Some pics of my modded ESP M-II and Strat

[failsafe306]

If you know me, you know that I can't leave things well enough alone, so I tend to mod them to be more to my liking, and to be a little more unique to me. Here are some pics of my fairly new 07 M-II and also some of my 08 American Fender Strat.







The M-II originally came with two EMG 81 pickups with a 3-way toggle switch and one volume control. I personally can't stand the 81's, especially in the neck position, so I switched them out with an EMG 85 in the bridge (running on 18v) and a Seymour Duncan '59 in the neck. Each has their own volume control (25k for the EMG and 500k for the '59) and switching is done using a mini two-way toggle switch that I added. I used the stock toggle switch hole for the 2nd volume pot, and drilled a 3/16th hole for the mini switch. Just for the hell of it, I used some old style plastic knobs just to make it a little more "me".

The ESP is tuned to drop C using 10-52 strings. The bridge is blocked, not because I can't set it up properly, but because I like to tune the low C up to a D at times. I leave off the truss rod cover and rear trem cover on all of my guitars, and this one is no exception .

The Fender is pretty much stock except for the pickups; they were switched out in favor of a Samarium Cobalt Noiseless set.

[Stygian]

Very cool! I don't really like active humbuckers in the neck neither, for cleans at least. How high do you set each volume knob to get a balanced volume output? Does it click/thump/etc when you switch between the EMG and passive Duncan?

[failsafe306]

Originally Posted by Stygian

Very cool! I don't really like active humbuckers in the neck neither, for cleans at least. How high do you set each volume knob to get a balanced volume output? Does it click/thump/etc when you switch between the EMG and passive Duncan?

I don't have to blend them to make them balanced, they sound perfectly balanced to my ears. According to SD, the '59 is a good match for a hotter p/u in the bridge, such as a Dimebucker, so the '59 is naturally a good match for my EMG. Also, there is no noise when switching between the two.

[timi_h]

awesome choice on the strat, have you thought of putting a tortoiseshell pickguard on it?
i originally wanted a white/maple strat, but wound up buying a red/maple one just cos it was an '07 model and therefore very heavily discounted!

[failsafe306]

Originally Posted by timi_h

awesome choice on the strat, have you thought of putting a tortoiseshell pickguard on it?
i originally wanted a white/maple strat, but wound up buying a red/maple one just cos it was an '07 model and therefore very heavily discounted!

I think I'll keep the white one on for now.

[CityofBlindingLights]

That strat is SWEET! Can you tell me what you think of it? I'm actually strongly considering the new american strat, because I love strats, so I'm really considering the new american strat.

[failsafe306]

Originally Posted by CityofBlindingLights

That strat is SWEET! Can you tell me what you think of it? I'm actually strongly considering the new american strat, because I love strats, so I'm really considering the new american strat.

I love it! You cannot go wrong with a newer American Fender. The quality is amazing on it. The ESP's quality is amazing too.

Quick story: I was at Guitar Center today (to purchase the '59 p/u) and was looking around in the high end amp room. I noticed a brand new JEM7VWH sitting there so I went over and picked it up. The FIRST thing I noticed was the neck pocket. It was terrible! It looked like a middle school shop student routed it. Not only was there a business card sized gap on BOTH sides, the route wasn't even straight- it kinda went up at an angle...weird. I suppose the rest of the guitar was okay, but damn Ibanez...why does my $999 Strat and $1400 ESP have neck pockets tighter than a gnat's ass, yet your top of the line $2200 guitar looks like it was J-Crafted in Korea?

..end of rant

[LordGrendel]

...Nice mods, I would use the trem not matter what though...

[dragsternj]

does the MII have a seperate battery compartment or is it under the control cavity ?

[ColinMmmmm]

How do you like those SCN noiseless pups in the strat?

[failsafe306]

Originally Posted by dragsternj

does the MII have a seperate battery compartment or is it under the control cavity ?

No, the batteries are just wrapped in foam and sitting snug in the control cavity.

[failsafe306]

Originally Posted by ColinMmmmm

How do you like those SCN noiseless pups in the strat?

They sound great! The stock ones were okay, but I just couldn't stand the single coil hum. These are totally quiet, and are a little hotter than the stock pickups.