Guitar & Pedal Mods

Skill Building Guitar Course from Steve McKinley

Steve McKinley, a knowledgeable player who specializes in guitar, bass and pedal modification, creates a series that will make modifying your gear look like child's play.

12 Lessons

Complete course with step-by-step lessons and practice examples.

Multi-Camera

Course filmed with 6 cameras for the perfect angles.

92% Appoval

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Tabs & Info

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Included

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Full Course Breakdown

Steve McKinley, a knowledgeable player who specializes in guitar, bass and pedal modification, creates a series that will make modifying your gear look like child's play.

1

Replacing Your Input Jack

In his first Guitar & Pedal Mods lesson, Steve McKinley shows you how to replace the input jack on your guitar. If your jack has worn out or has corroded over time, this lesson is for you.

6:11 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

View this Lesson
2

Replacing Your Pots

Steve McKinley talks about replacing your pots, or your potentiometers, in your guitar. Used for your volume and tone control, they may need to be replaced if they start to get scratchy or lose functionality over time.

9:14 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

3

Stratocaster Pickup Swap Mod

Steve McKinley goes over a simple mod that will place a Tele-like pickup configuration in your Strat. A Phillips head screwdriver is all you need for this mod.

5:56 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

4

Installing a Killswitch

Steve McKinley provides a detailed lesson on how to install a killswitch in your Stratocaster.

7:55 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

5

Gibson '50s Wiring

Steve McKinley shows you how to take your Les Paul back in time and give it '50s style wiring. This small change in wiring will deliver big changes in tone.

9:35 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

6

Independent Volume Controls

Steve McKinley does a lesson on independent volume controls for your Les Paul. This mod allows you to blend your pickups together for a variety of tones, where as modern wiring does not.

4:17 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

7

Cry Baby Mods: Adjust the Sweep

Steve McKinley talks about adjusting the sweep on your wah pedal. This mod allows for easy control over the high and low end on your sweep.

3:55 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

8

Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer Mods

Steve McKinley takes a look at mods for the popular Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer. First you will learn how to convert a TS9 to TS808 specs, and second, you will take a look at the "More" and "Less" mods.

18:45 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

9

Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer Mods

Steve McKinley takes a look at a couple mods for the Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer. In the first section you will learn how to make your sound more transparent and lower the noise floor, and in the second part you will focus on cleaning it up so it can be used as a clean boost.

17:30 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

10

Changing Wah Inductor

Steve McKinley talks about changing out the inductor on your wah. Most come equipped with a red fasel inductor, giving it more of a modern and aggressive sound. Steve will be replacing it with a yellow fasel inductor, giving it a smoother, more organic sound.

9:02 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

11

Adding an On/Off LED

Steve McKinley's latest lesson covers how to add an on/off LED to your wah. This useful mod takes out the guesswork on whether your wah is on or off.

17:22 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

12

Boss DS-1 Mods

Steve McKinley finishes up his guitar and pedal mods series with a killer triple mod lesson on the Boss DS-1. Mods featured are the diode lift mod, Jack Orman's fat mod, and a Marshall-like crunch mod.

28:57 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

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Professional Bassist

  • Atlanta, GA
  • Playing since 1981
  • 24 lessons at JamPlay
Steve McKinley is a guitarist/bassist with a passion for tube amps and the pursuit of a perfect tone. Born and raised in Florida, young Steve enjoyed working with tools alongside his father and shared a deep love for music with his mother. In his teens, Steve enjoyed tinkering with mini bikes and off-road motorcycles. When he got his first real motorcycle, he asked to sell it when his interests turned to guitars. His father drove him to a local guitar store and bought him his first guitar: a used, early model Music Man Stingray II and a Peavey Studio Pro amp. Steve started practicing and there was no turning back.

While playing in bands in his 20's, he began learning about amps. When they broke at the most inopportune times, he started learning how to fix them in a pinch. Later, with better understanding, he started helping out friends and soon became the local go-to guy for amps. Throughout the years he continued to gain knowledge from the likes of Aspen Pittman, Gerald Weber, Jeff Bakos, Ken Fischer and Ritchie Flieger.
Reviews & Feedback 92/100 with 25 ratings
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