how to turn a cheapy guitar into a great guitar?

[dolivas]

1. having some talent
2. swapping pickups
3. anyone else?...

[smopo24]

getting a better bridge, tuning pegs, neck, etc.

[lukedavo]

sell it, save some money, and buy a good one?

If that doesn't work, uhhhh....ummmmmmm

I think I hear someone calling me...

[Bellringer]

If the guitar stays in tune that's your biggest battle. If not take it in for a tune up. If that's outside the budget, this might be a good opportunity to learn some basic guitar repair on. Once you have it in playable shape, find out what the guitar will inspire you to do. It seems to me different guitars inspire different things from you if you work with them for a bit. Try some pedals, different tunings, different amps and something unique can happen. Even an ugly, low output guitar with a bad natural tone might be something you will need for a recording if you're having a playing block.
Or if it is beyond fixing, selling and working with you can always save it for a good drunken stage smashing!

[smopo24]

Originally Posted by Bellringer

If the guitar stays in tune that's your biggest battle. If not take it in for a tune up. If that's outside the budget, this might be a good opportunity to learn some basic guitar repair on. Once you have it in playable shape, find out what the guitar will inspire you to do. It seems to me different guitars inspire different things from you if you work with them for a bit. Try some pedals, different tunings, different amps and something unique can happen. Even an ugly, low output guitar with a bad natural tone might be something you will need for a recording if you're having a playing block.
Or if it is beyond fixing, selling and working with you can always save it for a good drunken stage smashing!

good idea, espically the smashing. you can save it for parts, or make it like a Sonic Youth guitar and completely screw it up as much as possible!

[Professor Riffs]

Originally Posted by lukedavo

sell it, save some money, and buy a good one?

If that doesn't work, uhhhh....ummmmmmm

I think I hear someone calling me...

Or you could just give me some money. Or else.

[lukedavo]

.........ohhh it was nothing, sorry about that, I thought I heard Riffs telling me to give him some money. Silly Riffs, playing on sh*t is for kids.

[Professor Riffs]

Originally Posted by lukedavo

.........ohhh it was nothing, sorry about that, I thought I heard Riffs telling me to give him some money. Silly Riffs, playing on sh*t is for kids.

Dude, all I can say is........

[McLean]

One thing you can do with that crappy guitar is to do all of those wierd expiriments you have heard of. You know those things that may sound interesting but you would never do that on you real guitar. On my electric, I put an overdrive chip into it on the last tone pot. After that, I knew someone with a plasma troch and made an metal pickguad for it. Sanded it down and stained it blue. Than put a piece of metal in the head stock for extra sustain (it does work for at least one second longer). I turned this old junky strat copy into something pretty interesting. I am sure it has no resale value though, at least not after all of that.

[smopo24]

Originally Posted by McLean

One thing you can do with that crappy guitar is to do all of those wierd expiriments you have heard of. You know those things that may sound interesting but you would never do that on you real guitar. On my electric, I put an overdrive chip into it on the last tone pot. After that, I knew someone with a plasma troch and made an metal pickguad for it. Sanded it down and stained it blue. Than put a piece of metal in the head stock for extra sustain (it does work for at least one second longer). I turned this old junky strat copy into something pretty interesting. I am sure it has no resale value though, at least not after all of that.

....................again, unless you want to sell it to sonic youth, or a japaneese noise/rock band.