Epiphone LP is nice - Upgrades/Guitar work

[Music&Chaos]

Hello all,

I have been working on several Epiphone LPs doing cap changes and pickup installs and such.

The Mallory mustard caps strike again. These just sound terrible in the Epiphones but they seem to come stock in them.

Mushy low end? Raspy/brittle highs and suppressed mids? Swap out those caps.

In this case, went with Vitamin T Paper in oil caps.

Installed a set of Planet Tone 57 pickups.

This is a really, really sweet guitar now. Has that 50s tone all over it!

Balanced but has some nice snap and bite. Transparent and very open.

I am not sure I have had so much fun ever on an Epi.

That being said, I still dislike the finish overall when compared to nitro.

If they could just finish these things in nitro....man......they could be so close.

As it sits, still feels like an Epiphone, like they all do and not their Gibson counterparts BUT that is alright.

Let Epi be its own thing and it's all good.

A really great playing, great sounding guitar that I would honestly consider owning.

First Epi I have found that has made me feel that way. Don't worry, it took almost 20 years for me to find a Gibson I liked the feel of too.....

 

[Music&Chaos]

@The~Kid

If it had the nitro finish, I could see these being proper competition against Gibson. As it sits, I could see how someone would prefer this Epi over certain Gibson models, at least after the upgrades.

 

[ZEEGLER]

I used to have a couple of Epi LPs. The thick poly finish is definitely offputting. I de-glossed both of mine, and while it didn't thin the finish down really, it certainly made the guitars look and feel better.

 

[D-Rock]

I bought this used Chinese Epi LP Standard last year because it had old logo EMGs in it already which I was going to install anyways. At least I think it's MIC because the headstock only has a serial # and no country listed.
It's a 2004 guitar and the best sounding Epi LP I've ever played. It's shockingly lightweight and has a great airy bounce and lively feel to it. I usually like my LPs to be heavy so this one really surprised me. It chugs hard with an 85 in the bridge 81 in the neck strung with 11-56 in standard drop D.

 

[MetalHeart]

I got a Epiphone 59 Tabacco burst satin. Weighs 10lbs. Very cool guitar. I put 8s on it and reliced it a little ,aged Grover tuners.
Not totally satisfied with the pickups. Still looking for something to put into it.

 

[Music&Chaos]

I got a Epiphone 59 Tabacco burst satin. Weighs 10lbs. Very cool guitar. I put 8s on it and reliced it a little ,aged Grover tuners.
Not totally satisfied with the pickups. Still looking for something to put into it.

I am getting a set of Blues Heritage pickups in soon from Planet Tone for my LP. Will report back how they perform. A buddy grabbed a set of their 57s and they sounded exactly as described and what I would expect a 50s PAF to sound like.

 

[Music&Chaos]

I got a Epiphone 59 Tabacco burst satin. Weighs 10lbs. Very cool guitar. I put 8s on it and reliced it a little ,aged Grover tuners.
Not totally satisfied with the pickups. Still looking for something to put into it.

@grimmchaos also has a thrashfactor set, amongst several other sets for decent pricing as well and is a great seller to deal with.

 

[MetalHeart]

I am getting a set of Blues Heritage pickups in soon from Planet Tone for my LP. Will report back how they perform. A buddy grabbed a set of their 57s and they sounded exactly as described and what I would expect a 50s PAF to sound like.

Yeah Im actually on their site now. not bad prices at all. Looking at the 59 set

 

[MetalHeart]

Hello all,

I have been working on several Epiphone LPs doing cap changes and pickup installs and such.

The Mallory mustard caps strike again. These just sound terrible in the Epiphones but they seem to come stock in them.

Mushy low end? Raspy/brittle highs and suppressed mids? Swap out those caps.

In this case, went with Vitamin T Paper in oil caps.

Installed a set of Planet Tone 57 pickups.

This is a really, really sweet guitar now. Has that 50s tone all over it!

Balanced but has some nice snap and bite. Transparent and very open.

I am not sure I have had so much fun ever on an Epi.

That being said, I still dislike the finish overall when compared to nitro.

If they could just finish these things in nitro....man......they could be so close.

As it sits, still feels like an Epiphone, like they all do and not their Gibson counterparts BUT that is alright.

Let Epi be its own thing and it's all good.

A really great playing, great sounding guitar that I would honestly consider owning.

First Epi I have found that has made me feel that way. Don't worry, it took almost 20 years for me to find a Gibson I liked the feel of too.....

View attachment 405133
View attachment 405134

View attachment 405135

Nice soldering work very clean

 

[Music&Chaos]

Yeah Im actually on their site now. not bad prices at all. Looking at the 59 set

I would note that there is a 20% off sale currently, so you can definitely get some good prices.

You need a 50mm for your bridge size.

Also, don't be afraid to reach out and ask them about the sets.

Their 50s sets, whether it is the P90s or humbuckers, are definitely vintage sounding.

They aren't slamming your amp with a ton of output like some modern stuff.

They have sets that do that but yeah.

I really dig my Pound Cake set in a tele hybrid build I did too.

 

[VonBonfire]

In this case, went with Vitamin T Paper in oil caps.

You've been harping on this enough that I might need to put these in my Viper just to check the difference between the sprague orange drops that you described as I forget what but your description of them previously seemed like it fit the tonal profile I've been getting and I want to improve it as much as possible before I dare to use it at a gig.

As for poly finishes, I love them. Tough as nails for gigging. My Edwards has been rained on a few times, no problem. Toss it in the case and dry things out when I get home. Meanwhile the finish on the neck of my Gibson ES started to wear through in a bunch of places after about 400 gigs. Sure lacquer feels nice but I still love a good poly. My Viper's poly is very thin, I can't fault it at all.

Your Epiphone looks great!!!

 

[Music&Chaos]

You've been harping on this enough that I might need to put these in my Viper just to check the difference between the sprague orange drops that you described as I forget what but your description of them previously seemed like it fit the tonal profile I've been getting and I want to improve it as much as possible before I dare to use it at a gig.

As for poly finishes, I love them. Tough as nails for gigging. My Edwards has been rained on a few times, no problem. Toss it in the case and dry things out when I get home. Meanwhile the finish on the neck of my Gibson ES started to wear through in a bunch of places after about 400 gigs. Sure lacquer feels nice but I still love a good poly. My Viper's poly is very thin, I can't fault it at all.

Your Epiphone looks great!!!

Hey, if you end up wanting any of those caps, I honestly have the last ones available in the .015 range and they are the last that will ever be produced according to Mojo Tone.

Just PM if you are interested in any.

I'll be listing them on Reverb soon for what sweetwater used to sell them for but you'd get them for less of course.

Those are my favorite values overall, especially for LPs.....


Unfortunately, not my Epiphone, a close friends. Really dig it!

 

[VonBonfire]

Hey, if you end up wanting any of those caps, I honestly have the last ones available in the .015 range and they are the last that will ever be produced according to Mojo Tone.

Just PM if you are interested in any.

I'll be listing them on Reverb soon for what sweetwater used to sell them for but you'd get them for less of course.

Those are my favorite values overall, especially for LPs.....


Unfortunately, not my Epiphone, a close friends. Really dig it!

Thanks M&C. I owe Wayne money right now so can't really commit to other gear purchases right this second. What caps besides those do you consider the best? I'm running 500k concentric CTS pots and "buckers in the Viper. You described those sprague orange drops in a certain way. Anything I can order later that might be an improvement?

 

[MetalHeart]

Yeah mine has the Gibson pickups in it that came stock. I pulled the covers off and relic them. Not potted

 

[Music&Chaos]

Thanks M&C. I owe Wayne money right now so can't really commit to other gear purchases right this second. What caps besides those do you consider the best? I'm running 500k concentric CTS pots and "buckers in the Viper. You described those sprague orange drops in a certain way. Anything I can order later that might be an improvement?

I mean, it kinda just is based off what you dig. As far as Paper in oils, I can get you these cheaper than anything else you'll find.