Singapore Guitar

Well, there are a couple of things you can do. Go to your local guitar store, or look on the internet for spare parts. Replacing scratchplate or volume knobs are things almost everyone could do with their guitar. I have replaced the standard white knobs on my Strat with some chrome ones, similar to those used on bass guitars. It makes just a little nuance, but it makes it seem a “not stock”-guitar. The scratchplate can be a bit more complicated, since there are screws you have to unscrew, and you probably have to take off the pickups as well, but again, if you just simply notice how it is fastened to the scratchplate you will be very fine.

If you are a talented artist (and now I mean “artist” as in painter), you can try to customize your axe by painting it with some paint that will stick on (I’m no painter, I have no clue what paint to use), or you can (as I have done) put on some stickers. Basically, to customize your axe, use your imagination. Almost everyting can be done with it. Do not try to reshape it, neither the body nor the neck nor the headstock, as this can mess up the sound coming from it.

“My acoustic has a nice finish, however no scratchplate, and I play with a pick, what should I do” – Either you should go and learn fingerpicking or clenched fist strumming, or you could go to your local music store and ask for acoustic scratchplates. They most likely have some. I think the nicest scratchplates are the ones that are completely black, but this is a matter of your taste. Acoustic scratchplates have a protective sheet at the back that you remove, and then you put it on the guitar where you want it (align it with the soundhole), adhesive side down (obviously).

“My strap keeps falling off when I play!”

Get straplocks. Simply put. Boston and Jim Dunlop makes some nice ones. All there is to strap locks is: Remove old strap button. Insert new strap button. Put straplock on strap. Put strap on strap button. Strap button does not come off unless a) You remove the strap by triggering the straplock mechanism or b) the strap button comes out of its hole, in which case you pour wood glue down into the hole and put the strap button back on.