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...Wildkat did growl

Gashole

By Gashole
in Epiphone Electrics

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Gashole

Gashole

Posted
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...Something about 2 riders approaching?

 

Anyway, I'm new around here, been reading up about the Wildkat , and am expecting to have one arrive on monday. I am having trouble sleeping! :P/

 

I have 2 other pieces of Epiphone gear...a blonde Sheraton II that I felt really needed help when I got it (and I gave it help...fret dressing, matched Pearly Gates PUs, bone nut, 500k pots, new switch, nice set up-it can stand up to any modern day run Gibson ES 335 now) and a Blues Custom 30 that if it weren't so damn heavy would be my number one amp...it's still easier to lug 2 ampeg superjet 50 watters around than that BC 30...but what a nice amp...I record with it at home, and love it's tone!)

 

I am new to P90 PU's...six months ago I bought a Gibson SG classic, and it changed my life, I am dead serious. I can't believe I let the "cheap" look of them fool me for 22 years. I am having an identity crisis of sorts...my other axes can't hold a candle to that sound! How did I let all that time slip by sans P90? DOH!

 

Hence, the Wildkat, which because of the P90's and then the Bigsby, I just had to have it, despite the SG a few months back, and a nice Jay Turser jazz box given as a gift from my wife 3 weeks ago...I mean, hell! The price is right. 499.00? You bet I pulled the trigger, just as soon as the desire became too much to bear, and my MF account balance engorged once again....(we have dogs and guitars instead of kids..it's a nice deal)

 

So! Does anybody know how these PU's compare to what Gibson is using for the SG Classic? Am I going to be needing to order PU's along with a roller bridge and better nut for trem? Whatever it takes, this Wildkat WILL growl, howl, and prowl...but are other guys who also (and I mean no slight to Epi's,) play some higher end axes who also have Wildkat's; well, are you guys keeping them stock or modding?

 

Nice to meetchya'll

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Funkwire

Funkwire

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Welcome, GAShole! Looove that name! :D/

 

I hear you on the P-90s. I had a Gibson ES-125 with a P-90 pickup when I was but a lad and didn't really appreciate it. Since getting my Epi Gold Top in March, I am definitely making up for lost time. I am totally blown away by the sound P-90s produce.

 

I bought my Epi used, and the original owner put in Fralin P-90s. So I can't speak to the quality of the stock Epi P-90s. But plenty of folks on this board rave about them. The opinion on them is definitely much better than the Epi humbuckers.

 

But don't forget the forum rule...regarding your Sheraton and your WildKat...if there aren't any pictures, it didn't happen!

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jook

jook

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Love the topic name and Dylan reference.

 

A happy Wildkat owner here... and it is my main axe. I think it'll be very complimentary to your collection... P90s with a hollow (or semi-hollow) body is a very distinct sound, it's like... pure electricity. The smaller body gives it a unique tone over other similar guitars. For me, I love seeing Epiphone do something unique, rather than producing more Gibson derivatives... and while looking forward, it also looks back to its heritage and build on that... and thats what the 'Kat series does... whoever came up with them in the Epi design shop... big props!

 

It's like a more aggressive, more agile Casino that lashes out ... unreserved, a little raw. Or a cross between a Casino, with a Les Paul.

 

Looking at your guitar list... it's almost like all your existing guitars got together in a moment of precariousness and produced an offspring. I'm sure you'll dig it!

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captmidnight

captmidnight

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Welcome to the forum Gashole.....and that comes from a guy who just 3 weeks ago got a Wildkat, and I love it.

I have the Kat and an Epi Les Paul Studio..along with a non epi (Peavey) Tele clone. The P-90s on the Kat sound great...I don't think you will have any reason to want to change them out.

Capt

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Parabar

Parabar

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My Wildkat sounds great stock, and gets lots of compliments from other musicians whenever I use it on a gig or session. The only mods I've made are pearl-topped knobs, and I'm not planning any others. Here's a pic:

 

Wildkat.jpg

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Gashole

Gashole

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Hey guys, thanks for the feedback...I'm still scheduled for a Monday delivery, so I'll get to see then...gonna be a long weekend, worrying about how UPS is treatin' my 'Kat.

 

Very happy to hear the opinions on those P90's. Bridge and nut work is almost incindental in comparison moneywise. I hope I agree on monday!

 

How about pots? If 500k is preferable for buckers, and 250k for traditional single coils, what about P90's, and what does the Kat have stock? I've read up on this, and there doesn't seem to be a consensus, as the P90 is more than just a singlecoil PU (though of course, that is actually what it is...somehow the sum is greater than the parts)

 

The earlier mentioned pot switchout was really quite dramatic for my Sheraton...rolling off the tone or volume now really provides much more variation in tone than stock. That's a cheap fix, but how variable are the controls for the Kat?

 

The licensed Bigsby seems to get good feedback too, especially with bridge and nut replacement designed to work w/ trem...are any guys finding it preferable to put in a non import Bigsby?

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BENT E

BENT E

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GAShole, Great user name!

 

My Kat is a few years old now, and although the Kat sounds completely different than my new MIC Casino, due to hollow vs semi-hollow body, it's a sweet guitar!

 

With the control configuration of the Gretsch 6120 models, you can coax a lot of cool tones out of them. As stated before, a Graphite nut, and roller bridge will aid in a better responce on the B7 style Bigsby. Just be aware that the B7, and B6 are completely different animals. The B7 is far less responsive than the B6, good for adding a little shimmer, and thats about it. The roller bridge seems to suck a bit of tone from the guitar IMO, maybe the Graphite bridge saddles might do the trick, though I haven't tried that yet.

 

I guarantee if you get a good one, your gonna' have a hard time putting it down! I like to play it while watching TV, loud enough to hear, without pissing off the Mrs'...

 

Enjoy

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Gashole

Gashole

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Hey you Gashole' date=' what color is your Kat?

 

I just bought a Kat about a month ago and first exposure to P90's, took a little adjustment on my part, but now I love em.

 

[img']http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h16/auroraohio/Guitars/Picture325.jpg[/img]

 

 

I ordered the natural finish model...same as my Sheraton. Once it arrives I'll get 'em together for a pic. Man, those Black 'uns sure look nice though! I have some WWII bomber nose art decals (pin up girls and such that a B17 would have) that I'm having a big internal debate about adding to both of my Epi's, and my Tele (which I want to rig with a Bigsby and take the Seymour Classic 59's out and pop at least P 100's in...not sure if I want to have it cut up any more than it was to put in the humbuckers or I'd go P90's for that too)

 

I really have a slightly unsatisfied feeling with the sound of all of my axes since that SG Classic I mentioned and its' P90's came into my life. For me, and my style, the P90's just kinda unleash some creativity that I hadn't tapped into yet. They got mojo in spades!

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BENT E

BENT E

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Stockers are 500K, I had to replace one after I got the guitar, totally shot. I was surprised to get it like that, being they supposedly inspect them before leaving the factory. The guitar is a MIK model to boot, never recieved one from MF with a problem. After ordering one from StewMac, problem solved...

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Gashole

Gashole

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Stockers are 500K' date=' I had to replace one after I got the guitar, totally shot. I was surprised to get it like that, being they supposedly inspect them before leaving the factory. The guitar is a MIK model to boot, never recieved one from MF with a problem. After ordering one from StewMac, problem solved...[/quote']

 

Thanks! That's cool, one less thing to be concerned with (assuming I don't get the same bad luck as you had)

 

I wish I had Monday off from work...can't wait for this beast to arrive!

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Gashole

Gashole

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Nice axe Bent E...she's a beauty to be sure! Like the pickguard.

 

Did you have the Bigsby put on? If so, how did the licensed version compare?

 

What all did you do to it and why did you decide? I'm informing my self as much as possible...the guitar tech I use loves me when I inform myself..= cash for him!

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BENT E

BENT E

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Thanks, The pickguard was made at work, I've since made one for Jook from down under. I have the tooling to make more if your interested.

 

The Bigsby is the stocker, only change is a Graphite nut, and Shaller strap buttons, plus the afore mentioned new 500k pot.

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