ouimetnick Posted November 24, 2012 Share Posted November 24, 2012 I have an Epiphone Chet Atkins CEC from 1997. The pickup is starting to fail, and needs to be replaced. The output jack plate, and control plate are oxidizing. The lettering faded off the control plate a while back. The Guitar came with a Lifetime warranty. What does it cover? Electronics are only one year, and it doesn't cover normal wear and tear.. It is only 15 years old. The tuner buttons cracked off, and according to Epiphone's support, thats normal wear and tear. 15 years isn't a long time. :( I see plastic buttons crack and disintegrate after 50-60 years, but not 15. Back to the pickup... they said the don't have an Chet Atkins parts anymore. Nor any parts for the Gibson Model. If they are going to have a Lifetime warranty, then why not cover somethings? At the very least, they could still have the parts available for purchase. The current Epiphone SST Classic is poorly build compared to the older Chet Atkins signature models, so I wouldn't be parting with this anytime soon. I've tried the SST Classic, Bridge was terribly sanded, frets were bad, preamp cavity all chipped inside, pickup unreliable, etc. I also have an Epiphone Chet Atkins SST Deluxe Steel String. Same thing with the oxidizing. The pickup died, and no luck, but I found some Chinese pickup that does the job for now. It sounds like crap though. It needs a neck reset.. Something not covered by the "Warranty" Attached are photos of the pickup, jack plate, and control plate. These don't seem standard. Anyone know where I can get one? Also what kind of saddle is that. Most are 1/8" thick, not 10mm wide. The pickup is part of the saddle too. The control plate and jack plate. StewMac doesn't have them.. What do I do? I want shiny new plates, and the control plate to have the writing on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffery Smith Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 I'm not a do-it-yourself guy, and take things like this to a pro. My local luthiers ave either (1) died, or (2) moved away, so I'm in the process of finding one. Trust me, if I tried to fix it myself, I'd just mess it up beyond repair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ouimetnick Posted November 25, 2012 Author Share Posted November 25, 2012 I'm not a do-it-yourself guy, and take things like this to a pro. My local luthiers ave either (1) died, or (2) moved away, so I'm in the process of finding one. Trust me, if I tried to fix it myself, I'd just mess it up beyond repair. The "repairs" that need to be done are in my league. I repair audio gear as a hobby, so doing this is easy. I just need to source the parts, esp that pickup. The oxidized golden plates I could live with... But a goofed pickup? :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ouimetnick Posted December 7, 2012 Author Share Posted December 7, 2012 Well I found a replacement jack plate. But can anyone help me find a new control plate?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dporto Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 Your chances of finding that "control plate" (especially pre-wired) are pretty slim I think. Just remove the knobs/pots and polish it up (The knobs are removed by loosening the allen head set screw, The pots are removed by loosening the 12/13mm nut - hold the plate in a vice or with a pair of vice grips - use a piece of cardboard in the jaws to protect the metal and finish). If you really want to go all out, you could have it re-plated but why bother? - it doesn't look too bad. Good Luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ouimetnick Posted December 11, 2012 Author Share Posted December 11, 2012 Your chances of finding that "control plate" (especially pre-wired) are pretty slim I think. Just remove the knobs/pots and polish it up (The knobs are removed by loosening the allen head set screw, The pots are removed by loosening the 12/13mm nut - hold the plate in a vice or with a pair of vice grips - use a piece of cardboard in the jaws to protect the metal and finish). If you really want to go all out, you could have it re-plated but why bother? - it doesn't look too bad. Good Luck I have new knobs, so thats that, I also have new alpha pots installed. I just was hoping the control plate was standard, but I get the impression it isn't. Now for the pickup.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Dunkley Posted July 18, 2019 Share Posted July 18, 2019 Hi, old convo I know but here goes. I am searching for new tuner knobs for a Gibson Chet Atkins nylon string solidbody, a couple of mine have crumbled off and I have to use pliers to tune 2 strings! Thanks, anyone who can help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOSTVENTURE Posted July 18, 2019 Share Posted July 18, 2019 As far as the tuners are concerned, you will probably have to replace the entire unit. I would start at Stew-Mack, and research parts numbers from there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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