Epiphone Les Paul

[Sarah93003]

Wow! Nice score Danny!

[dubtrub]

Thanks, everyone!

It plays real nice after I set the string height, which is now nice and low like I like it. Humbuckers are a new experience to me so I have no idea what to compare the sound to other than I love the way it sounds. That's why I toyed with getting the Epiphones as they are relatively inexpensive compared to a Gibson. I've always fancied my Strats for Blues and my Jazzmasters or Mosrites for Surf. I think I like the sound of the Epi's better for Blues. Still can't ever replace a Mosrite or Jazzmaster though.

[oipunkguy]

nice find Danny, grover tuners too.

[GattonFan]

I like! That grain showing through makes for one beautiful LP ... Very nice - and at a great price.
Dennis

[LOSTVENTURE]

I've never been very impressed with humbuckers. So I guess I lucked out when I found an Epiphone 56 Gold Top. The real deal maker here was not just the P-90s but this guitar has one of the best necks that I have ever encountered ons any Les Paul that I've owned. It is much shallower than the average Paul. When I set it up I was surprised at how low I could take the action and still not get any buzzes. It is still one of my favorites, particularly since I had Lindy Fralin re-wind the coils to the original Gibson specs. The Epi Les Pauls (and Casinos) are really very good quality guitars, and a great bang for the buck, even new.
Don

[LOSTVENTURE]

I thought that I saw a comment from Dubtrub earlier asking for a photo of my Epi Gold top. Ijust wanted to say that I don't have a digital camera or I would love to post a photo. Sorry.
Don

[dubtrub]

Regarding the Epi Les Paul I purchased off Craigslist. I have since played a couple real Gibson Les Paul's for comparison and as a result have upgraded/modified my Epi LP.

First off, I popped the plastic nut off and dressed and re-crowned all the frets from jumbo to a little less than medium in height. That made it pretty much comparable to all my other guitars. I replaced the nut by re-fitting it with camel bone. I scraped the plastic film covering the rosewood fret board so that it would take on oil. I installed a cream colored pick guard to closely match the other plastic, and with some slight modification installed an amber colored Gibson selector switch tip to fit the metric switch as on the vintage guitars. I cut out new black replacement covers to replace the cream colored backside control covers, and made a new plain black with white trim truss rod cover. I didn't want all that writing on the cover describing the model. Next I'll replace the 3-way switch with a real Gibson/Switch craft switch.

I won an auction on eBay for a set of 2005 Gibson PAF pickups with nickel covers, complete with the Gibson brass shielding control plate, pots and capacitors already wired to the jack plate, all in brand new condition and all for a hundred bucks. Man, that has transformed an Epi into a great sounding Blues guitar. I got four hundred bucks total in a guitar that plays as good if not better, with a better action (in my opinion), than my two buddies $2500 Gibson Les Paul's.

Oh yeah, I replaced the amber control knobs with the more vintage correct gold colored with the metal pointers.

[Sarah93003]

That looks great, Danny!

[dubtrub]

Thanks, Sarah!

Here's an 1959 Les Paul and this was basically the look I was aiming for minus the tulip Kluson tuners. I'll stick with the nickel plated Grover's.

[Sarah93003]

Wow! I'd say you nailed it!