The reason I put this topic out there is that I purchased a Classic 50's Strat. It was mint and had Custom Shop 50's PU's installed (with the original ones in the Custom Shop box), plus a bone nut. It also had the receipt from the shop that did the work. I was happy with that. Nice additions, I guess. I also bought a very dinged up Japanese 72 Thinline that had no wear on the neck, so it was thrown around more than played. The owner said it sometimes cut out. So, for $100 it was worth a chance, even if I had to throw it away. When I opened it up, the only electrics not worthy of the trash can were the pickups (plus they were the only things original). I bought a used loaded plate from a Tele. on eBay and now I have a very nice playing Thinline for $120 that (after a little cosmetic work) passes the two foot test. This being said, I tend to feel better buying mint, original. The difference in sound between pickups/pots is a very subjective thing to me, but a poor job installing them can make a good guitar a real piece of cheese.

OK.... But let's keep in mind that many of the guitars we run across for sale on the used lot have been modified by their owners and for many of those owners, this was their 1st or 2nd attempts to mod without the benefit of proper tools or knowledge.
..A potentially lethal combination...
On the other hand, that means you can often pick up a potentially great guitar for a song and a dance......

Modding is a bit frightening, since it has gone totally viral in not just the guitar worlds but in many other facets.
I hang out on both < http://www.audizine.com > and < http://www.vwvortex > On both of these you can see just how much ( ) of these cars are modded ( mine included ) most very well done, but there are the occasional ones where " What Were You Thinking... " applies.

I cannot remember ever having a guitar, from the 1st one at 12 years old and not thinking
How can I improve this guitar......From the Yamaha student Classical to the EKO 12 string to a 59 LPC to today's quiver of Strats and what not's.
I have a couple Frankenshteen's which are the guinea pigs....
What could be better than following up on Leo Fender's original intent...

That being said some guitars should not be modified, there is a thread on I believe either the Ask Mike Eldred or the Custom Shop thread where the OP was bitching about his CS and how he went about replacing the nut ( not well and other mods ) and then accusing CS of putting out a substandard product. Lets just recap that M.E. was not amused, nor should he have been.
I do have a gripe with ppl getting a Vintage guitar and then modding it to modern specs..
Why get a vintage spec Strat in the 1st place.. If someone doesn't like the vintage specs then leave those guitars alone and move on. ( To clarify, I am refering to either Custom Shop Vintaged spec guitars, reissue specs or genuine vintage guitars. ) My definition of Vintage is Pre 1970....
Something 30+ is not vintage or does and should not be considered in that category. Yes I realize this last statement may bring about a firestorm but if so then all you 30 somethings on this forum should check up on your AARP memberships...

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"C'est parti mon Kiki "

Ditto!

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Two of my three electric guitars are modded.

All of my mods (save one) are "sleeper" mods; the average guitarist wouldn't notice the modification at first or second glance. The one that isn't a sleeper is the P-90 in he neck of my Telecaster...

I generally try not to make any modification that isn't reversible, in case I'm put in the position that I have to sell the axe...that way it's returned to stock and I still have the extra parts to mod the next one.

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Good Vibes To Y'all!



Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals

Hi tvr: modding is fine. I think the owner should do whatever necessary to get the instrument playing how he wants, because that's what it exists for.

However, in my experience of watching sales on Ebay and elsewhere modding nearly always hurts the resale value of the guitar, regardless what boutique additions have been made. I've lost count of the number of times I've seen a guitar listed with "X-brand super-duper pickup upgrade", and the vendor will be amazed to find the sale closes out at less than the price of the equivalent stock used guitar.

It is obvious why: we all like our own adjustments, but kind of instinctively feel someone else's mods are like wearing someone else's underwear. Ew.

There must be exceptions, and if you've seen modded guitars go for higher than stock on Craigslist, well there ya go. But it ain't the rule, far as I've seen. When it comes to sale time, people want a guitar to be as close to mint condition as possible, and that is what they will pay most for. Logical or not.

Cheers - C

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Absolutely correct Ceri !! Mod all you want but keep and replace all original equipment when selling. I will not buy a modded guitar period and the chances of buying a modded guitar done by someone famous are almost non-existent.



Of course this is only my opinion and I respect yours!!

Well put and this brings up the totally irrelevant Value Factor.
When 1st purchased the MSRP is higher than the actual retail ask price.
To me buying something like a guitar which instantly loses 30 percent of it's purchase price as soon as you walk out the shops door and take it home renders guitars as very bad investment vehicles. ( Truly Vintage Guitars are excluded as they are an entirely separate subject onto themselves ). Talking about the common $500.00 to $1,500.00 guitar.
These are Musical Instruments, not securities. I would hope that most of us here on the Forum are debating an issue based on the principle that the enveloping context is Music.. not Finance.
The two are adversarial in nature and cannot be combined. A $700.00 guitar is just that, it would take about 40+ years for it to be more valuable than it's original purchase price and that in itself is impossible to predict, as it may likely be worthless in the future.
Danelectro's are a great example of a cheap ( I do mean cheap in the sense of pressed particle board, kitchen counter top finish..etc.. ) yet today if you find a pristine example with it's case/amp it is worth a lot. ( to collectors and others ) Personally I hate them, I think they sound horrible, look just like what they are and play about as badly. Sorry guy's but this one will stand until the cow's come home ( end of rant ).
However from a value standpoint..Well who could have predicted that one..
So I bought each and everyone of my guitars over the years because they are the musical instrument whose qualities suited me at that moment and some still do today.
Never was a return on Investment ( which they are not ) part of the consideration to purchase.
Yes I did want to buy them for less than asked, but buying at $700 to resell at $400 to $500 is not realistic....Your Investment advisor would laugh and say you are delusional when attempting to explain to him/her you bought that guitar because it had an expectably higher resale value.....Nope...Doesn't work that way as much as we'd like to dismiss reality.

Rebuttals.....Pencil is sharpened....

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"C'est parti mon Kiki "

Does it really matter to a " Musician " Seriously in that case of a famous person having breathed on my guitar therefore skyrocketing the value is a case of only the seller laughing all the way to the bank...( And the buyer having rational reflections later on of... )
I politely disagree on wether to buy or pass on a modded guitar. It depends what and how it was done, but since I'm holding the cash when considering buying, the choice is mine and the seller can either sell for my offer or decline to sell. Ruling out a modded guitar strictly on that basis can often mean one passed up a great bargain.

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"C'est parti mon Kiki "

Absolutely not, no. I agree entirely with your previous statement:

When I hear people discussing resale value I'm reminded of what a famous gentleman recently said: "If a kid is thinking about how much he can sell a guitar for before he's even bought it, he's buying it for the wrong reasons."

Personally, I buy my instruments new, and only then because I've tried them and like them as they are, so they are almost never changed. (Apart from the saddles and output sockets on Telecasters. Now those bits really do need "upgrading".)

But if I want a guitar to do my own modifications to then I look for the one that has already been most heavily interfered with - because it will almost certainly be the cheapest. There's nothing like someone else's "upgrades" to keep the price down.

Still. If ever there was a case where what Mr Martian always says is true, this is it. Your Mileage May Vary.

Cheers - C

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Modding means "custom"
I love modding mine (as I've said before) usually it's just pickup and electronics upgrades. I do the same to my amps (I'm incorrigible)
My advice to modders out there is, just don't expect others to pay exorbitant prices for your modding habits if/when you try to sell the guitar (just because YOU paid $300 for the pickups 2 years ago don't expect the buyer to pick up the entire tab, they're 2 year old USED pickups now).
If you don't know how to handle a soldering iron don't get into it (and DO NOT muck up your cavity with electrical tape!)

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"Life is like eating jalapenos. What you do today may burn your arse tomorrow"

Does it really matter to a " Musician " Seriously in that case of a famous person having breathed on my guitar therefore skyrocketing the value is a case of only the seller laughing all the way to the bank...( And the buyer having rational reflections later on of... )


Does nothing for me (a self professed musician) who did what to any instrument. I do not and will not buy modded equipment. In all reality this stance should not matter to anyone but me. As a matter of fact I've never bought a used instrument. I always buy new from an authorized dealer. Just how I roll!! Just stating my preference that's all. As has been stated before..YMMV!!

Following Quote by Ceri *
( I would never stoop so low... )

* It is obvious why: we all like our own adjustments, but kind of instinctively feel someone else's mods are like wearing someone else's underwear. Ew.

Nice 3-dimensional visual wedgie...And you Sir had led me to believe that you were a proper British Gent...

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"C'est parti mon Kiki "

Hi Ceri, I've often seen your posts and wouldn't think twice of a guitar you had your hands on. However the poor guy that used, abused, and butchered the Thinline I mentioned decreased it's value by hundreds. Guitars are pretty old school, but some people that consider themselves rocket scientists have done a lot of harm to their equipment.

A guitar is an instrument, not an investment, but if bought right can make our interest in them very affordable. All I have to do is think of the total operating cost of the motorcycles in my garage, or the pitiful interest earned on my CD's, and guitars aren't that bad a deal. Plus they don't care what the weathers like outside!