Your next guitar?

[Hink]

I've never been ashamed to play out with them.

nor should you be, when I said the cheap samicks I meant those beginner models that came in the box with an amp. I could be wrong about them being that plywood (like a memphis I did some work on), but even then if you like it then that's all that matters

[stimresp]

I need a little advice on improving my electric guitar. It's a cheap Yamaha Pacifica Tele copy with Dual Humbuckers. It was my first guitar, bought to learn on some years back, and mostly played plugged-out. I'm happy and comfortable with it.

Now I'm at the stage where I have the setup and confidence to record my noodlings. The sustain and low-end are nice enough but it's sounding a little dull at the top end even with tone controls up on it and the 'amp' (i.e through headphones via a Zoom G2.1Nu multiFX pedal).

The humbuckers I think are the problem - I've tried different string gauges without too much difference. Replacing the pickups will cost more than the guitar itself, and I would probably need a professional to do a setup.

Could someone offer suggestions for replacement humbuckers? My 'style' is usually clean tones, jazzy but with the occasional slide roock-out Actually the Zoom is pretty good at polishing my turds, but just need that extra top end sparkle.

Also, what's the going rate approx to have a professional set-up my guitar properly. How long should it take?

Ta

[Hink]

I need a little advice on improving my electric guitar. It's a cheap Yamaha Pacifica Tele copy with Dual Humbuckers. It was my first guitar, bought to learn on some years back, and mostly played plugged-out. I'm happy and comfortable with it.

Now I'm at the stage where I have the setup and confidence to record my noodlings. The sustain and low-end are nice enough but it's sounding a little dull at the top end even with tone controls up on it and the 'amp' (i.e through headphones via a Zoom G2.1Nu multiFX pedal).

The humbuckers I think are the problem - I've tried different string gauges without too much difference. Replacing the pickups will cost more than the guitar itself, and I would probably need a professional to do a setup.

Could someone offer suggestions for replacement humbuckers? My 'style' is usually clean tones, jazzy but with the occasional slide roock-out Actually the Zoom is pretty good at polishing my turds, but just need that extra top end sparkle.

Also, what's the going rate approx to have a professional set-up my guitar properly. How long should it take?

Ta

1. Even if the pick ups cost more than the guitar it doesn't really matter because you can always keep the pick ups and put them in a different guitar.

2. If you can use a soldering iron you can change pick ups and if you can't solder it's very easy and youtube I'm sure has a million videos and if they dont I'll make on for yah. Remember the guitar already has pick ups so unless you want something fancy like a series/parallel switch that's not already on the guitar someone has already shown you how to wire it (just swap each wire out one at a time)

3. As for what pick ups you should read through the hardware section here (look for posts by susiwong, myself, NEKRO MACHINE, Ian B. ( he has a lot of input on pick ups) and of course uncle e (eric at JRR shop http://www.jrrshop.com/catalog/pickups- ... 4_189.html ) in fact if you're in the states you can call him if not pm him and he gives us here at KvR a 10% discount. He'll be able to really help you choose what's best for you. Also Harmony Central has a lot of reviews.

Do not be afraid to ask for assistance, I personally will walk you through changing pick ups as will others I'm sure

[stimresp]

Wow Hink thanks for the advice. I will definitely look into what you suggested. And I may take you up before I finally whip-out the soldering iron

Seriously, thank you..

[Hink]

trust me, it's my pleasure

[Uncle E]

asian guitars may not vary as much by brand as you think, often the same factory will make several brands (I'm sure it's the same in china as well).

There are more factories in China than in Korea and Japan combined. Still, you're definitely correct about one factory servicing many different vendors.

I feel with any such guitars it's really hit or miss, one year we had new Ctae guitars in our store (the first store I worked at late 90s) and they had these cheesy les paul copies that would be a guitar I would grab to wank on when I had extra time (which was often).

It's up to the vendor to spec a quality product. For example, with the current Squiers, it seems that Fender spec'd small frets and heavy bodies because the factory is capable of producing better work.

One of the problems is what susiwong was talking about in another thread and I think the cheap Samicks are the same, that's the layered (basically plywood) body guitars. I haven't touched a Samick this century so I have no idea how they are now but I sold a lot of them to kids who are all grown now as their first guitar. (I always get a kick out of that, every so often someone will recoginize me and tell me I sold them their first guitar).

Korean guitars were all terrible back then. I didn't start having high regard for Korean guitars till I played the ESP 400-series about 5 years ago.

[Ian B]

Hi Ian, it's hard to tell from the pages but they do seem reasonably priced, I would be more comfortable with a Double Expanding Truss Rod like Warmoth offers but it seems that these necks (based on lack of any info suggesting otherwise) are standard or 'vintage' truss rods,. There is no problem with that though the double expanding takes less maintenance and less seaonal changes so it's very possible you might have to tweak the truss rod in either of those necks.



Hibidy, I agree...the neck thru is more obvious and looks better with the red color of my guitar. I think they also have the wood wrong because I read that all power mark xx moels were 14 pieces of rosewood and maple.

Yeah, Warmoth would be a clearly better option Hink, but this is a low end budget guitar so I'd like to avoid spending a lot of money, hence the cheap-ish necks I linked to. Neither will break the bank and may well be up to the job, even if a bit of work is involved in getting them to that point.

New neck just ordered, now it's wait and see.

[Ian B]

Hi Ian, it's hard to tell from the pages but they do seem reasonably priced, I would be more comfortable with a Double Expanding Truss Rod like Warmoth offers but it seems that these necks (based on lack of any info suggesting otherwise) are standard or 'vintage' truss rods,. There is no problem with that though the double expanding takes less maintenance and less seaonal changes so it's very possible you might have to tweak the truss rod in either of those necks.



Hibidy, I agree...the neck thru is more obvious and looks better with the red color of my guitar. I think they also have the wood wrong because I read that all power mark xx moels were 14 pieces of rosewood and maple.

Yeah, Warmoth would be a clearly better option Hink, but this is a low end budget guitar so I'd like to avoid spending a lot of money, hence the cheap-ish necks I linked to. Neither will break the bank and may well be up to the job, even if a bit of work is involved in getting them to that point.

New neck just ordered, now it's wait and see.

The neck has been dispatched, hopefully it'll be here before weekend

[Hink]

Hi Ian, it's hard to tell from the pages but they do seem reasonably priced, I would be more comfortable with a Double Expanding Truss Rod like Warmoth offers but it seems that these necks (based on lack of any info suggesting otherwise) are standard or 'vintage' truss rods,. There is no problem with that though the double expanding takes less maintenance and less seaonal changes so it's very possible you might have to tweak the truss rod in either of those necks.



Hibidy, I agree...the neck thru is more obvious and looks better with the red color of my guitar. I think they also have the wood wrong because I read that all power mark xx moels were 14 pieces of rosewood and maple.

Yeah, Warmoth would be a clearly better option Hink, but this is a low end budget guitar so I'd like to avoid spending a lot of money, hence the cheap-ish necks I linked to. Neither will break the bank and may well be up to the job, even if a bit of work is involved in getting them to that point.

New neck just ordered, now it's wait and see.

The neck has been dispatched, hopefully it'll be here before weekend

[Ian B]

I'm looking forward to it arriving muchly Hink. I've not had a maple board since a 50's reissue tele some years ago. I tell a lie on a 6 string anyway, I forgot the 12 string Acepro electric which has been languishing in the corner of my bedroom, needing major repairs for some time now.

[Hink]

timing is everything...first Ian I am like you, I miss a maple neck and that's why I want to use the tele neck I have from my baritone conversion (which is maple too) but nothing is like a worn maple neck (like beck's old broadcaster).

So I get an AMS catalog (though the link will be zzzsounds) and this was in it

http://www.zzounds.com/item--ESPST203FR

399 aint bad and I think I might see if I can find one at GC to try...naturally I would swap out the floyd rose and put in one of mine and I would change the pick-ups

eric if you read this give me the dope on it

[hibidy]

They don't have it in the GC database that I can tell.

[Hink]

They don't have it in the GC database that I can tell.

I'll find one somewhere (but I'll buy it at zzz if I do get it so I can have them bill my card 100 bux a month for 4 months)

btw it reminds me of dave murray's strat

[hibidy]

I have to admit hink, I took one look at it and was hoping they'd have one in the GC so I could go play it

[Hink]

I saw it in the AMS catalog...because my wife bought me a guitar last winter we got two catalogs, one in her name