zoukboy Posted March 27, 2010 Share Posted March 27, 2010 I recently picked up an Epiphone custom shop SG/Les Paul Custom in white with gold hardware and a vibrola. I love the guitar (even the pickups!) but I have a couple of questions: First, what are the pickup combinations with the stock 3 way switch? and Second, please don't flame me for this because I am probably committing sacrilege here, but I am considering having the neck profile modified. It's a big, round Louisville Slugger kind of profile and I prefer it to be flatter. My question is this: can I have the back of the neck flattened, removing about 3/16" of an inch in the center, without seriously compromising the neck? I have played a couple of cheaper, bolt-neck Epi SGs recently that have the kind of profile I'm looking for, but I don't want to go with a cheapo version just for the neck when I love everything else about this guitar. OK. Thanks in advance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deflepfan Posted March 27, 2010 Share Posted March 27, 2010 I recently picked up an Epiphone custom shop SG/Les Paul Custom in white with gold hardware and a vibrola. I love the guitar (even the pickups!) but I have a couple of questions: First' date=' what are the pickup combinations with the stock 3 way switch? and Second, please don't flame me for this because I am probably committing sacrilege here, but I am considering having the neck profile modified. It's a big, round Louisville Slugger kind of profile and I prefer it to be flatter. My question is this: can I have the back of the neck flattened, removing about 3/16" of an inch in the center, without seriously compromising the neck? I have played a couple of cheaper, bolt-neck Epi SGs recently that have the kind of profile I'm looking for, but I don't want to go with a cheapo version just for the neck when I love everything else about this guitar. OK. Thanks in advance![/quote'] Congrats on the G-400 (assuming as it is a set-neck). Instead of telling you what is what on the selector, I'm going to help you learn for yourself. Plug your guitar in and put the selector in the up position. Then, with your fingers, tap on the neck p'up and then the bridge p'up. Where do you hear the sound? Do the same for the middle position and the down position. And a neck is personal, it's not a crime to want to change it. Best wishes, Sheila Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoukboy Posted March 27, 2010 Author Share Posted March 27, 2010 Congrats on the G-400 (assuming as it is a set-neck). Instead of telling you what is what on the selector' date=' I'm going to help you learn for yourself. Plug your guitar in and put the selector in the up position. Then, with your fingers, tap on the neck p'up and then the bridge p'up. Where do you hear the sound? Do the same for the middle position and the down position. And a neck is personal, it's not a crime to want to change it. Best wishes, Sheila[/quote'] Thanks. Well, I am embarrassed I didn't think to do that! OK. The results are in: "Rhythm" = Neck + Middle center = Neck + Middle + Bridge "Treble" = Middle + Bridge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bender 4 Life Posted March 27, 2010 Share Posted March 27, 2010 I wouldn't worry about what others may see as "sacrilege", it's not their guitar, it's yours. If you'll be likely to play it more, and/or enjoy your playing more by modding it, go for it ! Lots of folks here have modded their guitars in nearly every conceivable manner. If you're not highly experienced in woodworking and refinishing, have a pro do it so it's not ruined. Welcome to the forum, don't be shy about asking questions, and above all post pics(!!!) before/after/other guits/etc. We love our "guitar porn" here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peeper Posted March 28, 2010 Share Posted March 28, 2010 As a pro myself, I would not modify that neck in the way you want, it would weaken it substantially. That one job I'd pass on. Find a guitar with a neck that suits you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hungrycat Posted March 28, 2010 Share Posted March 28, 2010 As a pro myself' date=' I would not modify that neck in the way you want, it would weaken it substantially. That one job I'd pass on.[/quote'] Bull. The neck on my LPC was shaved down when I got it. The neck DID break, but not as a result of the thinner profile. It broke the same way they all do. Parallel to the fingerboard under the nut, where the neck hadn't been touched. If you want to change the profile do it. ( And by 'you' I mean 'take it to a pro'). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzoboy Posted March 28, 2010 Share Posted March 28, 2010 I'm inclined to agree with musikron,in that reducing the neck profile will greatly compromise the neck strength. I have an Epi G400 Custom which is basically the same guitar.I have rather small hands and arthritis in my hands but I adapted to the larger girth of the neck in a couple of weeks and now it feels perfectly comfortable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peeper Posted March 28, 2010 Share Posted March 28, 2010 Hungrycat- You said yourself it broke??? You know one reason why some break there and others don't? Because some necks truss channel is routed a little deeper or wider than others. If you have two necks, both of flawless wood, and one is routed deeper or wider than the other, that neck will be the one to break first. Same thing if you take some wood off the back, you will significantly thin the material because of the truss route, which is dead center of the neck, just the place you would "shave" a neck at. Add in the factors of less than perfect examples of wood and its asking for trouble. If you can't live with the neck on a set neck guitar, get a new guitar. One that feels good to your hand, it will have been designed to have a thinner neck and it won't be something that structurally compromises the instrument. The guitar was routed for a truss rod with a very specific neck profile in mind. You don't want to mess with that. In the end, its your guitar, but if you have this done don't be surprised when your guitar neck snaps just like Hungrys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaytea Posted April 4, 2010 Share Posted April 4, 2010 Don't shave down your neck. For all the reasons stated previously. The neck response (bow, twisting) will be at best unpredictable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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