Upgrading an electric guitar

086whacker

Hi folks, after about 15 years of failed attempts I finally started regularly playing guitar and it has practically taken over my life. I am interested in upgrading an electric guitar which I have, its a fender strat, Chinese copy. Which my parents bought for me many years ago. Its fine but Im just not getting the sound I want, Im looking for an older rock sound like led zeppelin, Black sabbath and the like. I dont have a great deal of money to spend and would really appreciate some advice. Would upgrading the pick ups to a better model or replacing them with humbuckers be of any benefit. Also I know that the amp is probably the most important part of the set up. Im using a 35 watt Vantage amp which came with the guitar, I would be willing to change this to a better quality one if neccessary, any suggestions? I bought a Boss DS-2 overdrive pedal recently which has given me some effects but Im kinda stumped now. Any advice would be excellent.

Alanstrainor

What make of guitar is it?

It sounds to me like you need some humbuckers!

Zon

IMO, get a Mexican made strat. Of course if I had the money, I would probably have & probably be reccommending an American one, but the Mexican's are a decent guitar for the money. If you shop around you should get a new one for anything from €399 (maybe more) upwards. They hold they're value pretty well too, not that you'd ever need to or want to resell it anyway.


Sweet sweet Fender

Zon

Alanstrainor wrote: »

What make of guitar is it?

It sounds to me like you need some humbuckers!

I agree, Something like this perhaps ?

http://www.guitarfetish.com/Dual-Humbucker-Prewired-Strat-Pickguard-Chrome-on-Tortoiseshell_p_241.html

Good value, easyish install. I've bought from this crowd a few times and have had no problems with them. In fact, I even recommend them

quicklickpaddy

OP are you looking to modify your guitar or get a new guitar? I'd say keep your strat. There will definitely be a time in the not so different future when you'll crave some single coils. My advice would be to go and get a second had Epiphone Les Paul. Very very good guitars. It was the first guitar I ever owned and 8-9 guitars later I still play it regularly

RC88

if u're gonna try to get a humbucker guitar , i'd advise either vintage vs6 or v100(which are SG and LP models), both are brillantly made and can match the epis pound for pound,
plus they can be bought for half the cost(300-500)

-Chris-

Just stick a humbucker in your existing guitar in the bridge position. Probably a PAF or JB humbucker.

You might need to choose between a full-size humbucker or a stacked humbucker (single-coil sized, arguably doesn't sound as good) and might need to take into account that a humbucker in a mahogany guitar won't sound the same as the same pickup in an alder/ash guitar. You're getting into tone anorak-ness beyond that stage.

Seymour Duncan do a Tone Wizard that will help you pick the right model: http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/tone-wizard/

Also, look for overdrive rather than distortion, so swap your DS2 for an OD3 and you'll be a lot closer to what you're looking for.

086whacker

Alanstrainor wrote: »

What make of guitar is it?

It sounds to me like you need some humbuckers!

Its a sunn mustang fender, I guess its a very cheap Chinese imitation stratocastor from the early nineties.

Welease

I'm going to go somewhat against the grain here (as usual ) and suggest that you go for a cheapish second hand multi effects unit...

You won't be getting the full Led Zep/Black Sabbath tone, because you don't have their equipment and you don't play like them.. Upgrading to humbuckers or changing the amp will get you closer, but with a limited budget it would only be one element of many that would be changed..

If all you have effects wise, is a DS/2, then I think getting a multi effect unit if far better use of your cash, and probably a lot more fun..