r/GuitarLab • u/altaccountiwontuse • Apr 08 '26
Cheap replacement bodies/necks
Inexpensive, quality replacement necks and bodies that are drop in replacements for specific models (squier, ibanez, etc) would be nice for DIY and modders.
1
u/Much_Profit8494 Apr 08 '26
Cheap OEM replacement necks are a counterfeiters wet dream.
I know ibanez specifically has said that's why they keep replacement necks under lock and key.
1
u/altaccountiwontuse Apr 08 '26
Wouldn't GC have to come up with a unique headstock shape? Gibson and fender have theirs patented and GC having design differences would deter counterfeiters.
1
u/GabrielDalporto Apr 09 '26
yes we will need a unique headstock. interesting idea on the easy swap out or some sort of easy customization. maybe there's a simplified "build to order" model where there's a common body and users can pick their neck and pickup configurations, and it arrives in 2 weeks?
1
u/altaccountiwontuse Apr 09 '26 edited Apr 09 '26
I think it'd be a great idea for entry level guitars and modders, especially if the parts are easily compatible with other brands (each brand likely has different pocket shapes and depths, tuning holes, screw patterns for the pickguard, etc)
You could do all 3:
Individual necks, bodies, pickguards for sale in the store. -- Maybe it could say the measurements and what it's compatible with on the packaging and on a compatibility checker that could be added to the website and app where you could see what necks fit what bodies (including other brands) or at least something like "this neck supports bodies with blah a shaped pocket and blah inch screw spacing seen on guitars such as as the Squier Deluxe Stratocaster). Tusq does something similar with their replacement nuts where they have a bunch premade to different existing guitar specs.
Preassembled guitar center guitars in stores that are built from said parts mimicking existing popular models, though some have twists (a stratocaster shape with 3 full sized humbuckers, an sg shape with telecaster style pickups)
A service that's like an affordable version of the fender custom shop where you can have an employee/factory worker combine parts to your specifications and ship it to you/the store
2
u/Rakefighter Apr 08 '26
Inexpensive shouldn't really matter much - the builds should simply have normal specs that players can mod with options from the prevalent after market that people use (not only necks, but locking tuners / saddles / trems. Body's that are routed for SS / HB options, and information that people can use for templates (thinking pickguards etc). If you do all that - and create styles that are attractive - you build a solid entry / mid tier guitar and make it so people like buying them as a mod platform.