Guitar Tricks Online Guitar Lessons

Look what i got 2 min ago

magicninja
Guitar Tricks Moderator
Joined: 03/13/02
Posts: 3,827
magicninja
Guitar Tricks Moderator
Joined: 03/13/02
Posts: 3,827
01/07/2006 4:27 am
I just got this Harmony Strat copy for $80. I hope I didn't get ripped off to bad. It had a trem so I went with it since I've never owned an axe with a trem. Wkat could I do to this thing to make it better?


Magicninja
Guitar Tricks Moderator
"If it feels right, play it. If it feels wrong, play it faster” - Magicninja
www.GuitarTricks.com - Home of Online Guitar Lessons
Permalink
# 1
Fenderalltheway
Registered User
Joined: 10/03/05
Posts: 439
Fenderalltheway
Registered User
Joined: 10/03/05
Posts: 439
01/07/2006 4:32 am
NoW tHaTS A STRAT COPY!!!!! i have no idea what you can do, please dont ban me for it *pleads for life*I dont have a strat copy, i have a strat!lol
"When you want to rock hard children, lean of F#."
Permalink
# 2
magicninja
Guitar Tricks Moderator
Joined: 03/13/02
Posts: 3,827
magicninja
Guitar Tricks Moderator
Joined: 03/13/02
Posts: 3,827
01/07/2006 4:34 am
It's OK I still have my Gibson but like they say the more the merrier!
Magicninja
Guitar Tricks Moderator
"If it feels right, play it. If it feels wrong, play it faster” - Magicninja
www.GuitarTricks.com - Home of Online Guitar Lessons
Permalink
# 3
PRSplaya
Full Access
Joined: 09/19/02
Posts: 3,941
PRSplaya
Full Access
Joined: 09/19/02
Posts: 3,941
01/07/2006 5:00 am
Nice looking strat you got there. There are a butt load of things you can do to a strat! New tunners, bridge, puckups, pots, pickguard, etc... Have fun! :D
[FONT=Palatino Linotype]Tonja Renee's personal instructor[/FONT]

>HERE'S WHERE I AM NOW<
Permalink
# 4
magicninja
Guitar Tricks Moderator
Joined: 03/13/02
Posts: 3,827
magicninja
Guitar Tricks Moderator
Joined: 03/13/02
Posts: 3,827
01/07/2006 5:03 am
*jaw drops* Come on recommend some brands, types, sizes. I've never had an axe with single coils or a trem. I know stock this isn't worth playing over my Gibson but with a little help from my friends I might be able to turn this into something that won't collect dust. :D
Magicninja
Guitar Tricks Moderator
"If it feels right, play it. If it feels wrong, play it faster” - Magicninja
www.GuitarTricks.com - Home of Online Guitar Lessons
Permalink
# 5
PRSplaya
Full Access
Joined: 09/19/02
Posts: 3,941
PRSplaya
Full Access
Joined: 09/19/02
Posts: 3,941
01/07/2006 5:05 am
Well, I'm more of an amp guy, so I have no idea what to suggest for your guitar. Sorry :o
[FONT=Palatino Linotype]Tonja Renee's personal instructor[/FONT]

>HERE'S WHERE I AM NOW<
Permalink
# 6
magicninja
Guitar Tricks Moderator
Joined: 03/13/02
Posts: 3,827
magicninja
Guitar Tricks Moderator
Joined: 03/13/02
Posts: 3,827
01/07/2006 5:22 am
Awww! Alright your off the hook. LAAATTTSS!!!!
Magicninja
Guitar Tricks Moderator
"If it feels right, play it. If it feels wrong, play it faster” - Magicninja
www.GuitarTricks.com - Home of Online Guitar Lessons
Permalink
# 7
Lordathestrings
Gear Guru
Joined: 01/18/01
Posts: 6,242
Lordathestrings
Gear Guru
Joined: 01/18/01
Posts: 6,242
01/07/2006 6:00 am
You called? :D


Who says you have to change anything?

Play it for a while, until some of the 'new' wears off a bit, and potential improvements suggest themselves. It may be that a good set-up is all it needs. Well, maybe.

If it won't stay in tune, even with the bridge and nut set up, then you can think about new tuners. New pickups are a big temptation, but that's a waste of money unless the guitar sounds good unplugged. So like I said, spend some time getting to know what you have before you get all antsy about what you could do with it.
Lordathestrings
Guitar Tricks Moderator
www.GuitarTricks.com - Home of Online Guitar Lessons
Permalink
# 8
magicninja
Guitar Tricks Moderator
Joined: 03/13/02
Posts: 3,827
magicninja
Guitar Tricks Moderator
Joined: 03/13/02
Posts: 3,827
01/07/2006 6:02 am
Indeed I need your wisdom. Thanks LATS! You truly are the Gear Guru! :D

Don't be surprised if I revive this thread in a month or two though. :p
Magicninja
Guitar Tricks Moderator
"If it feels right, play it. If it feels wrong, play it faster” - Magicninja
www.GuitarTricks.com - Home of Online Guitar Lessons
Permalink
# 9
magicninja
Guitar Tricks Moderator
Joined: 03/13/02
Posts: 3,827
magicninja
Guitar Tricks Moderator
Joined: 03/13/02
Posts: 3,827
01/07/2006 8:35 am
Initial Thoughts:

Clean tones are actually pretty amazing on this thing better than I expected anyway!

Blues tones are spectacular! A little dirt and this thing will cry.

Anything more than that is rubbish. Could it be that this guitar is telling me that the body tone is good but the pickups aren't hot enough to crank out the distortion?

Gstring goes out of tune alot like at least 1/4 step. This easily fixable?
Magicninja
Guitar Tricks Moderator
"If it feels right, play it. If it feels wrong, play it faster” - Magicninja
www.GuitarTricks.com - Home of Online Guitar Lessons
Permalink
# 10
Lordathestrings
Gear Guru
Joined: 01/18/01
Posts: 6,242
Lordathestrings
Gear Guru
Joined: 01/18/01
Posts: 6,242
01/07/2006 6:45 pm
Originally Posted by: magicninja... Could it be that this guitar is telling me that the body tone is good but the pickups aren't hot enough to crank out the distortion?[/QUOTE]It's been my experience that high-output single-coil pickups just don't sound as sweet when backed off to play clean. If you want to push your amp into distorting, use a pedal to boost the signal.

[QUOTE=magicninja]...Gstring goes out of tune alot like at least 1/4 step. This easily fixable?
Press on the string between the nut and the tuner. If the pitch stays a bit sharp when you release it, the string is binding in the nut slot. That's one of the things a pro set-up takes care of, along with adjusting the action and intonation. I'm thinking that you like what you've found so far, so it's probably worth the few bucks it'll cost to get it set up.
Lordathestrings
Guitar Tricks Moderator
www.GuitarTricks.com - Home of Online Guitar Lessons
Permalink
# 11
magicninja
Guitar Tricks Moderator
Joined: 03/13/02
Posts: 3,827
magicninja
Guitar Tricks Moderator
Joined: 03/13/02
Posts: 3,827
01/07/2006 6:56 pm
Yup..I'll probably take this one and my LP to Albuquerque sometime this month and have them both tweaked up a little. The Gibby needs a truss rod adjustment and I don't want to risk it myself. :rolleyes:
Magicninja
Guitar Tricks Moderator
"If it feels right, play it. If it feels wrong, play it faster” - Magicninja
www.GuitarTricks.com - Home of Online Guitar Lessons
Permalink
# 12
6strngs_2hmbkrs
Proud Celica Enthusiast
Joined: 08/14/04
Posts: 3,837
6strngs_2hmbkrs
Proud Celica Enthusiast
Joined: 08/14/04
Posts: 3,837
01/07/2006 7:23 pm
what can you do to it? *laughs evilly* plenty.. you can:
change the tuners
change the pickups
sheild it
new pickup covers
new pickguard
graphite string trees
graphite bridge saddles
graphite nut
straplocks
put in 500k or 1 mega-ohm pots
new knobs


and that's all I can think of off the top of my head for mods that aren't too difficult to make. I really recommend straplocks and sheilding it. I really wanna just buy a cheap strat copy like this and mod it out to my hearts desire. did you get yours for $80 new or used?
If you like cars see mine here
my spyspace
Permalink
# 13
magicninja
Guitar Tricks Moderator
Joined: 03/13/02
Posts: 3,827
magicninja
Guitar Tricks Moderator
Joined: 03/13/02
Posts: 3,827
01/07/2006 7:57 pm
Originally Posted by: 6strngs_2hmbkrsDid you get yours for $80 new or used?


Barely used. It seems I always get my stuff cheap from some guy that is down and out. :o Oh well, I just wonder why everyone getting rid of stuff comes to me first? :confused:
Magicninja
Guitar Tricks Moderator
"If it feels right, play it. If it feels wrong, play it faster” - Magicninja
www.GuitarTricks.com - Home of Online Guitar Lessons
Permalink
# 14
Danny C.
Registered User
Joined: 06/07/05
Posts: 262
Danny C.
Registered User
Joined: 06/07/05
Posts: 262
01/07/2006 8:57 pm
I also have a Harmony strat copy. It's the only electric guitar I have ever owned. I bought mine off e-bay several years ago. A guy that owns a music store in the city told me they don't make Harmony strat copies like that anymore, but I wasn't sure. I have never even played a guitar that wasn't a strat copy or an actual strat. I have been wanting to upgrade but I don't have that green paper stuff to get one, maybe instead I can fix mine up too.
The greatest enemy to what you can know, is what you already know.

It's not how good you play, its how well you play it.
Permalink
# 15
magicninja
Guitar Tricks Moderator
Joined: 03/13/02
Posts: 3,827
magicninja
Guitar Tricks Moderator
Joined: 03/13/02
Posts: 3,827
01/07/2006 9:17 pm
Cool stay tuned man these guys know their stuff! :D
Magicninja
Guitar Tricks Moderator
"If it feels right, play it. If it feels wrong, play it faster” - Magicninja
www.GuitarTricks.com - Home of Online Guitar Lessons
Permalink
# 16
SteveAKCK
Registered User
Joined: 01/12/06
Posts: 52
SteveAKCK
Registered User
Joined: 01/12/06
Posts: 52
01/12/2006 10:56 pm
Check out this thread on Seymour Duncan's website. It's in the vault section.
http://www.seymourduncan.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24908
Here's a couple more on pickup selections for strats
http://www.seymourduncan.com/forum/showthread.php?t=50533&highlight=ultimate+pickup
http://www.seymourduncan.com/forum/showthread.php?t=55478&highlight=ultimate+pickup
Permalink
# 17
magicninja
Guitar Tricks Moderator
Joined: 03/13/02
Posts: 3,827
magicninja
Guitar Tricks Moderator
Joined: 03/13/02
Posts: 3,827
01/12/2006 11:01 pm
I'm gonna go with the Rio Grande Pickups I seen on ebay. Ponyone loves his strat so I'm sure he knows his stuff.
Magicninja
Guitar Tricks Moderator
"If it feels right, play it. If it feels wrong, play it faster” - Magicninja
www.GuitarTricks.com - Home of Online Guitar Lessons
Permalink
# 18
Blues_Man
Registered User
Joined: 07/09/05
Posts: 600
Blues_Man
Registered User
Joined: 07/09/05
Posts: 600
01/13/2006 2:36 am
If you want it to not collect dust over your gibson, then here is what you must do:

Change the tuners, and trem. to maybe higher grade, fender tuners, GOLD if possible.( doesn't make a difference what so ever in tuning quality, but it looks cool). Make sure you put 5 TREM SPRINGS in the trem. cavity! This really helps tuning stability.

change the pickups to dimarzio or seymour duncan. Something noisless. My fav's are the fender hot noiseless Pu's.

Get a kick-ass guitar strap :D
I am Comfortably Numb... :D

Oh yeah...STICK IT TO THE MAN!
Permalink
# 19
capohead
Registered User
Joined: 09/22/05
Posts: 71
capohead
Registered User
Joined: 09/22/05
Posts: 71
01/13/2006 6:09 pm
The two most useful things you can do are

  • graphite bridge saddles

  • graphite nut



The bridge saddles will reduce the number of strings you break and help the sustain the nut will also help with sustain and should help your tuning.

Having said that, it's an $80 guitar. It's not a Fender. How much money are you prepared to spend on it to still not have a Fender?

Not that it matters in the end if you get a guitar that you're comfortable with and plays well.

Good luck.
Where The Skeletons Dance CD available here.
From another Plaice CD available here.
Listen & buy single tracks from Tricks Upon Travellers here
My other tracks here
Permalink
# 20

Please register with a free account to post on the forum.

Register