complete electrical overhaul........?

[Hooligan]

Anyone ever trash all the electronics in a Epi and repace with all American Gibson stuff. Wondering if there is any value in swaping out the pot's, toggle, and wiring. I am already thinking of throwing in some SD 59's.

[epilover9568]

Anyone ever trash all the electronics in a Epi and repace with all American Gibson stuff. Wondering if there is any value in swaping out the pot's' date=' toggle, and wiring. I am already thinking of throwing in some SD 59's.[/quote']

 

Sound better ? not in my opinion... Really, copper is copper... whether its from china or USA

 

More reliable, Better Ramping on Pots ? Not always but in general, yes the Gibsons will be more reliable, last longer, and the pots will ramp more evenly.... But then again most epi pots ramp quite well also...

[jcwillow777]

Switches and jacks are notorious for causing problems in Epis. I usually swap them out with Switchcraft, and since I'm doing that I will swap out the pots with either CTS or Alpha and throw in some Orange Drop caps with new wiring. That in itself won't help the guitar sound better, but I know I won't have problems later.

 

I have used the GFS Vintage 59s in three of my Epis and that made a huge difference in the sound of the guitar. I find the stock pickups to be too muddy for me. You may want to check out a set of them, they are less expensive, and very good pickups. I've used SD and Gibson pickups as well and they are great pickups. A change in pickups will yield the greatest change in sound.

[AS90]

Do it! It makes a big difference IMO, the pickups will make a huge difference too.

[TWANG]

copper isn't copper.

how thin/thick the strands are, how many, how tight.. makes a difference.

better sheilding is good.. and copper foil or shield paint and sheilded hot wires help out.

Not greatly, like with single coils, but help.

 

the toggles are notorious for noise and stopping working.. needing cleaning and adjustment frequently.

so why not a nice switchcraft of other.. wdmusic.com has what I carry.. unbranded but very nice toggles.

be sure to get the right sizes.

 

pickup screws and mounting rings are metric/epi, usa/gibson.. so they don't match perfectly.

Pots must be chosen for the correct shaft size.. or you have to drill your holes out bigger.

same can be true of the switch.

a good output jack with a long shaft, switchcraft again, will help that keep from coming loose.

 

sprague or mallory caps are my preference. cts alpha or cge pots.

 

but I say.. yep. makes a difference, better stuff lasts longer, cap value changes or additions.. like treble bleed caps, can affect the sound quite

a bit.

TWANG