I hope this will be a meaningful discussion.

I've noticed a bit of tension in these forums and elsewhere when it comes to what people feel is right and OK about gear and tone. I'm one of those guys who likes many of the different tones and sounds that can be had by the use of any number of pedals, any kinds of mods to guitars and mods to amps. I don't understand why some guys get all irritated by this and think that a stock guitar should be played straight up through a stock amp. I do understand how the use of some of pedals and mods could help cover up poor playing but do you think guys do this intentionally? Really?

In a recent thread someone mentioned that if you use strings other than the kind that were on the guitar from the factory then you have modded the guitar. Although that is true I doubt anyone would seriously considered a guitar "modded" in this case but whatever.

So what's your thoughts on this?

Arc

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...I for one, sure would appreciate the return of intelligent conversation, spirit of assistance and the simple yet effective ignoring of those who can't seem to hang with that...
Best regards,
rob

To each his own I say, if someone wants to put a floyd rose on a stock custom closet classic that's their business now if someone was going to mod an all original 61 strat in that way, I would be singing a different tune

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In my opinion, the intent is to make the kind of music you enjoy. Use whatever you have available to achieve that.

If there was really any such thing as a "stock" guitar or amp, there wouldn't be so many models available.

Good topic arc. Maybe this comes from racing motocross for 8 years, or RC cars for 19 years, I leave nothing stock. Part of doing whatever I'm into at that particular time, I LOVE to tweak and mod practically everything I ever got into. My new Peavey Valveking 112 amp. I didn't have it a week before I put an Eminence Texas Heat into it. Every tube has been changed out, my new Boss BD-2 Blues Driver, I have a mod kit for it and the list goes on and on.

When I quit tweaking, I lost interest.

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Gary

I don't buy something if I don't like the way it sounds or looks.

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Favorite bands:

Melvins
The Jesus Lizard
Cows
Big Business
R***man
Minutemen
Flight
Minor Threat
Big Black
Shellac
Karp
Scratch Acid
Wipers
Pixies

You don't feel that limits your creativity?

I notice you follow other bands in your sig line. Hence, follow, not leading.

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Gary

I'd do the same, unless it was used and for a great deal.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

Jw, didn't you order a 50th anniv Jag a while back? How was it, if you did. (I forgot if you did or not, I remember you saying something about wanting one in purple)

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

The owner of any given instrument can and should do do whatever (s)he wants to do or not do to/with it if it increases said owner's enjoyment of it, period. If anyone else has an objection, they should buy said instrument from said owner where in which case, the same applies. Personal freedom of choice is a beautiful thing!

Playing loud and using a plethora of pedals does give the illusion of enhanced 'talent'. Many inferior players utilize such additives as 'crutches' while many superior players use such additives as 'tools'. It is common knowledge where if the same person can shut everything off and sound equally as good without all the 'additives', well, that's the true test of his or her natural ability; many have it, many don't. Either way, whether one does or doesn't is irrelevant for isn't it all about the individual player's self-expression? Here too, personal freedom of choice is a beautiful thing!

I was the one who said about a string and/or brand change being a mod. I wholeheartedly agree, on one level it is indeed, utterly ridiculous. Yet, I've known many players who truly believe that the manufacturer of the instrument knows best regarding OEM string sets where they would never deviate for that reason alone. Further and to be even more literal, anything that has been replaced (vs. OEM) on an instrument is in fact, a 'mod'. Call it a 'replacement' if you like but original to the instrument from the factory, it is not. Another slant: I know a guy who has a loose ground in his real 1957 Les Paul. He doesn't want it resoldered under any circumstances because then the solder joints wouldn't be, "all original". Ironically, it wouldn't even need any new solder added but he wants absolutely no part of it. Instead, he put a piece of electrical tape over the loose wire. Yes, these types are bountifully out there and surely, in terms of OEM soldering, are absolutely, 100% correct. This is totally his business where if anyone else has any deep seated objections to his remedy, they should buy the guitar from him. Once again, personal freedom of choice being a beautiful thing!

In summation, musicians are a passionate lot. Just like any other genre of artist, they are way more intense about way more things close to them than most, for lack of a better word, "non-artistic" types are. Hence, in the final analysis it is all, "Much Ado About Nothing" for everyone doesn't think alike and as I've said repeatedly, "Personal freedom of choice is a beautiful thing!"

As always, this is merely IMO where YMMV.

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You dig?

Mod, don't mod...it's the player that has to like what they are playing. I have several modded guitars and a few stock. I am happy with all of them.

And yes, if you use any other string set other than the type originally on the guitar is a personal mod. That is just my opinion. Some will argue this, but it is a change to the original design.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

A lot of people say about this to bag on The Edge as a bad guitarists, however in my view whilst he may not be as technically gifted as other guitarists, his knowledge of effects and what they do to his sound is incredible, in my view its just a different school of guitar playing, and no less valid than pure guitar and amp playing.

But at the end of the day thats all we want to do is play/sound like our own guitar heros
don't matter if they are gifted or just joe ordenary?
it's just what does it for you

At least for me at the end of the day, it's not about playing the "Gear" it's about the tone and the music that comes from it.

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Gary

Thanks for the nicely thought out replies guys.

I understand wanting to keep some gear all original for the sake of antiquity and resale value but as an example SRVs number one was a mash up of different years for neck and body with replaced pick-ups. His amps were well modded as well. If I were to use SRV as an example of what can be achieved tone wise by modding gear then it tells me that keeping gear stock limits tonal possibilities. I think most here would love to have any guitar or amp SRV used in it's original state and likely even more in it's modified condition.

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...I for one, sure would appreciate the return of intelligent conversation, spirit of assistance and the simple yet effective ignoring of those who can't seem to hang with that...
Best regards,
rob

I have some modded gear, and some stock. It's up to the owner to decide whether to mod or not. If I payed for it I will do as I please to get what I want out of said piece of gear.