1999nbmZ1281734025 Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 Just thought I would post up some pics of my newest project. Picked up these PUPs from a member on one of the other forums. These are the factory Prophecy PUPs, with the gold pole pieces, and gold logos. I tried these on a Prophecy, but never liked the two control knob layout. This is basically my poor-mans Prophecy. I have also added a full Jimmy Page switching set up, which gives me more options than the Prophecy. I've learned to love this set up after installing another one into my Les Paul. So I started by stripping the G-400 all of the way down. One thing I found out while taking the G-400 apart, was that the bridge bushings are pressed into the body through the pick guard. Looks just fine, but makes it quite a project just to remove the pick guard. I solved this by opening up the holes in the pick guard by about an 1/8th of an inch. Here is a pic of the PG with the enlarged holes. Here is a pic of the headstock after the 18:1 Grovers were installed, as well as the gold(ish) TRC screws. I have a better set of screws to use, but they need to be shortened by a small amount first. Here is a pic with most of the upgrade completed. I decided to steal the factory bridge off of my new Wildkat, and replace the Wildkat bridge with a full roller, hoping to help it stay in tune while using the Bigsby. I am still looking for humbucker covers with the dual row adjustment screw holes, and I just located gold pickup height screws. I may also switch to gold on black bell knobs, instead of these gold on gold. Also, here is a pic of the rear cavity, showing the full Jimmy Page wiring and pots. Just a heads up, there is BARELY enough room to fit the push-pull pots. I had to use one washer by itself, without the nut on the back of the guitar. When I used the lock nut on the back, the rear cover was getting flexed due to the pots being too tall. Any questions, go ahead and post them up! Willing to help out anybody if I can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rextasy Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 Snappy upgrades! The gold looks elegant with the cherry and black. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emetry Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 Generally I don't like the gold finish on ANY guitar (It just doesn't look right to my eyes) but the Gold/Cherry you have going really does look magnificent. Out of curiosity, did you have to make any alterations to the body (sanding/shaving/etc) to get the pots in place, or did they manage to stick with the standard body work? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1999nbmZ1281734025 Posted January 23, 2009 Author Share Posted January 23, 2009 The pots dropped right in, no issues there. I've used CTS brand pots before, and they do require opening up the holes a bit. The only thing I had to open up were the tuner holes, and the hole for the toggle switch. Everybody keeps saying the stock Grover tuners are the same as what you buy off the shelf, but this is the second set I have had to open up the holes for. The new tuners fit through, but the holes for the mounting screws didn't line up perfectly. Nothing a dremel and a sanding wheel can't fix... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWANG Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 Excellent... really looks great.. that jimmy page wiring is nice! you made with nice advice on details, too.. +1! Sweet! are those gold pickguard screws or do they just look chrome in the pic? you can buff those frets out if you don't use too much pressure. with a dremel and some rubbing compound or swirl and haze remover. makes for nice quiet bends. Really good post! TWANG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1999nbmZ1281734025 Posted January 24, 2009 Author Share Posted January 24, 2009 Twang The pickguard screws are gold, never noticed how silver they look in the pics. The only chrome left on the guitar, is the PUP height adjustment screws, and of course the frets... I am having the new PUP covers drilled out today at a machine shop, and I still have to fill the stock strap button holes. For some reason, the screws on the G-400 are larger diameter compared to the other Epis I own. So, four screw, PUP covers, and strap locks, and I'm done... Thanks for the compliments guys! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wardog Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 very nice job. where did you get the gold toggle switch? and will it work for a 3 pick-up setup. i may have a opt to snag a g400 custom body and neck. started looking for stuff to restore back to orginal look (the ebony with gold hardware and pickups) but, can not find a right angle 3 way switch in gold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rallye44 Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 where did you get the gold toggle switch? Here are two places you can them: Guitar Parts Resource Warmoth and will it work for a 3 pick-up setup. Depends on the set-up. A three-way toggle can work if each PU has it's own volume control. Otherwise, you'd need a 5-way selector (ala a Strat.). Each setup has it's advantages and disadvantages. Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wardog Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 Thanks Rally!!!!! But, i am looking for a right angle gold to fit in a sg custom. I only see chrome. 1999 show a rtangle gold. Need to know where he got it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IntelligentAl Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 An SG of any kind will always look good, but the whole golden theme is amazing! It looks brilliant and I'll bet those pickups sound great too! A set of gold pickup covers will really finish it off, so I look forward to more pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duane v Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 that does look nice..... the gold pickoup poles look very cool=d> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1999nbmZ1281734025 Posted January 26, 2009 Author Share Posted January 26, 2009 Thanks Rally!!!!! But' date=' i am looking for a right angle gold to fit in a sg custom. I only see chrome. 1999 show a rtangle gold. Need to know where he got it. [/quote'] Just so you know, the Epi G-400 doesn't come with the right angle switch. I'm using a short, straight switch. I'm not sure if there is even room for it, thought about switching styles, but in the end, I just chose to swap with what I already had... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyushPresley Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 Really nice..I too don't prefer gold hardwares but that one on your SG looks awesome !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1999nbmZ1281734025 Posted January 30, 2009 Author Share Posted January 30, 2009 Thanks for all of the compliments guys! Just thought I would post some updated pics. Got the PUP covers back and installed, as well as getting the holes filled so the strap locks could be mounted. I also got rid of the gold/gold reflectors for the more traditional looking gold/black. Got her strung up, and gave her a test run.. Wow, those Dirty Fingers sure have a growl to them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brad1 Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 I think the black knobs look so much better! Those pup covers are nice too. Excellent job 1999! That is one great looking guitar!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcwillow777 Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 That looks really sharp. The only thing I might change are the knobs. With all that gold I would go for gold centers on the knobs, but that is really minor. I like it. I have always like the bat wing pick guards on G-400s/SGs. Any particular reason you put the gold covers on the dirty fingers instead of leaving it like it was? It looks good both ways. Nice job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1999nbmZ1281734025 Posted January 30, 2009 Author Share Posted January 30, 2009 That looks really sharp. The only thing I might change are the knobs. With all that gold I would go for gold centers on the knobs' date=' but that is really minor. I like it. I have always like the bat wing pick guards on G-400s/SGs. Any particular reason you put the gold covers on the dirty fingers instead of leaving it like it was? It looks good both ways. Nice job. [/quote'] Hey JC, thanks for the compliments. They are gold reflectors on the knobs, it just doesn't show very well in pics. As far as the covers, I always planned on putting covers on the PUPs. I love the way the gold looks against the black pick guard. And oddly enough, without the covers, I kept seeing the Epi SG special or G-310. What can I say? I love gold!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcelo1281734115 Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 Nice guitar. Thanks for the pictures too. When you replaced the tuners, did the old ones have 2 screws each? If so, are there any holes that are still exposed on the back of the headstock? I want to replace my 2-screw tuners I have but I will end up having one of the holes exposed if I go with a 1-screw Grover type tuner. I just don't know what to do to cover up the remaining hole(s). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1999nbmZ1281734025 Posted January 30, 2009 Author Share Posted January 30, 2009 Nice guitar. Thanks for the pictures too. When you replaced the tuners' date=' did the old ones have 2 screws each? If so, are there any holes that are still exposed on the back of the headstock? I want to replace my 2-screw tuners I have but I will end up having one of the holes exposed if I go with a 1-screw Grover type tuner. I just don't know what to do to cover up the remaining hole(s).[/quote'] Nope, my guitar came equipped with the off-shore Grover tuners. The new ones look identical, but the peg head to screw dimensions are a little wider than the Grovers purchased off the shelf. Check stewmac.com for your tuner needs. They are great about supplying the measurements for the holes needed, and peg head diameter. I think Kluson (sp?) tuners are going to be what you want, but don't quote me... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IntelligentAl Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 The pickup covers look great! I think you've got a really great looking guitar there, the gold on black is very smart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wardog Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 i agree on the knob change. it looks alot better. same knobs on the ebony g400 custom with 3 pups. At first all the gold blinded me. . but, in a minute i was really digging the gold covers. I like covered humbkers, but, i will leave the lp prophecy along. But, in case i have a gold attach where did you get the covers. VERY NICE JOB, IT REALLY IS A ONE OF A KIND!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1999nbmZ1281734025 Posted January 31, 2009 Author Share Posted January 31, 2009 I just bought a set of All Parts narrow gold covers, and then had the second set of holes drilled. I looked everywhere I could think online, and never found a set with both rows. Thanks for the compliments! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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