UPDATE! A year after I shot this video, I've changed my mind about the ProBucker pickups. I think I judged them too harshly - I actually think they're pretty good at this point. I shot a video about the ProBucker pickups that's worth checking out if you're interested: th-cam.com/video/CWvDntXQpB8/w-d-xo.html
I thought they were average sounding too on my Epiphone 2020 modern UNTIL I adjusted the truss rod (properly) and boy did they sound sweet after that. Really made all the difference to the sustain especially and made the lead playing sound much better.
Since the covid lockdowns, and then deciding that the prudent thing would be to just never leave my home again, I've been changing my strings, cleaning/oiling my fretboard (ebony) 3-4 times per month. I'm averaging about 4.5 hours playing time each day. Once you've tested the limits a few times in a controlled environment, your strings begin to let you know when it's time. I'm a B-flat guy, so my strings tend to last a bit longer then the norm, but, you can begin to feel hints of abrasion during bends, then shortly thereafter you will notice all the resiliency (elasticity) has simply been taken out of the string - which you experience as "walls" where the string feels taught before reaching the desired pitch or at least sooner than it did when new. A decidedly aversive feeling. When frets are cared for (steel need not apply) and strings are new (also helps if you rub out the fretboard to make it as smooth as possible at some point in the guitar's life) there will be a buttery feel to the contact patch where the string/finger combo makes contact with the fret/fretboard that makes me think about playing when I'm supposed to be sleeping, or even though I might've just finished playing 20 minutes ago. When that subconscious urge to play stops happening, experience has demonstrated that it's more likely because I haven't gone the extra mile with the string changes/fretboard tlc than being sick of playing. I have learned if I'm going to stop somewhere or order a set of strings online, it may as well be five. Lots of readily available strings plus locking tuners equal more string changes. An added bonus has been that the extra time and zen-like, feel to properly caring for my axe has caused me to bond with it in ways that I never fully experienced when I was younger and has brought about a degree of intimacy (feel) to my playing that seemingly didn't exist before. Of course the whole thing hinges on having a guitar that fits your hand and has a high-crafted feel, a feel of quality to it, or else you will lose interest. Which means, in my estimation, if you're going to begin building on a guitar, and you decide to use Epiphone as your platform, this 50+ year player would not suggest anything other than the Epi Modern (no painted necks - the poly job on the neck and backside is the most durable and glass-like I've ever seen and the wood quality is way above its price point) - the build quality (woodworking) is unparalleled by any other model currently available (through 2021). Once you've held one in your hands, you'll get it. But I'm gonna warn you, there are some caveats. The newly minted metric CTS pots appear (surprisingly; I've met one other with what seems to be the same issue) to be junk as they degrade early on (affecting tone and tone stability) and would be well advised to replace. I'm currently trying to find a full set of Gibson (Burstbuckers/American CTS pots) hardware because I'd like to keep the coil-splits and have the extra push-pull bybass, but in SE Asia, I may have to go with what's available. In which case, maybe I'll eliminate the complex wiring and go with SD humbuckers. At some point I'd like to pick up a lightweight stop-bar, but composition and intonation adjustment at the bridge is fine. If I lived someplace else, I'd probably PLEK the damned thing too, just to cover all the bases. The mission is to get as close as possible to a non-3000 USD Gibson Modern. So far, I'm into it for about 650 USD and a bit of fine-tuning. Oh, and I immediately bought the gorgeous black tortex Epiphone hardshell case. The guitar compelled me to do so. One other advantage to that glass-like poly finish over the nitro; it encases all the seams and seals everything nicely for the tropics. In case anyone's wondering, I have the graphite-finished maple cap (not veneer). As a player, it is impossible to overstate the value of this guitar. The frets are purportedly unglued, so when it comes time to swap them out, bob's your uncle. Yes, I am an ambassador for the Epiphone Modern, warts and all.
The output jack is not plastic, it is the cover that is plastic. And yes it will crack in time, so a metal replacement makes sense. Changing pickups not really necessary as this is totally subjective. I have an Epi LP standard, which I think an excellent guitar. Have replaced the whole wiring harness for an Obsidian wire harness. And put on locking tuners. I did put in a Seymour Duncan JB in bridge because I could. The difference as expected is not worth getting to excited about. The locking tuners may increase tuning stability, but were put on for fast and easy string changing.
(Epi LP SB Custom) Changed out the bridge PU for an SD SH-4 JB, the nut for a Tusq XL 6061, and the Grover tuners for 502c locking Holy Hell what a difference that made! no more tuning issues and way more clarity and sustain.
When you have the Epiphone 1960 Tribute Plus Les Paul as I do ,you do not need to upgrade as it has Classic /57 Gibson pickups, Mallory Pots and Capacitors, a Switchcraft Toggle, Gibson wiring and hardware and Grover locking tuners! Grab one if you can find them!
I just picked up a Epiphone 60’s Les Paul standard I went with the Seymour Duncan pearly gates pickups and Grover locking tuners 🙂 couldn’t be happier 🥂
Nicely done. The Epiphone '59 Les Paul has addressed a few of these issues. I agree on removing the finish from the back of the neck - I used different grades of Scotch-Brite to be on the safe side. That removed the finish well and left it super smooth. Now I'm going to buy some Tung Oil to finish the job - thanks :o)
Epiphone probucker humbucking pickups are just fine the key component is adjusting them to Gibson and Epiphone pickup height specifications. Eddie Van Halen Frankenstein guitar had a Gibson humbucker pickup that was taken out of a 1959 Gibson ES-335 that humbucking pickup had Alico ll or Alico V magnets
I’m having a hard time finding the output, jack plate for my epiphone, Les Paul. Any advice where I can go to get one that uses the same mounting screw holes…
Another way to make a neck less sticky is to use a scotch brite pad. Tape the neck off where you want to get a clean look, say at the nut and at the heel, then gently go up and down the neck a few times. You just want to scuff the shine off the neck. Feels nice and smooth, not sticky.
I've got one guitar that came like that from the factory, a Supro Islander series. And I love it. It does have a "premium" type feeling. Hard to describe, actually. It doesn't feel like the new trend of necks that have minimal satin finishing, where you can sort of feel the wood grain the finish is so thin, no, this neck feels like the skin of your lover! It is smooth, silky, it just feels good to glide your hand up and down... it. BUT, I've got an older MIM Fender Strat who's neck is glossy as hell, and vintage tinted, and I love the feel of that neck... BUT I'm not liking the feel of the Epi LP Custom super glossy neck. Can Fender and Epiphone be using different "poly's" as their finishes, so that they feel different? I also like a sticky neck, somehow, like I like the thumb grip that you can get if you settle in a position and are going to just work it there. But sliding up and down the new Kalamazoo Custom, it does feel bad sticky. Maybe I just need to continue to clean the neck? You know how it is buying used guitars... the horror... like what sticky substance is all over this guitar? And how many times am I going to have to shower to feel clean again? Lol, but seriously!
People shouldn't be afraid to buy a mid priced "budget" guitar and breaking it in and replacing a few parts. A lot of people don't realize how much cost it adds to a guitar to have a good setup and rounded fretboard. If you change the frets...round off the fretboard while there aren't any frets on. A mid-priced guitar can become magic with a little tlc. Tuners are not an expensive upgrade. I like 18:1. I have a Fender that I'm pretty sure came with 12:1 and it's a pain to tune. I don't like playing it because I'm constantly making little adjustments. At some point, I'll probably replace them.
I like Graphtec TUSQ nuts and Grover tuners but Pickups make the most difference. My 2010 Studio has WLH/Pearly Gates with triple shots, my 2011 has Seth Lover/Antiquity with push pull pots for split coil, series and phase and my Epiphone 1959 is getting a set of MojoTone ‘59 clones. I don’t like high gain.
EMG 81 and 85 active pick ups...Basically Zack Wilde set up. They sound amazing and with a little adjustment on the clean tone dialing them in they'll do clean channel well also...
I will definitely do a video if I strip a neck down again, because I learned a lot from the first one. Mostly how NOT to do it! I used a rasp file and a small sander - at that point I didn't own a heat gun yet (I do now.) So I'd like to work on the best way to strip finish some more before I make a video about it, but I'm pretty sure I will at some point. Thanks for the comment!
I use epiphone plus top pro guitars. I don’t care for coil splitting so my guitar tech removed the stock pups and put Seymour Duncan JB bridge and SD ‘59 neck in 2 of them and my last one has a SD pearly gates bridge and a SD jazz neck I also own a few Gibson les Paul’s and I play my Epiphone’s way more
You know what helps you change strings more often? Locking Tuners! Changing strings with locking tuners is a snap. You don't get locking tuners to improve your tone. You get them to improve your guitar-playing experience and to not unnecessarily waste time on tedious tasks..Easy to install, too. Worth the cost and then some.
I've got three older Epiphones and the three way switch hasn't broken on any of them, so I wouldn't. That said, I don't have any of the newer Epiphones, so I don't know if they've started using cheaper switches.
A lot of epiphone les Paul’s now come with Wilkinson tuners now (due to high demand during the pandemic)….quick question do the use the same screw holes as grovers?
Just curious, you say often "the modern" LP's this and that, and this video is posted in 2020. Would you consider a 2018 year model "modern"? Thanks, enjoyed all the vids on the EPI LP's.
Gibson got a new CEO near the end of 2018, so I think when I'm talking about modern I probably meant 2019 and later, in other words, Gibson under new leadership.
I like the Dirty Gibson more than the other one. What would you recommend if you want more of a jingle jangly sound, or can you even get it if you replace that pickup?
You can "kinda" get a more jangly sound by getting a pickup that can do a coil tap... but not really. For a jangle, something like a Strat or Tele is really the way to go.
Would you recommend leaving the stock neck pickup in alongside the Dirty Fingers pickup, or is there a different pickup you'd recommend alongside the Dirty Fingers?
It depends on the player. What I'd recommend for other people would be that the best pickup to go with the Dirty Fingers is another Dirty Fingers. In my case, I sometimes leave the stock neck pickup because I rarely end up using it. :)
Hey Richard how you doing you at your channel I have a Les Paul tribute beautiful guitar I also have a Epiphone standard and I also purchased a unexpensive Ivy let's play guitar made in Vietnam looks really nice emerald green and I was going to ask you a suggestion I like to change the pickups on it what do you suggest my friend I'm also thinking about changing the tuners and later on also changing the pots and putting in some other hardware and the capacitors I heard about the I've heard about the pearly Gates pickups from sizemore Duncan what do you suggest thank you very much Joseph Velez gunny USMC just want to make the guitar better for the inexpensive guitar that I bought I have a bunch of other guitars that are expensive I've never really messed with the inside of it I am a technician and I've worked with electronic stuff I have many books on how to repair stuff and how to modify it just asking for a suggestion thank you very much
The Les Paul Studio comes with heavier strings than I like. I hate the tuners. My old Epiphone has solid tuning pegs. Why can't the knobs be solid without a screw on the end? My son said something was loose on his guitar and you could hear it but we had to check every screw and it was the tuning peg not tight. So dumb.
The Epiphone Custom Pro might be the best Epiphone Les Paul - they look amazing and they play great. I think the Pro comes with Epiphone ProBucker pickups, and there are a lot of opinions out there on the ProBuckers. They're designed to sound like Gibson BurstBuckers, and some people say they sound alike and some say they're not quite as good. I'm in the second camp - I think they lack midrange clarity, but they're not as bad as other Epiphone pickups. In terms of putting active pickups in a guitar, I think it depends on the amp. An active pickup can give you a lot of control over how the signal hits the front of an amp compared to a passive pickup - if you have a tube amp and you want to get even more gain out of it, active pickups can help. If you're playing into a modeling amp or device, I don't see the point.
I just bought a brand new 2016 epiphone les paul custom pro koa from a collector. mint only used once. and I found it it strange that all the pots have taps on them .what are your thoughts and advice for me definitely gonna change the strings first I like the slinky 008
Some Epiphones have coil taps on the pots - one of mine does. I'm not a big fan of them, but they do work. Best advice is to see how it plays - if the action seems high, it could do with a setup, maybe a truss wrench adjustment. But if it plays great, I wouldn't mess with it. Epi Les Paul Custom Pro most likely has ProBucker pickups - I'd leave them in there, as long as you like the sound of them.
I have a 59” Epi Les Paul and I’m fine with the Burstbuckers too. The best $800 in a guitar you can get IMO. I did change the pickups on my Epi Les Paul SG 61’ though but thank goodness I did. Do you like your 59’? I love mine
@@michaelheller8841 Its my second les paul and my third electric guitar. My firs LP was a very cheap unknown brand which I bought during my college years. Always love the look of LP. Not realizing it was damn heavy, so I bought an Ibanez JS later. As I progress I realize there is something in that LP tone. I cant afford a Gibson Standard but I would say I like this better than most Gibson studios I tried. But the tone, I just love it!!!
@@abd-ix5qd I agree with you 100% funny, I started out I think on a Cameo Les Paul copy like 35 years ago lol. Been through a lot of guitars. I think the Epi 59’ is better than the Gibson Studio and Tribute as well. I don’t mind the weight to get the sound, I’m also a hunchback lol.
Why is that though? I'm from the Fender world, but just picked up an Epi LP Custom, and I'm shocked by how little Epiphone content there is on TH-cam, and especially about the Custom. There are DAYS and DAYS and really YEARS (if I'm to be honest) of Fender content, and that is just on the Strat, let alone all their other models, and not even mentioning all the Squiers, which themselves might have more content than the Fenders! I'm looking for vids on the Epi LP Custom, and especially the newer ones, like 2020 and above models with the Kalamazoo headstock, I'm searching about how to do a basic setup, and TH-cam only recommends just a couple english luthiers doing a two hour setup and talking to themselves the whole time, but not really talking/showing in detail about what must be done, and the particulars of each step in the setup process. My epi, unfortunately, but expectedly, has a few high frets that I must knock down if I'm to record with this guitar. I know the basics of fret leveling, but I prefer someone knowledgeable speaking/showing specifically the guitar I'm working on. Anyway, loving my Epi LP C so far. Haven't even had a chance to plug in to my tube amp yet, just a little Katana 2 and a Fender Champ 20 (both of which are pretty good, and actually really good for the price). But can't wait to hear these 2020 Probuckers pushing 120 tube watts through a 4x12 cab... can't wait! The sun has barely risen here... I MUST WAIT, for my neighbor's sake! They'll never know the restraint I routinely exercise for their benefit!
@@alphanumeric1529 Wow - you typed a novella there - impressive! Fret leveling does take experience - I did about 10 before I started to feel like I could do an OK job. No harm in taking it to a pro when in doubt. If you want to get into it, I'd suggest getting some junkers to practice on first. Also, you get what you pay for - the diamond fret files cost a fortune but they do a better job, and a fret leveling beam is a good investment. You're right, there isn't much Epi stuff out there. I have two Epi Les Pauls and I think they're great for the money.
Awesome tips and very good ones too. I actually do these things, or most of them, as needed to every guitar I own. Some don't need these and some do. Great explanation of these basics and why they are needed.
Didn’t you just do a comparison between the Epiphone pickup and your “favorite” pickup, Pearly Gates and conclude that you couldn’t discern a noticeable difference? Correct me if I’m wrong!
YES, you are correct! I've changed my mind. I put it in the comments section, but I didn't want to reshoot the video because it was the first one I made. I think I mistook the Epiphone Alnico Classic pickup (which IS muddy) for the ProBucker.
I got the most expensive one they make last year and it’s ok. But yeah the pickups are terrible on most tones other than like a ZZ Top tone. Also it frets out on the high strings any place past the 13th fret with just a half note bend. Also it’s hands down the worst guitar I’ve ever owned for tuning. I’ve tried all the tricks and nothing helps so I’m looking at a whole new nut and tuners now. I do think in the end when I’m done fixing the frets , changing tuners etc , and swapping in good pickups I’ll be sitting at what the cheapest Gibson cost but I won’t have that dog shit nitro finish or the total unpredictability of any Gibson.
A few months ago I got A 2020 Epiphone Les Paul 61' SG in red and I played it after I set it up. The stock pickups were too bright or especially brittle sounding in the bridge. Not pleasant to my ears, let's just say. I can't complain too much because it was $450. I however can't just leave as is, I had two hardwired Zebra Pickups put in another $350 investment, and what a world of difference!! I can now go up against the Gibson Les Paul I own and others that are way more expensive, no lie.
I believe it! I put the same pickup in my Gibson Les Paul and my Epiphone Les Paul at one point - they sounded slightly different than each other, but neither one jumped out as sounding "better" or "worse." Pickups can make a big difference depending on the guitar, amp, and sound you're after. BTW, I want to get a Epi SG at some point for my collection. They look so cool!
@@budgetguitarist The Epi Les Paul 61’ SG is the way to go IMO. If you like more of a thicker neck. The Standard I’m sure is thinner. I have an Epi Les Paul Modern figured that has a thin neck and it plays fast.I can play both well, I don’t mind a thicker neck though. The pickup change is huge, it’s like getting a better guitar without spending the thousands IMO. I know the binding and detail is not up to par with the Gibson, but I want to eat a steak once in a while lol
@@michaelheller8841 I am forever torn between thin and thicker necks. My thin neck PRS SE is my easiest to play guitar, by far. It's so fast. But my best sounding guitars have thicker necks. It's not just my imagination - guitars with thicker necks do sound a bit bigger and they seem to stay in tune better. There's always some type of compromise.
@@budgetguitarist the PRS are easy to play, I used to have a 10 head and sold it, needed the cash at the time, great guitars though. I’m only down to one Gibson Les Paul now, I used to have The Jimmy Page signature and a 58’ reissue one. I’m kicking myself to have sold them too. I look back and get mad I did, I had no choice at the time. Now though, I like to put just a little money into them and I can get the same results. My only problem, is that I see something cool, I gotta have it lol. My next one will be an Epi ES 335. I want one lol you have a very good video up there man, keep up the great work.
Ceramic humbuckers are only good for Hard Rock such as a DiMarzio super distortion it is not a good pickup for all styles of music the Epiphone probucker have Alico magnets more musical magnets for a vintage pretty sound the compliments different styles of music. Over the last five years epiphone's have made vast improvements in the quality are regards to their guitars. Ceramic pickups or maybe good very hard rock and heavy metal but not all styles of music humbucking pickups with Alico ll or Alico V magnets Seymour Duncan jazz pickups paired with Seymour Duncan JB( the Seymour Duncan hot rod set) the most inexpensive way if you are upgrading the pickups on a Epiphone Les Paul s g or Epiphone 335
UPDATE! A year after I shot this video, I've changed my mind about the ProBucker pickups. I think I judged them too harshly - I actually think they're pretty good at this point. I shot a video about the ProBucker pickups that's worth checking out if you're interested: th-cam.com/video/CWvDntXQpB8/w-d-xo.html
That said... the Gibson Dirty Finger pickups in this video are better for higher gain stuff than the ProBuckers IMHO. :).
Yes indeed probuckers are good not the best but for what they're intended for. I was clued in if swaped out don't let'em go.
just bought a les paul pro epi, cigar burst
@@cryptohalloffame Nice!
I thought they were average sounding too on my Epiphone 2020 modern UNTIL I adjusted the truss rod (properly) and boy did they sound sweet after that. Really made all the difference to the sustain especially and made the lead playing sound much better.
I plan on buying an epiphone les paul soon i'm glad i found this video on how to make it a bestest gooder kind of a guitar
Since the covid lockdowns, and then deciding that the prudent thing would be to just never leave my home again, I've been changing my strings, cleaning/oiling my fretboard (ebony) 3-4 times per month. I'm averaging about 4.5 hours playing time each day. Once you've tested the limits a few times in a controlled environment, your strings begin to let you know when it's time. I'm a B-flat guy, so my strings tend to last a bit longer then the norm, but, you can begin to feel hints of abrasion during bends, then shortly thereafter you will notice all the resiliency (elasticity) has simply been taken out of the string - which you experience as "walls" where the string feels taught before reaching the desired pitch or at least sooner than it did when new. A decidedly aversive feeling.
When frets are cared for (steel need not apply) and strings are new (also helps if you rub out the fretboard to make it as smooth as possible at some point in the guitar's life) there will be a buttery feel to the contact patch where the string/finger combo makes contact with the fret/fretboard that makes me think about playing when I'm supposed to be sleeping, or even though I might've just finished playing 20 minutes ago. When that subconscious urge to play stops happening, experience has demonstrated that it's more likely because I haven't gone the extra mile with the string changes/fretboard tlc than being sick of playing. I have learned if I'm going to stop somewhere or order a set of strings online, it may as well be five. Lots of readily available strings plus locking tuners equal more string changes.
An added bonus has been that the extra time and zen-like, feel to properly caring for my axe has caused me to bond with it in ways that I never fully experienced when I was younger and has brought about a degree of intimacy (feel) to my playing that seemingly didn't exist before. Of course the whole thing hinges on having a guitar that fits your hand and has a high-crafted feel, a feel of quality to it, or else you will lose interest. Which means, in my estimation, if you're going to begin building on a guitar, and you decide to use Epiphone as your platform, this 50+ year player would not suggest anything other than the Epi Modern (no painted necks - the poly job on the neck and backside is the most durable and glass-like I've ever seen and the wood quality is way above its price point) - the build quality (woodworking) is unparalleled by any other model currently available (through 2021). Once you've held one in your hands, you'll get it.
But I'm gonna warn you, there are some caveats. The newly minted metric CTS pots appear (surprisingly; I've met one other with what seems to be the same issue) to be junk as they degrade early on (affecting tone and tone stability) and would be well advised to replace. I'm currently trying to find a full set of Gibson (Burstbuckers/American CTS pots) hardware because I'd like to keep the coil-splits and have the extra push-pull bybass, but in SE Asia, I may have to go with what's available. In which case, maybe I'll eliminate the complex wiring and go with SD humbuckers. At some point I'd like to pick up a lightweight stop-bar, but composition and intonation adjustment at the bridge is fine. If I lived someplace else, I'd probably PLEK the damned thing too, just to cover all the bases. The mission is to get as close as possible to a non-3000 USD Gibson Modern.
So far, I'm into it for about 650 USD and a bit of fine-tuning. Oh, and I immediately bought the gorgeous black tortex Epiphone hardshell case. The guitar compelled me to do so. One other advantage to that glass-like poly finish over the nitro; it encases all the seams and seals everything nicely for the tropics. In case anyone's wondering, I have the graphite-finished maple cap (not veneer). As a player, it is impossible to overstate the value of this guitar. The frets are purportedly unglued, so when it comes time to swap them out, bob's your uncle. Yes, I am an ambassador for the Epiphone Modern, warts and all.
Use Korean-made Alpha pots, they have become far more reliable than CTS nowadays.
The output jack is not plastic, it is the cover that is plastic. And yes it will crack in time, so a metal replacement makes sense.
Changing pickups not really necessary as this is totally subjective. I have an Epi LP standard, which I think an excellent guitar.
Have replaced the whole wiring harness for an Obsidian wire harness. And put on locking tuners. I did put in a Seymour Duncan
JB in bridge because I could. The difference as expected is not worth getting to excited about. The locking tuners may increase
tuning stability, but were put on for fast and easy string changing.
Well it depends on what pickup you get. Some people don’t know how to choose pickups.
(Epi LP SB Custom) Changed out the bridge PU for an SD SH-4 JB, the nut for a Tusq XL 6061, and the Grover tuners for 502c locking Holy Hell what a difference that made! no more tuning issues and way more clarity and sustain.
You want to make your Epiphone sound better??? Practice more...😉😁
True!
Changing the height of pole pieces can dramatically change the tone. Lower will have more clarity.
Get a graphtech bridge and you will be happy. A pal of mine said Graphtech ratio locking tuners are a great choice
That's a great idea!
When you have the Epiphone 1960 Tribute Plus Les Paul as I do ,you do not need to upgrade as it has Classic /57 Gibson pickups, Mallory Pots and Capacitors, a Switchcraft Toggle, Gibson wiring and hardware and Grover locking tuners! Grab one if you can find them!
I've never played one but I've read about them. They seem like amazing guitars for the money.
I just picked up a Epiphone 60’s Les Paul standard I went with the Seymour Duncan pearly gates pickups and Grover locking tuners 🙂 couldn’t be happier 🥂
Pearly Gates are still my fave pickup!
Nicely done. The Epiphone '59 Les Paul has addressed a few of these issues. I agree on removing the finish from the back of the neck - I used different grades of Scotch-Brite to be on the safe side. That removed the finish well and left it super smooth. Now I'm going to buy some Tung Oil to finish the job - thanks :o)
For the record, Pete Thorn says that Eddie Van Halen used a Mighty Mite copy of a Super Distortion pickup on Van Halen 1.
The nut probably contributes to tuning stability as much as the tuners (in guitars with not total shit OEM machines).
Epiphone probucker humbucking pickups are just fine the key component is adjusting them to Gibson and Epiphone pickup height specifications. Eddie Van Halen Frankenstein guitar had a Gibson humbucker pickup that was taken out of a 1959 Gibson ES-335 that humbucking pickup had Alico ll or Alico V magnets
I’m having a hard time finding the output, jack plate for my epiphone, Les Paul. Any advice where I can go to get one that uses the same mounting screw holes…
Another way to make a neck less sticky is to use a scotch brite pad. Tape the neck off where you want to get a clean look, say at the nut and at the heel, then gently go up and down the neck a few times. You just want to scuff the shine off the neck. Feels nice and smooth, not sticky.
That would be the smarter way. I took all the finish off basically to see if I could. :)
I've got one guitar that came like that from the factory, a Supro Islander series. And I love it. It does have a "premium" type feeling. Hard to describe, actually. It doesn't feel like the new trend of necks that have minimal satin finishing, where you can sort of feel the wood grain the finish is so thin, no, this neck feels like the skin of your lover! It is smooth, silky, it just feels good to glide your hand up and down... it.
BUT, I've got an older MIM Fender Strat who's neck is glossy as hell, and vintage tinted, and I love the feel of that neck... BUT I'm not liking the feel of the Epi LP Custom super glossy neck. Can Fender and Epiphone be using different "poly's" as their finishes, so that they feel different? I also like a sticky neck, somehow, like I like the thumb grip that you can get if you settle in a position and are going to just work it there. But sliding up and down the new Kalamazoo Custom, it does feel bad sticky. Maybe I just need to continue to clean the neck? You know how it is buying used guitars... the horror... like what sticky substance is all over this guitar? And how many times am I going to have to shower to feel clean again? Lol, but seriously!
People shouldn't be afraid to buy a mid priced "budget" guitar and breaking it in and replacing a few parts. A lot of people don't realize how much cost it adds to a guitar to have a good setup and rounded fretboard. If you change the frets...round off the fretboard while there aren't any frets on. A mid-priced guitar can become magic with a little tlc. Tuners are not an expensive upgrade. I like 18:1. I have a Fender that I'm pretty sure came with 12:1 and it's a pain to tune. I don't like playing it because I'm constantly making little adjustments. At some point, I'll probably replace them.
Agree 100%!
Dude this video is awesome! What neck pickup would you recommend to pair with the super distortion?
Depends on how you want to use it. In the case of getting another, darker hard rock tone, I'd go with a second Super Distortion!
I like Graphtec TUSQ nuts and Grover tuners but Pickups make the most difference. My 2010 Studio has WLH/Pearly Gates with triple shots, my 2011 has Seth Lover/Antiquity with push pull pots for split coil, series and phase and my Epiphone 1959 is getting a set of MojoTone ‘59 clones. I don’t like high gain.
EMG 81 and 85 active pick ups...Basically Zack Wilde set up. They sound amazing and with a little adjustment on the clean tone dialing them in they'll do clean channel well also...
Can you post a video going about how you stripped the neck? All sanding? Heat gun? A mix? Chem stripper?
I will definitely do a video if I strip a neck down again, because I learned a lot from the first one. Mostly how NOT to do it! I used a rasp file and a small sander - at that point I didn't own a heat gun yet (I do now.) So I'd like to work on the best way to strip finish some more before I make a video about it, but I'm pretty sure I will at some point. Thanks for the comment!
I use epiphone plus top pro guitars. I don’t care for coil splitting so my guitar tech removed the stock pups and put Seymour Duncan JB bridge and SD ‘59 neck in 2 of them and my last one has a SD pearly gates bridge and a SD jazz neck
I also own a few Gibson les Paul’s and I play my Epiphone’s way more
Dude rocks. No complaints here!
GREAT VIDEO MAN! THANKS!
Thank YOU!
You know what helps you change strings more often? Locking Tuners! Changing strings with locking tuners is a snap. You don't get locking tuners to improve your tone. You get them to improve your guitar-playing experience and to not unnecessarily waste time on tedious tasks..Easy to install, too. Worth the cost and then some.
Dude. That fart. You are my spirit animal. You got a like and sub from me. Lmao!!!!
I wonder, when you took the paint off the neck did you mask the binding with tape, or just sand it down as well?
I sanded it down as well, because I didn't want to feel a line where the binding stopped - I wanted it to be flat and seamless. It mostly worked.
I’ve been seeing some blog posts lately that Epiphone 3-way switches are poor quality and to replace with switch craft. Thoughts?
I've got three older Epiphones and the three way switch hasn't broken on any of them, so I wouldn't. That said, I don't have any of the newer Epiphones, so I don't know if they've started using cheaper switches.
A lot of epiphone les Paul’s now come with Wilkinson tuners now (due to high demand during the pandemic)….quick question do the use the same screw holes as grovers?
I honestly don't know. I would say "probably" but not "definitely."
Only 1 min in and I'm already subscribing
Just curious, you say often "the modern" LP's this and that, and this video is posted in 2020. Would you consider a 2018 year model "modern"?
Thanks, enjoyed all the vids on the EPI LP's.
Gibson got a new CEO near the end of 2018, so I think when I'm talking about modern I probably meant 2019 and later, in other words, Gibson under new leadership.
I like the Dirty Gibson more than the other one. What would you recommend if you want more of a jingle jangly sound, or can you even get it if you replace that pickup?
You can "kinda" get a more jangly sound by getting a pickup that can do a coil tap... but not really. For a jangle, something like a Strat or Tele is really the way to go.
Would you recommend leaving the stock neck pickup in alongside the Dirty Fingers pickup, or is there a different pickup you'd recommend alongside the Dirty Fingers?
It depends on the player. What I'd recommend for other people would be that the best pickup to go with the Dirty Fingers is another Dirty Fingers. In my case, I sometimes leave the stock neck pickup because I rarely end up using it. :)
Hey Richard how you doing you at your channel I have a Les Paul tribute beautiful guitar I also have a Epiphone standard and I also purchased a unexpensive Ivy let's play guitar made in Vietnam looks really nice emerald green and I was going to ask you a suggestion I like to change the pickups on it what do you suggest my friend I'm also thinking about changing the tuners and later on also changing the pots and putting in some other hardware and the capacitors I heard about the I've heard about the pearly Gates pickups from sizemore Duncan what do you suggest thank you very much Joseph Velez gunny USMC just want to make the guitar better for the inexpensive guitar that I bought I have a bunch of other guitars that are expensive I've never really messed with the inside of it I am a technician and I've worked with electronic stuff I have many books on how to repair stuff and how to modify it just asking for a suggestion thank you very much
Thank you so much for doing this video👍
Thanks! I appreciate it.
Fart jokes and cheap guitars.
I'm in!
The Les Paul Studio comes with heavier strings than I like. I hate the tuners. My old Epiphone has solid tuning pegs. Why can't the knobs be solid without a screw on the end? My son said something was loose on his guitar and you could hear it but we had to check every screw and it was the tuning peg not tight. So dumb.
I found that my Epiphone Les Paul Custom came with Wilkinson tuners.. Are they any good?
Yes - Wilkinson makes good parts!
Enjoy your website. Good first vid!
Thanks! I appreciate it. I figure it'll take me about two years to build up a following, one viewer at a time.
What model of les Paul is the one with the maple neck?
Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plus. I got it around 2004 and took the finish off the neck about 8 years ago, if I remember correctly.
Does this apply for the epiphone custom pro? And what are your thought on putting active pickups in a les paul?
The Epiphone Custom Pro might be the best Epiphone Les Paul - they look amazing and they play great. I think the Pro comes with Epiphone ProBucker pickups, and there are a lot of opinions out there on the ProBuckers. They're designed to sound like Gibson BurstBuckers, and some people say they sound alike and some say they're not quite as good. I'm in the second camp - I think they lack midrange clarity, but they're not as bad as other Epiphone pickups. In terms of putting active pickups in a guitar, I think it depends on the amp. An active pickup can give you a lot of control over how the signal hits the front of an amp compared to a passive pickup - if you have a tube amp and you want to get even more gain out of it, active pickups can help. If you're playing into a modeling amp or device, I don't see the point.
Great tips, my friend! I’m also not a fan of the probuckers. I think I’m gonna try the super distortion on my les paul custom ;)
Thanks! It definitely has that "rock" sound. Another route is an alnico II pickup, like my favorite (Semour Duncan Pearly Gates.)
I've swapped my probuckers out for a SD '59 neck and a SD '59/custom hybrid bridge. Can cover 60's/70's rock all the way to GnR with Slash type raunch
I just bought a brand new 2016 epiphone les paul custom pro koa from a collector. mint only used once. and I found it it strange that all the pots have taps on them .what are your thoughts and advice for me definitely gonna change the strings first I like the slinky 008
Some Epiphones have coil taps on the pots - one of mine does. I'm not a big fan of them, but they do work. Best advice is to see how it plays - if the action seems high, it could do with a setup, maybe a truss wrench adjustment. But if it plays great, I wouldn't mess with it. Epi Les Paul Custom Pro most likely has ProBucker pickups - I'd leave them in there, as long as you like the sound of them.
Did they teach you the phrase bell-thingie at Fredonia?????
I don't repeat some of the stuff I learned in Fredonia! :)
@@budgetguitarist Good idea!!!!
The remaining question is: since when does Epiphone use Graph Tech nuts? "Older" and "newer" is kinda vague.
I subscribed in ther first 10 seconds of this(the first i ever watched) video.
Thanks! I appreciate the sub.
Get the Epi 1959 Ltd Edition, it has Gibson pickup
I have a 59” Epi Les Paul and I’m fine with the Burstbuckers too. The best $800 in a guitar you can get IMO. I did change the pickups on my Epi Les Paul SG 61’ though but thank goodness I did. Do you like your 59’? I love mine
@@michaelheller8841 Its my second les paul and my third electric guitar. My firs LP was a very cheap unknown brand which I bought during my college years. Always love the look of LP. Not realizing it was damn heavy, so I bought an Ibanez JS later. As I progress I realize there is something in that LP tone. I cant afford a Gibson Standard but I would say I like this better than most Gibson studios I tried. But the tone, I just love it!!!
@@abd-ix5qd I agree with you 100% funny, I started out I think on a Cameo Les Paul copy like 35 years ago lol. Been through a lot of guitars. I think the Epi 59’ is better than the Gibson Studio and Tribute as well. I don’t mind the weight to get the sound, I’m also a hunchback lol.
Pickup neck?
Perfrcto video
I think its gooder :)
Bunches gooder.
Best vid there is of how to mod ur epi
Thanks! Much appreciated.
Why is that though? I'm from the Fender world, but just picked up an Epi LP Custom, and I'm shocked by how little Epiphone content there is on TH-cam, and especially about the Custom. There are DAYS and DAYS and really YEARS (if I'm to be honest) of Fender content, and that is just on the Strat, let alone all their other models, and not even mentioning all the Squiers, which themselves might have more content than the Fenders!
I'm looking for vids on the Epi LP Custom, and especially the newer ones, like 2020 and above models with the Kalamazoo headstock, I'm searching about how to do a basic setup, and TH-cam only recommends just a couple english luthiers doing a two hour setup and talking to themselves the whole time, but not really talking/showing in detail about what must be done, and the particulars of each step in the setup process. My epi, unfortunately, but expectedly, has a few high frets that I must knock down if I'm to record with this guitar. I know the basics of fret leveling, but I prefer someone knowledgeable speaking/showing specifically the guitar I'm working on.
Anyway, loving my Epi LP C so far. Haven't even had a chance to plug in to my tube amp yet, just a little Katana 2 and a Fender Champ 20 (both of which are pretty good, and actually really good for the price). But can't wait to hear these 2020 Probuckers pushing 120 tube watts through a 4x12 cab... can't wait! The sun has barely risen here... I MUST WAIT, for my neighbor's sake! They'll never know the restraint I routinely exercise for their benefit!
@@alphanumeric1529 Wow - you typed a novella there - impressive! Fret leveling does take experience - I did about 10 before I started to feel like I could do an OK job. No harm in taking it to a pro when in doubt. If you want to get into it, I'd suggest getting some junkers to practice on first. Also, you get what you pay for - the diamond fret files cost a fortune but they do a better job, and a fret leveling beam is a good investment. You're right, there isn't much Epi stuff out there. I have two Epi Les Pauls and I think they're great for the money.
Awesome tips and very good ones too. I actually do these things, or most of them, as needed to every guitar I own. Some don't need these and some do. Great explanation of these basics and why they are needed.
Didn’t you just do a comparison between the Epiphone pickup and your “favorite” pickup, Pearly Gates and conclude that you couldn’t discern a noticeable difference? Correct me if I’m wrong!
YES, you are correct! I've changed my mind. I put it in the comments section, but I didn't want to reshoot the video because it was the first one I made. I think I mistook the Epiphone Alnico Classic pickup (which IS muddy) for the ProBucker.
I got the most expensive one they make last year and it’s ok. But yeah the pickups are terrible on most tones other than like a ZZ Top tone. Also it frets out on the high strings any place past the 13th fret with just a half note bend. Also it’s hands down the worst guitar I’ve ever owned for tuning. I’ve tried all the tricks and nothing helps so I’m looking at a whole new nut and tuners now. I do think in the end when I’m done fixing the frets , changing tuners etc , and swapping in good pickups I’ll be sitting at what the cheapest Gibson cost but I won’t have that dog shit nitro finish or the total unpredictability of any Gibson.
A few months ago I got A 2020 Epiphone Les Paul 61' SG in red and I played it after I set it up. The stock pickups were too bright or especially brittle sounding in the bridge. Not pleasant to my ears, let's just say. I can't complain too much because it was $450. I however can't just leave as is, I had two hardwired Zebra Pickups put in another $350 investment, and what a world of difference!!
I can now go up against the Gibson Les Paul I own and others that are way more expensive, no lie.
I believe it! I put the same pickup in my Gibson Les Paul and my Epiphone Les Paul at one point - they sounded slightly different than each other, but neither one jumped out as sounding "better" or "worse." Pickups can make a big difference depending on the guitar, amp, and sound you're after. BTW, I want to get a Epi SG at some point for my collection. They look so cool!
@@budgetguitarist The Epi Les Paul 61’ SG is the way to go IMO. If you like more of a thicker neck. The Standard I’m sure is thinner. I have an Epi Les Paul Modern figured that has a thin neck and it plays fast.I can play both well, I don’t mind a thicker neck though. The pickup change is huge, it’s like getting a better guitar without spending the thousands IMO. I know the binding and detail is not up to par with the Gibson, but I want to eat a steak once in a while lol
@@michaelheller8841 I am forever torn between thin and thicker necks. My thin neck PRS SE is my easiest to play guitar, by far. It's so fast. But my best sounding guitars have thicker necks. It's not just my imagination - guitars with thicker necks do sound a bit bigger and they seem to stay in tune better. There's always some type of compromise.
@@budgetguitarist the PRS are easy to play, I used to have a 10 head and sold it, needed the cash at the time, great guitars though. I’m only down to one Gibson Les Paul now, I used to have The Jimmy Page signature and a 58’ reissue one. I’m kicking myself to have sold them too. I look back and get mad I did, I had no choice at the time. Now though, I like to put just a little money into them and I can get the same results. My only problem, is that I see something cool, I gotta have it lol. My next one will be an Epi ES 335. I want one lol you have a very good video up there man, keep up the great work.
My frets were awfull.
yet a year later, you like the pro, go figure hehehehehe
Yup. I was wrong, wrong, WRONG! I'm really, really liking the ProBucker pickups these days.
Ceramic humbuckers are only good for Hard Rock such as a DiMarzio super distortion it is not a good pickup for all styles of music the Epiphone probucker have Alico magnets more musical magnets for a vintage pretty sound the compliments different styles of music. Over the last five years epiphone's have made vast improvements in the quality are regards to their guitars. Ceramic pickups or maybe good very hard rock and heavy metal but not all styles of music humbucking pickups with Alico ll or Alico V magnets Seymour Duncan jazz pickups paired with Seymour Duncan JB( the Seymour Duncan hot rod set) the most inexpensive way if you are upgrading the pickups on a Epiphone Les Paul s g or Epiphone 335