Which Mods for a Roadworn 50's?

[Johnny Morales]

What are the most common mods for a 50's Roadworn? I just got a 2 tone burst from MF for $499 and I have about another $100 to upgrade a few things - I also plan on getting it professionally set up because it has some fretting out on the 9th-12th frets on the high E string.

The pickups sound pretty decent but I was thinking of maybe replacing the bridge with something a little fuller sounding. Any other suggestions? I'm definitely going to replace the reliced pickguard as well.

[Shadowrunner]

Don't all the new Strats have that big block on the bridge now? I would recommend like a bone nut or pot upgrade.

[mountainman]

Originally Posted by Johnny Morales

What are the most common mods for a 50's Roadworn? I just got a 2 tone burst from MF for $499 and I have about another $100 to upgrade a few things - I also plan on getting it professionally set up because it has some fretting out on the 9th-12th frets on the high E string.

The pickups sound pretty decent but I was thinking of maybe replacing the bridge with something a little fuller sounding. Any other suggestions? I'm definitely going to replace the reliced pickguard as well.

I wouldn't change a thing except have it set-up the way you like it. I think that they are perfect just the way they are. More pedals are always good though

[fadingcaptain]

I've played these a lot, and I still am convinced that the Tex Mex pups sound good in these. Given that, I've had really good experiences with the Duncan SSL-1/SSl-5 set for strat.

[stagefright]

Yeah, I have one and it's really good stock. New bone nut is a good suggestion.I always do the tone to the bridge pup mod.Those pups are good on the 50's RW Strats.Can't say the same for the RW Teles....don't like those pups at all.

[VerySlowHand]

Mods for a Road Worn? A respray and a nitro finish would look good.

[andrewr]

I've got a 60s, and I have to admit that I've swapped the pickups out... but to another guitar

The Tex Mexes are now in my Fiesta Red CIJ 62. The Roadworn has the Bare Knuckles "Irish Tours" that the Fiesta Red used to have (I'm almost wondering Stagefright, whether you might like these, if your username is a Rory reference? EDIT: It's not is it? Stagestruck is the album I'm thinking of! ).

Both guitars improved dramatically, for what I want to do with them, and it saved me worrying about buying more pickups!!

No, I'm another vote for those Tex Mexes - they look really cheap under the bonnet, but they sound fabulous.

Otherwise, on mine, I've changed the nut (I botched the original trying to "improve" it), then I put a second string tree on because it needed it after the nut change, I converted it to "master tone" like I do all strats.

I've also been using Fret Doctor on the back of the neck (and I've wire-wooled some rough spots that appeared after a bit of playing - which I was expecting, having stripped necks myself before). I bought the Fret Doctor because the rosewood board is very dry and not terribly attractive, but I haven't had the strings off since the stuff arrived... and on the bloke's website, it says it's good for maple too... so off I went. A couple of days of light treament with this stuff, and the neck feels gorgeous and it doesn't clagg up in my hands like bare maple usually does.

The pots and switch looked reasonable quality to me, but if you're really picky you might replace all the wires with cloth covered stuff (I couldn't be bothered) - I didn't check what the capacitor was, I was in too much of a hurry to put her back together and start playing again...