At 11:18 or so, the pickups look less like pickups than they do like steps. Beyond that, this is one of the models I wish I had back when I was a teenager. I have had close to a dozen different Epiphone models since I was 16 in “96. If this has been one of them, I might not even have thought about buying any more guitars after playing it (except a 12-string version). I would’ve had it modified as I would if I had one of them now with push-pull knobs to activate Brian May-inspired phase cancellation such as he’s got on his Red Special. This would be an ideal instrument for that. I was about to ask if you came from Toronto, but then I took a closer look at your channel where you specify you’re based out of Ottawa. I’m not Canadian myself, but I’ve come to really enjoy Canadian commentators.
Those pickups are Japanese made from the 1970's. PAF style based on the vintage Maxon pickups. You can easily recognize them by their large and flat pole pieces. They are often found on MIJ copies for the canadian market with brands such as El Dégas, Mann, Vantage, etc. Very bright and crunchy pickups and medium-low output too, they sounded just fine.
Love the sound now. Not sure what DAW you're using but open another track for voice audio. Need two tracks, one guitar and one for mic audio. I'm sure you know that though, I've been there when I started making vids too.
This is awesome! I'm having one of these sent to my house in two days. I love the control setup because I'm a bassist so I'm used to controlling what pickups I want to use with individual volume pots. So this is really perfect for me. I'm intrigued!
I had one of these with a maestro vibrola and a plain alpine white finish as opposed to the vintage cream. Great guitar... Would not have sold it but I got an SG Custom and the Epiphone was not getting played much any longer.
Aaron Mifsud I’ve also noticed that Epiphone bushings are inclined to pop up. You can drive them back in but they just creep back out over a period of time.
Could be soft wood, the bushings themselves seem long enough and obviously fitted tightly in the first place as you can see the spline marks in the wood made when they were originally driven in.
For my second guitar build I'm making a Les Paul, SG-Meld. I'm basing it off of a build someone did back in 2015. I can't think of their name off the top of my head otherwise I'd give them props. The only full size SG template I could find was for a Epiphone SG custom the same as this. I was half thinking about adding the third pickup to make it like this this one. We're using cheap pickups (school provided) that if I have the time I might convert from 2 wire to 4 wire pickups so that I can do coil splitting. It would be cool if you did a video about converting a pickup like this to see see if you think it's feasible or not
I have a similar one but with that older trem system.. don't know what it's called, but it's suppose to be like the 1961 Gibson Les Paul if I'm not wrong? Really neat guitar that I've had for about 10 years and don't plan to give up :) But it also has 3 pickups and I really like that system :)
I have one of these & you were right about swapping out the bridge pickup, they should be 57 classics. Can’t upload a photo to show you, but hey 2 yrs down the road, does it really matter & like you said, it not a go to guitar. In fact mine will be for sale real soon, to off set a new PRS Custom 24.... Hey, maybe ya man Richard would buy it!! Lol
If you go over to the Vid of the '61' Gibson LesPaul Custom, you will see the same guitar, but a Gibson. My point is, the large screws in the PUPS, that you say you haven't seen before, are in the PUPS of the Gibson. Don't have an opinion, was just letting you folks know. What do you think?
The way the bridge pickup is wired may not be ideal, but hey it works and won't short out. The lead might have been short anyway. Simple fix and a text to the owner, done.
I have the same guitar but Modded it with 3 Seymour Duncan Gold Phat Cat Pickups, All new Gibson Wiring harness and jacks and pots. Plays like a dream.
S.G.s fretboard does not stop at the joint,you had to reach in the cut away,had an S.G. custom Gibson,3 pick-up,one of the best playing/sounding guitars,(tele's and strats not included)
True story. A friend of mine was given aGibson SG LP by an aged relative that played in a hippy band in the 60's. Not saying who, but you've heard at least one of thier songs a million times. My friend thought it was a joke, a fake guitar made for a laugh and swapped it for a really shitty Charvette in the early 90's. the same guitar was featured in a collecter magazine and sold for just over 7k. I like to remind him of it from time to time. he doesnt like it when I do.
I've had those tailpiece bushings pull up like that a few times from trying to tighten the tailpiece down under string tension... on 3 different guitars... I think it might just be a not-so-great design
weird, I have no problems with the same setup. SM57 running into the same box into my mac pro. No issues. Some times it helps just to plug it into a different USB port.
I picked up one of these in Black off someone who had just butchered it. Replace all the electronics give it some TLC. And now out plays all my other SGS. I have 12 on it it's my Doom stick
I've had two of these over the years. Both made in Korea, one from '99 and one from '02. Great guitars, only the pickups were bad. Too much output, too muddy.
That switch tip has gone from vintage amber to pumpkin spice....I guess in the summer you could call it tangerine...just to keep seasonal...It's a sad state when a pretty guitar is scuttled for stock Epiphone pups...
yeah i have one but I've took out the middle pickup out and replaced the bridge and neck with a set of jbs which im6 wiring 50s style. these guitars set up real low their great players.
I wouldn't be surprised to know that the counterproductive job you are reporting on from the previous owner of this guitar was calculated to give it and the manufacturer a bad name. Methinks sabotage. The lavalier worked. Only catch, it went to the right end of the stereo spread. Thr guitar was all but hard-panned opposite. I hope I'm not the first to report on that. I would love to have a guitar like this in my collection. Only thing, I've got too many electric guitars as it is and would probably be better suited getting another acoustic model like a Fender dobro. If you've got one of these to keep long term, I would suggest try playing with your fingers, in which case that extra pickup would not interfere as much.
these pick ups were definetely not the orignals (which had epiphone stamps on it) those epi ones were alnico classic pick ups which were nothing speical but sounding okay... great guitar for mods though... i got a chinese 2006 one which has a good build quality.
Yes this video is very informative but I worry about your health. You’re doing an awful lot of heavy breathing I hope it’s not a heart condition . Take care. I have this exact guitar, but it dies depend on the year and wether it was made in China or Korea. Mine has great sounding pickups from China but my brother got an earlier model from Korea and he had to replace his pickups. He played mine and said my pickups were great, compared to his. Though his guitar is a heavier wood than mine. I’m sure the original 61s were pretty heavy like most Les Pauls.
I like your pragmatic approach, If it ain’t broke don’t fix it . I’m happy to have my guitar action set up to the manufacturers specifications unlike some people who set them up so low that they’re unpleasant to play and choke on big string bends.
Need to pan voice towards center. Fucking guitar sound is killer. Killer, man. I bet that neck pickup needs to be in the bridge. It’s wooly sounding like it’s hotter than the others. Oh well. Running commentary. Not a SG guy. I feel most comfortable on a strat.
It's a Les Paul Custom. Les preferred the SG shape actually. I had this guitar for a while and when I traded it out it kept throwing people for a loop since its pretty much an SG version of a Black Beauty but is called a Les Paul Custom.
Brad, Everything I've read says Les actually disliked this new design so much that he wanted his name off of it and suggested Gibson call it the SG(solid guitar).
I know this is an old video, but I like how you look at all the small details. Many techs and most shops don't care or bother. It's just get it out the door as quickly as possible to make a buck, even if it's not done right. If it's not playing right, how can a shop let it go out the door? =(
let's be HOOO nest...these Epiphanies don't stay in tune for one reason and one reason only. The timber comes strait of a truck, and into the plant/factory. They make it in three weeks if not three days....anyone old enough (not me) how Gibson/Epiphone, fender or Guild made guitars back in the day...will know that it's like eating pot noodle. The Chinese are good at making Zithers, violin bows and calligraphy. Massage, growing trees, cutting trees, a bit of dumplings and a whole bunch of other sits but if US, don't stop buying that dross, they'll still make the damn things...They're not stupid. If a Chinese geezer wanna buy a gooOOOoood guitar...He goes to Japan or buys on eBAY.
Epiphone are now the KINGS of Les Pauls and SG's....Merry Christmas to all
At 11:18 or so, the pickups look less like pickups than they do like steps. Beyond that, this is one of the models I wish I had back when I was a teenager. I have had close to a dozen different Epiphone models since I was 16 in “96. If this has been one of them, I might not even have thought about buying any more guitars after playing it (except a 12-string version). I would’ve had it modified as I would if I had one of them now with push-pull knobs to activate Brian May-inspired phase cancellation such as he’s got on his Red Special. This would be an ideal instrument for that.
I was about to ask if you came from Toronto, but then I took a closer look at your channel where you specify you’re based out of Ottawa. I’m not Canadian myself, but I’ve come to really enjoy Canadian commentators.
I bought a black one in 2000. I still have it, and, although I haven't played it in years, I still love it. I wish Epiphone would reissue these!
I just checked my Epiphone SG and those tail piece pegs are coming out on an angle as well! Thanks man!
So happy you sorted out your sound. Fantastic! Not watch a video in a while. Still a great channel
12:30 thats what she said
Those pickups are Japanese made from the 1970's. PAF style based on the vintage Maxon pickups. You can easily recognize them by their large and flat pole pieces. They are often found on MIJ copies for the canadian market with brands such as El Dégas, Mann, Vantage, etc. Very bright and crunchy pickups and medium-low output too, they sounded just fine.
One of the most informative vids on checking out a new guitar I’ve seen thnx.
Great looking guitar! I've always loved the flat radius on SGs!
Love the sound now. Not sure what DAW you're using but open another track for voice audio. Need two tracks, one guitar and one for mic audio. I'm sure you know that though, I've been there when I started making vids too.
Nelson, I really like the wiring/pickup selection on this. Does the Gibson SG Custom have the same wiring scheme?
This is awesome! I'm having one of these sent to my house in two days. I love the control setup because I'm a bassist so I'm used to controlling what pickups I want to use with individual volume pots. So this is really perfect for me. I'm intrigued!
Ser Phalanges * When I play mine it reminds me of a bass on the higher frets😉 How do you like yours so far ?
Sounds like your getting a cold please take care and merry Chistmas to you and your family cheers from Boston
James McDonald I'm also from the Boston area
sorry to hear that
Providence, RI here... GO PATS!
Hey, let's not slag Boston area - they actually know about HOCKEY, which cheers us fellows from the Frozen Wastelands of the Great White North!
I had one of these with a maestro vibrola and a plain alpine white finish as opposed to the vintage cream. Great guitar... Would not have sold it but I got an SG Custom and the Epiphone was not getting played much any longer.
The epiphone bushing/inserts seem to pop out of the guitars more then any other brand ive done work on
Aaron Mifsud I’ve also noticed that Epiphone bushings are inclined to pop up. You can drive them back in but they just creep back out over a period of time.
th-cam.com/video/vIYfWWQihEs/w-d-xo.html this is what I had to work on. I wonder what it is with epiphone....cheap soft wood?
Could be soft wood, the bushings themselves seem long enough and obviously fitted tightly in the first place as you can see the spline marks in the wood made when they were originally driven in.
Exactly
For my second guitar build I'm making a Les Paul, SG-Meld. I'm basing it off of a build someone did back in 2015. I can't think of their name off the top of my head otherwise I'd give them props.
The only full size SG template I could find was for a Epiphone SG custom the same as this. I was half thinking about adding the third pickup to make it like this this one. We're using cheap pickups (school provided) that if I have the time I might convert from 2 wire to 4 wire pickups so that I can do coil splitting.
It would be cool if you did a video about converting a pickup like this to see see if you think it's feasible or not
I have a similar one but with that older trem system.. don't know what it's called, but it's suppose to be like the 1961 Gibson Les Paul if I'm not wrong?
Really neat guitar that I've had for about 10 years and don't plan to give up :)
But it also has 3 pickups and I really like that system :)
I have one of these & you were right about swapping out the bridge pickup, they should be 57 classics. Can’t upload a photo to show you, but hey 2 yrs down the road, does it really matter & like you said, it not a go to guitar. In fact mine will be for sale real soon, to off set a new PRS Custom 24.... Hey, maybe ya man Richard would buy it!! Lol
If you go over to the Vid of the '61' Gibson LesPaul Custom, you will see the same guitar, but a Gibson. My point is, the large screws in the PUPS, that you say you haven't seen before, are in the PUPS of the Gibson. Don't have an opinion, was just letting you folks know. What do you think?
The way the bridge pickup is wired may not be ideal, but hey it works and won't short out. The lead might have been short anyway. Simple fix and a text to the owner, done.
I have the same guitar but Modded it with 3 Seymour Duncan Gold Phat Cat Pickups, All new Gibson Wiring harness and jacks and pots. Plays like a dream.
About to put phat cats in mine! Let me know if it worked well for you
So Keith Richards! Love these
So not Keith Richards
You've "never seen a 3 pickup Gibson style guitar like this"?
I thought everyone knew about these.
Love watching your vids , Andy in England
S.G.s fretboard does not stop at the joint,you had to reach in the cut away,had an S.G. custom Gibson,3 pick-up,one of the best playing/sounding guitars,(tele's and strats not included)
True story. A friend of mine was given aGibson SG LP by an aged relative that played in a hippy band in the 60's. Not saying who, but you've heard at least one of thier songs a million times. My friend thought it was a joke, a fake guitar made for a laugh and swapped it for a really shitty Charvette in the early 90's. the same guitar was featured in a collecter magazine and sold for just over 7k. I like to remind him of it from time to time. he doesnt like it when I do.
tusskmusic oasis?
ah yeah that hippy band from the 60s, oasis.
aye, well seeing as Oasis entire career was built on ripping off the beatles, the stones and t-rex, its an easy mistake to make.
I've had those tailpiece bushings pull up like that a few times from trying to tighten the tailpiece down under string tension... on 3 different guitars... I think it might just be a not-so-great design
What should be better? Buying a Gibson Les Paul jr or this guitar?
Depends are you a small child?
weird, I have no problems with the same setup. SM57 running into the same box into my mac pro. No issues. Some times it helps just to plug it into a different USB port.
You could've had it set-up way before the end of this video...I ran out of time. Never seen a 3 pick up SG?
Think the new mics sound great!
I picked up one of these in Black off someone who had just butchered it. Replace all the electronics give it some TLC. And now out plays all my other SGS. I have 12 on it it's my Doom stick
Cual es la diferencia con la Epiphone Sg 400?
Where do you get one of these because I know they discontinued making them
Reverb.com has them rarely
I've had two of these over the years. Both made in Korea, one from '99 and one from '02. Great guitars, only the pickups were bad. Too much output, too muddy.
That switch tip has gone from vintage amber to pumpkin spice....I guess in the summer you could call it tangerine...just to keep seasonal...It's a sad state when a pretty guitar is scuttled for stock Epiphone pups...
1.25 there are three volume knobs and one tone?
Joshuatree44 Yes. I have one currently. The middle pickup can be dialed in on any position.
yeah i have one but I've took out the middle pickup out and replaced the bridge and neck with a set of jbs which im6 wiring 50s style. these guitars set up real low their great players.
Did I count right, just 22 threads?
I also took the stock pickups out of these because they were garbage. I replaced with P90s
I wouldn't be surprised to know that the counterproductive job you are reporting on from the previous owner of this guitar was calculated to give it and the manufacturer a bad name. Methinks sabotage.
The lavalier worked. Only catch, it went to the right end of the stereo spread. Thr guitar was all but hard-panned opposite. I hope I'm not the first to report on that.
I would love to have a guitar like this in my collection. Only thing, I've got too many electric guitars as it is and would probably be better suited getting another acoustic model like a Fender dobro. If you've got one of these to keep long term, I would suggest try playing with your fingers, in which case that extra pickup would not interfere as much.
these pick ups were definetely not the orignals
(which had epiphone stamps on it)
those epi ones were alnico classic pick ups which were nothing speical
but sounding okay...
great guitar for mods though...
i got a chinese 2006 one which has a good build quality.
Ahhhhh maybe certain years
Yes this video is very informative but I worry about your health. You’re doing an awful lot of heavy breathing I hope it’s not a heart condition . Take care. I have this exact guitar, but it dies depend on the year and wether it was made in China or Korea. Mine has great sounding pickups from China but my brother got an earlier model from Korea and he had to replace his pickups. He played mine and said my pickups were great, compared to his. Though his guitar is a heavier wood than mine. I’m sure the original 61s were pretty heavy like most Les Pauls.
Yep, some bastard took the Gibby pups out right before he sold it.
Intro to school's out was done on one
Nice SG, Good video
Wrap some plumer tape around the post to keep it snug.
Jack
Plumber or plumbing.
david or David? ;)
I like your pragmatic approach, If it ain’t broke don’t fix it . I’m happy to have my guitar action set up to the manufacturers specifications unlike some people who set them up so low that they’re unpleasant to play and choke on big string bends.
What’s wrong with sayings?
Need to pan voice towards center. Fucking guitar sound is killer. Killer, man.
I bet that neck pickup needs to be in the bridge. It’s wooly sounding like it’s hotter than the others. Oh well. Running commentary.
Not a SG guy. I feel most comfortable on a strat.
Mike Skipworth. Strange, I'm getting it dead centre in my monitors.. Are you on 'phones?
La Barone at the very end his voice was all right speaker.
is it as les paul or a sg?
Robb VanTour The early SG guitars were called Les Pauls, they became SG guitars when Les Paul withdrew from his endorsement deal.
It's a Les Paul Custom. Les preferred the SG shape actually. I had this guitar for a while and when I traded it out it kept throwing people for a loop since its pretty much an SG version of a Black Beauty but is called a Les Paul Custom.
Robb VanTour Yes.
Brad,
Everything I've read says Les actually disliked this new design so much that he wanted his name off of it and suggested Gibson call it the SG(solid guitar).
pretty earlier on? OH, I get mixed up with the Fender story...
I bought this guitar for €150 practically brand new cause the guy selling it bought it to hang on his wall.
the neck and bridge pickup dont appear to be original... i dunno that middle might be, but who made a mess of this lol
New band name "Dodgy Nut" 🎵🎸
I know this is an old video, but I like how you look at all the small details. Many techs and most shops don't care or bother. It's just get it out the door as quickly as possible to make a buck, even if it's not done right. If it's not playing right, how can a shop let it go out the door? =(
Tony Colantonio I found one here in Winnipeg Canada on a private sale.
The neck on mine is like a baseball bat
This three pickup configuration from 1957 was Gibson’s opportunity to create the first HSH, if they’d just put a P90 in the middle
Sister Rosetta Woodeso lol
Your lights make your hair look purple??
I think you dyed your hair purple
Go look at Norman’s rare guitars they have same guitar(rare). Ratty shape
Dig the mic setup while you play👍🏻
Mic not sounding very good
Nice hair. You trying to piss off your parents?
An accountant would have bought a real Gibson SG.
lol. focus you fack!
let's be HOOO nest...these Epiphanies don't stay in tune for one reason and one reason only. The timber comes strait of a truck, and into the plant/factory. They make it in three weeks if not three days....anyone old enough (not me) how Gibson/Epiphone, fender or Guild made guitars back in the day...will know that it's like eating pot noodle. The Chinese are good at making Zithers, violin bows and calligraphy. Massage, growing trees, cutting trees, a bit of dumplings and a whole bunch of other sits but if US, don't stop buying that dross, they'll still make the damn things...They're not stupid. If a Chinese geezer wanna buy a gooOOOoood guitar...He goes to Japan or buys on eBAY.
even the cheap Yamahas (dreadnought) are abominable. Maybe GRETSCH made in China saves the day. Buy a T-pot, enjoy a little jasmine with your friends.
Hello Bon appetit Pretty painful to read but I think I get what you're saying, yeah tone wood is not responsible for your tuning issues bud lol.
Love your work and videos but think that guitar sounds like 💩
dude, it's an epiphone lol