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So I grabbed the drill, some crayons (Thanks Willy!) and a soldering iron then commenced to work on the TV Pelham Blue ES-355 project

Scott0

By Scott0
in Epiphone Electrics

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Scott0

Scott0

Posted
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My Es-355 has turned out to be my most favorite guitar in my line-up and I always gravitate towards it.

 

That's why I've been dying to change it up and make it mine.

 

I removed all the guts and everything and replaced it all.

 

New:

 

Wiring Harness- CTS Custom Spec'd 525K SHORT/split, knurled shaft, audio taper potentiometers. These are identical in construction to CTS's high quality 450G series pots, but spec'd them 525K. Bakelite base plate, Solid brass c-clip reinforced shaft, Solid brass bushing

 

New Old Stock Russian Military Surplus K40Y-9 .022uf/400v (10% Tolerance) Paper in Oil Capacitors

Switchcraft long straight 3-way toggle switch. .

Switchcraft #11 1/4" Mono Jack

 

vNIInqM.jpg

 

These new pots required drilling out the holes, ugh.

before & after

yrBmXlh.jpg

 

 

 

DiMarzio PAF 36th Anniversary humbuckers double cream bobbins

Graph Tech Resomax NVS 6mm bridge black nickel

 

M8ibAdj.jpg

 

The 6mm bridge required some drilling, ugh.

 

5H6YYSE.jpg

 

Grover 18:1 Rotomatic tuning machines black nickel

 

n6lzQPM.jpg

 

I replaced the Bigsby with a TOG trapeze black nickel, which left the screw holes empty. The trapeze covered up one, the other, I used Whitmore Willy's suggestion to fill it in with crayon. Thanks again Willy!!1

I went with fancy crayons- a combination of silver and 2 shades of blue to blend.

 

a91XOyV.jpg?1

 

The solution worked well, from many angles it all blends in fine. From a few angles it does not blend in at all.

 

Also went with cream speed knobs and cream pickup rings.

 

 

Before & After

SgvYQ4U.jpg

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crust

crust

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"Wiring Harness- CTS Custom Spec'd 525K SHORT/split, knurled shaft, audio taper potentiometers. These are identical in construction to CTS's high quality 450G series pots, but spec'd them 525K. Bakelite base plate, Solid brass c-clip reinforced shaft, Solid brass bushing<br style="color: rgb(28, 40, 55); font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; background-color: rgb(250, 251, 252);"><br style="color: rgb(28, 40, 55); font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; background-color: rgb(250, 251, 252);">New Old Stock Russian Military Surplus K40Y-9 .022uf/400v (10% Tolerance) Paper in Oil Capacitors <br style="color: rgb(28, 40, 55); font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; background-color: rgb(250, 251, 252);">Switchcraft long straight 3-way toggle switch. . <br style="color: rgb(28, 40, 55); font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; background-color: rgb(250, 251, 252);">Switchcraft #11 1/4" Mono Jack<br style="color: rgb(28, 40, 55); font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; background-color: rgb(250, 251, 252);">"msp_thumbup.gif

 

DiMarzio PAF 36th Anniversary humbuckers double cream bobbins<br style="color: rgb(28, 40, 55); font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; background-color: rgb(250, 251, 252);">Graph Tech Resomax NVS 6mm bridge black nickel<br style="color: rgb(28, 40, 55); font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; background-color: rgb(250, 251, 252);"> lolmsp_thumbup.gifmsp_biggrin.gif

 

So, what difference in sound and tonal qualities are most evident with the new hardware/pickups ?

 

The guitar certainly has had a lot of changes. The black chrome hardware looks cool with that Pelham Blue finish, really sharp lookingmsp_thumbup.gif What did you do with the Bigsby (just put it in a safe place, out of harm's way ?), scratch plate and scratch plate mounting hardware ? and the original tuners ? I like the finish on these particular "Pelham Blue family" of Epiphone guitars, particularly the way the grain stands out (not filled and smoothed out with grain filler) imho looks really nice with the grain pattern showing through like that. I have read (on other forums) that some don't like that the wood grain is so evident. I think it looks super cool. These ES 355's (in Pelham Blue) are one of the best, if not the best (other than the Elitist Casino) electric Spanish (ES) guitars that are presently in Epiphone's "line up". As always imho (in my humble opinion).msp_biggrin.gif and you did a super nice job "color matching" the plugged holes. I am thinking of obtaining a clear pick guard/scratch plate, and sticking the original tortoise scratch plate that was supplied with it, onto my red/brown Epiphone Dot Studio. That will look pretty good, again, imho. lol

So, what tunes/songs have you been playing on it since the modifications ?

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Scott0

Scott0

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Thanks folks!

 

 

 

So, what difference in sound and tonal qualities are most evident with the new hardware/pickups ?

 

The guitar certainly has had a lot of changes. The black chrome hardware looks cool with that Pelham Blue finish, really sharp looking[/color][/size]msp_thumbup.gif What did you do with the Bigsby (just put it in a safe place, out of harm's way ?), scratch plate and scratch plate mounting hardware ? and the original tuners ? I like the finish on these particular "Pelham Blue family" of Epiphone guitars, particularly the way the grain stands out (not filled and smoothed out with grain filler) imho looks really nice with the grain pattern showing through like that. I have read (on other forums) that some don't like that the wood grain is so evident. I think it looks super cool. These ES 355's (in Pelham Blue) are one of the best, if not the best (other than the Elitist Casino) electric Spanish (ES) guitars that are presently in Epiphone's "line up". As always imho (in my humble opinion).msp_biggrin.gif and you did a super nice job "color matching" the plugged holes. I am thinking of obtaining a clear pick guard/scratch plate, and sticking the original tortoise scratch plate that was supplied with it, onto my red/brown Epiphone Dot Studio. That will look pretty good, again, imho. lol

So, what tunes/songs have you been playing on it since the modifications ?

 

I'm with you, this guitar is fantastic right out of the box. It sounded terrific and played equally terrific. Very much a warmer sound to the Les Pauls, but in that tone range more than my Casinos. It's up there with the Les Paul tribute plus, in terms of fantastic level.

 

I would say the new setup sounds equally terrific. It's also a warmer sound than my LP's with 57 classics, but not as natural, more articulation between the notes IMO. And it's louder + the range in tone differences using the toggle and the pots is phenomenal, much greater than stock.

 

Yes, the TV Pelham finish is gorgeous! I very much dig the grain showing through too. I was pretty surprised with the color matching, it's a lot more silver than blue. I put a silver base down and smeared tiny bits of blue into it to match. I'll prolly ultimately get the Bigsby holes filled in professionally though, as much as I like this guitar.

 

I left the scratch plate in the original box and put all that in storage. I already put the stock hardware on Ebay and most all that already auctioned off.

 

 

Current repetoire is

 

Mississippi Queen

The Black Keys - plenty of their stuff, Just Got to Be, etc.

Bright Lights, GC jr.

Born Under A BAd Sign, Albert King & SRV version (both parts)

 

several more, hmmmm,oh, hah, Cream's Sunshine. Nirvana.

 

And I really like how this guitar plays those sorts of songs, very rocky without the LP slam, IMO any hoo.

 

[thumbup]

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crust

crust

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Thanks folks!

 

 

 

I'm with you, this guitar is fantastic right out of the box. It sounded terrific and played equally terrific. Very much a warmer sound to the Les Pauls, but in that tone range more than my Casinos. It's up there with the Les Paul tribute plus, in terms of fantastic level.

 

I would say the new setup sounds equally terrific. It's also a warmer sound than my LP's with 57 classics, but not as natural, more articulation between the notes IMO. And it's louder + the range in tone differences using the toggle and the pots is phenomenal, much greater than stock.

 

Yes, the TV Pelham finish is gorgeous! I very much dig the grain showing through too. I was pretty surprised with the color matching, it's a lot more silver than blue. I put a silver base down and smeared tiny bits of blue into it to match. I'll prolly ultimately get the Bigsby holes filled in professionally though, as much as I like this guitar.

 

I left the scratch plate in the original box and put all that in storage. I already put the stock hardware on Ebay and most all that already auctioned off.

 

 

Current repetoire is

 

Mississippi Queen

The Black Keys - plenty of their stuff, Just Got to Be, etc.

Bright Lights, GC jr.

Born Under A BAd Sign, Albert King & SRV version (both parts)

 

several more, hmmmm,oh, hah, Cream's Sunshine. Nirvana.

 

And I really like how this guitar plays those sorts of songs, very rocky without the LP slam, IMO any hoo.

 

[thumbup]

msp_thumbup.gifsmile.gifsmile.gifcool.gifsmile.gifsmile.gifmsp_thumbup.gif

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You've done a first class job on that Scott. It certainly looks the business (without me mentioning the colour of course!) and your remarks of the tone changes are particularly interesting to me given that I need to sort out the electrics on my ES345.

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Whitmore Willy

Whitmore Willy

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Scott0,

36_2_25thumbsup.gif

Fantastic job! Amazing what a difference some well planned changes can make.

 

I'll prolly ultimately get the Bigsby holes filled in professionally though, as much as I like this guitar.

That's the nice part about the crayons.

A very small undersize drill bit and the wax can easily be removed. You are then back to where you started.

No harm to the guitar, the finish or the hole.

 

Willy

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