• beamer
  • beamer
  • THE METALIZER. Naughty Rocker Boy.
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  • From: WASHINGTON ST
  • Registered: 2006-07-29
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Topic: AXL Strat upgrade.

Now that he family is all together once again,  my son Cade calls me at work,  "Dad can I play your Strat?" (Betty)

So its time to upgrade his tobacco sunburst AXL.  We shall be having the spare Brighton rocks (that I got with the Betty order) put in the middle and neck positions (will keep wiring standard on this one, not gonna worry about out of phase) and for the bridge I ordered him a Lil Killer humbucker rail @ 15K Ohms for some heavy power!

He likes the way Betty sounds, so he will really dig this new new combo.  (Yea, I will too!)

Here is the Lil Killer with a link to the sound bite.
http://www.guitarfetish.com/Lil-Killer- … p_461.html
and a heavy demo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQCzvQT4nGU

Chher all! sund test will follow and try to do the B4 and After.

“Find your own sound.  Dont be a second rateYngwie Malmsteen be a first rate you”

– George Lynch 2013 (Dokken, Lynchmob, KXM, Tooth & Nail etc....)
  • beamer
  • beamer
  • THE METALIZER. Naughty Rocker Boy.
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  • From: WASHINGTON ST
  • Registered: 2006-07-29
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Re: AXL Strat upgrade.

UPdate, "Dad I REALLY LIKE YOUR GUITAR"   I laughed and picked up his guitar, yep, terrible action.  It will be getting a full setup and some much needed TLC. Stay tuned.

“Find your own sound.  Dont be a second rateYngwie Malmsteen be a first rate you”

– George Lynch 2013 (Dokken, Lynchmob, KXM, Tooth & Nail etc....)
  • beamer
  • beamer
  • THE METALIZER. Naughty Rocker Boy.
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Re: AXL Strat upgrade.

Return trip update:

On the way to the music store I told the boys that they could ask any of the employees all their questions as they are very customer friendly.  (they know me now LOLOL)
We walked up to the service counter and the tech who also modded "Betty" was in.  I introduced Cade, and showed him the AXL.  "WOW I have not seen an AXL in a long time!  Your neck is pretty bowed."   So I told him what we wanted done and told Cade to go take a look around, he did not know he could test any guitar on the wall, so he enjoyed that AND fell in love with a black Squire strat with "DUNCAN Designed"pick ups.  Not that that mattered to him, he did not even plug it in, He just loved the way it felt.  I can totally relate.  I told him Start saving up.  He has about 1/2 of it right now.

Cory now has drums, I introduced him to the right guy, and off he went looking at sticks, cymbals, stands and then the real question,, "So, how do we tune drums?"   The guy laughed and said "Its a dark art"  then gave us a basic explanation.  Also signed him up for some lessons so he can get a good foundation (since thats kinda what the drummer is wink.  Ok my blog now posted LOLOL

“Find your own sound.  Dont be a second rateYngwie Malmsteen be a first rate you”

– George Lynch 2013 (Dokken, Lynchmob, KXM, Tooth & Nail etc....)
  • Zurf
  • Zurf
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  • From: Virginia, USA
  • Registered: 2007-06-27
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Re: AXL Strat upgrade.

Cool.  Keep the boy picking and banging on things and his life will be better off for it. 

Sounds like you're in for a new neck anyway.  That sounds pricey.

Granted B chord amnesty by King of the Mutants (Long live the king).
If it comes from the heart and you add a few beers... it'll be awesome! - Mekidsmom
When in doubt ... hats. - B.G. Dude
  • beamer
  • beamer
  • THE METALIZER. Naughty Rocker Boy.
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  • From: WASHINGTON ST
  • Registered: 2006-07-29
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Re: AXL Strat upgrade.

I told him just to adjust it as best as he can, and necks are not bad actually form GFS, 50 to 90 bucks depending on your choice. http://www.guitarfetish.com/XGP-Strat-S … 17905.html   this is the 90 buck one.

“Find your own sound.  Dont be a second rateYngwie Malmsteen be a first rate you”

– George Lynch 2013 (Dokken, Lynchmob, KXM, Tooth & Nail etc....)
  • Zurf
  • Zurf
  • Blunt but well meaning moderator
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  • From: Virginia, USA
  • Registered: 2007-06-27
  • Posts: 7,522

Re: AXL Strat upgrade.

$90 is doable!  May as well get it done and fix up the axe he's got.

Granted B chord amnesty by King of the Mutants (Long live the king).
If it comes from the heart and you add a few beers... it'll be awesome! - Mekidsmom
When in doubt ... hats. - B.G. Dude

7 Reply by beamer (edited by beamer 2016-07-20 00:29:39)

  • beamer
  • beamer
  • THE METALIZER. Naughty Rocker Boy.
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  • From: WASHINGTON ST
  • Registered: 2006-07-29
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Re: AXL Strat upgrade.

just gonna see how the original job goes.  5 yrs ago I replaced all the tuner pegs with 16:1 replacements.  OH and now, he is making excuses about practicing, "Ill do it at my own pace, not trying to play in a band"  AHHHH!

“Find your own sound.  Dont be a second rateYngwie Malmsteen be a first rate you”

– George Lynch 2013 (Dokken, Lynchmob, KXM, Tooth & Nail etc....)
  • From: Nova Scotia, Canada
  • Registered: 2013-01-20
  • Posts: 4,083

Re: AXL Strat upgrade.

Beamer ...

That Squier Strat with the Duncan-designed pickups is actually a lot better axe than the price would imply. Steve Rothery (Marillion) tours with one as his primary guitar, and the tones he gets from it are amazing. When I do the Prog Rock Wednesday post tomorrow, I'll put up a vid of him playing it.

http://www.innerviews.org/inner/marillion4/rotheryhogarth.png