A pickup selector for the vintage nuts

[Philly Q]

I do believe (but not in a religious kind of way) that an old guitar that's been kept intact, played and loved for many years acquires a mojo or.... "something".  It's just a collection of parts, but after a while those parts belong together.  Which is one of the reasons I don't buy vintage guitars.

.....

What i don't agree with is all the parts being necessary to a guitars mojo. A switch is a switch, plain and simple, same with a pot, I don't think this is going to affect the sound like the wood or pickups would or even, believe it or not, a paint job (especially refinishes). I don't like old guitars that have been modded past their original function (cutting holes in scratch plates and adding switches. as long as the neck, pickups and body are original, then i'm good. Everythiing else is necessary repairs. I don't even mind refrets, because after 40 -50 years, it needs to be done.

Which is exactly, as mecca pointed out, what Leo intended. he made them the way they were for a reason. Easy to mass produce but high quality. Something wears out? neck, damaged body, electronics? replace it, just like your car. What he wanted from the start. affordable working musicians instrument.

Oh yeah, I agree with you there.

I wasn't talking about "mojo" in terms of the way a component affects - or doesn't affect - how the guitar actually sounds or plays.  I meant it more in a superstitious kind of way - that that particular collection of parts has been glued/screwed together long enough that  they "belong" together.  Or in other words, I have a tendency to anthropomorphise guitars or any old possessions, the way people get attached to old teddy bears!  :lol:

If I actually owned an old Strat and the switch broke, I'd unquestionably replace it - with a new switch.  There'd be no point, to me, in buying another old switch, because it wouldn't be the old switch which belonged with my guitar.  And yes, of course, I'd keep the old broken switch in the case!   :roll:

[BigB]

"Oh you play? nice! thats a early 60's strat right?"

"Are you kidding, you know how much thats worth!?"

It's not worth anything if you don't play it.

[AndyR]

"Oh you play? nice! thats a early 60's strat right?"

"Are you kidding, you know how much thats worth!?"

It's not worth anything if you don't play it.

Ah... but you're wrong sir! :lol: (actually, you're not, but that's only what it's worth to you... doesn't mean everyone else looks at it that way)

Financially, a thing is worth what someone will pay for it. Not what you paid for it, not what someone is asking for it... A thing is only worth what someone is prepared to shell out to obtain it right now...

As a possesion, a thing is worth whatever the owner sees in it. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder... If they think it would make a spectacular coffee table, or ashtray, that's fine by me...


Give me a 60s strat and one of two things could happen:

1) If it plays/feels/sounds good, I will play it to death and treat it like my other guitars. I will replace broken bits, upgrade the pickups if it needs it, leave it lying on the floor while I cook the dinner, etc...

2) If it doesn't play/feel/sound as good as, for example, my 60s Roadworn, I will put it on a wall and admire it as "that's the thing I aspired to, it's a dog by the way, but hey ho, rock n roll dreams and history... It's mine now  8)"

One thing that wouldn't happen (barring financial disasters, obviously) is me selling it or regarding it in anyway as an asset...

That's all if you gave me one. Would I buy one? Nope :lol:, they're just not worth what other people are prepared to pay for them...

And that switch... assuming it's genuine, certain folks will want/need it (I don't). It is worth whatever those folks are prepared to pay for it. And if that happens to be more than I paid for a whole guitar that actually works, then that's cool as far as I'm concerned :lol: