Should You Modify Your Guitar? (Epiphone, Squier, Etc.)

After a few hundred dollars worth of mods to this Epiphone Les Paul Classic, this guitar is an absolute dream; But was it worth it?
Link to Tuners: sweetwater.sjv...
Link to Seymour Duncan Pickups: sweetwater.sjv...

[@robshog]

I love modding my guitars it makes it uniquely my guitar. Don’t worry about the re-sell value, just bring it back to original if you decide to sell.

[@thenewtowncryer]

I recently bought a used Epi 339 for $350. I took it to the straight to the looth for a set-up, new nut, new pickups (HB in the neck and P-90 in the bridge) and new wiring harness. I can't wait to get it back.

[@spork27]

What you described about upgrades not adding to the value is also the reason why you can often find guitars with better parts for the same price by buying a partscaster.

[@Leo_ofRedKeep]

I modified all my guitars. I replaced the strings after a while.

[@shawnbell6392]

Once you "know what you like" modding guitars to suit your preferences is understandable. Sometimes its also a matter of improving parts quality.

[@Randolphguitars]

Really good point!

[@RT-bd1wh]

I swapped almost everything I can on my old ibanez standard (about 1100$ CAD), I put a hipshot bridge, hipshot locking tuner, seymour duncan nazgul pickup, change the nut to graph tech tusq nut. There is very little improvement to the guitar. DONT EXPECT YOU CAN MOD A CHEAP GUITAR TO MATCH A HIGHER TIER GUITAR. It's not gonna happen, After that I got a ibanez axion label RG which only 300$ more expensive but it's just way better out of the box than my moded guitar. The wood on cheap guitar is just doesn't have the quality and you can change all other component but you can't change the wood itself. I think swap a pickup or a nut is fine but spend money on other component is simply waste of money, just go reverb hunting an used higher tier guitar. So the total spend on the moded guitar is almost 1600$, this year I just got a used prestige RGD for only 1800$ and yea these two guitar are just not even comparable😂😂😂

[@randrothify]

The best reason to mod a cheap guitar with expensive aftermarket parts is if you really like the feel and want to improve the sound and performance so that that it is gig-ready or will be a forever guitar for sentimental reasons. Even if it ends up costing the same amount of money after the mods as just buying the better model, it’s more likely that you will actually play the modded guitar because you customized it yourself and because you won’t worry about something happening to it because it was a cheap guitar when you bought it and you already changed it from factory standard.

[@pvater]

I did the same exact thing to my EPi 57 re-issue LP GT [1997] Started with the same tuning pegs you chose except they were a match for what was originally on the guitar. Also, I got real Gibson electronics [eBay] and vintage PAF LP pickups that ring like a bell. I put more into the guitar than I paid for it. nutshell: pickups made the biggest difference. one mistake I made and was too lazy to fix, was I put the vol/tone electronics in wrong. the Vol/tome for the neck is swapped with the vol/tone for the neck. I've had this guitar for over 20 years and I'm still well pleased with my investment. Cheers

[@TheInstantClassic86]

I tried doing it to my Squier mustang but I made the mistake of taking it to Guitar Center and now I gotta fix the frets and neck. I will finish it one day and add new tuners and specs into it but for now I’m gonna keep it around and play with my other guitars. In which, does anybody know a good site or place to buy a Kurt Cobain like bridge for the Mustang?

[@andresberrelleza9813]

What someone wants when looking for, let's say, a 70's sounding guitar (any model) it's the characteristic sound of that particular guitar. Modding it's like making a proyect. I wouldn't buy an antique guitar to mod It. Buy I would Buy a kind of crappy guitar to modding It, and of course It would ad value to It (since It was crap before modding)

[@TrashCat-1031]

Great video that sparks a good conversation. I think it’s different for everybody. For me I’ve never made a profit re-selling so is it worth it? Yes but my answer as to why is probably different compared to the average guitar player. I got a bad fret hand (ligaments) that hurts when I play thicker necks for more than 15 mins and a bad lower back. So to play longer I prefer a guitar with a thinner neck and Need a guitar or bass weighing 7.5 lbs or less. I also love the look of the thin nitro satin finish on LP’s that you can see the wood grain which are usually on the lower end guitars. Furthermore, if you're a tone chaser like most players you will probably upgrade your pickup/s, bridge and or tuners to see if it makes a difference. Some may say, you might as well buy a more expensive guitar so you don’t have to waste money upgrades. Fair, but it won’t have all the reasons I listed above as to why I do it. I'm currently in the midst of upgrading a Sonic Bronco bass. I bought a pre-wired kit with tone bypass, a Boot Strap Palo Alto 52 Pbass pickup and an Amazon HiMass bridge with brass saddles. I’m also upgrading my 2011 Gibson Melody Maker that has one single coil pickup. I kind of like it but I miss not having a P90 guitar so I bought a Lollar Melody Maker P90 pickup, Hipshot locking tuners, Music City - The Savvy bridge and Emerson 50’s Pre-wired kit. I also bought tools to teach myself how to preform most of the work myself. Since I’ve never soldered before I’m going with the pre-wired kits. Once I get more comfortable soldering I will probably make my own until then it’s a pre-wired kit for me.

[@Randolphguitars]

Thank you Trash Cat

[@PineconeTheory]

Have you done the opposite tuner swap to an Epiphone guitar? I have an Epiphone sg traditional pro that I recently bought from guitar center used, it has the plastic button tuners. I like the Grover look much better. I'm just hoping that the tuner hole is wide enough and the screws line up. I would probably just leave the extra screw holes as is. Thanks

[@Randolphguitars]

@@PineconeTheory My method has always been to line up the bottom screw hole is best I can but I usually end up having to drill an additional hole for each tuner

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

If you have to modify, you’ve bought the wrong guitar. Buy the right guitar and play the damn thing!

[@jmdyt3626]

You can buy the right guitar and just like to modify for your own personal touch