Cheapo Rhythm axe for 3 fingered Rog
Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2024 9:04 pm
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipO ... 62PZXa25u3
I have only three bendable fretting fingers and playing my normal sized guitars on rhythm all night can be tiring at times. So I bought myself a Squier Mini Strat, but found the pups to be way too strident for my old ears. Fortunately, I had set of Lace sensors in my parts collection, so dropped them in.
As it's a smaller guitar I found the 5 way switch to be in a rather annoying location, as I prefer to use the neck pup mostly. Easy fix - I rewired the selector switch so it is backwards to a normal Strat. Perfect. Another real bonus is the lighter weight as I have a buggered neck and shoulder and my back is very weak following surgery, so I can't even contemplate using my LP or my Tele, without lots of codeine, which dries my mouth out and makes singing a bit of a task.
I dropped some D'Add 11-50s ECG24 Chromes strings on as well, because I love the smother feel and more mellow sound of flats. I also replaced the mini sized strap buttons with a set of Straplocks. Tonally - just the bill for my tastes.
These days all of my work is playing at country/variety clubs where every song is a walkup and I often have no idea what the song is LOL. I play at three such clubs and get to play bass at one, keys at another and guitar at the third. This guitar has become my go to axe for these gigs. One of the fun aspects of such clubs is that singers love to play in bastardly keys and as I have always preferred not to use a capo, I have to play all over the neck with my three fingered chords, which can be quite a challenge. The Mini really does help.
I know you lot will scoff at the idea of such a cheap, small guitar, but anything that helps me get through a night more easily works for me.
I have only three bendable fretting fingers and playing my normal sized guitars on rhythm all night can be tiring at times. So I bought myself a Squier Mini Strat, but found the pups to be way too strident for my old ears. Fortunately, I had set of Lace sensors in my parts collection, so dropped them in.
As it's a smaller guitar I found the 5 way switch to be in a rather annoying location, as I prefer to use the neck pup mostly. Easy fix - I rewired the selector switch so it is backwards to a normal Strat. Perfect. Another real bonus is the lighter weight as I have a buggered neck and shoulder and my back is very weak following surgery, so I can't even contemplate using my LP or my Tele, without lots of codeine, which dries my mouth out and makes singing a bit of a task.
I dropped some D'Add 11-50s ECG24 Chromes strings on as well, because I love the smother feel and more mellow sound of flats. I also replaced the mini sized strap buttons with a set of Straplocks. Tonally - just the bill for my tastes.
These days all of my work is playing at country/variety clubs where every song is a walkup and I often have no idea what the song is LOL. I play at three such clubs and get to play bass at one, keys at another and guitar at the third. This guitar has become my go to axe for these gigs. One of the fun aspects of such clubs is that singers love to play in bastardly keys and as I have always preferred not to use a capo, I have to play all over the neck with my three fingered chords, which can be quite a challenge. The Mini really does help.
I know you lot will scoff at the idea of such a cheap, small guitar, but anything that helps me get through a night more easily works for me.
You regularly pass through my thoughts; so much so that I wonder if you're stalking me.
