An act of GOD???? Honest question with some context.

[norcalpiper]

So, i did something I rarely do. I bought an Epiphone. My experience with Epiphone has always been one that requires serious luthier setup and correction. Only then do I have a somewhat decent guitar. That is my experience. I have always seen reviews, or threads “I’ve been playing Gibsons for 40 years and this Epiphone sounds just as good”. I always felt those were people trying to make themselves feel better that they had to settle for an Epiphone…..anyway.

So I bought an Epiphone Dove Studio acoustic after I chipped some finish off the head stock of my Gibson Hummingbird on the coffee table while playing on the couch.

The guitar arrived and I took it straight to Dave Lynch who owns Sacramento Guitar Works (Guitar whisperer). I replaced the nut, saddle, and pins with bone.

I also removed all the fishman battery, wires and pickup.

I had the finish on the top sanded to a thin satin, nexk as well. I removed the weird, puffy pickguard and replaced it with a proper shaped tortoise shell hard guard from maker in Canada. Took the shitty wilkinsons and replaced with vintage plastic deluxe gotohs. All in all about $250.

All in $700. This guitar is now….Here’s the cliche …..It sounds like heavenly butter. It equals my Gibson at any point. I do know it was made in Indonesia, which we all know is miles above Chinese made, but this guitar does not have vaneers for sides and back. The maple is solid as I can se the wood grains on the inside matching the outside. There is a neck AND heel scarf….Its just weird that it sounds so good. It really does sound as good as any Gibson acoustic I’ve ever played (I have 2).

OK, finally my question. I am worried that if I put another pickup inside it, i will ruin this magic I’ve come upon. It was my intent to do so, but I’d like to ask if those of tou in the know think it might dampen, or kill the sound. Thanks for any advice.

 

[J.D.]

As long as you are not removing any wood, I can't see how adding a pickup would kill its heavenly tone. Worst case, try it temporarily and remove it if it does.

 

[Buc McMaster]

Good instruments can be had at widely varying price points these days.......you found one. However, much as you observe that some Epi buyers might be fooling themselves, could you not be doing the same? The back & sides are, in fact, laminated, so you are fooling yourself on that point.

To your question.........what kind of pickup are you considering? A UST could alter your tone as it is placed in the vibration path of the strings. Personally I always preferred K&K transducers.....invisible install, excellent sound reproduction and there is no alteration of acoustic tone. Completely passive, no battery to fiddle with and, depending on your style of play, can add a very nice percussive element. A bit of outboard EQ and they're hard to beat.

 

[norcalpiper]

Thank you for tour input. I will look into K&K. Your description sounds perfect.

About the back and sides being veneers. I know that is what they are supposed to be, but both sides have a prounoind 3 bar streak in the grain on the outside. 2 of th lines meet up and then break off. If you look theough the sound hole, you can see the same pattern directly parallel with the outside. This is on both sides. The back has an erupting grain pattern with 2 “eyes” in the middle making it look like a weird face. Look theough the soundhe and you can see the pattern exactly. My luthier thinks it may have been a body meant for the “Inspired by Gibson” line that had a flaw and was just used for the lessor studios. I checked a studio hummingbird at Guitar center and it was definitely a vaneer. Not complaining, and i have wondered if maybe that is why this guitar sounds so good. Anyway, thank you for advice. Will look into picking up the pickip today.

 

[norcalpiper]

Just ordered. K&K mini pickup. Can’t wait!

 

[GlassSnuff]

My theory is this:

It takes pride to make good guitars on a production line. Americans had it in the '50s. The Indonesians have it now.

 

[norcalpiper]

That seems to be an emerging paradigm. Indonesia guitar making is considered the new “Japanese” made guitars of the 70’s and 80’s.

 

[Buc McMaster]

Just ordered. K&K mini pickup. Can’t wait!

Good choice. Doing the install yourself? While perhaps initially intimidating, the super glue install is far and away the best option. If you're doing it yourself, do as many glue-less 'dry runs' as needed to feel confident of the procedure. I'd also recommend a good outboard preamp like a Red Eye........though the pickup alone has a strong output, a preamp seems to smooth everything nicely. I often used a compressor pedal live as well to tame some of the transients present in a spirited live performance..........never in the 'squash' mode, but just enough dialed in to keep things sane. G'luck!

 

[SpencerD]

Thank you for tour input. I will look into K&K. Your description sounds perfect.

About the back and sides being veneers. I know that is what they are supposed to be, but both sides have a prounoind 3 bar streak in the grain on the outside. 2 of th lines meet up and then break off. If you look theough the sound hole, you can see the same pattern directly parallel with the outside. This is on both sides. The back has an erupting grain pattern with 2 “eyes” in the middle making it look like a weird face. Look theough the soundhe and you can see the pattern exactly. My luthier thinks it may have been a body meant for the “Inspired by Gibson” line that had a flaw and was just used for the lessor studios. I checked a studio hummingbird at Guitar center and it was definitely a vaneer. Not complaining, and i have wondered if maybe that is why this guitar sounds so good. Anyway, thank you for advice. Will look into picking up the pickip today.

This isn't English. What the fuck is it?