Help! Sterling LK100D Question

[CRAIG4FSU]

Hi all,

Just picked up a LK100D over cyber week. Really enjoying the guitar but, can't help but think that better saddles and wiring upgrade could help tone wise. I ordered some Callaham saddles and a Sigler pot and wire kit. I got to looking at the bridge block and i'm guessing it's zinc because it's not magnetic. After putting machined Callaham blocks in some of my strats and feeling and seeing the difference, i'm trying to figure out what will fit the LK100D. The Mexican upgrade block screws are off just a little. It's enough that it won't work though.

So, anyone replace the block in theirs? Thanks for any help. Oh yeah, i hope the Music Man 5983 case i ordered will fit this sucker.

 

[CRAIG4FSU]

Is there anybody out there?

 

[MajtasticVoyage]

SBMMs are not exactly the modding platform that other similar guitars in the same price range (MIM *enders, *piphone, *banez, *TD, etc.); I've almost never heard of anyone modding one with anything other than different pups. Good luck though. Might try a local luthier who can fab/alter parts as needed.

 

[CRAIG4FSU]

Thanks for the response.

 

[Monster212]

congrats on the guitar... as for modding only pups seem to be what people have changed.. i have a jp60 and even all stock it sounds and plays amazing..

 

[sanderhermans]

So you are planning to change wiring, trem block, sadles, mayebe pickups? And bought a case..... wouldnt it just be easier to buy a real luke III?

 

[CRAIG4FSU]

So you are planning to change wiring, trem block, sadles, mayebe pickups? And bought a case..... wouldnt it just be easier to buy a real luke III?

$750 cyber sale for guitar. $40 for Callaham saddles. $80 cyber sale for case. $50 for upgraded wire kit.No upgraded block to fit it yet and never said I wanted to change pups.

Versus $2000 for a LukeIII.

No thanks. I'll keep the LK100D.

 

[CRAIG4FSU]

congrats on the guitar... as for modding only pups seem to be what people have changed.. i have a jp60 and even all stock it sounds and plays amazing..

Thanks.

I like the Dimarzios. I think better pots and wiring might help. It looks very sloppy in there.

 

[CRAIG4FSU]

Anyone know if they use zinc or steel bridge blocks in the MM guitars?

 

[DrKev]

Where passive guitar wiring is concerned, electrons don't care what it looks like. All that counts is the value of the pots and caps. You can use vintage clot covered osmium-plated stranded 24 carat gold wires if you want but it will sound just the same as the wiring that's in there now.

 

[sanderhermans]

Anyone know if they use zinc or steel bridge blocks in the MM guitars?

Brass.

 

[sanderhermans]

Where passive guitar wiring is concerned, electrons don't care what it looks like. All that counts is the value of the pots and caps. You can use vintage clot covered osmium-plated stranded 24 carat gold wires if you want but it will sound just the same as the wiring that's in there now.

Exactly!

 

[CRAIG4FSU]

Thanks, Dr. Kev. I've always felt and heard that better pots and wiring, installed properly sound better and are more reliable.

Would you by chance know if a MM bridge will fit the Sterling?

 

[CRAIG4FSU]

Thanks, sanderhermans.

 

[ksandvik]

Nothing wrong with LK100Ds but I've seen used Luke IIs for just over 1k...

 

[CRAIG4FSU]

Nothing wrong with LK100Ds but I've seen used Luke IIs for just over 1k...

That's a good price. I watched EvilBay for a while before buying the Sterling and never saw any dip that low.

 

[ksandvik]

That's a good price. I watched EvilBay for a while before buying the Sterling and never saw any dip that low.

They come and go, also check used.guitarcenter.com and reverb.com or the postings here. As I said, nothing wrong with LK100D but me thinks any upgrading just will push the price closer to the used range pricing. And the entry level instruments are quite Ok for most players and there's a level where you start to appreciate the small details that then raises the price. But you could play any gig or record anything with an LK100D with stock hardware.

 

[DrKev]

Thanks, Dr. Kev. I've always felt and heard that better pots and wiring, installed properly sound better and are more reliable.

One of the problems we humans have to deal with is that our ears/brains are easily fooled by our expectations. How many of us have adjusted the wrong fader or knob and thought we heard the change we were expecting until we realised it was the wrong knob? Audio engineers know this kind of stuff only too well. We also attribute (real or imagined) results to the wrong thing. Think how many people change pots and things during a string change and take the opportunity to do a thorough clean and setup. Of course we feel great about the end result; the guitar plays better, the strings are fresh and bright. Yet we forget all that and say "it was the wiring!". Physics says not. Confirmation bias in action.

More reliable? Depends what you mean. Useable lifetime of the pots, maybe. Too much wire flopping around from too much jumping around on stage could possibly mean a broken solder joint in a few years but its unlikely. Otherwise, it's just not an issue.

Would you by chance know if a MM bridge will fit the Sterling?

I have no idea. My guess is not. Any one got one of each measure up?

 

[luiscesaripad]

Get a used Luke 2 for little more than 1k.

 

[CRAIG4FSU]

Get a used Luke 2 for little more than 1k.

As stated, I never saw any that cheap. Sorry I missed it.