my vintage Squier Bullet...My Fender Vintera 50s has three s's and i do not modify it because i love the genuine tone.....But i think i'll have a project with the very well built old Squier and it will be perfectly.....My other guitars are all Emg's, Fishmans and Seymour Duncans so no need.....Will be great to make a giveaway with that original Fender pickguard you took off....Cheers!

[@cjpalmisano4366]

That's a sick looking strat! Are we gonna see a demo of it soon? 👀

[@Chugratocaster]

Man I love single pickup strats, cool video. Is that a new tat peeking out from under your hat?

[@TheGhostLad1]

Don’t be shy brother I have one on my head too! I see you trying not to show your new tattoo mate. Be loud and proud about it-I am when my head is shaved bald. I’ve had a tattoo of a demonic skull 💀 on my skull lol.! Really though I’ve had this tattoo on my head since 1996 and I had just turned 18yrs old. My mom wasn’t happy with me when she saw it, but I was like oh well lol 😂! I’m now 47yrs old and when I shave my head I never hide it💯!! Show it off brother.! I was able to attract my fiancé of 27yrs with the tattoo on my skull. When I met her she instantly was attracted to me and eventually tI got the Girl brother lol 😂!! When it comes to guitar modification I think it’s a great thing for everyone to get involved in. Becoming a great luthier takes time and practice, and I mean a lot of it. I’m always modding my guitars. In fact I’m in the middle of refinishing and rebuilding my old 90’s Jackson super strat. It has one pickup (slanted) with a traditional trem system, but I put a titanium block on it for better sustain and tuning stability. I can’t wait until I’m finished painting the guitar so I can put it back together and play it💥!! I like that you put an EMG in your strat bro. I’m not sure what I’m gonna put in for a bridge pickup?, although I’m sure I can figure it out lol 😂!! Thanks for showing off your super strat Xander, but I wish you would show off your tattoo as well mate?! Your guitar collection is awesome and so is that super strat, and until next time…. Stay safe, Stay metal, and don’t forget to Riff.?!🎸⭐️🤘🏻👊🏻💥💯🔥😎🤙🏻👍🏻💀Ps. Where are the pink scissors ✂️??

[@shanewalton8888]

Great video idea! Are your modifications mostly for what you need to play live or studio tone?

[@xamislimelight8965]

I think the issue with stock Fender pickups is actually the pots. My buddy's got an HSS MiM strat, but the control pots were all 250k, not 500k like they should have been due to the bridge pup being a humbucker.

[@Wildman-wr1sz]

I hate strats. But love a John 5 ish metal tele. 9.5 radius !!

[@xanderraymondcharles]

why do you hate it

[@angeldusted1577]

Sick looking guitar! Is that a roller nut on the guitar. If it is did you install it yourself or did it come with it from factory.

[@gatsubasako2565]

take a strat , a good humbucker , thats it XD

[@zacharymicah]

So I have an old Squire Bullet Strat Special with a stock single humbucker in the bridge. As I was watching I remembered tug he routing underneath the pick guard is routed for HSH setup but I was thinking "what would i rather swap the stock humbucker with: a Seymour Duncan JB or a Humbucker sized P90?"

[@timjenkins502]

Hey Ray I know you love EMG but have you ever tried a willie Adler Fishman ?? They are amazing. Probably my favorite pickup for metal ever

[@Danvezina]

Which Les Paul did you trade for the Fender?

[@benjamenwhetstone2571]

What does it sound like ?

[@viniciuseduardobomfim]

Add a killswitch to that extra hole in the pickguard 😂

[@limbn003]

I have a Jim root tele and even with the 62 on the top the strings feel way looser than any other guitar I have. I’ve spent years wondering why it doesn’t feel tight and snappy like my Ibanezes or even the Matt heafy guitars. Truss rod is as flat at possible action is comfortable but it still feels loose with really heavy strings. Is here a particular nut I could try to help with it?

[@verbalium5517]

Hey man that guitat is fucking rad! I want to modify a strat just like you and I want to install emg pickups. How do the emg "single coils" like the ones on your silverburst take high gain? are they completely noisless? Do they sound thin? Stay metal man!!!

[@getshwiftygaming447]

In the past couple months I've acquired 2 HSS strats and while I thought I would need to I've found that there's really no reason to change anything to get the desired results.

[@SamBrockmann]

For heavier music, I prefer two brands: 1) Fishman Fluence 2) Bare Knuckles I have a Schetcher PT-7 with a Fishman Fluence modern, and I have a custom-made Telecaster-style guitar with Rabea's Bare Knuckles. Rabea's single coil pickups work great for higher gain and heavy music. It's funny, other than the Bare Knuckles (becuase Sweetwater doesn't carry those), all of my guitars and parts come from Sweetwater.

[@dekotherat]

~balabolooo

[@QuentinLatour]

What does the J sticker stand for ?

[@xanderraymondcharles]

hmmmm any guesses

[@QuentinLatour]

@xanderraymondcharles Jesus or Jim Root 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@aguyholding1024]

hello

[@Slomeus]

I am sure this is a coincidence but it looks like someone has peeked on my Insta ;)

[@elnyoutube123]

I always thought EMGs, especially active ones, are better for softer styles of music like smooth jazz. For me they just don't work for metal.

[@stephengraham1661]

Like a Tom Delonge Strat

[@patrickshannon4516]

Nah Schecter guitars beat fender by a mile

[@xanderraymondcharles]

OooOoOoO

[@benpotter4905]

Nah. Just depends on what works best for you. The Jim root guitars are awesome. Ltd and Schecter rip too

[@throuE36]

The best way is to buy a Charvel. 😂

[@dekotherat]

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