brianh Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 The guitar on arrival yesterday as a Guitar Center Black Friday door buster for $78: After swapping out pickup for Seymour Duncan with pull-up coil splitter on volume control, orange drop cap on tone control, chicken head knobs, Switchcraft jack & steel jackplate, Gotoh tuners, new strings: It plays suprisingly well, but frets need to be buffed, bends are a little scratchy. So far I've used only stuff from the parts drawer, so still only $78 + tax outlay. Yes it is a plywood guitar, but it doesn't sound half bad even with no real intonation adjustment. A set of Schaller strap locks and a $25 Leo Quan adjustable bridge are on order: Oh, and I used this diagram from SD for the wiring, it worked on first try: Next step, remove neck and rout for a Charlie Christian.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duane v Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 The black pup ring sure is a huge improvement over that previous cream colored toilet seat looking one[blink] BTW, do you have any plans to add a neck pup??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianh Posted November 28, 2009 Author Share Posted November 28, 2009 Yep, the whole point was to figure out if I was capable of making my own "Julia" model. There's an EpI '57 LP Jr. reissue on Craiglist here for $325 including a Lollar P90 and the original Epi P90. I was thinking of buying that one since it's "mahogany" and has the P90 and a set neck. It may be that routing a guitar with a removeable neck will be too easy. I'm not confident enough yet - afraid I'll destroy an $800 Gibby. Would love to see your Gibby Jr. mod pics again when you get a chance... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midiman56 Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 Nice work, Brian! I'm glad you got one of those "Jrs" ... and CHEAP too! They were selling for $89 in store ... great score! You picked that axe up for about $10 over employee price. Well done, sir ... both the purchase and the moding you've completed so far ... Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest icantbuyafender Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 I need a new neck for my FrankenPaul Jr.... The body is like 8 pounds... a solid 1999 korean worn frets and rattling truss rod (pretty sure its broke) and unmanageable action past fret 12 and tons of buzz. The ping tuning machines and the wiring are worth more than the guitar itself i bet... but i still love it. At around 90 bucks, I might as well grab one, even if it is to just be used as a replacement neck. hm.... i could experiment and try routing a "julia".... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianh Posted November 29, 2009 Author Share Posted November 29, 2009 Pros & Cons of bolt-on Epi LP Jr: Setup - good out of the box Intonation - suprisingly close OOTB (fixed bridge) Neck - material unknown, time will tell Fretboard - tight-grain rosewood, flat, straight, no buzzes Frets - could use some additional filing, but not sharp. Tuners - pressed metal, plastic bushings and covers, must replace. Pickup - usable but very distorted (coil tap not standard). Pickup ring - beige is wrong color, should be black or chrome Wiring - cheap but OK, works Pots - Alpha A500k ohm, audio taper, smooth feel Jack/jack plate - Chinese Epiphone brand/plastic - replace Bridge - Fixed wraparound, not a problem unless perfect intonation needed Body - Plywood Strap buttons - Straplocks advisable Paint/finish - OK, it aint the Mona Lisa Pickguard - B/W/B is a nice touch Overall: Needs some upgrades, but not the worst starter guitar. Plays and hangs well, balanced. Weight with upgrades: ~7 lbs. A good test bed/training excercise for novice modders like me. Also decent as a cheap backup, slide, or rehearsal space axe. 5 out of 10 (-1 each for plywood body, pickup, jack & plate; -2 for tuners) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wardog Posted November 29, 2009 Share Posted November 29, 2009 can someone post a pic of the "julia" also, canbuyafender, can u post pic of your guitar. Please Maybe we should start a lp jr pic thread!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtoy Posted November 29, 2009 Share Posted November 29, 2009 Well done on the deal @ GC - usually 'deal' and 'Guitar Center' aren't used in the same sentence. Props on the chickenhead knobs as well, very unique. Quick question, may seem a little silly...What is the best place to buy Switchcraft products? I have heard everybody rave about them, but cannot find the best retailer. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest icantbuyafender Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 can someone post a pic of the "julia" also' date=' canbuyafender, can u post pic of your guitar. Please Maybe we should start a lp jr pic thread!!!!!![/quote'] http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a215/icantbuyafender/FrankenPaulJr1.jpg http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a215/icantbuyafender/FrankenPaulJr2.jpg http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a215/icantbuyafender/FrankenPaulJr3.jpg http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a215/icantbuyafender/FrankenPaulJr4.jpg seymour duncan invader clone humbucker with coil split on volume push-pull pot A Fender TBX (treble/bass frequency cutter) tone pot Ping tuners Dunlop straploks graphite nut Same epiphone pickguard and bridge I sanded down the ENTIRE neck except for in the neck pocket and on the front of the headstock. I sculpted my own personal assymetric neck profile I gues lol. Then the body was HAND SANDED with sand blocks and paper. Did the usual steps using a primer, a white paint, and a couple of clear coat sealer stuffs from walmart haha I did this WAY before Billy Joe was parading around with a white LP jr! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianh Posted November 30, 2009 Author Share Posted November 30, 2009 I sanded down the ENTIRE neck except for in the neck pocket and on the front of the headstock. I sculpted my own personal assymetric neck profile I gues lol. Great idea sanding the neck Gabe, I'll add that to my todo list. What kinda monkey wood did you find under there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest icantbuyafender Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Great idea sanding the neck Gabe' date=' I'll add that to my todo list. What kinda monkey wood did you find under there? [/quote'] the neck wood was surprising dense. not at all like some of the mystery woods in some guitars that can get chipped away with a fingernail once the poly finish falls off. perhaps it is a maple or mahogany? I know nothing of wood types. the body gets me.... it weighs as much a gibby LP studio practically.... 8ish pounds! odd?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RSDx Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Looks GREAT' date=' brian !!!! .... and the price can't be argued with I'm digging the chickenheads !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wardog Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 thanks for the pics icanbuyafender. Brain, what does a"julia" look like or what's she built with--pups and so forth? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianh Posted November 30, 2009 Author Share Posted November 30, 2009 "Julia" is Duane's Gibby LP Jr. routed out to accept a Charlie Christian pickup in the neck. This is the general look and feel of the Jr. made famous by John Lennon when he lived in NYC in the 70s: The deal is you can buy a pre-worn replica of this guitar from Gibson for $4k or you can buy an LP Jr. for $800 and do the mods yourself for a few hundred: The catch is you have to be confident enough in your skills (or know someone who is) to route a large cavity in the back for the CC PUP, and a 3-way toggle in the usual LP position, not to mention the rewiring. The other part of the mod involves changing the wrap-around bridge to a TOM/tailpiece arrangement, which according to the available info involved a post hole fill and re-drill, although the repros don't replicate this, they appear to have just drilled them fresh. That's the part that I'm flumoxed by. Duane had a whole pictorial thread on this, but it was wiped by the crash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wardog Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 ok, what a monster of a mod that would be!!!!! would it help to have a lp routed for p90's and tom/tailstop arrangement, toggle location to begin with. then u just need to buy the pup http://www.lollarguitars.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=charlie-christian-pickups then route for it. and rewire. I like your new bridge and think i will get one for my jr. Duane, anyway you can report pics on the Julia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wardog Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 what about this guitar!!!!!! http://www.rondomusic.com/ad201hs.html or this one provided you can replace soapbar style in bridge to dogear! http://www.rondomusic.com/al30002tsp90flame.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianh Posted November 30, 2009 Author Share Posted November 30, 2009 what about this guitar!!!!!!http://www.rondomusic.com/ad201hs.html Believe me, I am very familiar with those Rondos. But for about the same price as their Jr knockoff, you can find a used Epi '57 LP Jr. reissue, solid mahogany, set neck and it looks just like a real Jr. I've also heard those Rondo Jrs have intonation problems that can only be fixed by moving/replacing the bridge... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wardog Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 i am interested. i will look for epi 57. Not to say i will attempt mod, but intested if parts can be found. then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianh Posted November 30, 2009 Author Share Posted November 30, 2009 ok' date=' what a monster of a mod that would be!!!!![blink'] would it help to have a lp routed for p90's and tom/tailstop arrangement, toggle location to begin with. then u just need to buy the pup http://www.lollarguitars.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=charlie-christian-pickups then route for it. and rewire. Yep, the Lollars have a good rep. Their P90s too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wardog Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 found an 57 reissue on flea bay for 425.00!!!!! still looking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wardog Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 brain, how bout a this!!! http://store.guitarfetish.com/somalpstkibo.html only advantages i see are: 1- toggle switch part is done 2- it is mahogany body and neck with binding on both 3- i would feel btter starting on this for molds than the 300-400 dollar epi 57 reissue that is discontinued 4- has tom/stop piece setup 5- the skills you will gain in doing this mod. - setting a neck - learning to correctly shim and glue ---wow - filling grain on body and neck - filling orginal humbucker pockects and 2 pots holes - routing for p90 and cc pups and back control plate for cc pup-if needed 6- u can use el cheapo epi as the second go around before the gibby- whether u destroy this one or not!! dis-advantages 1- time- what a project 2- cost- not just for another guitar, but for pups, hardware, nut, glue, grain filling material, clamps- unless u have a nice parts drawer!!!! 3- it is not an epi or gibby 4- u destroy guitar after numerous mistakes, but look at the skills u have gained, and u did not destroy an epi or gibby which is why u chose a cheap guitar. wait i think this is an advantage[blink] 5- you can stick with the el cheapo epi as u stated in another tread and do what mods need to be done on plywood body. beacuse it is 100 dollars less than this one, not to mention shipping cost. ok, what do you think Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianh Posted December 2, 2009 Author Share Posted December 2, 2009 Nothing wrong with it at all, but the Jr. is a flat top, no binding and the P90/CC PUP combo is what Lennon had on his Gibby Jr. That's where I'm headed with this whole thing, but there's lots of good ways to get distracted, that's for sure! I also still have my Genesis project not quite finished, so already have a 2 x Humbucker guitar to work on this winter... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freak show Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 Looks GREAT' date=' brian !!!! [...'] I'm digging the chickenheads !!! Yup, those knobs look fantastic! Very nice touch. :- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianh Posted December 2, 2009 Author Share Posted December 2, 2009 Looks like I was wrong - there's a 3rd intermediate version of the Epi LP Junior that was neither an El Cheapo or a '57 Reissue, just a standard LP Jr. with bolt-on neck, but with a mahogany (not plywood) body and white P90: http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Epiphone-Les-Paul-JR-90?sku=518572 There's at least one for sale on Craigslist for <$200: http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/msg/1466047166.html Note that in the photos below, the pickguards are different shapes, the PUPs and bridge have a different relationship, and the knobs are in different spots. So much for consistency... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lpfan Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 I'd like to have the one on craigslist. I bet the trans red finish looks good. That would definately be a good one to mod and set up like "Julia". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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