So you’re thinking about modding your Artist guitar? While we design our entire range to feel great straight out of the box, we totally get that many players love adding their own personal touches with aftermarket mods!

To help you kick things off, we’ve put together a quick guide. However, even though we’re guitar nerds at heart, there are a few things to consider before you go breaking out the toolbox!

Pickup swaps are a commonly performed mod that can completely change the tone of your guitar!

1. First, and most importantly, any modifications will void your warranty, as well as our 100-day free return policy. If you make a mistake, we won’t be able to replace your guitar or accept a return for a refund. 
2. While modifications are fun, they do require skill. So if you’re unsure whether you’re up to the challenge, start with something simple and do your research to ensure you don’t break anything. If you find the modification hard, repairing your mistake will be equally challenging.
3. Because guitar parts are so specific, we generally don’t have detailed information about parts made by other manufacturers. Without reviewing the exact specifications of every third-party component, we simply can’t advise on whether they’ll be compatible with our products.
4. Since we are not a mod shop, we're unable to provide any other information about modifications outside the info on this page. As a rule of thumb, if you need to ask us about a particular measurement, then the modification is likely beyond your current abilities. If you'd like to modify a guitar you haven't yet purchased, the information on this page should help!

Measuring the scale length of your guitar is simple!

We provide a list of tech features for each of our guitars on our website, but for advice on fitting parts from other brands, you’ll need to check their specifications to make sure everything lines up correctly.

There is a wealth of information available on the web regarding aftermarket guitar modification! If we don’t know, someone out there is sure to have the answer, so fire up your laptop, hit the forums, and have fun! With the disclaimers out of the way, let’s dive into it!

How to swap the neck on my Artist guitar?

The first, and most important step in swapping a guitar neck is to ensure that your replacement neck is suited to the scale length of your guitar. The scale length of a guitar is the vibrating length of the string, measured from the nut to the saddle. 

If you don't have a suitable tape measure or ruler, you can find your guitar’s scale length in the “Tech Features” section at the bottom of our product descriptions. If the model you are modifying is discontinued or no longer listed on our website:

1. Place your guitar flat on a stable surface.

2. Use a tape measure or ruler to measure the distance from the nut to the centre of the 12th fret.

3. Double that measurement to find the scale length.

If you’re planning to fit a neck made by a different manufacturer to your Artist Guitar, ensure you confirm that the measurements for both match by comparing their measurements. 

Note: Guitars are sometimes manufactured with a scale length that differs from the standard. For example, while one model of a given guitar may be made with a 25.5” scale length, another version of the same model may be produced with a 24” scale length. Always confirm this measurement by taking the measurement yourself or by checking with the original manufacturer prior to swapping a guitar neck.

A set of callipers is a worthwhile investment if you're looking to start modifying your guitars!

The scale length of my replacement neck matches my Artist Guitar… now what?

That’s a great start! This brings us to our next step – ensuring the neck pocket dimensions on your new neck line up with the heel dimensions on your Artist guitar. There are a few important measurements to take note of: Neck Heel/Body Pocket width, Neck Heel/Body Pocket depth, Neck Heel/Body Pocket length, Neck Heel length, Screw Hole dimensions, and the number of frets

Once you’ve checked these measurements, you’ll be ready to proceed with fitting your replacement neck to your Artist guitar. Take your time to measure carefully, and always double-check before making any modifications.

The most common measurements for replacement necks are 2 & 3/16" / 55.56mm width and 5/8" / 16mm heel depth, though these measurements can vary from model to model. Always compare the measurements of your replacement neck to the body specifications.

Some neck models vary by the number of frets and the presence of a fretboard overhang. This is why it is crucial to ensure that the neck pocket length of your guitar body is compatible with the replacement neck.

While you can sand the sides of your body pocket to ensure a tight fit, you should never sand the sides of a neck. Sometimes, despite ensuring the correct measurements, you might find that there is a slight mismatch (a mm or so) between your neck and body due to manufacturing tolerances.

• If your pocket is too wide, you can shim the sides of the pocket to ensure a tight fit.
• If your pocket isn’t wide enough, you can sand its sides. Go slowly, continually test-fitting your neck until it fits snugly.

We've provided a list of neck pocket widths below. If the measurement you require is not listed below, feel free to send an email to sales@artistguitars.com.au with a request for the measurement, and we'll update this page to include it!

Neck pocket width on Artist Guitars models

Electric Guitars (mm)

Bass Guitars (mm)

What if the screw holes don't line up?

Screw hole placements on Artist guitars vary from model to model. If your replacement neck holes don’t line up, don’t sweat it! It’s not the end of the world. If you find yourself in this situation, follow these steps:

1. Measure the depth of the original screw holes. You can use a drill bit for this. Insert the drill bit until it stops, then mark the depth with a piece of masking tape. You don’t want to drill through the fretboard!
2. Plug the screw holes on your neck with dowels and wood glue. Once dried, trim and sand the dowels flush. 
3. Fit the neck into the body pocket, and use a drill press to drill new holes in your neck using the original body holes as a guide. If you don’t have a drill press, then you can clamp the neck and body together, using the body holes as a guide for the drill bit. 

Note: The body holes should be slightly wider than the screws, such that the screw can pass through freely without threading.

I’ve confirmed the neck and body fit together. What now?

Make sure the screw holes on your guitar body are slightly wider than the screws! The screws should bind to the neck itself.

Fantastic! You’re ready to bolt your neck onto your body! This may sound like the easiest part, but it’s easy to get wrong.

Fit the neck to the body, and start tightening your screws. Do this incrementally, a few turns at a time for each screw, until each screw is flush. Now it’s time to check your string alignment. You’re not going to re-string the whole guitar yet. For now, just the low and high E strings will suffice.

If either string is too close to the fretboard, loosen the screws slightly and gently pull the neck toward the misaligned side. Once you’re happy, tighten the screws again. This can take a few goes, so repeat this process until you’re happy with the alignment.

We’re not done yet! Follow the steps below to ensure an ultra-tight fit that will make your guitar sustain wonderfully!

1. Tune the strings to your desired tuning, stretching them to ensure stable tuning.
2. Loosen the screws by 1/4 turn each. You’ll hear the guitar creak slightly, and all your strings will now sound a slightly flatter pitch.
3. Tune the strings back up to your desired tuning.
4. Tighten the screws back to flush. The strings will now sound slightly sharp.
5. Re-tune your strings!

This process pulls the neck back as far as possible into the pocket for perfect fitment.

Congratulations! Your guitar has a new neck. Plug in and take it for a test ride!

How to swap the pickguard on my Artist guitar?

A new pickguard is an awesome way to give your guitar a facelift! However, before jumping online and ordering a new pickguard or scratchplate, there are a few things to consider.

While many generic replacement pickguards may look similar to the stock pickguard on your Artist guitar, there are often minor differences that could cause alignment issues with your pickups, hardware, or (more commonly) the screw holes on the body. 

The distance between pickups, as well as the size of the pickup route, will need to match exactly. Ensure you compare the available measurements of your replacement pickguard with those on your Artist guitar. 

Similarly, minor differences in screw hole alignment can be present on pickguards that otherwise align perfectly with your guitar body. In this case, you’ll need to drill new holes in the body to ensure a perfect fit. This is a fairly simple job, and is oftentimes unavoidable when fitting aftermarket pickguards, but it’s still something worth considering.

The pickup routing underneath your pickguard varies from model to model.

How to swap the pickups on my Artist guitar?

An aftermarket pickup upgrade is an extremely common modification that can drastically change the tone of your guitar. Despite this, it’s one of the more complex modifications for your average amateur enthusiast to attempt. 

To swap pickups, you’ll need to use a soldering iron, which, if wielded incorrectly, can damage critical components of your guitar, including the potentiometers, wiring, and pickups. Take great caution if you’re unfamiliar with how to solder.

Another important aspect to consider is the pickup cavity routing of your guitar body. We employ several routing sizes across our range, including ‘swimming pool’ routing, HSH, and HSS, among others. If you want to place a larger pickup, such as a humbucker or P90, in a guitar routed for single coil pickups, you’ll need to enlarge the cavity with a specialist tool like a router.

We’ve provided a list of Artist models routed for HSS & HSH configurations below. The sizing will also be immediately apparent if you remove the pickguard or pickups from your guitar to check the cavity size.

Pickup Configurations

Remember, despite appearing simple, modifications are often more complex than they first appear. Guitars rely on precise measurements for optimal setup and intonation. The proverb "measure twice, cut once" is the key!

Go slowly, take your time, and, if anything, throw in a few more measurements before making your cut - just to be safe! As any experienced guitar tinkerer will tell you, purchasing an ill-fitting part is a common part of the journey, so if you make a mistake, never fear - it's all part of the fun!