schizophrenica Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 Hie everyone, I'm new in this forums and I have almost no experience with a Les Paul. I just got a Epi Les Paul Special II recently and I have some questions. I've been playing for 9 years and I've never played a les paul before, but I've always liked the look of it and everyone says it can play a get range of music. I would've gotten a LP standard but i'm still studying(limited cash) and this is my first electric guitar. I'd like to know if I can install pickguards on the LP Special II? And does anyone keep the stock humbuckers that came along with it? I'm not a big fan of open coil humbuckers and I own a dog that sheds fur a lot. Any tips and suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1861navycolt Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 Congrats on your new guitar. If you are looking for epi humbuckers with covers then I am sure you could pick up a set real cheap on ebay. Alot of guys will replace them with Gibsons, Fralins, Duncans or another name brand in an attempt to get a better sound. If you are simply wanting covers on yours, then you can purchase covers for a few bucks each and solder them on yourself. Lots of websites have them including www.stewmac.com. Just make sure you get the right ones. Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schizophrenica Posted April 22, 2008 Author Share Posted April 22, 2008 Thanks for the info.. Getting a cover seems more cost effective than getting new pickups.(If I had the cash for better pickups I might have as well got an LP standard). Browsing the forums I found out that I have to drill holes to attach a pickguard? Is this true? Seems a shame to do so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saturn Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 Thanks for the info.. Getting a cover seems more cost effective than getting new pickups.(If I had the cash for better pickups I might have as well got an LP standard). Browsing the forums I found out that I have to drill holes to attach a pickguard? Is this true? Seems a shame to do so. Yep. That's the only thing to hold the pick guard on. Unless, you can screw them right into the wood with no pilot holes. Lot's of us leave the guards off anyway. It's a matter of taste and if you really want something more to anchor your right pink on while playing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schizophrenica Posted April 22, 2008 Author Share Posted April 22, 2008 I see.. I do usually rest my pinky on the pickguards when playing strats. The strings are a bit higher on the LP but I suppose I could get used to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thundergod Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 hey... heres my overly modded epi special II i got like 15 years ago... mods include pickguard: yes, after moving one of the pots pickups: emg zakk wylde set (81/85) bridge: schaller roller bridge tailpiece: schaller fine tunning tailpiece selector switch: moved to the standard position and routed, so it looks more les paul-ish trc: gibson les paul custom tuners: klusons for that vintage look color: she was originally black, then i paid some guy to have her painted in white (8 years ago), and now i refinished her myself. Very good guitar for the price, never had a problem with her, and a simple affordable way to find out if you are into pauls (lets face it, some people just cant play a singlecut round bottomed guitar, they just need two horns!) PICTURE BEFORE MODDING her more for her 15 anyversary. PICTURE AS SHE IS NOW (refinished her recently) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dslyecix Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 Thunder you did a bang-up job on that! Very nice!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schizophrenica Posted April 22, 2008 Author Share Posted April 22, 2008 Very nice. How much did it cost to do all that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thundergod Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 i really dont know! its been done over years and years of playing her and buying stuff to put in her, i didnt spend it all at once, bridge and tailpiece are in her for 3 years now, pickups have a little more than 5, pickguard and tuners 10! lets see if i can make a detailed list with actual prices from gc or mf (no tax if buying online right?), bridge and tailpiece i got from stewmac... (all hardware gold, but i think nickel looks better and costs less, i just liked gold better when i started modding her years ago) gibson custom pickguard w/bracket and screws: $29,99 emg zakk wylde set (81/85): $198,00 schaller roller bridge: $55,22 schaller fine tunning tailpiece: $55,22 gold gibson jackplate with screws: $12,99 gibson les paul custom trc: $14,99 kluson/gibson gold vintage tuners: $64,99 refinish: i dont know how much i would charge for that So i would say i have spent $431,40 in that guitar... maybe some will think thats a lot to WASTE on that guitar, but as i said, i didnt spend it all in one shot, and since this was my first electric it kind of has sentimental value so i would never sell her. I also think doing mods to an expensive guitar is not my thing, if i buy a 2k guitar it is one i like, not one i dont like and have to spend 500 or more in mods, there are a lot of options out there specially above 2k, so if i mod anything it has to be cheap so i wont regret it that much if i screw up, and the mods actually bring the instrument to a higher level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thundergod Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 thanx dslyecix, did you chek my thread about that guitar? this is the first post, when i started refinishing her http://forums.gibson.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=2794 this is the second post when i finished her and was setting her up http://forums.gibson.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=2913 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schizophrenica Posted April 22, 2008 Author Share Posted April 22, 2008 Wow that's like more than the cost of the original guitar. I don't think I'll be modding this guitar anytime soon though, mainly due to lack of skill. I'm not really a beginner at guitars playing wise but I'm very much a newbie when it comes to modding and tinkering an electric guitar. I'm really looking forward to exploring this guitar, I mean up till a couple of weeks ago I don't even know the difference between a single coil and humbuckers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thundergod Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 well feel free to ask any question here, youll see the people in this forum are always eager to help, and most of the times you get very quick responses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knapp_425 Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 Hello all, I'm another newbie. I just picked up a 1999 LP Studio. "Ruby" is her name. She is nicely used but not abused. I got her for $700. I have played guitar for 20 years and picked up my first electric in 95. I was tired of playing mediocre guitars and when looking for a Gibson Les Paul. I like pre-dented things. I don't want to be the first to mark it up. I read the postings about the Nytro finish concerns with stands. And I read the cleaning that finish can be done with most any cleaner. (with in reason) I will be posting new questions soon. Thank you all for participating in this forum for us uninformed. Knapp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChanMan Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 Welcome aboard Knapp! I think you'll find the folks here to be very knowledgeable Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beaver Creek Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 Browsing the forums I found out that I have to drill holes to attach a pickguard? Is this true? Seems a shame to do so. If you are interested, here are some pickguards that are screwless........... http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZbobbylee2 Lee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slogold Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 Thanks for the info.. Getting a cover seems more cost effective than getting new pickups.(If I had the cash for better pickups I might have as well got an LP standard). Browsing the forums I found out that I have to drill holes to attach a pickguard? Is this true? Seems a shame to do so. There is a screw less pickguard available for LP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.