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Post subject: The mod bug
Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 11:01 pm
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Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Sun Nov 20, 2011 11:47 am
Posts: 838
Location: Hawaii
Well it's starting. Three months ago I bought a cheap Squier SE strat pack and being my first guitar I was very excited to say the least. I Play it every single day and I've been learning more and more. Now that I'm starting to know my instrument, I'm also starting to notice the things that annoy me a little. First I noticed that the tremolo makes the guitar go flat if I use it even once, so I just screwed the clamp nuts all the way. Also I have bad fret buzzing past the 10th fret. I raised the action at the saddles but I still get buzz. This is by far the most annoying part. The last one is noisy pickups. I know this is a single coil thing but it's pretty bad sometimes. I got me a digitech metal master pedal and it's pretty unpleasant to use because of the noise with the distortion.

My question is: Is it worth it to just mod the guitar or just get a better one? I've been researching and DiMarzio's HS-3 (or 4) on the neck and center and a Super distortion on the bridge should give me the noise canceling and high output at the bridge for my metal master, while at the same time I get to keep the nice strat tone at the neck and center.

Also I have done my best to set up the guitar myself but the buzzing is still there. Should I just spend the 60 bucks or so and have it professionally set up? Will that eliminate the buzz? I really like how this guitar feels and being my first guitar it has sentimental value. I just don't want to dump money on it if it makes more sense to just buy a better guitar.

Thanks in advance!

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Post subject: Re: The mod bug
Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 1:01 am
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Aspiring Musician
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Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2011 1:02 am
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well there are a lot of things you can do.

to help with the humming you could try shielding the cavities and the pickguard, with either aluminium foil or copper foil.

a little like this
Image
Image

and yes it is possibly worth spending the money on getting it setup properly first time out, then you have the foundation to be able to keep it setup in the future, ask if you can watch and ask questions while its being done that way you get some advice. setting up your own guitar is something all players should learn in my opinion as its not just a one off thing.

hope this helps


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Post subject: Re: The mod bug
Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 3:46 am
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Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Sun Nov 20, 2011 11:47 am
Posts: 838
Location: Hawaii
Wow I'm so gonna try that! I'm visiting a luthier tomorrow and have the thing set up or I might walk away with something that catches my eye. But I also want to learn to maintain my own guitar.

Another question, which are better strings? DR or Dean Markley? I have a set of both (9's) but I'm not sure which ones to go with. My factory strings are rusting a bit so I think they're due for a change. Also, can this guitar take 10's? I find myself tuning it down as low as C# sometimes. Thanks!

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Post subject: Re: The mod bug
Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 9:52 am
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Aspiring Musician
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1neeto wrote:
Wow I'm so gonna try that! I'm visiting a luthier tomorrow and have the thing set up or I might walk away with something that catches my eye. But I also want to learn to maintain my own guitar.

Another question, which are better strings? DR or Dean Markley? I have a set of both (9's) but I'm not sure which ones to go with. My factory strings are rusting a bit so I think they're due for a change. Also, can this guitar take 10's? I find myself tuning it down as low as C# sometimes. Thanks!

to be honest i couldnt tell you the better strings, i have never used either set, sorry. I use Ernie Ball super slinky's, but changing to 10's you will have to do a whole new setup on it, every different guage of strings need to be adjusted for height and intonation, and you will probably have to file the nut to make the grooves the strings sit in larger to accomodate, so it is entirely up to you, your luthier can do the setup for 10's, but if you dont like it you will have to change the nut to go back to 9's as they will never sit right again. If you walk away with another guitar then you can have the best of both worlds 9's and 10's :D


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Post subject: Re: The mod bug
Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 2:28 pm
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Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Sun Nov 20, 2011 11:47 am
Posts: 838
Location: Hawaii
Thanks! I think I'll stick to 9's and like you said get get another guitar and set it up with 10's. This ad caught my eye, what do you guys think?

http://honolulu.craigslist.org/oah/msg/2810239392.html

I dig the reverse headstock and H/S/H configuration. And it's a Jackson which means I'm staying in the Fender family! :)

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Post subject: Re: The mod bug
Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 4:39 am
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Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Sun Nov 20, 2011 11:47 am
Posts: 838
Location: Hawaii
Bought it! Buuuut.... now that means I have TWO guitars to mod!! :twisted: hmmm 81-85's or Duncans? I'm definitely keeping the Squier though!

G.A.S hitting me HAAARD! \m/ \m/

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