Jarick
Rock Star
- Messages
- 3,239
Okay, finally got some work done on guitars!
Been on a vintage Fender kick lately, and decided to restore my '97 California Strat more to it's original parts. I have modded this guitar to hell and back over the years, and lately I had Gotoh locking tuners and a Gotoh 510 bridge. Took everything apart, did a full shielding job with copper tape, reinstalled the original Fender AVRI tremolo (outfitted with Highwood saddles which are amazing), and put a fresh set of Fender vintage style slotted tuners. Oiled the board, cleaned it up, put it back together, and got a fresh set of 9.5's on it. Kept the same pickguard I had on it, which is mint green with aged white plastics and a set of Suhr V60LP pickups.
It's really nice now! The locking Gotoh tuners were great, but the old style tuners work really well too and just look a lot better. Honestly I prefer the action of the Gotoh bridge but the Fender is really solid. Maybe I'll cave at some point and put the 510 back on there.
Then for my Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster, I ripped that apart and shielded with copper tape. Reinstalled these Porter J90 pickups which are like lower output P90's. Again, fresh set of 9.5's and it's much quieter and sounds pretty good. I might swap out the tuners at some point because they feel really cheap, they have weird slightly oversized tuners, not true Fender vintage style. Also might try and find a hardtail conversion.
Last project for now will be the Tele. I have a Fender American Special Tele which is like their slightly cheaper USA model. I converted it to Fender locking tuners with the 6 saddle Gotoh bridge and Dimarzio Area T pickups. Ordered some of those Fender Classic Gear tuners which are drop ins for modern Fender but with the Vintage slotted style. Heard good things. Then I'm going to do the copper shielding, put it back to a 3-saddle bridge (Gotoh In Tune brass), and put the Suhr Classic T pickups back into it.
Been on a vintage Fender kick lately, and decided to restore my '97 California Strat more to it's original parts. I have modded this guitar to hell and back over the years, and lately I had Gotoh locking tuners and a Gotoh 510 bridge. Took everything apart, did a full shielding job with copper tape, reinstalled the original Fender AVRI tremolo (outfitted with Highwood saddles which are amazing), and put a fresh set of Fender vintage style slotted tuners. Oiled the board, cleaned it up, put it back together, and got a fresh set of 9.5's on it. Kept the same pickguard I had on it, which is mint green with aged white plastics and a set of Suhr V60LP pickups.
It's really nice now! The locking Gotoh tuners were great, but the old style tuners work really well too and just look a lot better. Honestly I prefer the action of the Gotoh bridge but the Fender is really solid. Maybe I'll cave at some point and put the 510 back on there.
Then for my Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster, I ripped that apart and shielded with copper tape. Reinstalled these Porter J90 pickups which are like lower output P90's. Again, fresh set of 9.5's and it's much quieter and sounds pretty good. I might swap out the tuners at some point because they feel really cheap, they have weird slightly oversized tuners, not true Fender vintage style. Also might try and find a hardtail conversion.
Last project for now will be the Tele. I have a Fender American Special Tele which is like their slightly cheaper USA model. I converted it to Fender locking tuners with the 6 saddle Gotoh bridge and Dimarzio Area T pickups. Ordered some of those Fender Classic Gear tuners which are drop ins for modern Fender but with the Vintage slotted style. Heard good things. Then I'm going to do the copper shielding, put it back to a 3-saddle bridge (Gotoh In Tune brass), and put the Suhr Classic T pickups back into it.