When will I stop wanting to upgrade my guitar?

[thevolumecontrol]

In the early morning haze yesterday, I bought a set of graph tech 8108 saddles for my Squier Jazzmaster. There’s nothing inherently wrong with the stock ones, but I can’t seem to help myself. I’m going to put the tone hatch pickups back in this and return the stock vmod II’s to the dark night jazzmaster. I think the stock vibrato unit is good now that I tinkered with it and lubricated the contact points when I installed the staytrem arm and collet, but is a replacement next? Replace the tuners to gotoh? Should I paint the guitar because I don’t love the desert sand?

When does it end?

[GilmourD]

I started playing in '94.

I have no answer for your question.

[thevolumecontrol]

I started playing in '94.

I have no answer for your question.

Same as me! Besides upgrading to graph tech saddles on my long sold toronado, I’ve kept all my guitars stock… that is until I got my first Jazzmaster in November 2024.

I fear that I’ll end up selling the dark night jazzmaster to get a bass vi and build a partsmaster.

Help.

[terminalvertigo]

it ends when you purchase a vintage guitar, and put a mastery on it.

[BlixaFan]

Depends on if you’re upgrading because you have a specific idea in mind or if you’re upgrading because you’re chasing something that guitar doesn’t have.
I have guitars I haven’t touched that are bone stock, because they are exactly what I want out of them.
I’ve done minor upgrades like pickups here or there on certain ones, but otherwise I’ve given up on chasing something a certain guitar doesn’t have. Those guitars have moved on

[thevolumecontrol]

Depends on if you’re upgrading because you have a specific idea in mind or if you’re upgrading because you’re chasing something that guitar doesn’t have.
I have guitars I haven’t touched that are bone stock, because they are exactly what I want out of them.
I’ve done minor upgrades like pickups here or there on certain ones, but otherwise I’ve given up on chasing something a certain guitar doesn’t have. Those guitars have moved on

I think it’s because everything I’ve done has been a big improvement either in performance or aesthetics, which has closed the gap on play feel to my American. I feel like I’m trying to get it to point where i just like it more in every way and can mentally justify it being my preferred instrument. I don’t think I need two jazzmasters. I think one should be kept, and the other set free and turned into other things- like a bass vi and a jag, idk

[thevolumecontrol]

it ends when you purchase a vintage guitar, and put a mastery on it.

You’re probably right.

[therizzla]

Strangely, I am constantly wanting to mod my Fenders and even install new pick-ups in my Danelectros but I never have the urge to mod anything on my US built Peaveys, they're just "right" as they are somehow.

[alexpigment]

In my own experience, I feel like I modded guitars much more slowly and aimlessly in the past. In other words, I would be trying out different hardware, wiring, electronics, etc over the course of a year or more. At this point though, I've done enough modding and testing out hardware that I kinda know what I want. The result is that if I were to buy a guitar today, I would probably immediately also buy whatever I need to make it work for my playing preferences, and get it done. My last build hasn't been really touched since the week I got the parts. The downside, of course, is that I *like* building and modding guitars, but I suppose it's good that I'm not trying to fix things that aren't broken anymore

One note on the Graph Tech saddles to be mindful of. They are not conductive, so they won't transfer the ground to your strings. If your guitar is grounded at the tremolo rather than the bridge posts, this isn't a problem. Alternately, if your guitar is fully shielded such that taking your hand off the strings doesn't introduce any significant amount of noise, this probably also isn't a problem either way. I just figured I'd mention it just in case it solved any mysteries with the amount of noise you're hearing on the guitar.

[MayTheFuzzBeWithYou]

I guess it‘s close to the feeling when a song or a painting is finished…is it ever? Could it still be improved?

Arguably modding is a lot of fun to me too. Recently I learned that each guitar has individual needs - and the same bridge that is working like a charm on the one might be out of place on the other - and viceversa…I don‘t know… like „the wand chooses the wizard/witch“ kind of thing. Had a Tuffset on the one a Staytrem on the other - both were „meh“ - exchanged the bridges - now both are magical!
So if you have the feeling you want to try something else… just do it - Jags and JMs are excellent platforms!

But once you have found your look, tools/parts and setup - you theoretically should be happy… unless you‘re now hooked on the modding act itself… then you‘re eventually gonna run out of space (and money) soon.

[thevolumecontrol]

I guess it‘s close to the feeling when a song or a painting is finished…is it ever? Could it still be improved?

Arguably modding is a lot of fun to me too. Recently I learned that each guitar has individual needs - and the same bridge that is working like a charm on the one might be out of place on the other - and viceversa…I don‘t know… like „the wand chooses the wizard/witch“ kind of thing. Had a Tuffset on the one a Staytrem on the other - both were „meh“ - exchanged the bridges - now both are magical!
So if you have the feeling you want to try something else… just do it - Jags and JMs are excellent platforms!

But once you have found your look, tools/parts and setup - you theoretically should be happy… unless you‘re now hooked on the modding act itself… then you‘re eventually gonna run out of space (and money) soon.

Maybe just restless energy. Trying to do something constructive. Yes, I’m with you. It is fun. It also is a bit of dopamine I’m chasing.

[andy_tchp]

I have guitars I haven’t touched that are bone stock, because they are exactly what I want out of them.
I’ve done minor upgrades like pickups here or there on certain ones, but otherwise I’ve given up on chasing something a certain guitar doesn’t have. Those guitars have moved on

+1000000

[Larry Mal]

There's a few guitars that I consider to be completed. I can't think of any meaningful upgrades.

And then I tend to like to get a new guitar and make it be all mine.

[thevolumecontrol]

There's a few guitars that I consider to be completed. I can't think of any meaningful upgrades.

And then I tend to like to get a new guitar and make it be all mine.

Yeah! Making it yours makes it less appealing to sell

[Larry Mal]

Yeah! Making it yours makes it less appealing to sell

Yeah, in both ways, you know? I look at them and think, well, it's really customized to me, do I really want to let it go at this point?

And then I think about how little of this will mean anything to anyone else and it'll just be money lost.

Tends to keep you in your place.