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Well I think something else to consider, which I think again touches on the Op's point is, how will he know, after spending all that money on MODS (and he doesn't just meant change a pick-up change, were talking harness too and caps, pots etc..), that he will be happy with the result?
Plus then you have the cost of taking to be worked on, and picked up. Then the concerne of if the guitar is worked on well, or guitar is not damaged in the process.
To add to that, all the work he will do, won't be returned in the sale figure, so why not look around for something your happier with and probably save money in the process?
I'm not saying the guitar is bad, certainly don't recall doing so.Last edited by GoergeBenson; 07-04-2014 at 05:02 PM.
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07-04-2014 04:59 PM
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I just want to add another perspective to this dialogue. As I mentioned before, I am in the same situation with my Epi Joe Pass. Now, at other times in my life, when I've been in a different situation economically, making a decision like this is easy. I have lots of dough, I don't worry so much about it. I have no dough at all, I can't even think about it. But right now, money is tight, not so bad that I can't even spend a cent on my gear, but not good enough to spend irresponsibly. So, it has to be one or the other. Either I fix it up and live with it, or sell it and a couple of other things to upgrade to better gear.
Originally Posted by GoergeBenson
I am a tinkerer and love to work on my guitars, and learn from the process. I love to understand how things work and how to make them suit me best. But sometimes doing that is not necessarily the best strategic move.
K
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Firstly, I'd like to thank all the contributors to this thread for a healthy, vigorous and helpful discussion.
Next, let me address Goerge's last question:
Well here was my original complaint about the guitar (in post #1): Originally Posted by GoergeBenson
So, I guess the obvious answer is that the guitar won't sound muddy anymore and the tone pot will adjust the tone as it ought to... (Is this a trick question, Goerge?) Originally Posted by jasaco
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Well, you can't really say how anything will sound until you try it, you also said you wanted to change the pick-up so how will you know you will be pleased with the sound? Originally Posted by jasaco
I don't see the trick in there question.
I used to have a similar guitar, and I tired changing the pickup and amp etc, in the end it was always the guitar. When I sold it I bought something else. Now i'm happy but we're talking 30 guitars later lol
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I have been modding my cheap epis since I bought my first one in 1995.
I changed the 2 pickups, all hardware and the cheap rattling pup switch on my 1995 Joe Pass.
All electronics (including a quality harness) and hardware on my 2004 Sheraton (against advice from many because of the p.i.t.a of having to work in a semi)...
And my last project was the most invasive one : I transformed a thin sounding Epiphone Regent with a floater into a fatter sounding routed classic 57. All electronic and hardware have been upgraded.
Actually my Regent will in the next week or 2 face another pickup swap (Charlie Christian like single coil pickup) because I want to make it sound more 50s like.
My experience was positive on all upgrades, but it has not transformed dramatically all my guitars into what they are not; however they are optimized to my taste for a low cost since I do the job...
I would say do it if you already bound with your instrument: the neck of my Regent for instance is the best I have ever played and that guitar sounds great unplugged...
I know for a fact all the money and time I invested will be lost should I want to sell; but it was never a question in my mind in the first place. I am not a pro and don't have the money to get my dream instrument; so I mod to my taste!
My modded Epis are keepers and what I learned thinkering with them was worth it...
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Nice pickup, looks pretty much like the VV HCC I ordered from Pete Biltoft for my next project Originally Posted by jazzbow
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I thought I'd answered that question: if the sound is less muddy after switching the pickup, I'll be happier with it. Originally Posted by GoergeBenson
If you meant, how will I know in advance, ... well, I can't be sure; it's a gamble...
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My experience with a Washburn J6 is as follows:
I used to have a Washburn J6 Montgomery and used it a lot for gigs in pubs and in jam sessions.
I was using an AER compact 60 as an amp.
At times I found the sound was a bit muddy so I thought about changing the pickups but never did it.
I later bought a Gibson 175, so I thought I should get rid of the Washburn.
I needed a Telecaster, so went to a music shop and found a new American Vintare 52 reissue that was about 1700 euros (back in 2010). I traded the Washburn for the Tele and paied 900 euros.
No regret.
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I bought the same pickups for my Epi Joe Pass but now I only have one left and it is in the neck position of my pawn shop special Peavey Reactor AX, a tele clone with ash body. It sounds best in that instrument. Sort of my Frisell guitar. Originally Posted by jazzbow
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When I sit back and consider modding a guitar I always think...
To mod, or not to mod: that is the question:
Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous semi acoustic wiring looms,
Or to take arms against a sea of phasing troubles,
And opposing magnet polarities end them? To deny oneself: to tweak;
No more; and by a tweak to say we end
The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks of poor soldering
That flesh is heir to, ’tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish’d. To mod, or to tweak;
To tweak: perchance to dream: ay, there’s the rub;
For in that tweak of P.A.F desires what dreams may come
When we have shuffled off the single coil,
Must give us pause: there’s the respect
That makes calamity of so long life of endless instrument purchases.
<<Rapturous applause from forum members as Jazzbow exits the stage holding a Strat with a crappy switch>>
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Lol Originally Posted by jazzbow
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I paid J6S about $700 trusting the salesperson on the ton quality. However, that guitar looks nice but it is not 100% copy of the body shape of Wes Montgomery. The nut spacing was too narrow and I upgrade it. The pot is not so good. This guitar looks nice but should have a warmer ton. The good jazz sound I have only trough hot road fender amp. I purchased Epiphone Byrdland elitist ( hard to find) I am selling J6S just for $400 not willing to upgrade with electronics. Originally Posted by Jazz_175
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After I get me the Byrdland elitist epiphone - Japan ( better crafts than Gibson) I decided to sell J6S due to needs for 24.75" scale. I bought it for $750 but willing to sale for $400 .The J6S sounds good on Hot road fender amp.
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I have an old Washburn J-10 that I upgraded with a Kent Armstrong pickup and a Benedetto tailpiece. It turned the guitar into a keeper for me and I've had it for a number of years now. You never know quite how an upgrade like that will turn out, but I think it's worth a shot. Just don't expect to get your investment back when you sell. On the resale market it'll still be a Washburn J-6. The value will be in how much you like the guitar.
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I have a J-6s. I changed the neck pickup for a Gibson Classic 57. Also the tailpiece since the original was broken.
I think that if it is the best copy of an L-5ces for less than 1000. 25.5 scale, same nut width. Not carved but great sounding amplified.
Original grover tuners works perfectly and tunning across the neck is perfect.
Every dollar i used upgrading it was worth.
Originally Posted by Jonathan0996
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Was hit up locally with a trade offer for my Eastman ar371, met up with a super nice fellow, and came home with this guitar:
It's a heavy, solid 90s Samick tank, pretty thick wood - not a ton of acoustic sound but not to be expected. 3.5" X 16.75", 25.5" scale. Pickups are pretty good not too muddy, but not great; I think they could be improved upon.
I like the 25.5" scale. The neck sticks way out from where the strap hook is... a little easier to switch between it and a 335. The Tom bridge is a temp as the original wood one will need a new saddle, but may keep it.
Plenty of juicy, fat Wes and Kenny sounds.
I'm hoping a Seth Lover or 36th DiMarzio in the neck will make it tastier yet.Last edited by arielcee; 02-05-2020 at 11:10 PM.
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Swap the pots with ones made by CTS while you're at it. My early Korean J6 is a very well made guitar in general but the electronics, particularly the pots, were not good at all.
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Cool! Pickup-wise, I can state that the Seth Lovers are great sounding pickups - I sure like the ones in my Heritage H535.
Last edited by EllenGtrGrl; 02-06-2020 at 11:14 AM.
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I played one of those, or at least a similar model Washburn archtop, about 10 years ago and was impressed. Had an excellent neck, played easily and sounded really nice. Congratulations!
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Had a chance to get more aquainted with it today. It plays really good sitting down without a strap. The pickups are actually pretty good. I'd still like to maybe change the neck p-up but it's playing so damn good as it is it might be wise to leave it be. I shouldn't stare a gift horse in the mouth...
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That's a lovely instrument! I'm particularly fond of the f-holes. I had a Washburn ES-3XX type that was very well built. Congratulations, and play it in good health!
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Here is Dan from That Pedal Show having his Washburn J-6 upgraded by replacing the inferior pickups, wiring harness and pickup selector. I find his L-5 like tailpiece infinitely more attractive than the oversized W fashioned on other J-6's I see out there. The one upgrade he missed was replacing those ugly brass control knobs with something a little more commensurate with an archtop.
Another model that not mentioned much is a Guitar Research JX-17N Eddie Durham* 100-Year Anniversary signature model. It was a house brand guitar commissioned by retailer Sam Ash, a 17" archtop that OEM'ed by Peerless Guitar. It's original pricing was an amazing $599.99 with HSC, but I am not sure they sold that well. The body was an inexpensive laminate full hollow-body, floating pickup, mini volume and tone mounted on the floating pickguard. The headstock was a dead ringer from the classis D'Angelico archtops. It was not the most prettiest finish as they were shooting for a price point, but the damn thing played and more importantly sounded pretty amazing. I found mine used at a GC for $400. It was stolen at a gig, sadly. I truly do miss it. People seem to be asking full price or more since a Peerless or a D'Angelico are asking around $1400 or more. I have played the reissue D'Angelicos. They have neck dive that my mine did not have. The finish is rather much better on the D'Angelicos, but I preferred the sound of my much cheaper JX-17N. It was a lighter build that acoustically is more lively. I do like the D'Angelico's and Peerless though.
* Eduard "Eddie" Durham was the "Pioneer" of electric guitar, being the world's first ever to record a jazz electric guitar solo on a Gibson ES-150 guitar in 1938. He was also credited for his work with Cab Calloway, Glenn Miller and Count Basie, among others. This collectible guitar was made in 2006-2008 to celebrate the man who first recorded the electric archtop guitar. He was basically the cat that was laying it down right alongside Charlie Christian, but got none of the credit of being the first. He was also a very capable trombone player so props for being MI (multi-instrumentalist) too.
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