My first guitar. A Dean Vendetta

Joined: 01 Mar 2013 Posts: 7 Location: WV, USA

So I saw this thread while I was web-surfing and I was like, hey, why not?

Anyways, I plan on getting a 7 string, but is there anything I can do to my guitar to make it sound better? Any pedals I should get? I was thinking of switching out the pick-ups (idk what brand they are, passive though), but I was told that would be a waste of time. I guess they are right.

I'm just attached to this guitar. I sometimes hate it to death, then I love it again. I wish I can get a professional sound out of it though. I would probably never sell this guitar. I may customize it if I have a bunch of money to spend. Thoughts anyone?

Joined: 03 May 2008 Posts: 6624 Location: Minnesota

Who ever told you that switching out the pickups was a waste of time, is an idiot.

Upgrading the electronics and hardware on a guitar is a great help to low budget entry level guitars. Also, a good setup will go a long ways as well.

What kind of amp are you playing through?

Joined: 20 Jan 2005 Posts: 700 Location: New Orleans

Which Vendetta do you have?
I used to own a V 3.0 and it was a fine guitar in its own right. A really great player with one of the best necks I've ever played. But certainly a pup swap could have been a nice upgrade.
I thought about putting a hot P90 in the bridge but never got around to it before I traded it.

FWIW - If you have never had the guitar set-up by a good tech you should do so. Will go a long way in improving the sound and play.

Joined: 01 Mar 2013 Posts: 7 Location: WV, USA

Graunke wrote:

Who ever told you that switching out the pickups was a waste of time, is an idiot.

Upgrading the electronics and hardware on a guitar is a great help to low budget entry level guitars. Also, a good setup will go a long ways as well.

What kind of amp are you playing through?

Well to say that I would most likly be using a 7 string, that is what they meant.

I use a Fender G DEC built in special-effect amp.

Joined: 01 Mar 2013 Posts: 7 Location: WV, USA

unobuc wrote:

Which Vendetta do you have?
I used to own a V 3.0 and it was a fine guitar in its own right. A really great player with one of the best necks I've ever played. But certainly a pup swap could have been a nice upgrade.
I thought about putting a hot P90 in the bridge but never got around to it before I traded it.

FWIW - If you have never had the guitar set-up by a good tech you should do so. Will go a long way in improving the sound and play.

https://www.google.com/search?q=black+dean+vendetta&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=MW&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=z-UwUbvYE8jmigLnvoCwDA&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=633#imgrc=bxLj5YLF5LjriM%3A%3BXmTmwtGa1s--8M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fi1040.photobucket.com%252Falbums%252Fb407%252Fdirectprintingsupplies%252FVendettaTBKSFullFrontAngle.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.ebay.com%252Fitm%252FDean-Vendetta-XM-Trans-Black-Electric-Guitar-w-Gig-Bag-%252F270765748628%3B1022%3B568

A XM trans black vendetta

Joined: 03 May 2008 Posts: 6624 Location: Minnesota

Years ago, I modified a Vendetta into a 4 string beast that I played "I Did it all for the Nookie" on. Changed out the pickups, controls, set it up properly, and rocked that s#%t.

*disclaimer* I later quit that band and never played a Limp Bizkit song again.

Joined: 14 Aug 2012 Posts: 95

Graunke wrote:

Who ever told you that switching out the pickups was a waste of time, is an idiot.

Upgrading the electronics and hardware on a guitar is a great help to low budget entry level guitars. Also, a good setup will go a long ways as well.

What kind of amp are you playing through?

This. My XM Zebra print project sounds amazing when plugged in, doesn't play great but it needs a fret dress and new nut!

Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 2:40 am

This Vendetta sounds pretty effing professional:

And I switched out the pickup to a Duncan Blackout

Joined: 01 Mar 2013 Posts: 7 Location: WV, USA

wow that looks amazing! LOL it seems Duncan wins again

Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2013 11:32 am

Here is my deal...

If the guitar is tonally crap (and a sixty dollar Vendetta is...), put a big loud pup with its own personality in it, play it distorted and move on.

SuperDistortion, Invader, Distortion, EMG, Blackout, X2N, etc....

Any of those will make a 2x4 sound fairly similar to a 59 Les PAul with the same pickup in it.

Now, a righteous 59 LP would probably benefit from something a little better at communicating the tonal subtlety of the wood. But we are talking about a piece of whatever wood (if it is in fact wood) from China slapped together by kids not good enough to work in the iPhone factory.

But a big loud tone brick in there and rock on!

Joined: 15 Dec 2008 Posts: 4244 Location: Derry, N Ireland

Aceman wrote:

Here is my deal...

If the guitar is tonally crap (and a sixty dollar Vendetta is...), put a big loud pup with its own personality in it, play it distorted and move on.

SuperDistortion, Invader, Distortion, EMG, Blackout, X2N, etc....

Any of those will make a 2x4 sound fairly similar to a 59 Les PAul with the same pickup in it.

Now, a righteous 59 LP would probably benefit from something a little better at communicating the tonal subtlety of the wood. But we are talking about a piece of whatever wood (if it is in fact wood) from China slapped together by kids not good enough to work in the iPhone factory.

But a big loud tone brick in there and rock on!

Joined: 09 Mar 2004 Posts: 3071 Location: Frozen North

i have a Vendetta 4.0 nice and light neckthru 24 fret
good guitar for a import