First thing you do to make your guitar your own?

Only two of my guitars were bought with plans for modification at the beginning. A third one was left alone until I decided it needed to be modded.

Schaller straplocks, and Grover rotomatics. When I found a guitar, I fall in love with it, and I like to leave just as we met

To make my guitars my own I just play them. No mods. I keep everything stock.

Break out my gauged files and lower the nut slots.

Pay for it.

Then...

PUP covers off
Reflector knobs
Nickel jack plate
Photo with doggo

Jizz

I sleep in the case

I Dremel my name and SS# on the front just under the bridge.

I fart in it's general direction.

I sand it down and paint it white. All of my guitars are white.

Peter M said:

Pay for it.

Then...

PUP covers off
Reflector knobs
Nickel jack plate
Photo with doggo

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That is a most excellent doggo. Phineas and Bailey approve, and say hi.

SS frets.

ashbass said:

Aside from new strings, what do you generally do first mod-wise?

I file the point off of my nearest saddle so it stops jabbing my hand.

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Put locking tuners and I’m a lefty so roller bride or the g and b strings stick in the bridge tuning stability sucks I wish they would switch to a one piece bridge

Accidentally bang it into my screen door frame, applying a fresh dent.

Brand that bitch with a hot branding iron. Best playing Trad, this side of the Mississip'

On this particular one, I also put a Jonesy Blues 50s wiring harness and a set of Pearlys I bought from a member here.

I swap the pickups to the 496R/500T set, then I wear the shit out of the saddles naturally. Mine have now gone beyond the copper plating underneath the layers.

Strings and finger gunk until I figure out if it needs anything.

tmgcustom said:

Depends on the guitar, but on my Paul's I like reflector knobs, blank truss rod covers, pickguards, vintage style Kluson's, and '57 Classics. I was born in 1960, so I like them to look like a '60. My 2016 Traditional has all my "improvements". Ha! Oh, and of course a set-up, and cleaning.View attachment 865649

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beautimus!.. i forgot, i too went with reflector knobs .. I tried cream at 1st to match the plastics and just swapped to gold for a bit of a change and i like them both.. Also Dunlop strap lock buttons ALWAYS, I tried it without the Chip and PG as the top is fantastic, but i put them back on after a cpl weeks I have several PRS's with amazing tops, no guard or chip, Gibson's just look 'better' to me with their plastics.

Polish the frets, clean and oil the fretboard and string with Elixir 10s. Then, put on Crazyparts switch tip, knobs and pointers. And Schaller strap buttons.

I never change other hardware, pickups or electronics unless something doesn’t work.

Two mods that I eventually do, after setting up and playing through one two string
changes:
1-All the Les Paul’s and tune-o-matic guitars,
get TonePros or Music City Bridge locking tailpiece studs.
2-RS upgrade or complete upgrade of the controls and wiring. Modern kit, wired 50’s/vintage with the RS pio caps.