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Gibson parts on epiphone

prolik

New member
Joined
Mar 18, 2006
Messages
103
Hello!
I recently bought Epiphone Custom plus(yeah,I know it's not original),so I'm giving it a little cosmetic change..
I want to put Gibson amber top hat Knobs,Gibson mounting Ring,switchwasher-creme color

So,does anyone know WILL THEY FIT IN EPI.I don't want to buy those parts,and then found out they doesn't match on my EPIPHONE :bonk ...Have one pickup ring already,and from just looking,it suits fine??

Thnx for help ;)

Visit me and listen:
http://alandovic.tripod.com
 

335-S Player

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Joined
Nov 12, 2005
Messages
47
The volume/tone knobs will be a problem because the splines (teeth) on the Epi are foreign, and will NOT fit many of the knobs available...like Allparts brand. The reason is that USA pots, like Gibson, use a finer spline (more little teeth) on the pot shafts.

This place offers BOTH domestic and import spline compatible knobs. They are efficient and economical people to deal with:

http://www.guitarelectronics.com/category/20electronicparts.1electronicpartskits

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As far as pickup rings go, I have no personal experience. You may need to toothpick & glue the old screw holes, and then redrill the mounting ring holes. Also, you may need to fit the curvature of the mounting ring bases to fit the natural curvature of your LP's body. No big deal, but sometimes getting the pickup ring height in the first place is a crapshoot. A low pickup ring on a LP body looks goofy, IMHO.

-------------------------------------------------------

The pickup selector ring may be problematic. First, you run the risk of tearing up the finish because, unlike the Gibson parts I have seen...The Epi is hard to remove because it has an adhesive backing! I did not want to destroy the finish on my Epi LP just to change the ring color, so I canned that idea.

I bought an original Gibson USA pickup selector ring for another guitar. It was thicker, and had NO adhesive backing compared this retailer's part:

http://www.guitarelectronics.com/product/LPT1
 

59Vampire

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Feb 1, 2005
Messages
4,223
WHY??? its not going to make it more Gibsonlike. Enjoy it for what itis and invested in pups if you have to spend $$$
 

335-S Player

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Nov 12, 2005
Messages
47
I don't think the original poster disagrees. He did mention these are cosmetic changes.

I did turn my Epi into more of a "Gibson" with a 490R*, a Tony Iommi Signature in the bridge, and TP-6 tailpiece.

*I wired the 490R permanently as a parallel-wired-humbucker to put the high gain muddiness of the 490R in check.
 

prolik

New member
Joined
Mar 18, 2006
Messages
103
Yes,thnx 59Vampire,but my replacement pups are already on the way..just to get those plastic-cosmetic parts,and I'll be settled!!
I recently A/B my Epi Custom+ and Gibson Lp,and although better,Gibson higher price didn't justify..
Soon,with my new pups and cosmetic change,I'll be ready for new duel!

Thnx for the link :)

Visit me and listen:
http://alandovic.tripod.com
 
B

bryvincent

Guest
Gibson pup rings will not fit in an epi. epis have the wider pup rings and also wider pup cavities, when you put a gibson ring on it, you can see the cavity on the sides.
 

curt1lp

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Joined
Nov 17, 2005
Messages
3,266
G'day,

I've upgraded a few epis. IMHO you need to replace the pots, pickups, wiring (I did mine up with vintage style braided wire in the 50s style), capacitors (definitely the capacitors), tuners (unless they're Grovers then they can stay) and and bridge to get a nice guitar if you're starting with an EPI, a fret dress and cutting the nut slots to proper depth may also be necessary, Sorry if thats bad news but thats been my experience with Epis.
 

Tonebender

Member
Joined
May 19, 2004
Messages
721
Not true. I gave my Epi a complete refit with mostly Gibson parts including pickup rings, and selector switch ring. I didn't have any trouble at all. Then again I might have just gotten lucky as well. Prolik, I recommend a pickup and electronics change though. I did it and was very happy with the results.
 

curt1lp

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Nov 17, 2005
Messages
3,266
BTW if you replace the pots to higher spec Gibson or (even better) RS ones, then fitting Gibson knobs won't be a problem at all. I can post a picture of the control cavity of my epi if you like.
 

prolik

New member
Joined
Mar 18, 2006
Messages
103
curt1lp said:
G'day,

I've upgraded a few epis. IMHO you need to replace the pots, pickups, wiring (I did mine up with vintage style braided wire in the 50s style), capacitors (definitely the capacitors), tuners (unless they're Grovers then they can stay) and and bridge to get a nice guitar if you're starting with an EPI, a fret dress and cutting the nut slots to proper depth may also be necessary, Sorry if thats bad news but thats been my experience with Epis.

Hm,I ordered pickups already,and stock tuners seems to stay in tune(this is Custom model with gold hardware,so I guess this tuners are little better)
If you could explain how better sounding will my guitar become if change pots,capacitor,wiring !
How/what exactly parts should I order?

This Epi is almost as new,so I don't afraid for pots be soon brooken,just if sound will get better and how?

THNX for your time!
 

curt1lp

Active member
Joined
Nov 17, 2005
Messages
3,266
Hi there's a thing called 50's wiring scheme, do a search in the forum, plenty of threads on this, the 50s wiring scheme gives a slightly clearer sound and better control withthe tone pots in my opinion. Capacitors are very important, the capacitors that come with the epi are the little flat green caps, I find that these sort of subtly choke the sound and give it a sort of slightly out of tune vibe (eg 1% out of tune in a manner of speaking). If you change to sprague orange drops of a similar rating or even better NOS sprague vitamin q 0.022 uf 200-400V rated capacitors, IMHO you will get a clearer sound with the harmonics more tuned to the fundemental, i know this personally because I constructed an a-b switch and tested it out in guitars quickly switching between capacitors. The braided witiring I used to reduce interference (and it looks cool). I changed the pots as I found the pots on epiphone were flimsy eg I pulled the shaft out of one just removing the knob. I replaced the bridge due to tuning problems and annoying metallic overtones caused by loose saddles, I got a heavier Nashville style bridge that would fit Epi (gibson ones won't) new off ebay and I found both the tuning problems and overall sound were improved. I'll put up a picture later if I can. Hope this helps, Don.
 

prolik

New member
Joined
Mar 18, 2006
Messages
103
curt1lp said:
Hi there's a thing called 50's wiring scheme, do a search in the forum, plenty of threads on this, the 50s wiring scheme gives a slightly clearer sound and better control withthe tone pots in my opinion. Capacitors are very important, the capacitors that come with the epi are the little flat green caps, I find that these sort of subtly choke the sound and give it a sort of slightly out of tune vibe (eg 1% out of tune in a manner of speaking). If you change to sprague orange drops of a similar rating or even better NOS sprague vitamin q 0.022 uf 200-400V rated capacitors, IMHO you will get a clearer sound with the harmonics more tuned to the fundemental, i know this personally because I constructed an a-b switch and tested it out in guitars quickly switching between capacitors. The braided witiring I used to reduce interference (and it looks cool). I changed the pots as I found the pots on epiphone were flimsy eg I pulled the shaft out of one just removing the knob. I replaced the bridge due to tuning problems and annoying metallic overtones caused by loose saddles, I got a heavier Nashville style bridge that would fit Epi (gibson ones won't) new off ebay and I found both the tuning problems and overall sound were improved. I'll put up a picture later if I can. Hope this helps, Don.

Yes,Thank you very much..
I found out about 50' wiring,and have schematic...
I'll try orange drops capacitors,but isn't 022 value for single coil,and 047 for humbucker guitars?
I can choose 200v or 600v from allparts store(only one available to me),so,please recommend one of this?

THNX
 

curt1lp

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Nov 17, 2005
Messages
3,266
G'day
No its the 0.022 you want for humbuckers (some even use 0.015's uf)and the voltage rating doesn't matter, If you choose 600v make sure its not so big it won't fit in the cavity, if that were to be the case then 200V is better for easier installation. Voltage rating makes no difference to the sound. Make sure that the orange drops are cylindrical not flattish in crossection as there are at least two sorts that I know of, I think the ones to use are the cylindrical profile ones, I think they are called 715ps but i could be wrong about that, they are polypropylene foil in construcion AFAIK. I have tried the flattish smaller orange drops but I find them not much better than the original greencaps (I think the flat smaller ones are similar in construction to green caps)
 

GlassSnuff

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Jan 30, 2002
Messages
3,671
Yep, AllParts is selling 715's now, 200V in packs of three.

I trust your seach for 50's wiring revealed enough people changing out the pots in their Historics to convince you those in an Epi are worthless. ;) (and with CTS pots, you can use real Gibson knobs)

Curt's quite right about the bridge. If it's one of those with deep "V" notches, replace it with a good Gotoh (like Tone Pros uses), being sure you get a metric one.

No, you can't turn it into a Gibson, but these changes will help an Epi more than a Gibson, so as long as it plays well, it's certainly worth the effort.
 

AnthemBassMan

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Jan 15, 2003
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197
-Yeah, take everyone's advice so far. I had to dump my Classic due to financial issues a while back. Oh does it suck to be po'! But I picked up an Epi Classic quilt top. Yeah I know. Eye candy! The first thing was a few months after buying it I had to replace the selector switch. After that, I put in the DiMarzio Virtual PAFs I took out of my old Classic. Then I bought a matched set of CTS 500k pots from Black Rose Customs. If I remember correctly, they are all matched between 510k and 514k. Those along with the Orange Drop caps, .022 for the bridge and .015 for the neck. I've also been thinking about trying those Sozo mustard caps. Any users here yet? But yeah, the electronics are a major weak point in Epis.

-The fit and finish on mine is actually quite good. No fret issues either. Next updates are going to be a bone nut replacement and Gotoh aluminum tailpiece. Stew-Mac has the Gotoh for around $28 I think. So far the stock, ugly green tuners are holding up. So they can wait to be replaced. I know it's not a Gibson, but I now have a pretty sweet playing and sounding guitar. Total price including the updates so far is maybe $450. Not too bad. Here's a pic of it. And the bridge p'up is also an F-spaced DiMarzio. Another thing with Epis and the Gibson Classic. Oh yeah, one more minor update I did. I replaced those stinking top hat knobs with Gibson amber speed knobs. I've always hated those top hats.

48c07fa0.jpg


L8R,
Matt D.
 

59Vampire

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Feb 1, 2005
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4,223
just to be a pain in the ass, hasnt anyone realized the is the GIBSON forum and not epi? LOL
 

prolik

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Mar 18, 2006
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103
59Vampire said:
just to be a pain in the ass, hasnt anyone realized the is the GIBSON forum and not epi? LOL

59Vampire said:
just to be a pain in the ass, hasnt anyone realized the is the GIBSON forum and not epi? LOL

It is Gibson sign on my Epi truss rod cover!

Nobody is trashing Gibson here,this talk is just about making our gitars from Gibson family better... :biggrin:

So...
BTW,that is an great finish on pictured guitar!

http://alandovic.tripod.com
 

rgates

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Jun 4, 2003
Messages
167
thieery said:
Hi, you can have a look on my site http://thieery.tr.free.fr
It's a Goldtop with P90s but many things are transposable to a standard.
Where did you get the pickguard for the GT? I don't like the beveled edge on the stock guard, I much prefer the rolled edge.

Rick
 
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