I bought a new Jackson SL2H earlier this year with the natural finish. Love the flame maple and it is a killer player, but when I first looked at it, I thought it should have had gold hardware instead of chrome.
I know some of you HATE gold hardware, so you can stop reading now.
Recently, I built a blue quilt maple Warmoth Strat that to me screamed chrome hardware. Soooooo, I hijacked the chrome hardware off of my SL2H and replaced it with gold hardware. I think it looks killer.
A couple of kinks appeared in doing this. Firstly, the CTS pots that come in the SL2H had shafts too large for the gold knobs I got. So they got replaced with RS Guitarworks pots (which are made by CTS). The chrome switch got replaced with a gold one. The stock trem came with a 32mm block; the replacement had a 37mm block, so that had to be swapped out (I used one of those L-shaped brass ones from FloydUpgrades.com) Since I had to redo the wiring, I decided to change out the pups; I'm more of a DiMarzio guy.
After much searching (and not wanting to replicate what I had in my other guitars), I decided to try a Steve's Special in the bridge and an Air Zone in the neck. This turns out to be a GREAT combo. The SS is hot and full on rhythm, screams on lead, but is very articulate. The Air Zone is fat and full, but not muddy, tracks well on the lower notes, and is hot with a hint of vintage.
The only thing I need to find now is a gold replacement allen wrench holder for behind the headstock.
I know some of you HATE gold hardware, so you can stop reading now.
Recently, I built a blue quilt maple Warmoth Strat that to me screamed chrome hardware. Soooooo, I hijacked the chrome hardware off of my SL2H and replaced it with gold hardware. I think it looks killer.
A couple of kinks appeared in doing this. Firstly, the CTS pots that come in the SL2H had shafts too large for the gold knobs I got. So they got replaced with RS Guitarworks pots (which are made by CTS). The chrome switch got replaced with a gold one. The stock trem came with a 32mm block; the replacement had a 37mm block, so that had to be swapped out (I used one of those L-shaped brass ones from FloydUpgrades.com) Since I had to redo the wiring, I decided to change out the pups; I'm more of a DiMarzio guy.
After much searching (and not wanting to replicate what I had in my other guitars), I decided to try a Steve's Special in the bridge and an Air Zone in the neck. This turns out to be a GREAT combo. The SS is hot and full on rhythm, screams on lead, but is very articulate. The Air Zone is fat and full, but not muddy, tracks well on the lower notes, and is hot with a hint of vintage.
The only thing I need to find now is a gold replacement allen wrench holder for behind the headstock.
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