superior hardware?

[vtpcnk]

is there anything like superior hardware which will enchange the musicality of an instrument?

i am not talking dirt cheap parts versus good parts.

but rather standard parts versus ...

for example i have a japanese stratocaster body which i have paired with a warmoth conversion neck. it plays and sounds great.

but on many reviews on harmony central about the "fender deluxe stratocaster", i see repeated comments about the higher quality of the hardware - even in contrast to standard american stratocasters.

how much of truth is there in such claims?

would installing hardware similar to the deluxe strat enhance the musicality of my strat?

would inst

 

[thumb55]

you will need to ask these guys a ton of questions about compatability.

http://www.callahamguitars.com/partsstr.htm

without seeing your guitar it's impossable to tell if any of this stuff would help.

keep in mind, if you spend some money on hardware, it might be worth making sure you could move it to a Warmoth body later.

p.s. there are some nice alder bodys in the showcase for less than $200 right now.

 

[greywolf]

In terms of Tone , the bridge would tend to have the most influence.

I wouldn't expect a significant change from the hardware though tone wise.  Functionality is a different story.
Better tuners , bridges and tremelo's will enhance the playability and perhaps the stabiity .

The neck and body wood , pickups and volume /tone pots all will have a much more dramatic effect.
If you are going to bias your budget, I'd focus on these areas.

 

[Superlizard]

I don't know if it'll work for what you want, but like that other guy mentioned, Callaham stuff is definitely superior hardware.

 

[blue313]

I was under the impression that the difference in the Am deluxe and standards was the tuners, inlay, and heel contour.  :dontknow:

 

[Graffiti62]

I guess one way to look at it is the direct correlation of mass and the tone of the guitar. For example, if you replace your stock cheap non-sealed tuners out for something like a pair of Grovers or Schaller or something, you will notice added sustain due to the added mass. That was the case when I put Grovers on my Fender acoustic. One other good example is from a YouTube clip I saw a while ago. It was a step-by-step installation of a Bigsby tailpiece to a Squire Tele. After installing the Bigsby, the tone was much more defined and there was a significant increase in sustain. When a guitar becomes more solid and heavier, it doesn't waste its energy vibrating the guitar. This was discovered by Les Paul back in the old days when he hooked a guitar string to a chunk of steel railroad track. The tone was strong and amazing, but the design was hopeless--nobody was going to play a railroad track.

 

[greywolf]

I've switched out 5 sets of tuners over the years  to Grover and Sperzel .  While I really noticed a difference in use , can't say there was a big difference in tone.  This is on both acoustic and electric.

I will say that switching to a heavier bridge on my bass made a difference.

Another addition that helped on one was a "fathead"   Groove tubes use to make them , I machined my own.

A piece of bell brass for the back of the headstock , increases sustain , works great.

 

[Graffiti62]

I've switched out 5 sets of tuners over the years  to Grover and Sperzel .  While I really noticed a difference in use , can't say there was a big difference in tone.  This is on both acoustic and electric.

I will say that switching to a heavier bridge on my bass made a difference.

Another addition that helped on one was a "fathead"   Groove tubes use to make them , I machined my own.

A piece of bell brass for the back of the headstock , increases sustain , works great.

That's actually a good idea--where've you had luck finding bell brass?