General Music Chat

....as in one who modifies your instruments to better suit your needs?

1. What was the first instrument you modded? Happy w it...was it a success?

2. What instruments have you modded.....what were they?

3. any mods where you blew it and wished you could have taken it back?

4. What's your view on modifying vintage instruments? Heresy....or resale value be damned....mod it if it makes it better

5. Any favorite mods from well known (or not so well known) musicians that got your ankles hard?

now, this might be just a LITTLE over the top.....

"Big Brown".... an early piece of work from Alembic on a Guild Starfire bass that belongs to Phil Lesh of the Dead. Alembic used Starfire basses as a platform to experiment with and did many such "conversions" for Lesh and Jack Cassidy before building their own basses.

"Are You A Modder?"

by Planetguy » 02 Jun 2016 07:31 pm
....as in one who modifies your instruments to better suit your needs?

1. What was the first instrument you modded? Happy w it...was it a success?
2. What instruments have you modded.....what were they?
3. any mods where you blew it and wished you could have taken it back?
4. What's your view on modifying vintage instruments? Heresy....or resale value be damned....mod it if it makes it better
5. Any favorite mods from well known (or not so well known) musicians that got your ankles hard?

1 My first guitar and amp. Yes. Both were much better in my hearing and playability..
2 Pretty much every giutar I have ever owned. Pickup exchanges , tail pieces (vibrato) and I generally have added Varitone circuits to almost every one of my guitars.
3 Not really. If I didn't like an instrument or an amplifier I wouldn't have kept it anyway. Generally my modifications made my instruments more valuable to local musicians.
4 I don't have a problem with modifying older instruments if I plan to keep or play them. I have to be satisfied with them or I just pass them on down the line.
5 I don't pay much attention to other folks mods as I hear so much stupid how to's on the Internet from folks that are talking out their asse$ and are basically clueless.

Dunno if this counts, but I've been called a "mudder" a few times--they sometimes add a second descriptive term. From what I can tell, this has nothing to do w/ my propensity to run around a horse-racing track in the rain.

I don't play a guitar much anymore, much to the relief of the musicians I know (hmm--maybe that's why they call me a "mudder"?), and it's usually unwise to tinker around w/ a digital piano. But I've had my Roland in itty-bitty parts and can repair broken hammers in less then 7 minutes (using Krazy Glue--new hammers I can swap in 3). But this is a guitar board...carry on.

Never any instruments.

I modded my 68 Bandmaster amp head. Thing used to run hot as hell (as all fender valve amps do), the tube heat rising up into the chassis. Prior to me getting it, it had been re-capped and had two transformer replacements. The 'explosion' of something in the chassis was quite evident from the stains!
So to promote cooling, I cut two 4" diameter hole sin the front plate, after removing the grill cloth. Tough 1" MDF and I used a cheap electric drill to do pilot holes, then a manual keyhole saw to make the holes. I mounted a quiet 4" box fan in one, and a 4" speaker in the other, which I could use for low volume practice levels (blew the cone out in no time).
In the front of the chassis I drilled out 2 extra holes next to the indicator light. Using the same drill and about half a dozen drill bits to get through that steel. I mounted two switches - initially indicating ones with lights in the barrel, but the lights (pre-LED) burned out, so replaced them with standard toggle switches - one for the fan, and another, in-line- with the rear-mounted stand-by switch.
Little did I know when I did all this (around 1983) that I would devalue the amp head by about $200 by doing this! Whole set up (including the 67 2x12 cabinet) cost me $100 + my old Traynor amp head and 2x12 cabinet back in 1975.

it took me nearly 3 hours to mod this today..it's a bitch when you don't have a 4" or 6" bearing puller readily avaialble. I have one but it's in a box of tools I am selling and tucked away somewhere? a cheap ALLIED brand Taiwanese tool I am culling out
but yes, I am a modder... but guitars ruins the re-sale value so no to that


and what really gripes me is Sears wanted $ 44.00 & change for the mow ball with bearing and snap ring w/0 mow ball bolt LOL.. I pick up a Husqvarna which if you are ignorant of this cross-overs to most Craftsman walk-behind string trimmers.. for $16.00 and change w/ free shipping off Amazon.. here in 3 days shipped from Kansas.. and for shits and grins I called the local small engine mower etc. repair shop to ask what they would charge in labor to R&R a mow ball.. you don't even want to know.. I saved a bunch of money doing it myself.. and turning wrenches earlier in life I have quite a few mechanics tools and used several today to compensATE FOR NOT HAVING A GEAR/BEARING PULLER have a good day!