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My 3 Favourite Custom Electric Guitar Upgrades

By Eduardo Munroe

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Published: 03Jan2012
Word count: 983
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If you are a keen owner of an electric guitar there will very possibly come a time when you just can't help yourself and you'll want to customise your axe. There is a desire amongst many guitarists to get every bit of extra performance possible out of their guitar before eventually opting to buy another model. So what tweaks and performance upgrades are possible and how difficult are they?

Listed below are my 3 favourite electric guitar custom upgrades. I have also giving them a mark out of 5 for difficulty with 5 being the most difficult and 1 being the easiest.

1. Pickup swapping. This is the upgrade that will have the most impact as very often this can be an area where manufacturers cut corners and costs. There are some excellent aftermarket pickup builders who specialise in all types of guitar pickups including humbucker and single coil versions. These specialists will use the best components available and often wind by hand for great results. The difference can definitely be heard. Difficulty is a 4 as some soldering will be required.

2. Bridge /tailpiece swapping. This upgrade is a lot easier than the pickup swap and again will have a very positive impact on the sound. Another area where manufacturers cut corners is in the quality of the metals used in this department. Replacements will often be constructed from brass or lightweight aluminium therefore improving the all important sustain. There is often also an improvement with the intonation due to greater adjustment possibilities. Difficulty is only a 2, just be sure to order the correct size and type for your guitar.

3. My final upgrade is the tuners. If your guitar is struggling to stay in tune or perhaps has rattling tuners, the time has arrived for a change. There are many different types on the market, some chrome, some gold and some with plastic tips. Some will be 3 per side and others will be 6 in line. The workings of a replacement set will be way better than that of a budget guitar, and also some costly ones. You'll really love to havea guitar that always stays in tune. Difficulty is a 2. Once again be sure to check for the correct size.

So there you have it. My 3 top custom upgrades for your prized electric guitar. If you'd like to have a go with any of these but are not too confident, check out the book stores, there are some excellent books written on the subject. Be warned though, once you catch the tinkering bug you'll never leave that guitar alone.

The author has been playing both electric and acoustic guitars for a number of years and loves to play many different genres of music. He is also a keen builder of guitars and highly recommends Tub Guitar Pickups for high quality replacement Humbucker, Telecaster and Stratocaster Pickups.

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