Updates & Upgrades 2023 - Guitar Mod Edition

[@LateNightLessons]

If you'd like to read the article I mentioned in this episode that details my Les Paul/broken hand article/story that was featured in Premier Guitar (from exactly ten years ago), follow this link. Thanks and ROCK ON! 😏👉 www.premierguitar.com/diy/i-lost-a-fight-with-an-elevator

[@jimmuller]

That's a great story on how you got your Les Paul back. I was in a music store when a guy grabbed an expensive guitar and bolted. The music store found that he pawned the guitar for $100 at a pawn shop. However they would have had to wait months to reclaim the guitar through a hearing so they had to pay the pawn shop $100 to get it back.

[@tombley8731]

I love that opening jam, David. Not sure what you where going for with it but, it kinda reminds me of Porcupine Tree.

[@enricopallazzo2987]

I actually learned that toothpick / wood glue trick for stripped screws almost 40 years ago, way before the internet. You describing your strat as a family member made me tear up, and immediately go grab my guitar and hug the shit out of it. Been my only true friend since I was born. Thanks for reminding me.

[@ronaldpapa8182]

That PRS is sharp!

[@maplechill75]

A Pearly neck and a JB bridge! Nice combo 👌

[@newrosesartworx4662]

check out a 4 way switch for the tele ;)

[@drtone]

if a guitar blows....sometimes transforming it into a dedicated slide guitar turns it magical.

[@cravertom]

love the tele pickguard change!

[@Ogrelord5150]

My guitar got bummed when it found out it was not that type of date, lol. This video convinced me, was thinking of swapping out pickups in one of guitars and will definitely do it now. And knobs, now I'm on a mission to find some cool knobs.

[@macdad159]

Beautiful phrasing.

[@wulfenii64]

I used to use tortoise shell picks but they broke all the time then Tortex came out. God send.

[@vincenttomazzolli3940]

"Some weird illegal thing"....LOL...you kill me David! Your Gibby Standard, Fender Strat and PRS Vela are my favs from your stable!

[@henrymrowicki7004]

I got a bullet tele to mess with, changed the pick guard to a tortoise , but in black and light blue. I then had to install a new switch, so i did the potts also. Then picked up a used prs se 24, put on locking tuners and wood top hat knobs, i looked up the serial # and found out it was a 2016 made in Korea. As i get better i will upgrade more. Thanks for sharing what you have done to your guitars 🎸 👍

[@jeddak]

Rustoleum paint is great for changing the color of pickguard screws. The black screws on one of my guitars had succumbed to wear and oxidation. A swipe with some steel wool and a dab of Rustoleum with a Q-Tip and voila - good as new.

[@paulcasilio1119]

I can’t believe I missed this from last month, because this is the LNL I had been waiting for. DB, I love all your guitars, maybe mostly the S2, but here’s the thing…these guitar ARE you, brother. If I were to see them by themselves on their stand or online or reverb the person I associate them with…is pure David Brewster. Thanks for sharing with us and take it easy.

[@mmmcccc7910]

🤣David... why did you use a channel lock wrench to change your tuning keys if you have the official Fender tool set!?!Anyway, great video as always. Thank you!!

[@sergedenovo2389]

To show off his McGuywer skills! ..(if you know who that is. Lol)

[@LateNightLessons]

I like how you called me out about that, because I grabbed my "trusty old wrench" to change the tuners, and about 5-10 minutes after I completed the tuner change, I opened that pouch and saw that socket. BAM! I literally said to myself - "Dave, you big dummy" and here we are. : ) hahahaha Thanks for making laugh about that and have a great one! Rock on!

[@mmmcccc7910]

@@LateNightLessons 🤣 You have a good one too!!

[@jamessator5564]

Funny that you mentioned Moore Guitar’s , I have bought a couple of Mesa Boogie amps from them in the last few months!

[@hkguitar1984]

The Tortoise is such a classic look.

[@Buddy969]

Thanks for the info on our guitars. Love the new tele and cant wait to see it featured in some videos. Also, that strat is awesome! I installed the same Fender loaded pickguard on my Olympic white strat.

[@TwelveSticks]

You're very much a man after my own heart, David. In fact, I have a mid-90's Floyd Rose, sunburst Strat too, to which I fitted a black, pre-loaded pickguard (a Dave Gilmour EMG one). And my most modded guitar is my Les Paul Classic, which has had just about everything changed, including all the plastics, pickups and even the fretboard which is now ebony, with nice, 'pointy' trapezoid inlays. And I have a Vela too, which I love - though I haven't felt the need to change anything on that (yet).

[@johnc.mitchelljr.2716]

nice demo , guitars forever ☮

[@libertywormfarm3819]

That original strat neck 😳

[@easter_sunday]

I own around 20 left handed guitars 🎸. Other guitar players hate my collection. 🤣👍

[@BensMusicDojo]

Picked up a Les Paul Special Tribute Humbucker last year with a natural finish. The cheapest American made Gibson available. I was blown away by how much I liked it right away. Being a Fender guy though, I always mod, so I replaced the tuners and stoptail bridge. Kluson revolution locking tuners and a Schaller signum intonatable stoptail made it just about perfect.

[@andrewporter2736]

Fun episode! Cool to know that you worked at Moore music. My folks live in Evansville and I always try to stop in there when I visit them. Great store!

[@marpsr]

I put chicken head knobs on an old Ibanez I rebuilt with various Lace Sensors and 5 switches for 64 possible combinations.

[@benclark2026]

The opening jam on the Les Paul was awesome...

[@angusorvid8840]

The Shawbucker sounds great on that strat and the JB/PG set sounds amazing on the Les Paul. These are the sort of upgrades I do. The PRS Vela is one of my favorite guitars in the world. I tried one at a Guitar Center a long time ago and loved it. I'll probably get one someday. I've owned PRS's and I love them. I always loved the JB/Jazz combo most in a PRS although a Duncan Custom Custom (Alnico 2)/Jazz set also sounds great. Bright pickups sound amazing in mahogany.

[@marpsr]

The toothpick trick is used every day by piano techs. Another great trick is to start wood screws by turning to the left until you feel the screw fall into the groove, then tighten. If you start to the right first you run the risk of stripping the hole. Many a stripped screw hole can be avoided altogether with this practice.

[@davidpaul6656]

I have the Grover locking tuners on my 2008 Les Paul Standard and I love'em! Makes changing strings soo much easier.

[@-jeffk3339]

Great tips David. Be not afraid of easy changes - go forth and mod if you want to. Modifications don't need to be radical - just personal! Love the channel - Happy 2023!

[@andychase7693]

I'm a fan of tortoise shell pickguards, too. I've heard them referred to as "pepperoni scratch plates", which I think is pretty funny!

[@SirSneakerPimp]

I love the fact that you ordered the tele, because it sounds great. I read that Premier article. Thought it was funny that you basically bathed the guitar to get the crime grime off her!

[@mikeivey8471]

Love hearing the info about your guitars / gear !! This is a passion of mine as well !! Upgrading / Hot Rodding my instruments is so fun and cool & really does make it very personal !! Thanks for sharing !!

[@thelawnmowertapes]

Great content here Dave! Hoping you could identify the jam @ 12:41 (Vela section) wondering if you wrote that one, simply killin'!

[@robertbernas1104]

David always cool info and ideas - love your playing and all your guitars - btw I have a Wurlitzer guitar that was made in Evansville, IN - I’ll have to send you a pic of it - anyhow thanks so much as always…keep on brutha and best to you and yours in the new year🤙

[@tammymiller506]

love your way of making my day thanks

[@godbyone]

You have such a great site. I was lucky to have a teacher like you had a great ear . He taught me song s I wanted to learn but. He threw in the why and how . Like u . It was a victor litz in Maryland. All the tescher were talking about eruption. Nobody knew how. I said. It was a ibm coMputer they laughed my teacher had brst ear but didn’t know. I saw Van Halen. I had 2 dollar. Seat behind stage. I saw it. I told my teacher I know it. He laughed. I said he poked the guitar. I showed one spot. I remembered. Of the tap he instantly figured out Eruption. Wrote it out. , I was playing it year and half before anybody

[@kendallrocks1965]

Great video, now let's hit 100k subs this year.

[@DanielAlvarez-sl6yh]

Great Stuff!!!

[@markrobinson8410]

I have learned not to use pliers on tuners etc. Sockets won't damage anything.

[@JohnSmith-qs5fg]

Have to admit I involuntarily cringed when I saw the channel loks. Then I figured he was going for the new tuner/relicing combo! Lol

[@enricopallazzo2987]

I was saying that out loud when I saw him using channel locks on his tuners 😂😮

[@timothy5974]

Hey David, Thanx for this video. I was one of those that asked about your Vela. I’m in the market for a new guitar and the vela is a runner up to just an SE standard 24. Still haven’t made up my mind. Thanx.

[@LateNightLessons]

Thanks man, and if you want my opinion - I'd go with the Vela. I LOVE that guitar. Also, American made guitars maintain their value (and the value usually goes up), unlike imports, which usually lose their value over time - unless it's a fancy Vai model or something collectible/rare. Something to think about, and not that you're going to sell it, but I like the idea that the money I spent on a guitar remains with it and doesn't go down (and it could even go up in 10-20 years), instead of it becoming "less" that I paid for it (like a car). Anywho - good luck and ROCK ON!

[@Crinkle65]

Very cool video. Thanks

[@jokerseriously514]

Sweet job as always Brother! You just inspired a whole generation to go Custom!

[@marpsr]

My USA standard 1987 Strat has a serial number that starts with E84, indicating 1984. The necks were made in 84 but because of Fender issues didn’t get attached to a body and sold until 87. Confusing!

[@greg77hot]

Hi Dave...I cringed when you put those great big channel locks on them tuners ...LOL

[@tallpaul1020]

What a great episode. Fun, informational and I just love the rug in your studio!! Lol . Love the rants Dave keep up the great work 🎸👍

[@LateNightLessons]

Thanks man! Oh, and the rug came from Target - I love it too! Get yourself one! : ) ROCK ON!

[@tallpaul1020]

@@LateNightLessons it looks like we've got the same taste's 👍 Guitars, Star Wars ,great music and rugs . I'm headed to Target lol 🎸🤘

[@LateNightLessons]

@@tallpaul1020 I actually went to Target today and walked down the rug aisle to check if they still had them. They do, but it's $30-35 more than I paid for it three years ago. : O Good luck!

[@cofieleven]

I have a floyd on my tele, haha!

[@rivercitymike76]

The Intro jam... nice!!!! Would make for a kill lesson. Tabs???

[@kengouthro]

Great episode! I have a 2007 made in Indonesia Squire strat HSS that I plan to mod with a fender shawbucker loaded pickguard. Looking forward to it.

[@Blue_3rd]

Nice video! It’s so true - you can change the looks and performance with just a few easy mods. I have done a few upgrades to my trio too - including different colours of tortoise shell 😊 Cheers! PS I love the idea of the locking tuners for the Tele, they still have the vintage vibe too.👍

[@Krullmatic]

That tortoise shell looks a lot better on the Tele! I'm saving up to get that same loaded pickguard on your Strat, except in black, and put it on my black Fender Player Strat. As a matter of fact, I'm going to black out my Strat. I was gonna start with the Fender locking tuners because I'll be able to swing that right now, but Fender, Stew Mac and Sweetwater have been out of the black ones for awhile. I always check about every other day.

[@drtone]

try a white tortoise shell on the tele.....thank me later.

[@mcinen67]

My Ibanez 440HH was born in August 1990. 😄

[@PawpawJamz]

Man that Tele sounds killer.

[@gregmize01]

Cheesecake Factory?😳 Happy New Year Dave! 🎸👍🎸👍🎸

[@stevemueller4703]

Love the new Tele! And the haircut looks fresh and badass. 🤘😉

[@benhoward7006]

I really enjoy your channel. Thanks.

[@me.roderick]

Exquisite opening. Quality content...💪🇱🇷

[@r1ckgr1m3s8]

I knew a guy who would throw birthday party for his guitar more or less just an excuse to drink beer but he would get a cake and everything he loved his strat!

[@ronmorey3475]

My favorite is your black Les Paul. I really want to find one like that someday!

[@klausfritsch4350]

So what's your Les Paul's favorite drink? 🙂 Happy New Year!

[@billydeewilliams9104]

Strat, Tele and Les Paul. Is the PRS the 4th dimension? I have pro guitar playing buddies telling me to just give up and buy a PRS...

[@sergedenovo2389]

I don’t know, man… It seems like all I see are PRSs in videos!

[@billydeewilliams9104]

@@sergedenovo2389 I hear ya. PRS snobs, I call them.

[@sergedenovo2389]

I don’t take ma geetarz 2 no Cheesecake Factorree ! I’m a stone cold pinp! I gotz klass an shtyl! It’s Burger King! Lern sumfinn! Ma honies be lovin dat ribwitch! FAT BOTTOM GIRLS YOU MAKE THE ROKIN WORLD GO ROUND!! Serge from Chicago. Later bro!

[@sergedenovo2389]

@@billydeewilliams9104 I’m just not understanding why, you know… Like it’s a guitar that gives super guitaring power! Seems like that is all I see! What do I not know! 😆 I’ve never played one, so maybe there’s something I don’t know…

[@samsonthecurrent]

As always, such fluid playing. #excellenttouch #excellentchannel

[@janallexander5173]

Buy a new strap ! P.S love the Tele!

[@highlyfe5054]

Bro could you please to an in-depth lesson on that opening jam? It is so haunting.

[@yaniv-nos-tubes]

you should do an amp mod edition with vintage tubes and upgraded speakers

[@deanmccaskill5495]

Great Tele man. I literally hate locking tuners though. A lot of people love them though.

[@jasonpitts8395]

That Telecaster is awesome. Hey David are new guitars like your Tele as good or better than a vintage Tele?

[@LateNightLessons]

Thanks man, and that's a tough one. I've played a few vintage Fender's (Strats & Tele's) and while they had some cool tone/vibe/mojo, the price tag always scared me away - YIKES! Also, I did play a Custom Shop Tele that one of my students had a few years ago, and I think it was a $4000-5000 guitar and it was REALLY nice, but that's WAY too much money for a guitar (in my opinion). I'd rather find a solid $1000-$1500 guitar and tweak/mod it, than spend $2K+ for something from the "top shelf." Those are nice guitars, but the prices these days for a "nice guitar" are getting crazy. Thanks again and rock on!

[@jasonpitts8395]

@@LateNightLessons thx for the reply brother. I agree with you. Vintage = $$$. I have mid 1990s Strat and I dare anyone to find one that plays or sounds better and I have done nothing to it. Anyone that plays it wants to trade me something for it. I will look at a Tele like yours. Have you ever done an episode on Dwight Yoakums guitar player from Guitars & Cadillacs? May not be your genre but that guy was a beast on a Tele. Thx again.

[@swede7160]

I have modded my 2010 black American standard strat with Schaller f series locking tuners,a custom shop deluxe 2-point tremolo,van zandt pickups,white pearl pickguard and a Toneshaper serenity wiring harness.The Schallers because i think they have a better break angle over the nut compared to the fenders.The custom shop tremolo because it has a cold rolled steel block and a pop in arm.Van zandt pickups because they are my fav strat pickups and the Serenity wiring harness because it’s solderless 😊.Future strat mods will be a Fender Performer artic white strat with a rosewood fingerboard as a base with Schaller tuners,a new Wilkinson wv6R tremolo and a black pickguard 1 humbucker 1 vol 1 tone.I really like white strats with black pickguards or black Strats with either white pearl or parchment pickguards.

[@carlosgalindo9949]

What speaker are you using with the V-ampire pro?

[@LateNightLessons]

Hey - it's a HeadRush 1-12 powereed cab. I REALLY like those cabinets - check 'em out! Rock on!

[@thevagabond8978]

I like that you do your own thing man. Ever consider tortoiseshell glasses?

[@jeffallen3382]

I'm the opposite... I don't like tortoise shell colored pickguards. I just painted my LTD GL-256 that had a tortoise pickguard. The original design had a white guard, but some time later LTD switched to tortoise. I like it so much more now! Changing the color really does makes a big change!

[@sergedenovo2389]

Dude… Call me crazy but I always sand down the hardware and like prominent parts with like 3000 sandpaper( to make it more used) on my LTD deluxe. Dave, I’m in Chicago! How would you suggest storing an acoustic?! Mine DRIED OUT AND WARPED! Do you know how, dude?! I just bought a Martin and this bitchety dry air warped it! Help, Dude!!!

[@mykneeshurt8393]

I work inside elevators almost daily. I have been trapped and stuck in them far too many times....

[@sergedenovo2389]

How do you guys keep your acoustics in winter? I just bought my first acoustic and it dried out! Now it has dead notes! I put a wet rag in there in a bag in there like Martin does in their factory and now it stinks! …AND STILL SOUNDS LIKE SHIT!!! HELP! DAVE! Anyone?! I’m mad! Lol

[@chrisquinn9104]

Funny I realized the screws on my Tele look to new and it is messing up the look Send me you sweaty screws

[@jasonkeaton5140]

I also don't like white pickguards

[@jasonkeaton5140]

I ordered a custom tele and it came with white when I asked for tortoise shel. 🐢 I was bummed considering the cost now I onky buy fender not some fancy brands

[@sergedenovo2389]

“Got a haircut”… Sellout! :p lol

[@juanrajara2887]

A lot of people flip the control plate around on their Teles. Apparently you're not in that group.

[@LateNightLessons]

Yeah, I never understood why folks did that. I'd rather have access to the pickup selector switch than the tone control knob. : )

[@juanrajara2887]

@@LateNightLessons I never liked the design of the plastic tip on the selector. Mine kept coming off when I'd use it. After a while I gave up and ended up just having that thin piece of metal to swipe at.

[@sbrave]

Happy New Year!! That toothpick & glue thing is great for he strap holder screw as well.

[@curragh4635]

hey David awesome bro, that tele almost looks yellow not white