Epiphone Les Paul Special II AFD: Disassembly, Parts Examination, Reassembly, and Setup
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 ต.ค. 2024
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This is a one-episode look at a good deal that I got on Facebook Marketplace. This one is endorsed by Slash - it's 2021 Epiphone Les Paul Special II AFD (Appetite for Destruction) edition. It's nearly new, but the previous owner didn't know how to change strings or setup the guitar, so I take the opportunity to examine all of the parts before I correct the setup. In short, it's a really great guitar for a low price-point, but it could benefit from some new tuning pegs.
Get this model on Amazon: amzn.to/3YaxRI3
Who am I? I'm just a hobbyist, not a luthier. I've picked up a few skills along the way, and I continue to learn. If you're into DIY projects and musical instruments or gear, you may enjoy my channel. If you do, please like, subscribe, and leave a comment.
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I gave my cousin one of these when he was 14, he’s 20 now and still loves it!
Great gift!
The Epiphone Les Paul Special II Slash AFD came out in 2014. It's a mahogany body and neck. Also has Epiphone Ceramic Plus pickups. It is a veneer top, the binding is done pretty well. It's $330 new...as of 2023. Nice video!!
Thanks, I've seen a lot of interest in this model recently. I don't mind the bolt-on neck for this model, and really the only upgrade it actually needs are the tuners. The stock tuners are awful, and I'm not sure what Epiphone was thinking using them.
Very welcome! I changed the tuners on mine, Kluson makes a direct drop in for the Epi specials now. Only $50 on eBay... Search for Kluson Plus tuners 3+3. Also, they're 18:1 ratio
Silly question, what are the differences with the regular Special ii models?
I can notice the veneer and the tuner-on-pickup-ring, zebra colored pus... Is that it?
The pickups seem to be of better construction/materials in addition to being a different color. Only other difference I noted was that the body is solid mahogany vs laminate wood.
@@KevinLightner_kev82668 Those are the exact tuners I would recommend.
I got mine around late 2022 and I was really blown away at how good it was for the price and how solid it was! I weirdly liked the bolt on neck as it made the upper fret access a bit easier as there is less of the neck heel in the way! Great video as well! :)
Totally agree!
Just found your channel and I really love your videos ! New subscriber ! Regards from Scotland.
Welcome aboard!
Gonna use this vid to set up my guitar in the coming week, thank you very much!
Rock on!
Just love the detailed explanation. Very helpful information!!!!🤓👌👍🎸🎸🎸
Thanks!
Your a Legend brother, thanks for all the info, means alot to a begginers like you, your a rock star. 🍻👑
Thanks very much
This was an awesome video, I'm a beginner/mid Acoustic player and I want to trash around with full electric and was wondering if you would make a video where you tell us your ranking of the best inexpensive electrics you have reviewed. Thank you in advance
Oh, that's a tough one... there are so many, and it depends upon what you think is inexpensive. I'll think about the video but will give you some opinions here. Of the Gibson-style guitars that I have done, I think the ranking would be: Gibson LP Studio, Epiphone LP Studio, Epi SG-400 Pro, Epi LP Special II AFD, Donner LP Special, Epi LP Special II (Black), and waaaay at the bottom, the Glarry LP Special. Fender-style guitars would be: Fender MIJ models, Fender Player series (anything, really), Squier MIJ models, Charvette MIJ, earlier Fender MIM models, Squier Strat VM (India), Squier Standard models, BC Rich ST (MIK), Squier SE Strat, Ibanez RX, Squier Affinity models, Ibanez GIO, Samick LSM-80, Squier Bullet models, Squier Mini models, Starcasters, and Glarry GST. Jackson Professional models (MIJ) like the Kelly I reviewed are really good also, but they don't really fit either category... probably somewhere just below the set-neck Epis and around the MIJ Charvette in quality.
@@hacksguitarhobby I'm very sorry I should have been more specific but those are some great lists. I was actually looking at your videos during the time of the Epiphone Les Paul Special II AFD, around 1 year ago. Above and below that video you reviewed/worked on a few guitars and I guess inexpensive is the sub $400 category for example the Epiphone right now is around $350. At this point I'm not sure if electric guitars are 100% in my future so I just want to play around and see how I feel.
I have one of the original Specials with the Gibson truss cover. And the stock bridge will not intonate I bought a bad ass bridge and the G is still sharp I wallowed out the holes so the bad ass could sit as far back as it could and now is better but G is still slighly sharp. Idunno somebody goofed on drilling the bridge holes.Mine were off short by 3-5 mm. I like the neck though. I swapped out the neck pup for a GFS Fat Pat. (patent Applied For) copy
Interesting. I’m planning on doing an Epi Junior in about a month and will be using this bridge on it: amzn.to/3PqCD2h
I got mine back in 2015. I swapped out the pups for Dimarzio super distortions. Haven't had any issue really. The tuners are ok but I am thinking of getting a set of Grover locking. The thing sounds great with thise Dimarzio's on it.
Tuners will be a great upgrade.
I have the les paul special 11 and I love it, having taken one apart is my intended project of putting that built in tuner on my ephiphone les paul standard possible?
It's possible, but the back cover on the AFD Special holds the battery, and you'd have to figure out how to replicate it.
Great guitar
It is great, and very great for the money.
Lets hear it!
Maybe the next one I get :)
Tip. Had mine in a case, and the case fell there was no head support in the case, and the neck broke. Looked hi n low for a new neck
epiphone Don't sell parts . Iv glued the neck but still have slight movement. I'm going to have to spline the neck, I'm starting to become more of a Luthier than a player .
Sounds like a major project. I’ve only ever seen it done, never did one.
Excellent site
Thank you
I've had mine for about 5 years. At the time I didn't have enough for a "real" Epi Les Paul, let alone a Gibson so I said what the heck.. I think it cost me about $225 or so but I see they're going for about $350 now. Huh. Tuner are crap yeah but I never have problems. Once I set up the poles on the pick ups she sounds decent although the neck pu is kind of muddy. Only big issue for me was the strap button on the bottom got stripped not even a year after I got it and wouldn't stay in. I got a big toothpick and jammed it in there and was able to screw it back in. Still holds up.
That strap button repair is fine as long as you don’t back out the screw. If you need to back it out, the toothpick may fall out, but just add a dab of wood glue to make it permanent.
I've just picked one of these up in mint condition for £80 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳 Great video btw, very interesting, educational and informative,,,, well done sir
Great deal, I think you’ll be happy with it. The Kluson Plus tuners are the best upgrade, if you’re looking for one.
@@hacksguitarhobby Thanks buddy
Setup mine properly with Seymour Duncan pickups. Nice student guitar
Yes, could not agree more - great quality for the money. Replace those tuners, though.
@hacksguitarhobby Good advice. But I found tightening machine heads and bridge and a little string stretching goes a long way. Found Graftek nut to be worthwhile
thats exactly what i want to do! i really love this guitar, how much better did the pickups make it? and which ones did u use? JB?
Couldn't tell in the video, but what type of capacitor is in this guitar? Paper in oil? Orange drop?
I seem to recall it being a pretty standard small polyester film cap, but not an orange drop.
I just bought this guitar would you remcomend me to do the
adjustments that are needed for my onw for first time?
Yes, if you have the tools and you understand the process, you should give it a try. Watch several videos first, and make sure that for every screw or nut that you turn, you count the number of turns, so that you can put everything back the way it was if you make a mistake.
@Hack's Guitar Hobby thank you so much!! I just bought this guitar (new) and it started to buzz so I was afraid to do it by my own, but yeah I'll give It a try, your videos are really helping me, so now I'm more confident!!
Thank you. There's one of those at the pawn down the street for $150. It will need a proper set up. Toggle is loose. Yay? Nay?
I would. Can always negotiate with them too.
Love the guitar
Thanks. These are great if you swap the tuners for better ones.
You plugged the guitar into a small electronic device…what’s the name of that device
That is a multimeter to measure resistance.
When I have mine set in rhythm mode I don't get any sound out of my amp. Is it because I'm stupid or somethings wrong?
It's most likely either the switch or the pickup. I'd take the back plate off and make sure that nothing is obstructing the switch, then maybe spray it with a little contact cleaner. If you know how to use a multimeter, you could also check the pickup for continuity.
@@hacksguitarhobby thank you
@@hacksguitarhobby It was indeed the switch. Thanks again. My first guitar and I was frustrated but now I'm rocking out.
@@KillerB1995 Very cool. Glad you got it sorted.
Did you sell this yet?
Yes, sure did.
What's "Highth"?
www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heighth
@@hacksguitarhobby ya, Hight
Maybe you mean height? Not sure what you’re after.
Buy an epiphone studio e1 , it's much better . I Don't think this basic slash model is very good , bold on neck, 1 volume and 1 tone control , the fretboard looks like it would need regular oiling.
My point is only that this guitar is surprisingly good for the price. I’ll add, I think I paid $100 for this one back then, and the prices I’ve seen on them more recently are much higher, so I think others are recognizing the components are better than the average Special. I’ll have to check out an E1, sounds interesting.
I didn't even know it had a built in tuner
Pretty handy!
At this price range, the piece of wood, the neck, and build quality makes all the difference. Who cares about the bolt on neck.... Some.of these are great, ring out against your body like crazy, some are shit....A good player will know. Plenty of $200 second hand guitars that play much better than a $2000 guitar. Just comes down to whatever goes together properly....A synergy between neck and body. Money means nothing if you know what you're looking for.
I was very surprised by the quality of the bodies on these and think they are worth the hype.
Those semi-closed tuners are the destruction of that guitar. They're total crap. I have an Apple phone special too like that not the afd but it's the same crap. I had to rebuild the inside of the tuners with spacers so the gearing would stay together. I had the same tuners on a Kramer vt211 and I had to buy another set of tuners and take the parts from two to make a good set of one. There are not any reasonably good tuners available in that style to replace those things with. You can only do it with other styles which when All Is Lost that's what you have to do to get good tuners on it
They are absolute garbage. Not a bad guitar otherwise.
$399 American Musical Supply
Wow. Inflation, maybe. I think I’m going to get my hands on a sunburst Special to compare it to soon, as long as I can get it for the right price. The black Special I reviewed was nowhere near as good as the AFD.
No, the $399 price from American Musical has an amp/speaker from epihone, soft guitar case, guitar cable, strap, and a lifetime warranty. I got the hole set, cheap, from a guy who needed cash. Needed some tweaking, but it's a nice daily driver. I keep it in the trunk of my car, and ain't worried about it banging around. It always tunes up easy. Not playing any gigs with it, but I do jam with friends a lot.
They are not very good
Compared to what, though?
@@hacksguitarhobby compared to guitars that even just ok.. WTF...lol. even Harley Benton is much better. I tried a couple of these out years ago..I was so disappointed..I eventually decided it was worth it to pay extra n get the Epiphone plus top pro..and I haven't regretted it...that was before HB became good..I have one of those and it's great..play it everyday..and I have Epiphone..Jackson.. Ibanez...ESP and bc rich..so yea they are not very good. People are so obsessed over slash and his guitar they will buy any piece of crap to just have a look or piece of his look ... My HB is great came with shielding paint full cap and SS frets and after upgrading all electronics pups tuners I have just under $600 in it and as I mentioned it's ALL I PLAY out of my many many guitars