Upgrades

[Rod13]

hey! Im currently using a ibanez gio gax30.
All stock pickups & a standard bridge.

Thinking of changing to bridge to tune o matic bridge
For pickups im not sure what sounds right.
Currently playing Hardcore.

Comment me on some recommendations

 

[loldude333]

What's your budget?

 

[Rod13]

Not too sure about budget. Never thought about it. Less than hundred?

 

[loldude333]

I'm out of touch with bridge hardware; but i'm quite sure that if the GAX30 isn't already a tune-o-matic, its going to cost more than $100 just to change the bridge, unless you DIY.

Pickups-wise, i think your budget limits you to Teslas (which are great pickups, especially for the price, actually). Mike @ SV will be able to give you recommendations.

 

[Rod13]

DIY? I wouldnt dare. Still a newbie.
Anw, is the pickup a high gain pickup?

 

[Rod13]

For tesLas pickups. Any idea which and which to get.
Mostly play metal, hardcore and punk rock.
Any recommendations maybe?

 

[Rod13]

Is tesla plasma 2 & tesla plasma x1 a good choice?

 

[loldude333]

Plasmas are the hottest pickups i think. If you want more clarity, the VR series is the pick of the bunch. Best check with Mike@SV.

 

[seeyoudownthere]

Pickups are one thing but amp tone is bloody crucial and will shape your sound much more plus your fingers. Big mistake is forking out loads and still not getting what you feel you should hence the amp & fingers comment.

DIY of the bridge is possible but otherwise save up chopping a perfectly useable guitar and trade it for something you want.

 

[Rod13]

Im using a marshall mg15cdr amp.
Digitech Rp50 multi effects.

If i trade my gax30 to gax70, iszit worth it?

 

[seeyoudownthere]

Try yours in a shop along with your effects thingy and a range of amps.
Idea is to find out where your sound isn't happening for you and just a guitar change may not be the answer. Bad gas ain't good for the wallet.

 

[Rod13]

So if wanna change the bridge it would be costly?
Worthmore to trade for gax70? THEN i'll change the pickups?

 

[loldude333]

If you're using multi-efx, then don't bother about the amp. Musicians on a budget generally have to mix what they can first (usually their pickups and existing effects).

 

[Rod13]

So your recommendation to change or not to change the pups?
For the bridge confirmed changing it cause its easier to palm mute for me

 

[loldude333]

Change them. A really good amp will cost upwards of $1000. A pickup change is still a tone improvement. And the difference will be marked enough since you're using multi-efx.

 

[Rod13]

Understood.
So if i wanna chabge to tune o matic bridge & upgrade the pups. How much is the minum i would spend?

 

[loldude333]

Not sure about the bridge change. Pickup change is about $100 for both.

 

[Rod13]

100 as in just changing or together with the pickup in total?

 

[seeyoudownthere]

I'd go and find out what is causing the sound you don't like. Changing pickups isn't necessarily the answer.
The FX unit could be programmed with a really horrible sounding patch (lioke a wasp in a jar!) in which case, a new guitar, pickups, bridge or amp ain't going to help.
So don't waste your money until you really know the cause. And definitely no, a good amp doesn't have to cost $1000 upwards.

Costs - suggest you speak to a guitar shop as they can tell you how much these things are.

 

[loldude333]

I don't think there's a sound he doesn't like; if there was he'd probably mention it since buzzing is a rightdown pain in the neck. But let's see what the TS says.

MG15CDR is an ok amp paired with the RP50.

What the TS probably wants is recommendations to improve his tone with regards to those genres; and i highly doubt its a buzzing sound that's prompting him to do that. But Mr seeyoudownthere is right when he says identify what you don't like first, don't waste your money. Is it higher output you want? More clarity? Either way, a pickup change could be a step in the right direction.