MODS
This month we will start
with a new series on elec-
tric guitar modifications.
We plan to look at a new
mod each month, divid-
ing this series into three
chapters: Stratocaster,
Telecaster and Les Paul-
type guitars.
Most of these mods can be transferred to
guitars with similar configurations – two humbucker set-necks, three single-coil bolt-ons,
etc. We’ll start with the Stratocaster, which is
a perfect platform for hot-rodding, but before
we heat up the soldering iron, we should
consider some of the things we can do to
enhance the primary tone of your Strat. Many
think that only the pickups make a difference
in a guitar, but there are a variety of factors
that go into a guitar’s tone. Our acoustic colleagues already know this – for them, primary
tone is what it’s all about.
You can feel primary tone because the whole
guitar vibrates and resonates. Depending on
the spot of the guitar you are touching, you
will feel different vibrations – try it. Touch the
neck, the body, the bridge and the headstock
while someone else is playing your guitar and
listen for the corresponding changes. There are
a lot of simple changes that can enhance your
guitar’s primary tone. In some cases this can
make an average guitar sound good. In others,
it can make a good guitar sound great.
Get Screwed
Take care of all the screws on your guitar;
they should be fastened tightly for a better
sound. Critical locations include the neck
screws, the bridge and the tuners. Check
them regularly – loose screws can be responsible for errant rattles.
Wood is Good
A Stratocaster typically has a rear-routed
tremolo cavity that is covered by a plastic cover – remove it. It’s amazing how
the overall sound of a guitar can change
because of this simple act. Give it a try and
STRATO By Dirk Wacker ICASTER nsight
110 PREMIERGUITAR SEPTEMBER 2008
