I would say check out other reviews but to be honest, the stock parts and pickups are fantastic. I would recommend playing with the screw heights on the pickups as that can add more clarity without swapping the pickups. You can enjoy this guitar stock for decades as is.
the stock pickups in mine sounded very muddy. I gave them a good go but couldn’t stand them. A good set of pickups really helps the feel of the special in terms of dynamics and expression
I’ve got the Epiphone SG Special with the same pickups and wiring, changing them is the last thing on my mind with that guitar. There is nothing whatsoever wrong with them, sounds every bit as good as good as my ‘77 Les Paul Special and my ‘55 Les Paul Junior.
Love fralin pickups. I did an electronic/pickup upgrade with them in my Revstar and really brought the guitar to life. Thanks for sharing the process of making a good guitar great!!! Really enjoyed the tool recs
I used them too. I put a set of matched Fralin p90's in one of the new Melody Makers, plus new pots, paper caps, and 50's wiring, completely changed the sound, I love it!
Remember, if you are young and have a band ... or are training to be a hired gun, and want to tour, something like this is ideal. The poly paint makes it less sensitive to temperature changes. If it gets damaged or stolen it's not hard to replace and you can insure this to the value of replacing it so all the after market parts and labor can be part of the valuation. This is a GREAT way to tour safely... while playing a guitar you LOVE.
Great video! I got one of these when they came out in 2020. I swapped out the bridge for a tone pro’s vintage style, and the posts too, getting the Philadelphia Luthiers ones like Zach used here. After polishing frets and linseed oil on the board, it’s a damn good guitar.
I own an Epiphone LP Special just like this - bought it a year ago for $359.00 on sale. I love it! Best value I've ever realized I think, lol. Big question I have, is how much did the components for this upgrade cost? I'm a bit lazy, and could figure it out, but thought I'd ask anyway. Been thinking of upgrading the pickups - all else seems to suit my needs as it sits otherwise. Cheers - Big Mike
the pickups themselves will definitely get you close to $300 alone. All these mod components probably totaled close to $500, so the modifications exceed the price of the guitar itself. Hope that helped
My favorite Les Paul, light, honest and straight guitar, like a Tele. I’ve got the ‘57 reissue Gibson custom shop Special, pricey but a world of feeling and tone different than the Gibson regular one and of course the Epiphone version. Thanks for the video!
I've down a similar route with mine, the electrics are absolutely fine and the pickups are more than good enough but to get the best out of it switch wiring to 50's. Far cheaper and well worth doing first before spending loads on new pickups and wiring loom.
Hellyeah thats my 1st mod to any guitar i get! I love to swap out the pickup magnets with roughcast A5s too. I have even swapped out ceramics in high gain pickups with them and it always seems to be an improvement. For my playing style at least.
I updated pots and pickups in my Epiphone Les Paul limited edition standard years ago-to this day, it plays as good if not better than other more expensive guitars I own.
Super video. Fret rounding was great - don’t see that in many videos. Totally changing out the pots and wiring and telling what they are and where you got them was on point. In fact, the whole wiring portion of this was good. Auto-focus is a blessing and a curse, haha.
Those one piece aluminum wrap around bridge / tailpieces from Philadelphia Luthier Supply are fantastic - Gibson got that design right the first time back in the 1950s, notes really sing on those bridges.
You can use that wrap around tailpiece with offset studs and still have some decent intonation like all the jrs and specials were back in the 50s, but that epiphone having equidistant studs, the lightningbar is ideal for intonation, Good video regardless!
I was totally with him agreeing with every mod tell that last one at the very end, silly lol. He did it for it being "vintage correct" however it is a Vintage correct tailpiece, but incorrect application,
Great guitar...amongst the very best for the cash! I actually dont really like the pickups though, dunno if thats just me but i think i'll be swapping mine out at some point :)
i took a squier strat classic vibe and put eric johnson pickups in it the same way robbie robertson did to his , sound and plays fantastic and beautiful also.
I do this with each new guitar I get, a year or so after my first tune-up I need to revisit the fret ends, maybe I missed some or have a little fretboard shrinkage. My Indian Laurel was much darker than the ads Epiphone was running, I used lemon oil, which keeps them nice and dark.
Very cool video. I have an original 1956 Gibson Les Paul Special, as well as a 2019 Gibson USA Les Paul Special. It's interesting to see the differences, especially how different the original TV yellow finish from the 50's is compared to Gibson's "modern" recreation of it. Slightly better on the custom shop's i've seen but still not perfect. Maybe one day they will get it perfect. I love these Epiphone's as well. I had one but never thought of modding it before I sold it. You may have inspired me to find another haha. I ordered some cool parts from the link in the thumbnail. Great video!
Wow... Now, take this for what it's worth, coming from someone who has only been modding his guitars for maybe 2 years. In this one video, Zach provided more helpful tips and tricks than I have picked up in those 2 years. The chopstick and the Cap leg bend are going to save me a good 15-30 minutes of work, and closer to an hour of muffled swearing and stress the next time I upgrade one of my instruments.
Like how u did the cardboard to mark the pot placement. Ill do tht nxt time . U reccomended a hakko soldering station to me long time ago . Got it and still love it . Boys n girls whatever Zach says , do it . Hats off to u sir .
Why are you so upset? 😂. The guy gives you entertainment , useful information and you proceed to make a pessimistic comment that adds nothing to the guitar community. Lmfao.
@@18JR78 You’re upset I called out this garbage vid. They’re everywhere. Not upset myself over the crap info passed around between neophytes. It’s a funny joke. My comment yesterday on an actual luthiers video: Mark Stutman is awesome. Nice shout-out. Looks like the heat probes got glued to the side of the pocket because the angle was the same.
Thanks I have a set of custom wound p-90s for around 4 years that i have not used. Have been thinking about doing something like this for a while with a less expensive guitar as my Gibson special sounds great.
cool video and nice upgrades. as long as you are not spending the difference of buying the USA Gibson. When I sold Gibson and Fender in the early 2000's, Mexican made Fenders were around $350-$400. An American Strat in black was $799 at that time. With a hardshell and better overall quality then (Mexi Fenders have gone up big time in quality since) Guys would say to me "I am not paying $800 for a strat. Then they would put new pick ups, new harness, tuners even different pick guards. So their $400 Fender now cost as much or more than buying the American Standard. I know prices have changed, but I think the USA Gibson is around $1700 so I am sure you are nowhere near that with the upgrades. My former bandmate had this guitar. We tracked with it. Stock, no mods and it sounded fantastic! Enjoy
I love this guitar…I have a few les Paul’s including a Gibson and I always pick up this guitar…the p90s are just so good…it plays great. I would like to up grade a few things as well, but I’m loving this axe. Rock on 🤘🏼
Thanks for this. Was there a reason you went for 500k volume pots? Was that “like for like” from the old pot values or an increase? You mention that higher resistance values produce a brighter tone, but I don’t know if that was part of the upgrade.
Hey Zach, first off, I am grateful for all you do. I love the Golden Fleece and all of the great content you provide so generously. Did you replace the bit on that Epiphone? Dying to know because that seems like the Achilles heel on mine. Thanks again brother.
I live in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, and I have been purchasing a lot of tools from Philly luthier tools for some years now. In many ways it's cheaper than StewMac, but I have to say StewMac has some awesome stuff as well . Their over wound humbuckers ( specially the neck position) are incredible. I do up all of my guitars electronics in the 50 wiring . I tried the other wiring options and I wasn't impressed. To each their own . Good luck to you guys there with your new store . Hope everything works out for you . Many blessings and rock on ,🎸
Great video. I want to do a project like this sometime. As soon as I saw a chopstick I got hungry. Watched your video, then ordered some Sushi..... Cheers!
Nice. I did a similar project on an 2011 Epi LP Jr. - Hanging in our local shop, I kept playing it and it felt great in my hands. Single P90 up-grade, premium wiring loom, nut and Kluson style vintage tuners with white buttons - gotta have the white buttons. Great little guitar now.
Great video Zach ! I modded one of these too. I kept all the electronic, rounded frets, replaced plastic nut for bone, replaced the bridge for a tonepros with adjustable saddles (I’m picky with tuning😅), remove all the finish, shaped the neck for a slimmer profile and sprayed it with black nitro. I finally gave it a heavy relic look ! This is one of the best guitar in my possession : light, resonant and easy to play, with a great tone ! These epiphone series are great for experimenting with mods 😊
Bad intonation is a pet peeve of mine but it's all the players preference at the end of the day. Some can hide it with high level playing and tasteful technique.
@@18JR78I agree, it’s possible to hide bad intonation playing single note lines, but when it comes to play chords in the higher register of the neck things are getting more problematic. It also depends on the ear accuracy and the tolerance of the player.
Great video. I've just found your channel. I've got one of those guitars and they're great, I already did the frets and fingerboard stuff but am now considering a wiring harness and pickup swap too.
Two recommended mods to the electronics: 1) It drives me up the wall that manufacturers have been using the *same* tone cap values for neck and bridge tone controls for the last 70 years. Name me ONE player who switches to their bridge pickup when they want a duller darker sound. And yet the tone cap value somehow aims for that. I recommend changing it to a value roughly 1/4 to 1/5 the original value. So if it was .022uf, change it to .0056 or even .0047uf. This will let that tone control "sand down the edges" of the bridge pickup tone without ever making it dull and dark. 2) I cannot recommend, highly enough, the "half out of phase" (HOOP) mod, that Bill Lawrence invented. Normally, putting a bridge and neck pickup out of phase results in a thin nasal tone with a big volume drop. Overlap in spectral content produces those cancellations, but so does equal level. Players of dual-pickup guitars that have dual volume controls, in addition to phase-reverse, will know that adjusting the volume of either neck or bridge, when in opposite phase, will bring the level back up. The HOOP mod, used well in the old Fender Jerry Donahue Telecaster, simply shaves off some of the bass content of the neck pickup, when phase is reversed; restoring it when the pickups are put back in phase. In that guitar, it results in a tone strikingly similar to neck+middle on a Strat, without any middle pickup or volume drop. I've installed it on several of my guitars and it can do just that. BUT, I also installed it on a dual humbucker guitar. It obviously can't replicate Strat tone on an HB-equipped guitar, but it does add another distinct N+B tone that is *very* usable, without any nasal qualities or volume drop. I see no reason why implementing it on a dual P-90 guitar would not expand the available tonal palette. Probably most easily installed by use of a push-pull tone pot for the neck pickup, to do the phase-switching. Personally, I find a .01uf series cap shaves off the right amount of bass in phase-reverse mode, but feel free to experiment.
I need sooooooooo much more information. Please, please, please do a soldering video soon. I've been burning up and wrecking pots trying to ground the covers. Also had some 'cold' joints that really pissed me off.
I have one of these. The mods I made are to replace the capacitors with Orange Drops, a 22 on the neck and a 47 on the bridge. I replaced the original bridge with a Wilkinson wrap around with the G and B string slide. I replaced the knobs with witch hat knobs, the switch tip with a Gretsch style metal tip and put on my Dunlop strap locks. I also added a pinup girl behind the bridge too. I was going for a 70s-esque vibe on the guitar Dennis Denell played on the video for "When The Angels Sing" by Social Distortion. It's worth mentioning that I waited 26 years for Epiphone to release this guitar in this version. For the stock pickups I raised the screw heights a bit to my sonic taste to open up the performance of the stock pickups. Adjusting the screw heights on P-90s, humbuckers, or Filtertrons can make an overall difference in the sound, usually adding more clarity. It's also 100% reversible. Do this on pickups you already have if they have screws, you may find what you are looking for already in there before you replace pickups.
@@KonicaHexanon No issues, so it works as advertised. I prefer the feel of the bridge to stock lightning bar models. I have three Epiphone wrap around models (bolt on Special with P-90s, an SL that's been converted to a Nashville High Tuned guitar, and my Epiphone Les Paul Special in TV Yellow) and all three have the same Wilkinson bridge on them. Feels better and I have no major tuning issues. It's worth noting that all three have been set up and twerked by me and my luthier friend so that usually minimizes stability issues.😉👍✨
Just picked up this exact guitar recently, cheap. It's a '22 model & mint as new. My first adventure into the P-90 world. My first thought was I'll throw some Lollars in it if the stock pick-ups are crap. Pleasant surprise, they're not! Play with the height before you start chasing tone & tossing $$ down that rabbit hole! Good video sir, I'll be using your links to pickup a fret file and erasers. IMO all this guitar really needs is the frets ends dressed a little and a higher polish job, & set-up to taste as normal of course. Electrics seem fine, tuners OK (so far), finished very nicely (though I'm admittedly not a poly fan). Not much to hate on this guitar, pretty dang solid, especially at this price! Do it some justice and run it through a sweating tube amp to find out where it really likes to live! Thanks for the video, cheers!
Philadelphia Luthier is my go-to for TOM/stop and wrap bridges on my gibsons. Usually the first upgrade I do with a new set of string after the set up. Sounds great.
Does changing the tail piece effect the intonation? The Epi is intonated on the top but the straight Gibson look is compensated by being angled at the posts. ???
Can someone explain why at 23:42 the switch lead needs tubing to avoid it touching the other components? But the other wires coming out from the switch don't need that isolation tubing?
The PVC tubing helps keep it from touching the terminals of the pots or sides of the cap. Everything else is stable and soldered down so it wont short but if that output lead shield touched something it shouldn't the guitar wouldn't work 100%
Have you tried a Dorian LRQC-2 Lightweight one-part bridge? All of my Gibson and Epi Juniors and Specials have those fitted. Perfect intonation, no sitar-effect, richer overtone fur. Made in Belgium. Available since 2007. Ships to USA.
Bought a fairly expensive pedal last year and got it home to find out it was defective. Brought it back and noticed a Special on sale so I think for the pedal return and 30 bux I was out the door with it. I own all Gibsons but until I buy it’s big brother these are great! Unlike my grammar and sentence structure sorry. I do have a yellow Jr Gibson single though. That thing is a beast!
I also like to set the pickup heights for equal output volume (with a decibel meter - NOT just by ear) between pickups & high string to low string.(for each pickup) with the neck pickup about 3/32 from the bass string (pressed down onto the highest fret). The bridge pickup height can then be lowered or raised, if volume differential is desired.
I have one of these and love it, my only complaint is I miss having a middle position hum cancelling. One day when I have the motivation to do some upgrades I'll make it happen... but it is not this day.
That guitar sounds really great after the upgrades you performed! I have a Gibson Murphy Labs 1957 TV Les Paul Special I bought last year, which I love. But I have to say, the tone you had in your playing demo, sounds better than mine! Maybe I should consider some Fralin pickups... Early in the video, I think I saw you using a tool to strip/cut the braided shield wire off the vintage shielded cable you used. Can you tell us about this?
Dude you rock. You explained (and demonstrated) how to wire a Gibson sooooooo much better than anyone else. You took into account I am a dumb dumb who has never done it before and I appreciate that more than you know!! I request you help me understand the witchery that is Stratocaster wiring 😅 lmao thank you!!!
Does changing bridge studs add sustain noticeably? I could only imagine it does. I always change saddles on my squier teles to either brass or stainless and makes a big difference.. never thought about changing the mounting screws to maybe better grade of steel though? Maybe give it a go and see if any noticeable transfer of vibration/resonance occurs. Excellent video by the way.
That’s a beautiful guitar. You knew it had greatness at the music store. Mid position was such a nice clear and fat sound. Can’t wait to finish my masters. I’ll get something with P90s. This was a neat eye opener. I play a Larose JM. previously played a Joe Pass Epiphone hollow body. I threw some Lollar Low winds in it. Sounded so good.
You did a great job of being thorough and keeping it fun. This covered about everything that’s easy to do at home except setup and there’s plenty of videos on that. Everything you did except the pickups are pretty cheap upgrades that make most guitars better. That Epi had surprisingly nice pots and jack. Low end Fenders and my old Epi Les Paul had ALPS clones and the flimsiest jacks I’ve ever seen. Such a weird corner to cut… maybe $5… but everyone has to make their money I guess. I got into this stuff from buying inexpensive guitars like this. Now I’m better at working on them than playing them 😂. But I still love watching people work. There’s not 1 right way to do anything and I pick up ideas most of the time.
I like to turn the pickup selector switch in line with the location of pickups so that toward the headstock is the neck pickup and toward the bridge is the bridge pickup selection.
Great content, Zach. You are really getting better at it. One suggestion: for those fast forward takes, use a white label music or something to get it more interesting instead of only the room sound. Just a thought
Very nice work. I just wonder why not shielding the cavities after investing all this time and money. Is this not necessary, especially with single coil P-90's?
Would have been nice to of heard it originally out of the box first to have an a b comparison
He's a very sick guy.
Clearly not appropriate for social media, cause he's antisocial.
Nothing changes so he left that clip out.
@@IronheadStakebreaker If nothing changes then why modify it.
@@IronheadStakebreakerWrong!
I would say check out other reviews but to be honest, the stock parts and pickups are fantastic. I would recommend playing with the screw heights on the pickups as that can add more clarity without swapping the pickups. You can enjoy this guitar stock for decades as is.
Epiphone be like we gave you cts pots and you still ripped them out lol
Yea, I don’t get it. Those Epiphone pickups sound great too.
Cts pots aren't as good as they used to be. (just repeating what i've heard from some very knowledgable people).
the stock pickups in mine sounded very muddy. I gave them a good go but couldn’t stand them. A good set of pickups really helps the feel of the special in terms of dynamics and expression
@@JeremyToy Lower them down then - it makes a HUGE difference! Maybe change the pots too?
I’ve got the Epiphone SG Special with the same pickups and wiring, changing them is the last thing on my mind with that guitar. There is nothing whatsoever wrong with them, sounds every bit as good as good as my ‘77 Les Paul Special and my ‘55 Les Paul Junior.
I love the trick of using a pedal housing as a holder for the switch while you do the soldering!
Save those blems!
Zack does A LOT of soldering I am thinking, he likely knows more tips and tricks then he could cover in a 1hr video LOL
Definitely sold! Always wanted a special! This machine sounds deluxe! Thank you Zach for sharing and showing us the process!
I really appreciated the explanations you gave on what you were doing, and I was very impressed with how it sounded in the demo.
That towel / knob pull technique is really good, thank you!!
The proper tool is like five bucks. You’re welcome. Get ahold of yourself.
Towels free. Thx. Get over yourself.
Love fralin pickups. I did an electronic/pickup upgrade with them in my Revstar and really brought the guitar to life. Thanks for sharing the process of making a good guitar great!!! Really enjoyed the tool recs
I used them too. I put a set of matched Fralin p90's in one of the new Melody Makers, plus new pots, paper caps, and 50's wiring, completely changed the sound, I love it!
Remember, if you are young and have a band ... or are training to be a hired gun, and want to tour, something like this is ideal. The poly paint makes it less sensitive to temperature changes. If it gets damaged or stolen it's not hard to replace and you can insure this to the value of replacing it so all the after market parts and labor can be part of the valuation. This is a GREAT way to tour safely... while playing a guitar you LOVE.
Great video! I got one of these when they came out in 2020. I swapped out the bridge for a tone pro’s vintage style, and the posts too, getting the Philadelphia Luthiers ones like Zach used here. After polishing frets and linseed oil on the board, it’s a damn good guitar.
Loved the video Zach, only one thing I would disagree with. Fralins are nice, but the Seymour Duncan P-90's made mine a killer machine!
This was a great video Zach, educational and enjoyable! Looking forward to your soldering tutorial vid as well
This was a splendid video! Very well done in all regards. Cheers to you and Mythos pedals!
I own an Epiphone LP Special just like this - bought it a year ago for $359.00 on sale. I love it! Best value I've ever realized I think, lol.
Big question I have, is how much did the components for this upgrade cost? I'm a bit lazy, and could figure it out, but thought I'd ask anyway. Been thinking of upgrading the pickups - all else seems to suit my needs as it sits otherwise.
Cheers - Big Mike
the pickups themselves will definitely get you close to $300 alone. All these mod components probably totaled close to $500, so the modifications exceed the price of the guitar itself. Hope that helped
I am old and probably couldn't do this, but it's a really cool video. Nice to see how this all works.
Snow day video! Excellent.
Awesome video! Learned a lot that I didn’t know I needed. Very useful tips. Thanks guys!
really enjoying these build videos!
My favorite Les Paul, light, honest and straight guitar, like a Tele. I’ve got the ‘57 reissue Gibson custom shop Special, pricey but a world of feeling and tone different than the Gibson regular one and of course the Epiphone version.
Thanks for the video!
Thanks for showing this upgrade !
I've down a similar route with mine, the electrics are absolutely fine and the pickups are more than good enough but to get the best out of it switch wiring to 50's. Far cheaper and well worth doing first before spending loads on new pickups and wiring loom.
Agree a million percent
Hellyeah thats my 1st mod to any guitar i get! I love to swap out the pickup magnets with roughcast A5s too. I have even swapped out ceramics in high gain pickups with them and it always seems to be an improvement. For my playing style at least.
I updated pots and pickups in my Epiphone Les Paul limited edition standard years ago-to this day, it plays as good if not better than other more expensive guitars I own.
What Pickups do you use?
My Epiphone LP has Bare Knucle True Grits and my Gibson LP has Bare Knuckle Nailbombs. Both are excellent. @@MatzeMaulwurf
Yeah i think i want some new ones!
Great video! The Epi sounded amazing in every position.
Super video. Fret rounding was great - don’t see that in many videos. Totally changing out the pots and wiring and telling what they are and where you got them was on point. In fact, the whole wiring portion of this was good. Auto-focus is a blessing and a curse, haha.
Those one piece aluminum wrap around bridge / tailpieces from Philadelphia Luthier Supply are fantastic - Gibson got that design right the first time back in the 1950s, notes really sing on those bridges.
phil luth also sells the made in Germany ABM bell brass adjustable wraparound bridge
You can use that wrap around tailpiece with offset studs and still have some decent intonation like all the jrs and specials were back in the 50s, but that epiphone having equidistant studs, the lightningbar is ideal for intonation,
Good video regardless!
My thoughts exactly! Why would you replace everything and not but on a proper bridge?
I was totally with him agreeing with every mod tell that last one at the very end, silly lol.
He did it for it being "vintage correct" however it is a
Vintage correct tailpiece, but incorrect application,
Do they make a lightning bar in aluminum that is better than stock??
Awesome bang for the buck guitar! I didn't replace the electronics, just bought the Epi connector from Ebay & swapped in Monty's P90's. Cheers, J
I own one of these and I love it so much, the thing plays like a dream. Awesome video and tricks
Great guitar...amongst the very best for the cash!
I actually dont really like the pickups though, dunno if thats just me but i think i'll be swapping mine out at some point :)
This was really good information! Thanks for sharing.
i took a squier strat classic vibe and put eric johnson pickups in it the same way robbie robertson did to his , sound and plays fantastic and beautiful also.
I do this with each new guitar I get, a year or so after my first tune-up I need to revisit the fret ends, maybe I missed some or have a little fretboard shrinkage. My Indian Laurel was much darker than the ads Epiphone was running, I used lemon oil, which keeps them nice and dark.
Lemon oil also drys the fretboard out. Lemon oil to clean linseed oil to hydrate and darken. I had to learn this the hard way.
Very cool video. I have an original 1956 Gibson Les Paul Special, as well as a 2019 Gibson USA Les Paul Special. It's interesting to see the differences, especially how different the original TV yellow finish from the 50's is compared to Gibson's "modern" recreation of it. Slightly better on the custom shop's i've seen but still not perfect. Maybe one day they will get it perfect. I love these Epiphone's as well. I had one but never thought of modding it before I sold it. You may have inspired me to find another haha. I ordered some cool parts from the link in the thumbnail. Great video!
loved this vid, looking forward to more stuff like this on the mythos channel. thanks!
Wow... Now, take this for what it's worth, coming from someone who has only been modding his guitars for maybe 2 years. In this one video, Zach provided more helpful tips and tricks than I have picked up in those 2 years. The chopstick and the Cap leg bend are going to save me a good 15-30 minutes of work, and closer to an hour of muffled swearing and stress the next time I upgrade one of my instruments.
You didn't have ability to think that for yourself really??
Like how u did the cardboard to mark the pot placement. Ill do tht nxt time .
U reccomended a hakko soldering station to me long time ago . Got it and still love it . Boys n girls whatever Zach says , do it . Hats off to u sir .
Gonna be honest. This rules.
pfft
Why are you so upset? 😂.
The guy gives you entertainment , useful information and you proceed to make a pessimistic comment that adds nothing to the guitar community. Lmfao.
@@18JR78 You’re upset I called out this garbage vid. They’re everywhere. Not upset myself over the crap info passed around between neophytes. It’s a funny joke.
My comment yesterday on an actual luthiers video: Mark Stutman is awesome. Nice shout-out. Looks like the heat probes got glued to the side of the pocket because the angle was the same.
Just curious what this guy's doing that you don't like?
@@richsackett3423
I appreciate your honesty.
Thanks I have a set of custom wound p-90s for around 4 years that i have not used. Have been thinking about doing something like this for a while with a less expensive guitar as my Gibson special sounds great.
cool video and nice upgrades. as long as you are not spending the difference of buying the USA Gibson. When I sold Gibson and Fender in the early 2000's, Mexican made Fenders were around $350-$400. An American Strat in black was $799 at that time. With a hardshell and better overall quality then (Mexi Fenders have gone up big time in quality since) Guys would say to me "I am not paying $800 for a strat. Then they would put new pick ups, new harness, tuners even different pick guards. So their $400 Fender now cost as much or more than buying the American Standard. I know prices have changed, but I think the USA Gibson is around $1700 so I am sure you are nowhere near that with the upgrades. My former bandmate had this guitar. We tracked with it. Stock, no mods and it sounded fantastic! Enjoy
Thanks for the video. Can you give a sticker price on the cost to upgrade?
I love this guitar…I have a few les Paul’s including a Gibson and I always pick up this guitar…the p90s are just so good…it plays great. I would like to up grade a few things as well, but I’m loving this axe. Rock on 🤘🏼
Really cool video Zach. Very informative and makes me more confident about doing some maintance and mods
Huge improvement! Sounds incredible guys.
Is there a before and after comparison? I may have missed that.
He played it stock a few videos back when they went on a guitar safari of sorts.
Thank you@@Frettedchaos
You’re absolutely welcome!
I just wanted to say this video really educated me thank you
Really great clear video! Thanks for sharing this! Next up a basic soldering video because damn you’re good at it :)
Thanks for this. Was there a reason you went for 500k volume pots? Was that “like for like” from the old pot values or an increase? You mention that higher resistance values produce a brighter tone, but I don’t know if that was part of the upgrade.
Hey Zach, first off, I am grateful for all you do. I love the Golden Fleece and all of the great content you provide so generously. Did you replace the bit on that Epiphone? Dying to know because that seems like the Achilles heel on mine. Thanks again brother.
I live in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, and I have been purchasing a lot of tools from Philly luthier tools for some years now. In many ways it's cheaper than StewMac, but I have to say StewMac has some awesome stuff as well . Their over wound humbuckers ( specially the neck position) are incredible. I do up all of my guitars electronics in the 50 wiring . I tried the other wiring options and I wasn't impressed. To each their own . Good luck to you guys there with your new store . Hope everything works out for you . Many blessings and rock on ,🎸
Very watchable nice delivery and pace of tuition
Great way to end the work week! Thanks fellas, fun to enter into the Mythos world!
Great video. I want to do a project like this sometime. As soon as I saw a chopstick I got hungry. Watched your video, then ordered some Sushi..... Cheers!
What a fun, informative video. The polishing cloth knob removal trick is great! Thanks!
This video is outstanding! The chopstick trick was hysterical. I think I have a twin brother by another mother. Excellent!!!!!
I have same guitar. It ROCKS right out of the box but WOW...even BETTER with your upgrades!
Nice. I did a similar project on an 2011 Epi LP Jr. - Hanging in our local shop, I kept playing it and it felt great in my hands. Single P90 up-grade, premium wiring loom, nut and Kluson style vintage tuners with white buttons - gotta have the white buttons. Great little guitar now.
I have the bolt-on version of this Epiphone. It's not my best guitar but it's one of my favorites. Lightweight and stays in tune.
Great video Zach ! I modded one of these too. I kept all the electronic, rounded frets, replaced plastic nut for bone, replaced the bridge for a tonepros with adjustable saddles (I’m picky with tuning😅), remove all the finish, shaped the neck for a slimmer profile and sprayed it with black nitro. I finally gave it a heavy relic look ! This is one of the best guitar in my possession : light, resonant and easy to play, with a great tone ! These epiphone series are great for experimenting with mods 😊
That must be super cool. Would love to see the nitro black relic'ing on this type of guitar.
Bad intonation is a pet peeve of mine but it's all the players preference at the end of the day.
Some can hide it with high level playing and tasteful technique.
@@18JR78I agree, it’s possible to hide bad intonation playing single note lines, but when it comes to play chords in the higher register of the neck things are getting more problematic. It also depends on the ear accuracy and the tolerance of the player.
I can't abide a guitar that won't tune properly.
Great video. I've just found your channel. I've got one of those guitars and they're great, I already did the frets and fingerboard stuff but am now considering a wiring harness and pickup swap too.
Best and most informative DIY guitar upgrade walk thru ever. My hunt for a - lightweight - Epiphone LP Special is on...👍!
Loved all of this. Been thinking about hot rodding one of these and it was great to see everything you did!
Soldering demo was very good. I know how to solder, but I love learning new tricks. Very well done !
So much great general upgrading information as well! Thank You!
Two recommended mods to the electronics:
1) It drives me up the wall that manufacturers have been using the *same* tone cap values for neck and bridge tone controls for the last 70 years. Name me ONE player who switches to their bridge pickup when they want a duller darker sound. And yet the tone cap value somehow aims for that. I recommend changing it to a value roughly 1/4 to 1/5 the original value. So if it was .022uf, change it to .0056 or even .0047uf. This will let that tone control "sand down the edges" of the bridge pickup tone without ever making it dull and dark.
2) I cannot recommend, highly enough, the "half out of phase" (HOOP) mod, that Bill Lawrence invented. Normally, putting a bridge and neck pickup out of phase results in a thin nasal tone with a big volume drop. Overlap in spectral content produces those cancellations, but so does equal level. Players of dual-pickup guitars that have dual volume controls, in addition to phase-reverse, will know that adjusting the volume of either neck or bridge, when in opposite phase, will bring the level back up. The HOOP mod, used well in the old Fender Jerry Donahue Telecaster, simply shaves off some of the bass content of the neck pickup, when phase is reversed; restoring it when the pickups are put back in phase. In that guitar, it results in a tone strikingly similar to neck+middle on a Strat, without any middle pickup or volume drop. I've installed it on several of my guitars and it can do just that. BUT, I also installed it on a dual humbucker guitar. It obviously can't replicate Strat tone on an HB-equipped guitar, but it does add another distinct N+B tone that is *very* usable, without any nasal qualities or volume drop. I see no reason why implementing it on a dual P-90 guitar would not expand the available tonal palette. Probably most easily installed by use of a push-pull tone pot for the neck pickup, to do the phase-switching. Personally, I find a .01uf series cap shaves off the right amount of bass in phase-reverse mode, but feel free to experiment.
My bridge pickups don't sound dull in any of my Gibsons lol
I really enjoyed the video, but as a newbie to modding, would have like to see the pickups wired in and set up. Thanks John
This was way more informative than you think. My buddy is a soldering phenom, might have to pair up with him so on an epiphone someday soon
I need sooooooooo much more information. Please, please, please do a soldering video soon. I've been burning up and wrecking pots trying to ground the covers. Also had some 'cold' joints that really pissed me off.
BTW, I'm not a complete noob, just having a hard time lately. Also, Rocket Sockets, love 'em.
Holy Crap! What was that little yellow tool you used to cut the Shielded Wire?
Solder video incoming and I’ll do a tool guide as well
amzn.to/3S6OC5t I added some to this list, not exactly the same but looks similar
@@MythosPedals Thank you so much. Can't wait to see your soldering video!
Looks like you could roll a fingerboard edge with them fret rubbers?! I might have to try that 🤔
I have one of these. The mods I made are to replace the capacitors with Orange Drops, a 22 on the neck and a 47 on the bridge. I replaced the original bridge with a Wilkinson wrap around with the G and B string slide. I replaced the knobs with witch hat knobs, the switch tip with a Gretsch style metal tip and put on my Dunlop strap locks. I also added a pinup girl behind the bridge too. I was going for a 70s-esque vibe on the guitar Dennis Denell played on the video for "When The Angels Sing" by Social Distortion. It's worth mentioning that I waited 26 years for Epiphone to release this guitar in this version.
For the stock pickups I raised the screw heights a bit to my sonic taste to open up the performance of the stock pickups. Adjusting the screw heights on P-90s, humbuckers, or Filtertrons can make an overall difference in the sound, usually adding more clarity. It's also 100% reversible. Do this on pickups you already have if they have screws, you may find what you are looking for already in there before you replace pickups.
How is the Wilkinson bridge working for you in terms of tuning stability? I'm looking for getting the exact same bridge.
@@KonicaHexanon
No issues, so it works as advertised. I prefer the feel of the bridge to stock lightning bar models. I have three Epiphone wrap around models (bolt on Special with P-90s, an SL that's been converted to a Nashville High Tuned guitar, and my Epiphone Les Paul Special in TV Yellow) and all three have the same Wilkinson bridge on them.
Feels better and I have no major tuning issues. It's worth noting that all three have been set up and twerked by me and my luthier friend so that usually minimizes stability issues.😉👍✨
Very well done, l use to do similar work on my guitars! But now l just watch others do it! Epi's are a good choice for this type of mod!👍
Just picked up this exact guitar recently, cheap. It's a '22 model & mint as new. My first adventure into the P-90 world. My first thought was I'll throw some Lollars in it if the stock pick-ups are crap. Pleasant surprise, they're not! Play with the height before you start chasing tone & tossing $$ down that rabbit hole! Good video sir, I'll be using your links to pickup a fret file and erasers. IMO all this guitar really needs is the frets ends dressed a little and a higher polish job, & set-up to taste as normal of course. Electrics seem fine, tuners OK (so far), finished very nicely (though I'm admittedly not a poly fan). Not much to hate on this guitar, pretty dang solid, especially at this price! Do it some justice and run it through a sweating tube amp to find out where it really likes to live! Thanks for the video, cheers!
Nice work. I dig your mission to Pluto moonswatch
I wonder, why didn't you put locking tuners on, and also why not use one of the adjustable saddle/bridges they have out, to have better tuning?
Thanks for the heads up on the metric studs. Might of just gone on auto pilot and forgotten to consider that. 👍
10:45 ... brilliant, using this method on my next wiring job, which will be a thinline tele.
27:34 How does it intonate without the zigzag pattern for the strings, though?
It’s not “perfect” and there are other bridges that have a compensated top but even after a very minor setup it’s very close. Close enough for me :)
At 28:58 it looks like the positive side of one of the tone caps isn't soldered
They are all soldered up 👍
Philadelphia Luthier is my go-to for TOM/stop and wrap bridges on my gibsons. Usually the first upgrade I do with a new set of string after the set up. Sounds great.
Got that same guitar a while back, plays real nice, needs a good once over like this, love the bulletproof set up. It is hard to beat.
Great video. Couple tricks I hadnt seen before 👍
Does changing the tail piece effect the intonation? The Epi is intonated on the top but the straight Gibson look is compensated by being angled at the posts. ???
Can someone explain why at 23:42 the switch lead needs tubing to avoid it touching the other components? But the other wires coming out from the switch don't need that isolation tubing?
The PVC tubing helps keep it from touching the terminals of the pots or sides of the cap. Everything else is stable and soldered down so it wont short but if that output lead shield touched something it shouldn't the guitar wouldn't work 100%
Have you tried a Dorian LRQC-2 Lightweight one-part bridge? All of my Gibson and Epi Juniors and Specials have those fitted. Perfect intonation, no sitar-effect, richer overtone fur. Made in Belgium. Available since 2007. Ships to USA.
I have this same guitar. Wasn’t sure if I should keep it. After seeming what you have done I’m even less inclined to sell. Thanks
Bought a fairly expensive pedal last year and got it home to find out it was defective. Brought it back and noticed a Special on sale so I think for the pedal return and 30 bux I was out the door with it. I own all Gibsons but until I buy it’s big brother these are great! Unlike my grammar and sentence structure sorry.
I do have a yellow Jr Gibson single though. That thing is a beast!
I also like to set the pickup heights for equal output volume (with a decibel meter - NOT just by ear) between pickups & high string to low string.(for each pickup) with the neck pickup about 3/32 from the bass string (pressed down onto the highest fret). The bridge pickup height can then be lowered or raised, if volume differential is desired.
I have one of these and love it, my only complaint is I miss having a middle position hum cancelling. One day when I have the motivation to do some upgrades I'll make it happen... but it is not this day.
That guitar sounds really great after the upgrades you performed! I have a Gibson Murphy Labs 1957 TV Les Paul Special I bought last year, which I love. But I have to say, the tone you had in your playing demo, sounds better than mine! Maybe I should consider some Fralin pickups... Early in the video, I think I saw you using a tool to strip/cut the braided shield wire off the vintage shielded cable you used. Can you tell us about this?
That was awesome! One day I’ll get the stuff to upgrade my 20 year old epiphone and I’ll rewatch when I’m not at work to learn how to do it.
Just a question about the bridge. Why would you swap one out that gives you a shot at intonation for one that doesn't...?
Fun project, one I want to take on! Do you have a parts list available to share?
I’ll update the description!
Dude you rock. You explained (and demonstrated) how to wire a Gibson sooooooo much better than anyone else. You took into account I am a dumb dumb who has never done it before and I appreciate that more than you know!!
I request you help me understand the witchery that is Stratocaster wiring 😅 lmao thank you!!!
Those pickups do sound good!
Does changing bridge studs add sustain noticeably? I could only imagine it does. I always change saddles on my squier teles to either brass or stainless and makes a big difference.. never thought about changing the mounting screws to maybe better grade of steel though? Maybe give it a go and see if any noticeable transfer of vibration/resonance occurs. Excellent video by the way.
It sounded really great with that open e chord just how you want it too.
Is the oil you used the same as “Doctors Products Fret Doctor”?
Love this episode! Great guitar show! 👍
That’s a beautiful guitar. You knew it had greatness at the music store. Mid position was such a nice clear and fat sound. Can’t wait to finish my masters. I’ll get something with P90s. This was a neat eye opener. I play a Larose JM. previously played a Joe Pass Epiphone hollow body. I threw some Lollar Low winds in it. Sounded so good.
You did a great job of being thorough and keeping it fun. This covered about everything that’s easy to do at home except setup and there’s plenty of videos on that. Everything you did except the pickups are pretty cheap upgrades that make most guitars better. That Epi had surprisingly nice pots and jack. Low end Fenders and my old Epi Les Paul had ALPS clones and the flimsiest jacks I’ve ever seen. Such a weird corner to cut… maybe $5… but everyone has to make their money I guess.
I got into this stuff from buying inexpensive guitars like this. Now I’m better at working on them than playing them 😂. But I still love watching people work. There’s not 1 right way to do anything and I pick up ideas most of the time.
how do you intonate it with that bridge ?? Fret doctor for rosewood is the best for sure.
I like to turn the pickup selector switch in line with the location of pickups so that toward the headstock is the neck pickup and toward the bridge is the bridge pickup selection.
Great content, Zach. You are really getting better at it. One suggestion: for those fast forward takes, use a white label music or something to get it more interesting instead of only the room sound. Just a thought
Working on that!
Very nice work. I just wonder why not shielding the cavities after investing all this time and money. Is this not necessary, especially with single coil P-90's?