Not exactly "Pimped" but here's what I've done. Got this 1990 62 Reissue a few months ago. It had the original Bill Lawrence circuit board PUs. Sounded good but squealed at higher volume. Replace them with 4-conductor 57 classics. 57 Classic Plus at the bridge, regular Classic at the neck. Installed Duncan Triple Shot mounting rings for versatility in coil splitting. Had the guitar Plek'd. Frets and action are perfect. Had a new nut installed last week. Used it at rehearsal last night and it just killed. Played & sounded Fantastic! Gigging it for the first time this Saturday. Can't wait.
Pretty near perfect! Yum. even top-wrapped. Enjoy the gig...my first gig with the 57's was great, they sounded so good.
pimped is not the right word... what you've done with this SG shows intelligence and good taste, the guitar itself doesn't look corrupt and evil at all... it does look professional though, and as a performer I've always felt there was a kindred spirit with the women who are 'in the business.' I have a lot more respect for whores than I have for pimps, can you tell? be that as it may, this looks a lot like an 'ultimate' SG. Simple and elegant, and it growls and screams as you require. And with those '57 classics, it purrs and rings like a bell as you require also. good choices. and fine photos to drool over too... thanks. The Plek work is one of those things that doesn't show from a distance, but I'll bet it makes a world of difference. Right after I bought my SG I had a good luthier do a bangup job on the frets, and mine's been my dream guitar ever since. I thought it was a lot to pay at the time, but it's proved its worth many times over in the nearly four years I've been playing my SG. I upgraded mine with '57 classic and classic+ too and love the sound.
That is gorgeous congratulations I absolutely love the colour too I wish they did the 61RI in that aged cherry finish as I am currently saving for one and love that colour. Once again great guitar :)
Yeah, "Pimped" is not the correct term. I should have said "Stealthed My SG". Looks normal at first glance but has some unnoticeable mods that make it perform beyond normal.
Thanks for all the kind words. I'm in a cover band that plays Rock, Blues & a little Country from the 50s-80s. I play thru a JCM900 at rehearsal & a JCM800 at gigs. This guitar covers it all with the coil splitting.
Hey congratulations on the upgrades! Looks great, I think the necks from the early era '61 reissues feel better, for the ones I've tried I think the proportions feel better. Also looks like there's a Nashville bridge upgrade in there as well.
I bought it used and the Nashville bridge was on there. Not sure if it's original or not. The owner told me it was a 61 reissue but after doing some research it appears that it's one of the earlier 62 reissues that were supposed to come with ABR bridges. Mine was either changed or the guitar is a transitional model.
yeah, I like the 'stealth' concept, doing upgrades on a guitar that don't show up at at distance, but which make the guitar play like a dream, sound like heaven and help you become a better player by calling to you and making you want to pick it up and play it every day. congratulations on getting this used, and making it exactly what you want. Today I have four guitars up on stands in my living room, and I've been playing them through an A-B switch, listening to the tonal differences. All four have been 'stealth' upgraded by me, and they all sound really good, and unique in their own ways, and much better than they did when I got them, but the SG kicks all their butts. There it is. I have lavished the most expensive upgrades on my SG of course, because it's my pride and joy: Martin SixString wiring harness, Tone Pros Bridge & Tail, handmade Walnut Pickguard, '57 Classic & Classic+ p'ups, Buzz Feiten tuning system, Grover Vintage Keystone tuners, ebony TRC with inlay by Scott Swirski... Strap Lock by Grolsch... I've said this before, but my SG is the best guitar of any kind I have ever played. The second best right now is the white Wilshire... I like that one a lot, and it's just come back from getting a fret job, so it plays great. The Les Paul is my step daughter's, it's an Epiphone Special II, their cheapo cheapo model. I started my modding with that one, as a way to learn by doing. It now boasts Grover tuners, a Tusq nut, Gibson 490 p'ups from my SG, new pots, cap, jack & switch, and a Tone Pros bridge & tailpiece set. (yeah, I spent more on the mods than her dad spent buying her the guitar, but it's all for love, so we don't count things like that). *grins The Wilshire's got the same upgrades. The Telecaster is pretty much stock, but with new pots etc and an "Electro Socket' which on a tele is a definite upgrade... it's solid as a rock, not like the original jack which is one of those things old Leo did NOT get right the first time. I don't fret that one as well as I do my SG, so I tune it to an open D or D7 and play slide, and it sounds great through my Vox VT-30 in the 'Fender Deluxe' model. happy Memorial day, I really like the looks of your '62 RI
I don;t remember seeing this one when it started so little late but have to say... Great looking guitar! I pretty much like everything you did to it. Sounds like a perfect gigging guitar to me.
Did my first gig with it a couple of weeks ago and it was awsome. Brought my Les Paul just in case (I always have a backup) but never used it. Played the SG all three sets and it was fantastic. The 57 Classics are great PUs. Very nice crunch and clean up very well with just the guitar's volume knob.
Here's a list of places in the USA with a Plek machine: PLEK / A+D Gitarrentechnologie GmbH - Get plek'd: USA