Is change always a good thing?

[Hbom]

I have this old guitar that plays well and sounds amazing. Kind of looks like crap but that doesn't seem to affect the noise it makes. It's not all original and has an extra switch.

And inside it looks like this;

The pots are all covered in crud. I know it's not stock wiring, and I have new parts that could replace everything. But should I? They don't scratch or make any noise and the guitar sounds amazing.

I can't see anything on the back of the pots so don't know if they are oem Hamer parts or not. I'm not sure I want to try to scrape anything off to see.

If the guitar sounds and plays great do you screw with it for appearance sake or leave it alone? Is the value in the new aftermarket parts and being able to read the dates on the parts higher or lower than old parts that still work fine but don't look so good anymore?

 

 

I

[stonge]

if the guitar sounds and plays great that 90% of the battle right there imho.  I'd put the cover back on and forget about what the interior looks like (maybe the mojo is in the crud).  

[kizanski]

What he said. 

It'll look great when you put the cover back on.  

[crunchee]

If it ain't broke, don't break it.

[Dutchman]

This^^^^

[Cboss]

Is that a TLE?

[Hbom]

3 hours ago, Cboss said:

Is that a TLE?

No. It's a Sunburst.

[gorch]

The wise speaking: “Never touch a running system.“

[rickrock999]

If the guitar sounds and plays great do you screw with it for appearance sake or leave it alone?

Absolutely leave it alone. I have learned that lesson the hard way a few times.

If it Ain't Broke Don't Break it. Never heard that one before but I like it.

 

[Jeff R]

If you want to pay a tech his or her bench rate to make a hidden compartment appeasing to the visually anal retentive OCD, by all means make the $$$ rain.

But here's some advice from a guy who works on guitars all day ...

* Uncut pickup leads not only keep warranties and (in the case of new ones) OTC exchange policies intact, long leads also ensure pickups can be swapped between guitars down the road without having to operate on them to replace short-cut leads.

* When a pot or a toggle gets loose in a cavity or on a pickguard from simple use, slack in the wiring helps keep the wires connecting components from breaking. You can simply retighten and be done with it. Guess what happens when pots and switches and jacks linked by taut connections break? The guitar flatlines and you're dead in the water on stage or in the studio. That's not smart.

* Excess length connection wire makes it faster and easier for me the tech - which means cheaper for you the wallet - if I have to swap an intermittent or kaput pot, switch or jack. I can just cut the old, boogered tip off the existing wire(s) and re-solder. Taut wires often have to be replaced entirely. Again, cute for The Gear Page and the IPG (Internet Peanut Gallery) but totally impractical.

[Hbom]

Thanks Jeff. Always appreciate your knowledge and opinion.

When I bought the guitar I started acquiring the bits to bring it back to original, or close. Got the bridge and tuners sorted but every time I start to change out the electronics, I get spooked and leave it as is. It plays and sounds great and I hate to take a chance of screwing that up. But I've been thinking about downsizing so the question should probably be "If you were buying this guitar would you prefer what's in it, or new bits of similar style?" 

[Cboss]

1 hour ago, Hbom said:

Thanks Jeff. Always appreciate your knowledge and opinion.

When I bought the guitar I started acquiring the bits to bring it back to original, or close. Got the bridge and tuners sorted but every time I start to change out the electronics, I get spooked and leave it as is. It plays and sounds great and I hate to take a chance of screwing that up. But I've been thinking about downsizing so the question should probably be "If you were buying this guitar would you prefer what's in it, or new bits of similar style?" 

What's in it, for sure, even if that doesn't work 

[scottcald]

On 10/23/2023 at 1:22 PM, Jeff R said:

* Uncut pickup leads not only keep warranties and (in the case of new ones) OTC exchange policies intact, long leads also ensure pickups can be swapped between guitars down the road without having to operate on them to replace short-cut leads.

I've bitten myself numerous times thinking I was being clever only cutting the pickup lead to exact length.  Not for re-use, but for anything.  It's like buying a hose that's 2 feet because today you only want to water the plant right next to the house.    If I buy a new guitar from a builder or factory, yeah, I'd like to open it up and see clean wiring.  But, if it sounds great and the work's solid, I don't worry about it. 

[Vintage Hamer-Lover]

Just bought a '79 Sunburst with the same (or similar) modification called AGL Mini Bass Cut. It's the black thing, not fixed in the cavity and has a pot like Yours.  Sorry for bad pic

Seller told me, this would elimnate some muddy bass in distortion mode from the neck PU. quality.

Compared it with regular '79 Sunbursts and I liked it, too. So I left the modification.

[Hbom]

2 hours ago, Vintage Hamer-Lover said:

Just bought a '79 Sunburst with the same (or similar) modification called AGL Mini Bass Cut. It's the black thing, not fixed in the cavity and has a pot like Yours.  Sorry for bad pic

Seller told me, this would elimnate some muddy bass in distortion mode from the neck PU. quality.

Compared it with regular '79 Sunbursts and I liked it, too. So I left the modification.

 

Thanks @Vintage Hamer-Lover. That's an interesting mod. But it's the scummy funk on the back of the potentiometers that bothers me, not the mod. The only modification is the mini switch that splits the bridge pup and I think that's an OK thing but the foamy looking funk on the pots looks like someone tried to hide something and I was curious if that would be a deal killer when I sell the guitar.

Thanks for the post.

 

[Jakeboy]

People pay extra for fake scummy funk nowadays. Love it and play it. Fix it when and if it breaks. Rock that bad boy, Doug,

[Joe mama]

On 10/7/2023 at 11:39 AM, Hbom said:

I have this old guitar that plays well and sounds amazing. Kind of looks like crap but that doesn't seem to affect the noise it makes. It's not all original and has an extra switch.

And inside it looks like this;

The pots are all covered in crud. I know it's not stock wiring, and I have new parts that could replace everything. But should I? They don't scratch or make any noise and the guitar sounds amazing.

I can't see anything on the back of the pots so don't know if they are oem Hamer parts or not. I'm not sure I want to try to scrape anything off to see.

If the guitar sounds and plays great do you screw with it for appearance sake or leave it alone? Is the value in the new aftermarket parts and being able to read the dates on the parts higher or lower than old parts that still work fine but don't look so good anymore?

 

 

I

or... you can sell it to me...

[Hbom]

10 hours ago, Joe mama said:

or... you can sell it to me...

I thought you were mostly into virgins.

This old gal's been around.

[Joe mama]

for sale? 

[Hbom]

I think so. I'm going to try to sell them all next year.

[Joe mama]

please let me know , im a buyer.. I like sunburst hamers.. thanks , JK

[Hbom]

Hey Joe. PM sent.