TheBelontoKid Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 I've recently purchased a Gary Clark Jr Casino & it is due to be w/ me in a few weeks. I want to "customise" the guitar further & put my own stamp on it so-to-speak, starting w/ re-wiring it which I have heard is akin to "lifting a blanket off yer amp"... :o I understand that RSGuitarworks do what they call vintage ES335 rewire kits but my luthier has said he will assemble one from scratch for a fraction of the cost. Has anyone else any experience of upgrading their Casinos via re-wiring & how did that impact yer guitar? I'm interested to hear how ANY "upgrades" you may have done (hits AND misses) inc replacing pickups or anything else may have affected the Casino. The only upgrade I have ever done on my existing Casino was to change the tuners & it really improved the instrument's tonality & was a great investment. Curious to see what "tinkering" may be worth consideration if any. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zentar Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 The GC Jr Casino comes with Gibson P90s so you really have nothing to upgrade. You already are upgraded. I had Epi P90s in my Casino which I upgraded because they had a DCR of 12ko. Your Gibby P90 have a PAF DCR of around 8.1ko.While I had the guts out I looked at the pots and caps but I didn't change them. I have the pots to upgrade the stock pots right now but I am not interested. I stuck a meter on them and they were nearly identical in resistance. Mine were actually two different brands of pots but electricity doesn't know that. I even had orange drop caps on hand which I didn't install because the stock mylar caps basically are what orange drops are made of. Upgrade the harness for fun but you really won't hear any difference. It won't matter what you change or don't change. It's your whim. Here's how to tell if you need to upgrade pots and caps. Measure the resistance of all four pots. If they measure all over the dial then upgrade them. Look at the caps. Do you not like them? Then change them. Your GC Jr Casino is an extremely underrated guitar and not in need of better electronics. Congratulations on your fine choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBelontoKid Posted August 3, 2016 Author Share Posted August 3, 2016 Hi Zentar, Thx for ur info. Interesting stuff you mention re the wiring especially on checking the resistance. I got the idea of changing it from the 2nd review in this article: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/epiphone-gary-clark-jr.-blak-blu-casino-hollowbody-electric-guitar-with-bigsby The price diff between Elitist & the Gary Clark Jr model besides the latter being made in China must also be in parts on some aspect of the guitar & this article males it sound like the wiring may have been one of them. As for the pickups - yeah I haven't heard of anyone changing from Gibson P-90's to anything else so I will leave everything on the new GC Jr guitar until I "get to know it". On my existing Matsumoku Casino however which I know well, I will get the wiring checked out & see if that makes a difference. The lure of boutique pickups is appealing for so many reasons i.e.) hand wound as opposed to factory wound, superior components (as may be the case w/ some wiring). Interested to know what others have done in this realm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis G Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 Welcome to the forum. Can't help with the serial # thing though. I've had an Elitist Casino for about 6 years now, and the only mod I've done is to add the Bigsby: That said, being an Elitist, it already had upgraded "stuff" so nothing more was necessary. Great guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBelontoKid Posted August 3, 2016 Author Share Posted August 3, 2016 Welcome to the forum. Can't help with the serial # thing though. I've had an Elitist Casino for about 6 years now, and the only mod I've done is to add the Bigsby: That said, being an Elitist, it already had upgraded "stuff" so nothing more was necessary. Great guitar. Good looking guitar Dennis & THANKS for the welcome! :) I've never had a Bigsby but the GC Jr model I'm getting will so I'm looking forward to trying it out! Does the guitar stay in tune ok w/ a Bigsby...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis G Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 Good looking guitar Does the guitar stay in tune ok w/ a Bigsby...? Thanks. I'm normally not a "burst" fan but this was such an iconic guitar... As for tuning issues, I only use the Bigsby for "subtle" effect, not dive bombing, so I haven't had any issues. And if you've never had a guitar with a Bigsby, a pair of needlenose pliers and a capo are must have's for string changes. See YouTube. I think you'll like your GC Blak n Blu Casino. They're real lookers. My Casino is basically my "go to" guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frenchie1281734003 Posted August 11, 2016 Share Posted August 11, 2016 I've upgraded my 2014 Elitist Casino. Mine has a new wiring harness with Bourn's mini pots,Mallory 150 caps, Switchcraft Jack and 3 way switch. The trapeze tailpiece is the longer heavier nickel 6inch one. The bridge is a nickel Kluson ABR-1, non wire with nylon saddles. I didn't intend to add a "goof" ring around the selector switch, but it was loose without one. The TRC is a genuine 2 screw one from 66. Finally I added gold Grover Rotomatics because they look good against a black peg face. http://s233.photobucket.com/user/frenchie_044/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20160704_201142_burst_01_zpsm11ggeap.jpg.html?filters[user]=55523830&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=0 Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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