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Posted by: Nathan333 Nov 5 2008, 01:12 PM

Yo guyz

I own an epiphone les paul. Recently I've been thinking about getting a new guitar but I've decided to leave that 'til next summer. However, I've still got some spare monies and am thinking about modding the epiphone. I just wanted to know what mods would be worth considering, if any. Obviously, I'm a complete noob at this and will be paying a guitar tech/expert to make the mods for me.

Here are a few things I thought I could change:
- Upgrade Tuners?
- Change pickups? (any recommended p-ups?)
- Maybe some aesthetic modifications (paint/decals/volume knobs...)
- Bridge (is it possible to add a vibrato to an LP model?)
-+ anything any you guys at GMC think would be cool

As I said before, I'm a complete noob. Any advice would be helpful. And if you think anything would work, could you plz give an estimate of the price. Obviously, if you don't think it's worth it, then say.

Cheers

Posted by: MickeM Nov 5 2008, 01:23 PM

Yes! Quality tuners will absolutely be of help keeping it in tune. Though, my Epi LP does well with the original ones. So let's say, if it's a problem to keep it to stay in tune then it's well worth it.


Yes absolutely. The original pu's (at least on mine) are a bit smooth in tone. Does Jazz and blues very well, better than a lot of brand pickups IMO. But what I did was to move the bridge pu to the neck position and put a Dimarzio Super distortion in the bridge. For jazzy and softer tones I run the neck pu and for a rocker more gritty sound I use the bridge.
You can add any combination of your likings. EMG81/85 is a populat choise. JB/59' or JB/Jazz another. There are so many. Find out what you like for your guitar to sound and you'll get plenty of suggestions from ppl here.


Decals on a guitar spells u-g-l-y
Paint will cost you a bit but knobs, pu frames and pots and smaller things sure.


it's possible. I think Gibson has or is coming with a FR model. Spells the same as decals, u-g-l-y.
Some Bigsby like would look better but I rather think of LP's with tuneomatic. You could change the bridge and string holder to a high quality one for maybe better tone.


No idea about the price. Probably not worth it for a modded Epi, it's not unlikely you could get a new Epi for the price of the modifications... but then you'd be stuck with two Epi guitars you'd like to mod

Posted by: Trond Vold Nov 5 2008, 02:04 PM

I'm not sure i would have gone through all the troubles of adding a vibrato (Bigsby vibs seems easy to install though) or aestetic modifications, but i can definetly recommend changing the pups and tuners.

Posted by: berko Nov 5 2008, 02:11 PM

With different pickups you may achieve a vibe much closer to original gibsons. I would only bother with the tuner if it keeps falling out of tune (e.g G or D strings)... otherwise some gibson standards and classics do that too if not properly set up...

Ps. maybe some sandpaper for the vintage-look ?






(I know, that was a HORRIBLE JOKE)

Posted by: kaznie_NL Nov 5 2008, 04:00 PM

Hey Nathan! Back in action??

If you're gonna change anything, maybe make a small video or take pictures. Then you could write a little guide about changing pu's in LP style guitars.

little question: if you have a splittable Humbucker (My ibanez SA 08 has that) and I want to get one new pickup, would getting a new humbucker be an option? Or is it more expensive, and thus better to buy a new neck/middle pickup?

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Nov 6 2008, 01:42 AM

VOlume knobs, pickups and tuners should be replaced first, everything else requiers a bit more work. Also replacing everything with golden hardware can really look cool with the right color.

Posted by: dogman Nov 6 2008, 02:50 AM

I have several mid 90's Epiphone Les Pauls. After a few quick mods they both play just as well as either of my gibson LP Customs. If fact, the black Epi LP Standard has become my main axe that I play the most now.

This is what I do to all my non gibson les pauls when I get them.

1. change the tuners to grover standard tulip style tuners.

2. change all the electronics to CTS 500k volume & tone pots and switchcraft 3way selector.

3. change the pickups out to Eden Alnico PAF PRO II pickups (the same exact quality pickups Slash uses at a fraction of the cost of the Seymour Duncans. $40.00 a pair as opposed to $195.00)

4. swap out the junk bridge & saddles for a tone pro brass roller bridge.

5. change the plastic nut to a graphite one.

6. And lastly, have a complete setup done including a crown & polish.


The pickups are the biggest surprise. The Eden pickups are not well known and not very easy to get. there are a few sellers on ebay that will sell them. Then they are drop shipped from china. Outstanding pickups for the money.

Your Epiphone will sound and feel like a real Les Paul and give any gibson a run for the money for around $200.00 US

Posted by: Nathan333 Nov 6 2008, 06:01 PM

Cheers guyz, some great advice there!

I'd forgotten how bl@@dy good the community is here at GMC!
I think I'll get to moddin my LP soon!

Posted by: audiopaal Nov 6 2008, 06:39 PM

I've completely removed every removable part from my old epi..
I'm gonna upgrade everything there is too upgrade, and yes.. the upgrades will cost me more than the guitar
Why? For fun of course, I never use it so hopefully I'll make a sweet new guitar out of it

I have no clue what or how to do it yet, but I'll manage somehow

Good luck Nathan

Posted by: Jose Mena Nov 6 2008, 06:46 PM

I have a modded epiphone les paul, They guy that had it previously did it, pickups are seymor duncan, came out sweet, good tone.