Opinions on altering EBMM guitars...

[B2D]

Hi guys. After playing my Silo for a few months I decided I would like the guitar better if it had an HH configuration with a 3-way toggle. master volume and tone, and a push-pull pot to split the coils of the 'buckers. Right now it's the normal 5-way blade switch with the HSH config in it. I want to change it because I never use position 3 on the blade, I keep knocking the blade out of position, and I like the "less is more" look.

This is - of course - reversible but what are your guys' general opinions on altering MM's? I'm not doinganything too extreme here but granted there's always the person that goes a little too far. I saw this Axis on ebay once that had a horrible refret with dunlop 6000's and EMGs on it, as well as some other scars...

so... thoughts?

 

[Jimi D]

Hey man, it's your guitar... You could grab the router and turn it into a Mandoline if you wanted - I have no right to say anything about it... My opinion is that unless you're routing out a '60 LP Burst or a '54 Strat, anything pretty much goes... These are lovely instruments, and I generally like mine just the way they arrive from the factory, but there's no reason someone who wants something different shouldn't go to it. It's like these guys who spend $50k tricking out their '02 Civics - who am I to argue?

And for the record, I dug up some parts and my soldering iron the other day, and the electronics on my Silhouette are now heavily modified (three way switch, push/pull volume and tone controls)... Oops...

 

[NorM]

Do what you want. It's your guitar. Please don't be afraid to expierment. What it sounds like you want to do is completly reversible. I would think a cool Idea would be to build an entire pickguard assembly. Build it and slap i the change. Wow, now that I think about it I kinda wish I had done that. But on the other hand I would just have the old one sitting around not doing any thing.
DO IT!
Starsky

 

[Raz]

Hey I went from 9's to 10's...see anything is possible!

 

[OrangeChannel]

Here's what i think...

 

[hbucker]

I totally agree. It's your guitar. Do what you want.

I would say though, that the mistake people seem to make is this: they alter a guitar by replacing pickups, frets, switches, etc. and they instantly think they've improved the value of the guitar. After all it's a custom guitar right? In actuality, you've probably lowered the value of the guitar. It's only custom for the guy who modified the guitar. To everyone else, it's an just an altered Silo.

But if you're not going to sell it or don't care about resale value and the changes improve it in your eye, modifying it is not a mistake in any form.

good luck

 

[lock-ny]

first off your only taking about the pups, that an easily reversible mod, its not like you could not change it back if you needed to unload the guitar. My axis guitars are stock, but my silo has all the pups changed out to duncans, the stock pups just werent hot enuff for my sound, as long as your not drilling holes or refretting the instument your good, my silo also has saddles that were purchased from EBMM that usually go on the axis, other than that its totally stock....lol

 

[Dcareaga]

You should definitely make your guitars "Your Own"...
The Luke model was just a jumping off point for me......

 

[jimmyp]

I'm all for personalizing your guitars - life would be very boring if everyone had the same gear. I'm intending to modify my Sil Special when I get back home - I want regular strat style knobs rather than the metal ones it has now - I believe this means changing the pots. I'm also going to get a three way piezo/mix/magnetic switch installed (which will require a little routing, I believe). These are just preferences for me - I'm not overly concerned about resale value - if I was, I'd leave it in its case and never play it,
Good luck with your mods,
dave

 

[kbaim]

Hey Brendan,
You know of a good guitar tech in the area?
click on kbaim and PM me.
Thanks.

PS. I agree with others...though I usually just buy another guitar instead.

 

[doubleR]

I had my luthier relocate the switches and pots on my Morse so it's more "user friendly" for me.

 

[B2D]

Wow... I have to say I'm surprised at the positive responses I received. Most of the time when i ask this question its gets bet with a lot of negativity regarding "original equipment" purity or resale value. My general attitude towards it is pretty much what hbucker said. I dont have a problem with altered intruments, especially when it's something i like or its reversible. I dont buy instruments to collect them... i buy them to play!

That being said, thanks for the opinions. I'm gonna go rework my Silo. See you in a day or so.

 

[B2D]

Hey Brendan,
You know of a good guitar tech in the area?
click on kbaim and PM me.
Thanks.

PS. I agree with others...though I usually just buy another guitar instead.

Lermme get back to you on that...

~B

 

[SteveLINY]

Here's my pair of Morses....

The top one is an original 6 bolt... It has been through more pups than you can imagine and a synth hookup.... I love the way it sounds with all the different pups. And right below is a stock Morse.... So I have the best of both worlds...
I also constantly change pups in my Silo... It currently has a JB and Jazz in it with a VV in the middle....
Steve

 

[glockaxis]

I had my luthier relocate the switches and pots on my Morse so it's more "user friendly" for me.

When I was younger I traded in my Morse because I couldn't get used to the switch locations-----Way before I knew they could be altered so well. Wish I would have kept that now. Oh well, gotta save up after I get my Luke.

 

[beej]

I'm with everyone here- just do it! I'm constantly re-wiring my guitars. It's just a lot of fun to do, and totally reversible.

Norm's suggestion is bang on - think about ordering a new pickgard and making a new pickup assembly. Then you can always swap the old one back in in a matter of minutes. Did this with an old silo special and found myself switching between old and new every couple of months.

 

[tommyindelaware]

askin me if it's alright to modify a guitar !!!!!!
that's like asking a hobo if he would eat a ham sandwich.........

 

[OrangeChannel]

I'm with everyone here- just do it! I'm constantly re-wiring my guitars. It's just a lot of fun to do, and totally reversible.

Norm's suggestion is bang on - think about ordering a new pickgard and making a new pickup assembly. Then you can always swap the old one back in in a matter of minutes. Did this with an old silo special and found myself switching between old and new every couple of months.

Beej,

Did you use a molex connector on your secondary guard setup? If so where can I get the one EBMM uses?

thanks!

Jon

 

[beej]

Hey OC-

I tried like crazy to find them, but no luck! In the end I just wired up an individual connector for each wire (the single pin quick-disconnects you'd find in any local electronics shop)- they fit perfectly into the female Molex connector inside the cavity.

Looked like this:

But I'd love to know where to find 'em if anyone figures it out.

Jason

 

[B2D]

Well the rework has been done! Now I just gotta take pics of it! Stay tuned and thanks for the support LOL. It's cool to see all the personal variations on these guitars, too.

Anyone wanna buy an HSH Silo pickguard routed for a Floyd bridge? haha. I'm never gonna use HSH anyways, I dont like that setup.