Building the perfect Beast

[dgassie]

You know... I tried posting this on the Epi list but it seems everytime I post something over there, all I get back is bullshit. Either people want to argue something into the ground or come off as experts. Anything... except having a decent, helpful thread. I posted the following to see what other folks were doing to their Epis... but that's it. I give up on the Epi forum.


Anyway you look at it; Epiphone’s Les Paul is a very good guitar. Even when compared to others in higher price ranges, the Epiphone holds its own. The construction quality is high; they’re good looking and sound pretty good right out of the box. Even so, many of us have tried (or would like to) improve it, taking advantage of its inherent qualities. I’d like to know what some of you have done or plan to do to your Les Pauls and why you have chosen that modification. What and how much improvement do you expect after the modification?

I realize many of the modifications will fall under "player" preference but I’m sure knowing the basics would help us all out. What goes into building the perfect Beast? Remember…this is isn’t about turning an Epiphone into a Fender or a Gibson; It’s about making an Epi be all that it can be.



Pickups seem to be the first modification. What pickups give what sound? What sound are you looking for in the Les Paul. I tried Seymour Duncans 59s and love the sound. A Humbucker from Hell in the Neck and Evolution in the bridge, is a great combination too. Any other favorites out there?

Electronics are a big issue. Epi’s pup switches are famous for crapping out. I changed the pots, wiring and switch for better quality parts and got less noise and a smoother sound after the mod. My tone controls have more range now too. Since this mod made such a difference, I’d like to try one of the Historic wiring kits made for Gibson’s Les Paul. They’re not cheap but come with special Caps and are supposed to make even more of an improvement.

Tuners. I hear about a lot of players changing these. Mine came with Grovers and I haven’t had a problem so I haven’t messed with them. I think there are other options; locking tuners and different types of tuners too.

The factory nut is plastic. I changed mine for a bone nut and it changed the guitars sound, even though some say it’s only noticeable when playing open strings. Brass, tusk and syntethics are options too. What’s best?

The neck… Although extreme, I heard of some guys sanding the finish off the neck, since they say it lets the neck vibrate easier. Have any of you done this? Do Epis need fret jobs right off the bat? I know a relief adjustment is a "must do", are other adjustments necessary too?

Bridge. What’s the deal with lightweight tailpieces? How much do they change the sound? There are some very expensive locking Tone Pros out there, are they worth the investment? How about the bridge, are there any modifications to be made there?

Strings. What’s the deal… big thick ones for tone or slinky thin ones for ease of play?

[CAFeathers]

All of the mods to my Epi LP are just a personal preference. I put TonePros Bridge/Stopbar set on every guitar of mine that will take them. (I am an Authorized TonePros Dealer so that helps. Contact me if you want to save a few $ on them.) The tuners and nut are both stock from the factory. I replaced the pups with Bill Lawrence ( www.billlawrence.com ) L-49x Series Humbucker sized P-90's. And of course when I changed pups I replaced the pots and the switch. I also wired it a little different, I wired it so I have seperate volume control for each pup when the switch is in the middle position.
Strings, I used to put big ol' thick things on mine, however lately I have been getting back to 9's or 10's and I am using Flatwounds to get the big beefy tone I like.

[exyearrboy]

I'm currently experimenting with several beasts, since I've already got my standard strat pussycat and plain jane lp studio (my can she sing). I'm trashing my original mods of my squier strat since I'm not impressed with the fretless style and am going to turn it into a quasi-80's shred machine with something split in the neck and relatively mild, a tele neck pup in the middle, and something wild in the back (maybe the Evolution, who knows). Push pull pots might be handy for this one, but we shall see.
I'm also plotting out an Agile 2500 (or 2800 if I'm wrong and the 2500 is a bolt on... or maybe an SX, who knows!) when I come into the money to take care of the original nature of the question. Thus far I'm between an EMG passive (HZ-4 probably) in the bridge matched with a Kent Armstrong PAF in the neck, or an Armstrong Super Distortion matched to the PAF. We'll see what I have to do to the rest when I get there.

[Steelpriest]

Well, all in all it depends on personal demands. The first thing to check is if you like the stock pickups. On newer Epiphones I would not change them. The so called "Gibson designed" Alnico pickups are really good, at least the open coil ones (I have not checked the chrome or gold plated closed types so far). On older Epiphones the Kluson style tuners were not really reliable, but looked better. On a Les Paul Kluson style tuners are a must, IMO. Maybe replace them with Schaller tuners with perloid tulips. Most Epiphones need a setup when they jump out of the box, some require a fret job if you love very low action. I hardly never had bigger problems with the often mentioned electronic parts. Just one toggle switch needed to be replaced in my Korina Explorer. The pots may not be of best quality, but I suggest not to replace them until they are worn. When they start to scratch replace them with better ones. Yes, the nuts are crappy often and inaccurately made. Replace a nut with a bone nut I´d say. Stay away from brass nuts. I used to use brass nuts back in the day, when they were considered as the non-plus-ultra. Nowadays the knowledge says brass sucks tone. The strings lie on metal at both their ends and so the sound becomes very thin. It may sound quite brilliant but the metal nut is seemingly absorbing lots of warmth from the sound. I had to learn this a while ago over at the official site, I guess it was either Bob Skippy or Heliman who tought me a lesson. There was a link where I found a very good and reasonable description. If I remember right the thread was called "Brass sucks tone". Maybe you can find it still over there. And to cut it short now and to come to an end: I put on Schaller Security Locks on every guitar when it comes in, not only on Epiphones. And: If you want to buy a brandnew Epi, check it out personally. Do not buy online. I have and had lots of Epis, the quality often varies alot. Do not buy a guitar for 400 - 600 $ you never held in your hands. It might cost you additional 50 or 100 $ right out of the box to get things straightended out. Go to a store and pick up several ones and choose the best of them.

[supedupviper]

All I've really done to my Les Paul is lowered the action. It was pretty nice when I first bought it, but I decided it could go just a little lower. The pickups are amazing, they're the new designed by Gibson ones, with chrome covers. All I really need right now is a new switch becaue mines starting to crap out, and all new wiring and pots. When I turn my amp up, I still get pretty bad feedback even when standing about 15 feet away, facing away from the amp.

If everything goes as planned, I should have a Gibson LP Standard in about 2 months

[Doug]

I have owned a few Epi Les Pauls. Currently I have a LP Classic wine red quilt top. I have some modification plans for this guitar.

First, I don't like the tone from the open coil pups, as opposed to the chrome covered pups on other Epis I have owned. The pups in my guitar now seem very metallic and brash, while the covered ones were much warmer. Also its an aesthetics thing for me- I like the look of a LP with covered pickups. I think I am going to go for a pair of Gibson burstbuckers, or the 498/500 combination. Being a Les Paul I would like to keep it as Gibsonlike as I can.

The LP came with stock Grover tuners. They are the best I have had. Install the strings correctly, set them properly, and it stays in tune for weeks. IMHO, the stock Grovers are one of the best improvements Epi has offered in their guitars. I did appreciate the vintage look of the other tuners though, but they never stayed in tune like the Grovers.

Electronics- my selector switch sometimes has some noise, but is easily corrected with a squirt of cleaner. Knock on wood- I have'nt yet had problems with the switch or pots that I have heard from others.

My LP classic was bought from a store, and I agree that the best way to buy a guitar is to avoid the G.A.S. symptoms and go through a hands- on investigation. The guy at my store must have thought I was some kind of nut, because I was there almost every day, playing, looking, touching, smelling all these guitars until I found the one I wanted.

My LP classic was set up nicely when I bought it, so I didnt need a setup initially. I just had a setup done (new strings, action lowered, frets polished, intonation, neck adjustment) and it plays like absolute butter.

[Doug]

CA Feathers.....regarding the Tone Pros, I have heard nothing but praise about them, and when the time comes, I'll probably be contacting you.

Can you confirm or dispell a rumor that there have been fitting problems with Tone Pros hardware in some Epi Les Pauls?

[CAFeathers]

I know of no problems when the correct TonePros are used. I personally have put TonePros on 9 (Gibson, Epi, PRS, Schecter, and Jay Turser) of my own guitars with no problems at all.

[mandough]

Doug wrote:

"First, I don't like the tone from the open coil pups, as opposed to the chrome covered pups on other Epis I have owned. The pups in my guitar now seem very metallic and brash, while the covered ones were much warmer. Also its an aesthetics thing for me- I like the look of a LP with covered pickups. I think I am going to go for a pair of Gibson burstbuckers, or the 498/500 combination. Being a Les Paul I would like to keep it as Gibson like as I can."

It's not just the lack of covers that make your PUPs sound bright and metallic, Doug. They have ceramic magnets in there, and that is the characteristic tone of those kind of magnets.
The combination you mention doesn't exist on Gibson guitars, unfortunately, unless you do it yourself. They either come with 490R/490T---490R/498T---496R/500T---BurstBuckers---or 57 Classics. You currently have the 496/500 combo, provided your guitar is stock. If you want to keep the Gibson thing alive in there, instead of going to annother maker, and you like the warmer sound, the 490 in both places is good, and if you like a hotter bridge PUP, the 490/498 is the way to go, unless you'd like to have '57s for a bit flatter EQ curve with less in the high mids, or BBs for a "biteing" tone with more mids"

As for the original thought; If it pleases you to make a modification, then by all means do it without worrying about what anyone else thinks. It's your guitar, after all.

[exyearrboy]

Here here. Lately I've kind of been a sucker for the "obviously modified" Page LP look with the open coil bridge humbucker and covered neck. It's deliciously tacky and I've always enjoyed hacking up my guitar and then talking about it.
Ty

[Doug]

Mandough- thanks for the info. I thought the Gibson 57 Classics were the way to go, then saw the price tag. Right now Im looking at some Seymour Duncan 59's or whatever approximation to a PAF they have- chrome covered of course.

[mandough]

Sounds to me like you need to check out the "Seth Lover" from Seymore Duncan--SH55. It is the closest to the original PAF, even more so than the '59. It has Seth's signature of indorsement on the bottom plate, and will give the same tone as the very first PAF humbuckers.

[ZacAttack]

Well this looks like a good thread to say this on, so here I go. The quilt top I bought from Ol Geezer is one of the best out of the box guitars I have seen. I had to do a bit of tweekin on her before I got her the way I wanted. That being siad, I think it's time for a pro set up. I am saving up cash to take her to a guitar tech that comes highly recomended around here. I plan on having him level and polish the frets, and go with a bone nut so I can get her as low as my Gibson without fret buzz. I also am thinking of going with new tuners and hardware, most likely all flat black. The pups are fine as are the pots and switches. Strap locks are also coming soon but I will prob do that myself.

Chet I may be sending some business your way if tone pro comes in flat black, maybe even gloss black if thats all I can find. I like the kluson style look but I think I will most likely go with grover tuners.

Sugestions are welcome.

Z ;D

[CAFeathers]

They do come in a black that is not as shiney. Let me know.

[Steelpriest]

Hi Zac, well, it´s your guitar at last, but don´t ruin this beauty with black hardware! D'oh! What about GOLD HARDWARE? This would look kickass... Just my opinion.