Epiphone ---> Gibson headstock mod

[JohnnyC]

Hi all...i have recently just purchased my first epiphone ever...a les paul plus cherrysunburst flame maple veneer top with seymour duncans '59 in bridge and neck.also replaced bridge with a grover kind.

i bought this guitar second hand with my girlfriend...(she rocks btw)...mainly becoz she has a fetish for cherry sunburst but neways ...i am a guitar snob...and althou this epiphone plays and sounds fuken awesome... and i dare say so comparable to my other guitars...(GIBSON SG,and PRS CU24 and singlecut)

neways...just had a quick look on ebay and found some of these veneeers with the gibson logo on it and thought hey...lets buy it and stick it to the headstock and apply some laquer.

but i noticed the gibson headstock has a like open booked style headstock(the tip) wheras this epi has the horns/paper ends or whatever ya call them cut off...

so my mission to make my newly acuired guitar to my wall of lovelys has been slightly slumped...

as i said before i am a snob but neways...
i was contemplating on some how extending the headstock cutouts to match that of hte gibsons...

anyone done this sorta mod before and with much sucess...

ive read about those idiots on ebay trying to scam others in another thead and i think its great that this community has alerted others from a scam, but im asking purely for my own interest.

apart from this headstock i love this fuken guitar...

cheers for any advice

[Steelpriest]

Well, it is possible... but I strongly recommend to ask an experienced luthier to do this job for you. Don´t try D.I.Y. jobs without having the right tools and without any knowledge. Keep also in mind that at least the headstock must be lacquered anew...

Yes, it is tempting to fake a Gibson out of an Epiphone... But on the other side... for what purpose? Well, the only answer would be the following: Just to show it to other so called "connoisseurs" that always look down on Epiphone and hear how they praise this Gibson that is by far better than any Epi or Elitist.

And if I would fake a Gibson I´d do it thoroughly... I´d also fake the serial number and Made in U.S.A. stamp. In addition to that I would ask a guitar luthier to revise the fretboard inlays using real mother of pearl instead of perloid.

I dare to say, I would identify a faked Gibson at first glance otherwise! ;D

AGAIN: A sloppy D.I.Y. job will definitely ruin the beauty of your Epiphone.

P.S.: I even take pride in playing Epiphones! No need to pose with Gibsons!

[CAFeathers]

If you were so concerned about what the headstock says why did you even buy it?

If it looks good, sound good, and you like it, why not just leave it alone.

There is no need to be ashamed of hanging an Epi next to a Gibson or a PRS or any other guitar for that matter.

[ExCaptain]

Nicely said Steelpriest!!
Why would anyone want to change the headstock. For all the time and trouble to do this, spend a couple of hundred more and get a Gibson LP Studio or even an older/well played Standard. It doesn't make sense to me. Once the mod is made, chances are you are always going to be able to spot the fake. That would be more embarassing to me than having the Epi in the first place (which to me is not embarassing at all!!!) Keep the Epi and then BUY a Gibson LP, it's always great to have a few Les Pauls lying around, right???

[Ol Geezer]

CAFeathers said:

If it looks good, sounds good, and you like it, why not just leave it alone.

Exactly!

[JohnnyC]

fair enough comments guys

but the epi was an impulse purchase thanks to my gf (who didnt have enough money at the time so i went halves)
I dont really care if anyone else can tell its an epi when i do the mod coz i have my other guitars AND a newly aquired gibson LP custom i just purchased off ebay on the way...woo hoo


neways thanks for the help and lack of it and ive decided to give the epi to a luthier to do the headstock conversion for me...he said he will just cut it flat and attach the new openbookcutout.
also geting mop inlays as well as.
the luthier im getting done with is fuken awesome ...he even did the PRS birds for my singlecut for only $300(AUS) including refret and he reckons the headstock mod with veneer and new inlays will set me back $400(AUS)

cant wait to move into my new house and get this guitar wall going...mwahahahah