I MODDED this $3K Valiant Guitar - Did I make it BETTER?

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  • Опубліковано 16 січ 2025

КОМЕНТАРІ • 109

  • @valiantguitars9029
    @valiantguitars9029 24 дні тому +102

    Colin, thank you so much for your review and very much noted comments about those pots! We noticed those basically frictionless pots and took them out of the production right away💪

    • @tehalexy
      @tehalexy 24 дні тому +11

      Is it possible to buy those awesome nuts seperately? Can't find them anywhere except on ur guitars o_o

    • @valiantguitars9029
      @valiantguitars9029 24 дні тому

      You can get a guitar and get a nut for free🥰

    • @connorhart7597
      @connorhart7597 24 дні тому +3

      ​@@tehalexy finally somebody asking the real questions

    • @joecosta3416
      @joecosta3416 24 дні тому +1

      First time I'm seeing these Mercurys, really love the modded-vintage sort of style and all the little details. The nut and truss rod adjustment through the fretboard are both genius. I'd love to get my hands on one some day. I'd think the switch screws could be totally solved by adding some lock washers, either split or internal tooth. Also, if it wouldn't cause any sort of vibration, adding springs (low pitch ones, perhaps) to the nut shafts could keep those locked in place as well. Just a thought, thanks for making cool shit and being responsible about making improvements!

    • @gringogreen4719
      @gringogreen4719 24 дні тому +1

      You guys are awesome! I can tell you that the Bournes mini pots do have more of a CTS "throw" to them if you want to stay with that brand.
      CTS is the Fender and Gibson standard so most players will be accustomed to them. I do have the full sized Bournes quick throw pots on a Squier Standard Telecaster. I did the control cavity plate flip and having that quick roll from the Bournes let's me do Volume Swells and Tone swells pretty easy with my pinky like a steel guitar. You definitely want a Tele barrel knob to partner up with the pot so this is the easiest combo to do the swells.
      Keep up the great work and SLAVA!😎👍✨🇺🇦💙💛

  • @Nathan.Hancock
    @Nathan.Hancock 23 дні тому +10

    "rancid english jobbie hand crust" is not a phrase i was expecting to hear this morning. Merry Xmas Colin - Great vid! 🎄

  • @yafreeaccount
    @yafreeaccount 18 днів тому +2

    The thing I like best about this, is I find the first thing I do with my brand-new-from-factory guitars is .... take them apart and fix the stuff that's not quite right. When I was 18 I dunno what I was thinking, it just seemed like a reasonable thing to do. Now I think it's crazy, but some how can't stop doing it. Cheers, Colin!

  • @60CycleSteve
    @60CycleSteve 24 дні тому +54

    Good to know the length of the shaft doesn't affect pleasure

    • @ScienceofLoud
      @ScienceofLoud  24 дні тому +13

      At least that's what they keep telling me...

    • @_graysonm
      @_graysonm 23 дні тому +3

      ​@@ScienceofLoudI came down to the comments looking for this screaming, "Nah, nah, NAAAAHHHHHH"

    • @DMSProduktions
      @DMSProduktions 23 дні тому +1

      It's always come down to GIRTH me boy! ;o)

  • @m.a.6478
    @m.a.6478 22 дні тому +2

    Bonus tip for Loctite application: The tip of the bottle has a tapering which has the correct diameter to attach an industry standard dispensing needle to it.

  • @ScienceofLoud
    @ScienceofLoud  26 днів тому +10

    After a long wait I finally have a Valiant Mercury to call my own, this is so close to being my perfect guitar - if only I can solve a couple small issues...
    Valiant Mercury Copper - valiantguitars.com/product/guitars/mercury/orange-distressed-fb/
    Old Bones Pickups Modern Set - oldbonespickups.com/products/modern-hss
    10% OFF your Valiant Guitars purchase with 'LOUD10'
    This video contains product provided by Valiant Guitars.
    More details on how Science of Loud implements product promotion - www.csguitars.co.uk/disclosure
    #scienceofloud #valiantguitars #guitarmods
    Timecodes -
    00:00 - What's in the case?
    01:16 - Replacing the Potentiometers
    03:08 - I've got a Screw Loose!
    04:06 - Adjustable Bronze Nut
    05:21 - Pickup Switching Explained
    07:29 - How Mercury Differs from Jupiter
    07:50 - All Other Features (Check the Web)
    09:08 - Mercury Sound Samples
    More from Science of Loud:
    Support on Patreon: www.patreon.com/csguitars
    Join Science of Loud Discord - discord.gg/uJHFgJRunb
    Buy Science of Loud Merchandise - www.csguitars.co.uk/store
    Website - www.csguitars.co.uk
    Contact - colin@csguitars.co.uk
    ___________________________________
    *Description contains affiliate links. Purchasing using one of these links will generate a small commission for Science of Loud at no additional cost to you.*

  • @GillamtheGreatest
    @GillamtheGreatest 24 дні тому +11

    loctite/thread lock has a purple version too. it still keeps stuff together but isnt quite as strong so you are less likely to strip something when you need to move it. i really like it for guitars and pedals and things that are smaller and more delicate.

    • @Droops24
      @Droops24 23 дні тому

      Glad you mentioned this. Also worth mentioning one should NEVER be using Loctite red versions on a guitar!; because you are not getting that hardware off ever again without destroying the guitar in the process... well, unless your guitar is all metal with a high enough melting point to withstand the heat treatment to un-bond it 🤣

    • @GillamtheGreatest
      @GillamtheGreatest 23 дні тому +1

      @@Droops24 ope yeah that red stuff is going nowhere near my music things haha

    • @DMSProduktions
      @DMSProduktions 23 дні тому +1

      The red 1 is for permanent seals!

  • @Kabayoth
    @Kabayoth 22 дні тому +1

    For whatever reason, Colin, you haven't been showing up in my feed for a while. Glad to see you again. Happy holidays!

  • @DrewKane
    @DrewKane 24 дні тому +1

    I love the colour and inlays. It's a beautiful instrument.

  • @SonicDriveStudio
    @SonicDriveStudio 24 дні тому +2

    Beautiful guitar mate! Goldie and Tony should hang out one day ;)

  • @orryfishburne5326
    @orryfishburne5326 24 дні тому +5

    Potentiometers that turn easy is my biggest pet peeve when it comes to electric instruments

  • @joecosta3416
    @joecosta3416 24 дні тому +1

    As someone who is a big Jaguar guy, these are sick. Seems like they might just need some lock nuts on the switch screws and maybe some springs on the nut "saddle" threads if that wouldn't cause vibrations. Threadlocker works too though (again, as a Jag guy, I'm very familiar ha). I'm totally with you on the pot torque, I love a quality feeling smooth and slow turn and also am a big fan of the normal CTS pots. I get why people like fast pots, but they're not my cup of tea. LOVE the little details on this thing though, congrats on picking that up. Seems like a blast and sounds righteous

  • @TheWorstManOnEarth
    @TheWorstManOnEarth 24 дні тому +3

    For "any tone" versatility, I'd choose the Taylor T5 Pro ... you have a great variety of great electric tones PLUS a great acoustic guitar tone, and in a slim body slim neck lightweight package. The Taylor T5 Pro is an extreme quality guitar, and it's also pretty expensive too.

    • @valiantguitars9029
      @valiantguitars9029 24 дні тому +2

      Taylor T5 is indeed great! To be honest, first time I noticed this model when Serj Tankian used it…

  • @seafoodsalad3356
    @seafoodsalad3356 24 дні тому +2

    I think for me, the tippy top tier on this would be instead of the slide switches, normal three ways so you can get at them when playing easier - like the Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmasters!

  • @gregg7233
    @gregg7233 24 дні тому +1

    Love the way the truss wheel is cut out

  • @DMSProduktions
    @DMSProduktions 23 дні тому +1

    I thought pairing the bridge pick up with a 250K pot would be a bit dark, but it isn't seeing how BRIGHT the neck pick up was, a 500K would be way TOO bright!
    I too, HATE pots that are too loose!

  • @milosbilos3186
    @milosbilos3186 24 дні тому

    I didn't know about the adjustable nut ! That's a great idea !!

    • @opinionsvary
      @opinionsvary 18 днів тому

      In my opinion: No. It's option convenient at best. Without thread locker, the screws WILL rattle & move with the string. This will absolutely change the string tension making it very up & down the thread as the string vibrates.

  • @AnonAmouse-d2t
    @AnonAmouse-d2t 22 дні тому

    I have a jazzmaster. I replaced the pickups with humbuckers. The neck is a Novak that is actually two single coil pickups sharing common pole pieces, with 2 distinct windings. The bridge is an old Dimarzio multibucker, which is their chopper and fast track on a single hb mounting. I have the neck pickup wired to a mini 3 way switch so I can choose either coil independantly or both in series. Then both the bridge and neck go into a freeway strat-style switch, with the two coils of the bridge pickup treated as separate single coil pickups. The selector switch is 10 position. So I can get about 30 different sounds out of my guitar. All that feeds a volume w/treble bleed circuit and two tone controls - a fender tbx and a bass cut (using a 1M pot and a .022 capacitor.)

  • @frankiechan9651
    @frankiechan9651 24 дні тому +2

    Dislike of low friction pots Colin?
    Stares at the EVH Wolfgang where Ed specified low friction pots for the Volume (got to love the swells for Cathedral) and, though he never used them prior to the Wolfgang, a "regular" friction pot for the Tone.

  • @alexcorona
    @alexcorona 24 дні тому

    On my Jazzmaster I put the adjustable kind that just uses 2 screws and I love it. It’s great for down tuning , no more rattles.

  • @andersjjensen
    @andersjjensen 24 дні тому

    Drooool! That thing looked and sounded NICE!

  • @stevecassidyguitar
    @stevecassidyguitar 24 дні тому

    Love it! 😍👌
    Can't believe you tightened the secret "tone" screw tho! 😲
    Was very surprised that didn't completely ruin the tone 😅👍

  • @LukaCuturic
    @LukaCuturic 24 дні тому +1

    I think it's pretty bad that the guitars hasn't been cleaned and checked before it's been shipped to you. Especially for a $3k guitar, I wouldn't expect any loose screws, how insignificant it may be.

    • @ScienceofLoud
      @ScienceofLoud  24 дні тому +1

      It was cleaned and checked prior to being brought to the UK from Ukraine, had I been at the trade show I would have collected it in person.
      I wasn't there, so it got shipped to me directly from there, after the reps (who are not the luthiers and QC team) spent a weekend letting people try the instrument.
      This is the "special treatment" I get as a youtube content creator - and was entirely expected.
      Any customer paying money to order one wouldn't have that experience.

  • @kennethnielsen3864
    @kennethnielsen3864 21 день тому

    Thanks for sharing.

  • @TheGaryHughes
    @TheGaryHughes 24 дні тому

    The man really knows what type of shaft he likes

  • @Kiwaloayo
    @Kiwaloayo 24 дні тому +2

    specifically that locktite is not permanent! make sure you buy the right type and wear gloves when or wash you hands directly after use!

    • @cals4887
      @cals4887 24 дні тому +1

      Also a little fun fact about it, it won't dry on the surface of stuff because it only dries/cures in the absence of oxygen, like when it is on installed threads.

  • @theariesexperiment4642
    @theariesexperiment4642 24 дні тому

    Those GT Ratio staggered locking tuners are sensational. Have them myself. On everything.

  • @TheWorstManOnEarth
    @TheWorstManOnEarth 24 дні тому

    There's a price point above which any permanent modification devalues a guitar ... except if you're a renown artist. Below that, any mod is often basically ignored, that's why you always keep the original spare parts to reverse back to original and either keep the upgrades (PUs, hardware, ...) or sell them separately.
    Like, if you're not Jeff Beck, don't mod a costly Strat with an original vintage Wilkinson Split Roller Nut for instance ... or maybe do it with a replacement neck, but not on the original neck. You can sell the original guitar, and then sell the replacement neck and the Roller Nut separately.

  • @pabcrane
    @pabcrane 24 дні тому

    Well that certainly looks like a cool guitar. And sounds fabulous (particularly for me through the AD30). I kind of wish I needed a new guitar

  • @odekipalace
    @odekipalace 24 дні тому +1

    i love the fret inlays...

    • @bl00dy1ng
      @bl00dy1ng 24 дні тому

      It’s the only thing I don’t like on it. They look so bad in my opinion. If it had 70s style black block inlay it would bring the guitar together

  • @niclastname
    @niclastname 24 дні тому +3

    I feel like for $3,000, it's literally the _least_ they could do to put fresh strings on it before sending it to you after it was played by dozens of grimy hands at a public show...
    Sick guitar though!

    • @ScienceofLoud
      @ScienceofLoud  24 дні тому

      I'd still have changed them anyway, I want to know it's my brand, my gauge, and my set up.

    • @valiantguitars9029
      @valiantguitars9029 24 дні тому

      Fair point!

  • @mattdunnefilm
    @mattdunnefilm 24 дні тому

    Great vid, do you have a link to the finger gloves? Trying to save my callouses!
    Cheers

  • @MAX96MENDES
    @MAX96MENDES 24 дні тому

    You want a low-friction Poti? Try a 500K EVH-Wolfgang Low Friction Pot. You will be amazed how great it is.

  • @TheGorillafoot
    @TheGorillafoot 24 дні тому

    The nut is pretty interesting. Certainly will save time.

  • @mypal1990
    @mypal1990 24 дні тому

    Had to check the sound samples and this is a gritty tone to it. Man imagine throwing a fuzz pedal on this?

    • @ScienceofLoud
      @ScienceofLoud  24 дні тому

      Imagine NOT throwing a Fuzz pedal on this!
      There was a Fuzz Face used alongside the Orange AD30 for the sound samples. Sounds great with a toothy tone.

  • @gringogreen4719
    @gringogreen4719 24 дні тому +3

    My first thought was "Must be full sized Bournes pots..." Yup.
    Now, two things. You can do what you did and just swap out the Bournes for CTS full sized pots. They are equal, you see Bournes in Boutique made guitars. You can also swap out for Bournes mini pots because the "throw" is very similar to full sized CTS pots. I definitely recommend Bournes mini pots for Import guitars if you want a CTS feeling throw and you have a cramped electronics cavity. I had to do that on my Samick Malibu (the black one in my pic) and it works great!
    I have full sized Bournes pots on two guitars. I have a Squier Standard Telecaster with the control plate flip. The reason being is that I can do Volume ans Tone swells with my pinky on that guitar.
    I am in the middle of making a non working Ibanez Roadstar II guitar work and I have Bournes pots on that. It was a free guitar and the old electronics has seen better days so I am bringing essentially a non playing guitar and making it playable with new pickups, electronics, and tunners. Before anyone gets upset this guitar was in "Poor" condition, left in a garage in Phoenix for a decade or two and I am doing this basically as cheap as I can with existing parts. So it plays better, once the pickups are in it will sound good. The old pickups are going to a buddy who can use them and one or more may need to get rewound. Basically a new set of Alnico V pickups from Amazon are way cheaper than fixing the old ones. The guy works at a music store so it will either be cheap or free for him to get fixed. He likes vintage more than I do. I like taking a vintage guitar and make it more in line with modern guitars in terms of sound and playability. I like the destressed patina that the neglect has given this particular guitar.

  • @Captain_Yata
    @Captain_Yata 24 дні тому

    If I could get a Valiant with a Floyd Rose, I would never play another guitar ever.
    That said, I'd probably be perfectly happy with a non-trem one too.

  • @chrispodesta8105
    @chrispodesta8105 24 дні тому

    This guitar is
    So
    Cool

  • @khaozelectrichead
    @khaozelectrichead 22 дні тому

    When metal is used on metal to mechanically fasten something threadlock should always be used. On you guitar or even for the bolts that fall off your guitar stool. Please don't use the red stuff. Blue 242 rather.

  • @Paul_Lenard_Ewing
    @Paul_Lenard_Ewing 24 дні тому

    What i would like to know is if the Orange 30 cand keep up with the backline of a band. perhaps more important the drummer, LOL. So could you tell me what it's usable dB level is. A great show to do would be to show the dB level on all your amps. A real world show on dB in general showing ideal dB needed per instrument in an un-miced backline would be beyond practical and useful.

    • @ScienceofLoud
      @ScienceofLoud  24 дні тому +1

      That's got MUCH more to do with the speakers, their sensitivity rating, and how many of them there are.
      You can't give that data for an amp because the amp isn't the thing generating sound, it's the speakers.

  • @alanwilson1724
    @alanwilson1724 24 дні тому +2

    Rancid English jobby hand crust 😂 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

  • @SleepingLionsProductions
    @SleepingLionsProductions 24 дні тому

    where can i get that nut! And just that nut for a gibson style nut? I hate having to file the nut down

  • @rhalarda4088
    @rhalarda4088 24 дні тому

    I recently got some grief from a friend because i out the everything axe pickups in my mim hendrix strat. I love Hendrix but i mostly wanted it for the body and neck. And I'm pretty sure Hendrix wouldn't care if he were alive.

    • @ScienceofLoud
      @ScienceofLoud  24 дні тому

      If there were one person who absolutely wouldn't care you are messing around and modifying your equipment, it would be Hendrix.

    • @rhalarda4088
      @rhalarda4088 24 дні тому

      @ScienceofLoud Exactly. I love all my guitars but at the end of the day they are tools to help me create the music I hear in my head. Too many guitarists put them up on pedestals. I also feel Leo Fender would encourage it since the strat was designed to be modded.

    • @rhalarda4088
      @rhalarda4088 4 дні тому

      I thought I'd give an update. I went with the Duncan fully loaded classic pickguard with their noiseless pickups. I've played strats with the fender noiseless, and for my tastes I think the Seymour Duncans sound better and way quieter. And definitely quieter than the factory single coils.

  • @RaccoonHenry
    @RaccoonHenry 23 дні тому

    I need to replace the pots on my BC Rich and I'm REALLY not looking forward to it......

  • @caelenselke-minogue
    @caelenselke-minogue 24 дні тому

    2:32 Ain't no way blud really said that

  • @wheeljork
    @wheeljork 18 днів тому

    Why the silly switch position? Is the idea to make it inconvenient to change those switches in a hurry for some reason? I only have one guitar that has a s/p switch and it's a push/pull, so mine is even worse in my opinion but this seems not ideal either.

  • @SilkandScrooge
    @SilkandScrooge 24 дні тому

    But does it chug?

  • @thatraymond
    @thatraymond 7 днів тому

    You fixed things that shouldn't have required fixing on a $3k guitar. Sweet axe now though!

  • @jcsolomon6470
    @jcsolomon6470 24 дні тому +1

    To Me That's a Lot before the Mods😮!What's Right for me Might not be desired for You!Take care,now!M.C.😃😎❣🥳

  • @phildem414
    @phildem414 24 дні тому

    Rad!

  • @martinclayton7260
    @martinclayton7260 24 дні тому

    You seem to have some Caledonian black finger rot? Is that from touching something that an Englishman has touched? You know that it makes you part English now! So welcome to the club.

  • @DrewKane
    @DrewKane 24 дні тому

    2:35 Giggity

  • @opinionsvary
    @opinionsvary 18 днів тому

    The main reason your knobs turn so easily is because they are solid metal & not plastic (inertia factor). You could put the OEM plastics back on & save your time & money. The O ring idea is probably the best solution if you want to keep those metal knobs being it will stabilize the rattle out of them.

    • @ScienceofLoud
      @ScienceofLoud  18 днів тому

      It's got nothing to do with the knobs or the material they are made from.

  • @jjulch
    @jjulch 24 дні тому

    Don’t use red loctite, you’ll never remove them. Must be blue.

  • @PooNinja
    @PooNinja 24 дні тому +1

    🇺🇦+ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿=😮 yes

  • @RyRyTheBassGuy
    @RyRyTheBassGuy 17 днів тому

    Its so dumb that the blue loctite comes in a red bottle.

  • @JYZProductions
    @JYZProductions 24 дні тому +1

    $3000 and cheap pots and they couldn't even put every screw in properly, you might as well buy a crappy basswood bodied Ibanez if you wanted to get ripped off.

  • @Bo88in
    @Bo88in 20 днів тому

    All that and no whammy bar...

    • @ScienceofLoud
      @ScienceofLoud  20 днів тому

      Why would I want a whammy bar when I can have a hardtail and the guitar stays in tune?

    • @Bo88in
      @Bo88in 18 днів тому

      Really? Surely you have had your hands on whammy equipped guitars that stay in tune? Lovely guitar regardless, love the switching options 👌

  • @ronnielobosmith4870
    @ronnielobosmith4870 24 дні тому

    Get some.
    Of the felt cymbal washers and cut them to fit underneath the knobs to give a little bit more friction

  • @zenistermister9695
    @zenistermister9695 24 дні тому

    Too much Loctite. You only need a drop.

  • @GamerSirus
    @GamerSirus 24 дні тому +1

    A $3k guitar with defects and requires mods?? Hard fucking pass from me. Could get a Schecter for 3x less and get it flawless.

    • @CoolGuyAtlas
      @CoolGuyAtlas 24 дні тому +1

      It’s just adding some locktite and swapping the pots for personal preference. Nothing big imo

    • @GamerSirus
      @GamerSirus 2 дні тому

      @@CoolGuyAtlas And for that kind of money, that shouldn't be something you should have to do.

  • @DisabilityExams
    @DisabilityExams 24 дні тому

    My antivirus alerts on the valiant website.

  • @Emil-Antonowsky
    @Emil-Antonowsky 23 дні тому

    3k for that???
    It's a very ugly guitar. Ma grannies favourite colour of nail varnish.
    I'd rather a Mexican strat.

  • @o0Donuts0o
    @o0Donuts0o 23 дні тому

    At $3000 you should already have the “best” of everything. All you’ve done is make it different.