custom guitars

UPGRADES AND MAKEOVERS

Or you may email me frank@frankverrilli.com

This section includes mostly authentic Fender, USA, MEXICAN and JAPAN guitars that have been given an aged/relic look and/or some mods/upgrades. (under no condition would I apply a Fender decal to any headstock)

Also included in this section are a few misc. projects for customers

IF you have a guitar you want given an aged/vintage look and /or some mods/ upgrades OR just need some parts, we now offer those services (see our "other services" section)

Some of my favorite guitars to do this to are any of the Mexican Reissue Classic Series, Jimmy Vaughns, Special Editions, Tex Mex models, Highway Ones, Road Worns as well as other USA made guitars, MIJ or crafted in Japan models, etc...

We recommend upgrading to Fralin Pickups, and in most cases changing the trem block

the ultimate upgrade titanium blocks and saddles

Call about possibly trying before you buy

Certainly a 100% thin nitro finish is my favorite . However, if your on a budget or want another guitar you don't have to worry about OR already have a less expensive guitar your attached to and happy with, that needs something extra... this could be a good option.

Prices are on a case by case basis, labor is usually around $200 to $400

This surf green strat is a good example of how a poly guitar
can be reliced

2004 MIM Classic Series Surf Green Makeover

This one I loaded with
Fralin Vintage Hots

Note: added aged ash tray cover, aged guard, covers, knob and trem arm tip

Most of my necks are stripped and fine sanded to raw wood and rubbed in with oil to get better with time

I usually put some very subtle blade checking around certain areas (strap buttons, neck pocket, jack, sides, etc...)

The shiny production poly look can actually be buffed down to get a nice soft satin look (as seen above)

This is my favorite level of fingerwear (tear drop style, not overdone) Also, note MIM REISSUES have nice looking headstocks and decal, this one I dark glazed to look like an aged vintage decal.

HEAR COME THE WHITE STRATS I promised some of my customers (IMHO the white strat is by far the best looking guitar on the planet) coming soon whitestrat.com

2005 Highway One

This is my favorite makeover, but it involved a lot. It is a 2005 Highway one (an earlier model with the smaller headstock, it has a nice light weight and as you probably know a fantastic neck with nice medium jumbos - not as tall as the new models) It was that ugly fleshy color honey blonde ( "hearing aid color") But I actually like it a for treating it like a primer (for those who don't know the highway ones come with a very thin nitro finish, So when you top coat it with white nitro and make some knicks and wear, you see this slight rim that has a sandy color, almost like the primers on the really early black guard tele's (see below)

I age knobs different ways depending on how it blends with the rest of the guitar so I use an artistic license rather then always sticking to what is vintage correct.This is my favorite style

Hear is the before and after shot of the Highway One headstock

yuk!

tuners changed to vintage correct, string tree mod, ambered, decal highlighted, etc...

STILL AVAILABLE

Here is a 2007 MIM Standard

BEFORE AND AFTER The necks on the new MIM standards are fantastic. I'm not too crazy about the tighter string spread at the bridge which the higher priced models luckily don't have. But it can be modded by changing the whole trem with a normal size. Upgrade the pickups with Fralins or at least some other USA made pickups and the money you save you can put towards a good tube amp.

Here is a pic of a typical area where I put some blade checking

(Pictures coming soon for the green guard, single ply and tortoise shell white strats)

early 1990's MIM reissue/specialedition

aged fretboard edge and pickup covers (bakelite style)

Photo below was contrasted to easier see the subtle blade checking

getting rid of the production off the shelf look on this Sambora strat

BEFORE photo of Richie Sambora strat

AFTER

Here is another great looking white strat makeover

It's an earlier Jimmy Vaughn upgraded with Fralin pickups, a solid steel block, gold hardware
with some nice relic work.

SORRY the amp is not for sale