I have this cool hollowbody...that sounds like mud!

[John Backlund]

This is my cheapo, 'cab yellow' Sanatoga hollowbody (a JT136 as a Jay Turser, which is what it really is).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v192/JohnBacklund/YellowSanatoga1364.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v192/JohnBacklund/YellowSanatoga1363.jpg

This thing sounds darker on the bridge pickup than my other cheapo 335 does on the neck pickup. I want to brighten up it's overall sound, try to maybe get a little twang out of it, a little more sustain if possible and 'learn me some rockabilly' with it. :banana

I've decided to put a few bucks into upgrading it's components (because I like it's crazy yellow color more than anything else) and would like some suggestions as to suitable pickups (Filtrons, P90's???), maybe a better bridge, nut, and quality tuners.

Howsabout a Bigsby on this thing??

Suggestions are appreciated (other than to toss it in the nearest dumpster and buy a real guitar).

[openbar]

It looks like a wooden bridge - that's where you should start. Put a tune-o-matic style bridge on there, that should get you some brightness. Next biggest change would be the pickups. And by all means, get a Bigsby! Cool looking guitar.

[John Ward]

You should also check the value of the volume pots. If they are 300k or less switch them to 500k. That will brighten it up.

[gkoelling]

I don't know much about hollow blodies but believe there'll have to be a block in the guitar for a tune-o-matic. The labor might be more $$$ than the guitar. I'd start with pickups and pots/caps.

[CitizenCain]

Nah, you could throw a B6 or B60 on there, they only attach at the strap pin end.

[straightblues]

Put in some good pots and caps then go from there. The Hovland caps are very bright and clear.

[FFTT]

Back off the pickups first before you start modding an original guitar.

See if that helps enough.

Picking lighter, changing your attack also helps tremendously.

[fieldhdj]

What they said regarding the caps and pots. Is that a floating or a pinned bridge?

[John Backlund]

This archtop bridge is kind of interesting.....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v192/JohnBacklund/bridgeforarchtop.jpg

Or would a roller bridge be better if used with a Bigsby?

(This is a great guitar to learn to do some of this stuff with...it's not like I'd be ruining grandpa's ES175)

[John Backlund]

What they said regarding the caps and pots. Is that a floating or a pinned bridge?

Floating.

[FFTT]

What kind of strings are you using?

10's to 12's makes quite a difference too.

[John Backlund]

Back off the pickups first before you start modding an original guitar.

See if that helps enough.

Picking lighter, changing your attack also helps tremendously.

It's an original guitar, but it's also an original $150 buck ebay wonder.

I exclusively fingerpick, currently using a plastic thumbpick and three Alaska plastic picks (soon 'converting' to steel picks) on the index, middle and ring fingers...also almost always in an open tuning these days. No flatpicking at all. It's a bit strange, but it sure makes for some interesting Rock n' Roll sounds and it's fun as hell to do. :dude

[John Backlund]

What kind of strings are you using?

10's to 12's makes quite a difference too.

I've been using Earnie Ball super slinky 11's on just about everything for the past few years, including my Telecaster.

[FFTT]

Cheapo or not, I'd still try backing off the pickups first.

Some Fralin P-92's would sure be a cool experiment though ;-)

[drolling]

Cool project! The suggestion to bump up the pot values is where I might start; too bad they're not on the pickguard, as fishing 'em thru' the F holes is always a PITA. You could go all the way up to 1MEG for a very trebly sound and in keeping w/the guitar's value, I'd get those el-cheapos - which are also tiny, making the transplant so much easier.

On the other hand, if you did the p-ups at the same time, you'd have a lot more manoeuverability.

Or maybe just a pickup swap; GFS is making incredibly cheap (I mean, like, 15 bucks!) knock-offs of all the classics. Gretsch-style Filtertrons/Dynasonics are known for brightness/twang & may also give you some of the tones you're looking for.

And a Bigsby?

Why the heck not!

Have fun!!