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Our Hot Mods page is an expanding series of video tutorials and downloads guiding you through tips and techniques on 'hot-rodding' your guitar.
HOT MOD - MODOCASTER PT 1
Simon Croft re-cuts the neck pocket on a guitar body before assembling the Modocaster - a test-bed guitar based around the Seymour Duncan Liberator solderless pickup change system with volume control.
Simon Croft re-cuts the neck pocket on a guitar body before assembling the Modocaster - a test-bed guitar based around the Seymour Duncan Liberator solderless pickup change system with volume control.
HOT MOD 2 - MODOCASTER PT 2
Simon Croft makes some prototype scratch plates for his test-bed guitar then adds the Seymour Duncan Liberator solderless pickup change system with volume control and a Quarter Pounder.
Simon Croft makes some prototype scratch plates for his test-bed guitar then adds the Seymour Duncan Liberator solderless pickup change system with volume control and a Quarter Pounder.
HOT MOD DOWNLOADS (PDF)
Click on the links below to view and download our Hot Mod illustrated mini-books.
Hot Mod Pickup Primer -
Learn how the magnetic pickups on guitars and basses work, the key pioneers in the history of the pickup and the factors that make one pickup sound different to another.
Hot Mod Setup Primer -
What to look for when ‘sighting’ a guitar neck and what you need to do to make any guitar play faster and sound more in tune than it did before.
Hot Mod Guitar Tool Guide -
We never want you to start a mod without knowing exactly how to finish it, so this is our comprehensive guide to tools and materials, with pictures.
Hot Mod Neck Tilt -
All the information you could ever need to know about adjusting the tilt of a bolt-on neck for optimum action.
Hot Mod Neck Alignment -
You've bolted a new neck to a guitar body - now let's get it aligned properly.
The Brian May Project -
Attempting to recreate the sounds of the legendary Red Special!
Hot Mod Guitar Nut Guide
What makes the nut on a guitar function properly, how to cut nut slots properly and how to replace a nut.
Hot Pickup Wiring
For guitars with three single coils – turns almost any three pickup guitar into a rock tone monster for the price of two packs of strings!
Click on the links below to view and download our Hot Mod illustrated mini-books.
Hot Mod Pickup Primer -
Learn how the magnetic pickups on guitars and basses work, the key pioneers in the history of the pickup and the factors that make one pickup sound different to another.
Hot Mod Setup Primer -
What to look for when ‘sighting’ a guitar neck and what you need to do to make any guitar play faster and sound more in tune than it did before.
Hot Mod Guitar Tool Guide -
We never want you to start a mod without knowing exactly how to finish it, so this is our comprehensive guide to tools and materials, with pictures.
Hot Mod Neck Tilt -
All the information you could ever need to know about adjusting the tilt of a bolt-on neck for optimum action.
Hot Mod Neck Alignment -
You've bolted a new neck to a guitar body - now let's get it aligned properly.
The Brian May Project -
Attempting to recreate the sounds of the legendary Red Special!
Hot Mod Guitar Nut Guide
What makes the nut on a guitar function properly, how to cut nut slots properly and how to replace a nut.
Hot Pickup Wiring
For guitars with three single coils – turns almost any three pickup guitar into a rock tone monster for the price of two packs of strings!
STRAT SHOOTOUT 1
Simon Croft puts three Strats with different electrics together on one track to compare their range of clean sounds
Simon Croft puts three Strats with different electrics together on one track to compare their range of clean sounds
STRAT SHOOTOUT 2
Simon now puts three Strats with different electrics together on one track to compare their range of overdriven, down-and-dirty sounds.
Simon now puts three Strats with different electrics together on one track to compare their range of overdriven, down-and-dirty sounds.
HOT MOD - NECK TILT
Simon Croft shows you how to adjust the tilt of a bolt-on neck for optimum action.
Simon Croft shows you how to adjust the tilt of a bolt-on neck for optimum action.
HOT MOD - SHIELDING
Simon shows you how to reduce unwanted noise from a guitar fitted with single coil pick-ups by using conductive paint and foil.
Simon shows you how to reduce unwanted noise from a guitar fitted with single coil pick-ups by using conductive paint and foil.
HOT MOD - PREPARATION
Simon Croft shows you how to remove the electrics from a Strat in this guide to preparing your guitar for repair, or customising it with new pickups.
Simon Croft shows you how to remove the electrics from a Strat in this guide to preparing your guitar for repair, or customising it with new pickups.
HOT MOD - NECK ALIGNMENT
Simon Croft shows how to adjust a bolt-on guitar neck if the high or low E is slipping off the fingerboard.
Simon Croft shows how to adjust a bolt-on guitar neck if the high or low E is slipping off the fingerboard.
IT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN TO A NECK!
Simon Croft highlights some of the mods that can ruin an otherwise perfectly good neck - and advises you to look carefully before you buy online.
Simon Croft highlights some of the mods that can ruin an otherwise perfectly good neck - and advises you to look carefully before you buy online.
I HOLD THIS BODY AGAINST YOU!
Simon Croft discovers that some guitar bodies for sale online are just scrap - without the 's' !
Simon Croft discovers that some guitar bodies for sale online are just scrap - without the 's' !
HOT MOD - TAKING A FENDER STRAT APART… WITH THE STRINGS ON!
You can take the neck and scratch plate off a Fender Stratocaster, then put it back together without losing even one string. Here's how.
You can take the neck and scratch plate off a Fender Stratocaster, then put it back together without losing even one string. Here's how.
HOT MOD - BRIAN MAY WIRING
Brian May's unique wiring scheme is compared, using Burns Tri-Sonic and Fender Stratocaster pickups. This video has a companion PDF with wiring diagrams and templates.
Brian May's unique wiring scheme is compared, using Burns Tri-Sonic and Fender Stratocaster pickups. This video has a companion PDF with wiring diagrams and templates.
BUILDING A CUSTOM GUITAR - 3
In the second of two videos devoted to making a scratch-plate for your custom guitar, Simon shows you how to get clean, smooth lines and accurate cutouts for pickups and switches.
In the second of two videos devoted to making a scratch-plate for your custom guitar, Simon shows you how to get clean, smooth lines and accurate cutouts for pickups and switches.
BUILDING A CUSTOM GUITAR - 2
In the first of two videos on the subject of scratch-plates for custom guitars, Simon shows you how to design an accurate template and start cutting the plastic sheet.
In the first of two videos on the subject of scratch-plates for custom guitars, Simon shows you how to design an accurate template and start cutting the plastic sheet.
BUILDING A CUSTOM GUITAR - 1
Starting with a premade neck and body that don't fit, Simon Croft installs the bridge, recuts the neck pocket, drills the neck, bolts the two together, adjusts the nut and strings it up!
Starting with a premade neck and body that don't fit, Simon Croft installs the bridge, recuts the neck pocket, drills the neck, bolts the two together, adjusts the nut and strings it up!
BUILDING A CUSTOM GUITAR - 4
Assembling, wiring and playing our custom guitar for the first time. And, yes, I know I broke the 1st string! Great guitar though.
Assembling, wiring and playing our custom guitar for the first time. And, yes, I know I broke the 1st string! Great guitar though.
PUSH/PULL MODS FOR STARTS AND BURNS GUITARS
With just a couple of switches, you can get Brian May and humbucker type tones from three single coil pickups. Upgrade your guitar for the price of a couple of packs of strings!
With just a couple of switches, you can get Brian May and humbucker type tones from three single coil pickups. Upgrade your guitar for the price of a couple of packs of strings!
ENTWISTLE ASN57 STRAT PICKUP
ROAD TEST
How do these Entwhistle noise cancelling Strat pickups compare to a stock Fender Stratocaster? We give you a setting--by-setting direct comparison in overdriven and clean modes.
ROAD TEST
How do these Entwhistle noise cancelling Strat pickups compare to a stock Fender Stratocaster? We give you a setting--by-setting direct comparison in overdriven and clean modes.