Has anyone ever made non-reversible modifications to a CS guitar? I just did.

[72_Custom]

I'm curious to know how many other folks have made mods to their custom shop axes that cannot be undone. I'd love to see some examples if you all have any. I'm guessing responses will range from "it's a tool; make it work for you" through "think of the resale value" to "that's why partscasters exist".

I'm sure pickup swaps are the most common guitar mod, but the original ones can always be swapped back in. I guess refrets would technically fall in this "un-reversible" category, but I view those more as necessary maintenance.

As for me, I just had the mythical B16 Bigsby installed along with a Mastery Bridge. I was reluctant initially and the whole thing was a bit of a....journey, but in the end, I'm really happy with how it plays and feels. It's already turning heads at the first couple of gigs I've used it on. Glad I took the plunge. And, as an added bonus, I now have easy truss rod adjustments thanks to the enormous neck shim.

 

[Peegoo]

Sure. It's my guitar.

I don't give a squirt about affecting resale value; if I did, I would put all my guitars in their cases under all the beds and forget they even exist.

For example, the jack cup on most any Fender Tele is crap engineering and will puke its guts when you're out on a gig. I always replace 'em with a Les Paul-style metal jack plate. It is far more robust, never falls out of the guitar, and any plug (straight or 90) fits perfectly. Can't say that for the Electrosocket style.

This is a CS Time Machine Relic '63 Telecaster. I also refretted it with stainless steel.

More:

And for any naysayers in the crowd...

 

[LowCaster]

Now it looks like a custom shop guitar.

 

[Greenmachine]

That bigsby is something else.

 

[TeleBackelaer]

I have absolutely no use for one, but a Bigsby on a Tele sure looks badass.

 

[Wildeman]

All good there

 

[Jay Jernigan]

I guess that's why I don't have many expensive guitars: I can't leave them alone, either.

 

[JP McD]

I drilled a CS ‘58 top loader for string though.

 

[Sax-son]

One reason why you would order a Custom Shop guitar is because you know exactly what you want. One of the reasons I build partscasters is so I can play around with something without devaluing the guitar. If I order a CS, it's staying exactly the way it was built.

 

[blowtorch]

Sure. It's my guitar.

I don't give a squirt about affecting resale value; if I did, I would put all my guitars in their cases under all the beds and forget they even exist.

For example, the jack cup on most any Fender Tele is crap engineering and will puke its guts when you're out on a gig. I always replace 'em with a Les Paul-style metal jack plate. It is far more robust, never falls out of the guitar, and any plug (straight or 90) fits perfectly. Can't say that for the Electrosocket style.

This is a CS Time Machine Relic '63 Telecaster. I also refretted it with stainless steel.

More:

And for any naysayers in the crowd...

throw 4-ways on those suckers, and they'll be as good as my squier teles

 

[Chicago Matt]

I've never owned a custom shop guitar, but if I did I wouldn't have any qualms about making mods if they would make it a better guitar for my playing needs. If you're into the Bigsby, you did the right thing in my book. It looks great!

 

[KW1977]

I mean it’s tasteful, within the realm of being somewhat “period correct”, and the items in question are made for Tele’s so yeah! And B16’s just flat out look cool. I just wish there was a way to install them sans-shim. I read about someone taking a B16 to a machine shop and having the bottom shaved down which negated the shim.

Anyways let’s all just breathe a little sigh that it wasn’t EMG’s and a Floyd.

 

[brookdalebill]

I have, and I’ll no doubt do it again.
Any guitar I like enough to gig with WILL BE MODDED.
Sorry for yelling.
Luckily, most stay stock.

 

[wildcatter]

I'm curious to know how many other folks have made mods to their custom shop axes that cannot be undone. I'd love to see some examples if you all have any. I'm guessing responses will range from "it's a tool; make it work for you" through "think of the resale value" to "that's why partscasters exist".

I'm sure pickup swaps are the most common guitar mod, but the original ones can always be swapped back in. I guess refrets would technically fall in this "un-reversible" category, but I view those more as necessary maintenance.

As for me, I just had the mythical B16 Bigsby installed along with a Mastery Bridge. I was reluctant initially and the whole thing was a bit of a....journey, but in the end, I'm really happy with how it plays and feels. It's already turning heads at the first couple of gigs I've used it on. Glad I took the plunge. And, as an added bonus, I now have easy truss rod adjustments thanks to the enormous neck shim.

About the only non-reversible change that any of my guitars have endured is installing a triple bender on a G&L ASAT. That's also probably the only modification that you can do that actually doesn't devalue the guitar. To the right buyer that is. Think the Paisley Tele/Esquire(?) is the only guitar that has benders installed stock so it's not like you can get guitars with that that hasn't been modified...
Other than that all the modifications my poor guitars have endured are limited to switching pickup or tuners/machine heads (LOVE the Tusq ratios but they cost more than some guitars lol)

 

[TunedupFlat]

I've done bigsby's, routed bodies for pickup swaps, bridge changes, and sent in a couple for benders. They are just guitars. If your gonna play it, might as well be the way you want.

Looks great I think.

 

[McGlamRock]

Have I done any non-reversible mods? This one is Potentially “non reversible” but I’m confident I can get it back to stock

 

[dango]

I have a Gibson CS hollow body that I had drilled out for a Roland compatible midi guitar bridge - had a small hole put into the side (for the gk 13 pin jack) and replaced the tunamatic bridge (although that part is easily returnable to stock). No regrets whatsoever - made a great guitar much more useful to me for live gigs. Not about to sell it, but can’t imagine a potential buyer being that put off. And if they were, they just aren’t the right buyer

 

[72_Custom]

Good stuff everyone. The B16 was an interesting voyage of discovery. From my previous experience with several different model Bigsbys on various types of guitars, I knew that the Bigsbys without the additional roller/tension bar (think B6 vs B7) feel more the way I want them to and I think they stay in tune better. So I had no choice but to go the B16 route instead of the more common B5. Before even trying it, I convinced myself that the stock Bigsby bowtie bridge wasn't going to work well. I did try it for a little while before I put the Mastery on there. The stock bridge did work better than I was expecting, but it would slide around a bit too much for my liking. No regrets on the Mastery at all.

There are slight variations in Tele body dimensions that mean the B16 won't actually fit on every Tele body. I had initially planned on putting it on a partscaster, but it wouldn't fit on my MJT body. That convinced me to take the plunge on the CS because A) the CS was a full pound lighter so it got more use and B) I'm actively trying to reduce the guitar stable, and now the partscaster is expendable.

Pro tip: Mastery will sell you longer posts if you ask. Get them; you'll need 'em for use with the B16.

 

[rockinstephen]

OK, I've never owned a CS guitar. I'm pretty happy with the guitars I have in the $400 - $800 range. But to me, the whole point of getting a CS guitar is so that you don't have to do any mods. Isn't that you pay the big bucks? If I did make a change, it would have to be easily reversable.

 

[Lowerleftcoast]

You can do it!