Members mbengs1 Posted November 9, 2017 Members Share Posted November 9, 2017 I just had a pickup change. replaced the 498t's to EMG's. Now my les paul has high output pickups. I plan to change the pickguard next to a grey pearloid color. what else should i change? i was thinking of changing pickup rings? will that improve the looks or tone much? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members t_e_l_e Posted November 9, 2017 Members Share Posted November 9, 2017 hmm.... the player? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mbengs1 Posted November 9, 2017 Author Members Share Posted November 9, 2017 haha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 1001gear Posted November 9, 2017 Members Share Posted November 9, 2017 Get a Tonepros bridge kit. This is crucial to the vibe that you KNOW toan. Also change those itty bitty strap buttons to the big flared kind. Also paint over the Gibson logo and claim you picked it out at some Chinese factory; also proof you know toan.Oh and get black speed knobs. Nothing looks cheaper than those gold hat knobs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members t_e_l_e Posted November 9, 2017 Members Share Posted November 9, 2017 haha. sorry i couldn't resist for aesthetics just change what ever you like, you don't need our approval for this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members humbuckerstrat Posted November 9, 2017 Members Share Posted November 9, 2017 That's a quality LP you got, you shouldn't have to "change out" anything on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted November 9, 2017 Members Share Posted November 9, 2017 Cosmetic changes won't affect the tone and aesthetics are a personal choice. It would help if we knew what color the guitar was. Can you post a pic? Personally, I'd avoid a pearl pickguard except for a Strat or something similar. Most of the time upgrades take the form of electronics such as pots and capacitors but AFAIK that's not something you can do with active pickups. You could experiment with swapping out the tailpiece and bridge but IMHO that won't get you much improvement. Again, post a pic and I'll get back to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mikeo Posted November 9, 2017 Members Share Posted November 9, 2017 I've been playing the same Les Paul since 1982. The only thing I have done to it is put Schaller strap locks pins on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Les Paul Lover Posted November 9, 2017 Members Share Posted November 9, 2017 I really loke these strap locks. I usually buybthem as soon as I know the gu8tar is staying home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Les Paul Lover Posted November 9, 2017 Members Share Posted November 9, 2017 What you need is a router and a Floyd rose tremolo. Not much else can help you improve its aesthetics beyond that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mikeo Posted November 10, 2017 Members Share Posted November 10, 2017 Yeah I almost dumped my Les Paul more that once. They weigh a bit so they tend to hit the ground hard to. I should have them on all my Gibson Electrics, but I don't. One of the keys to the strap locks is when you put the U locks on the strap, make sure the open part of the U is facing up. I have had the strap locks come undone too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Ratae Corieltauvorum Posted November 10, 2017 Moderators Share Posted November 10, 2017 25.5" scale neck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nice keetee Posted November 10, 2017 Members Share Posted November 10, 2017 25.5" scale neck that is Strat territory... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members onelife Posted November 10, 2017 Members Share Posted November 10, 2017 My Les Paul (Studio) had the finish removed from the entire guitar during a broken headstock repair. It no longer has the Gibson logo or the Les Paul signature either. I believe it is a better sounding guitar without the finish and it doesn't look like much so I'm not afraid of scratching it up or somebody wanting to steal it - it's a real 'work' guitar. The only hardware change is a set of Grover high ratio tuning machines and some graph-tech bridge saddles. I also removed the pickguard. It still has the stock 490/498 pickup combination which work in every situation I find myself in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members powbob01 Posted November 11, 2017 Members Share Posted November 11, 2017 I think you should have bought this instead. https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/EC1000BLK It seems to suit your aesthetic more closely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members AJ6stringsting Posted November 11, 2017 Members Share Posted November 11, 2017 On my 1971 Medallion Series Gibson Flying V, 2007 Epiphone LPC and 1974 Gibson LPC, I installed Schaller tailpiece with fine tuner ( like a Floyd Rose )and now I just reach over a few inches to fine tune while playing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members satmanjf@gmail.com Posted November 11, 2017 Members Share Posted November 11, 2017 That's a quality LP you got' date=' you shouldn't have to "change out" anything on it.[/quote'] What he said. You could send it to me and change ownership, couldnt help it man. I wouldn't change a thing dude Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted November 11, 2017 Members Share Posted November 11, 2017 Since you've already put the EMG in it why not add a Sustainiac? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted November 12, 2017 Members Share Posted November 12, 2017 Since you've already put the EMG in it why not add a Sustainiac? But then he'd have to remove one of those lovely EMGs. Maybe he could have it routed and stick the Sustainiac between the two EMGs? Is that possible? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted November 13, 2017 Members Share Posted November 13, 2017 Anything is possible. Bring your check book Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members badpenguin Posted November 13, 2017 Members Share Posted November 13, 2017 Ok, explain this to me so that even a drummer can understand. You spent a small fortune, getting the guitar that was perfect for you. So perfect in fact that you are afraid of playing for fear of wearing out the frets. So now you want to change everything that made the guitar special to you. What ain't I getting? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted November 13, 2017 Members Share Posted November 13, 2017 You have a point there. I suppose if he's willing to spend enough anything IS possible. Desirable is another story but possible, sure. Gotta wonder what would be involved and how it would sound? Probably not anything I'd want to play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mbengs1 Posted November 13, 2017 Author Members Share Posted November 13, 2017 Cosmetic changes won't affect the tone and aesthetics are a personal choice. It would help if we knew what color the guitar was. Can you post a pic? Personally' date=' I'd avoid a pearl pickguard except for a Strat or something similar. Most of the time upgrades take the form of electronics such as pots and capacitors but AFAIK that's not something you can do with active pickups. You could experiment with swapping out the tailpiece and bridge but IMHO that won't get you much improvement. Again, post a pic and I'll get back to you.[/quote'] The color is alpine white. I uploaded an old pic. It does not look exactly like that anymore. It has EMG's now. I'm thinking of changing everything u can change including the jackplate, tuners, strap buttons etc. Don't mind the other guitar in the picture. it's just my JEM... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mbengs1 Posted November 13, 2017 Author Members Share Posted November 13, 2017 No, I don't know how to use a sustainiac. I never tried it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mbengs1 Posted November 13, 2017 Author Members Share Posted November 13, 2017 Ok, explain this to me so that even a drummer can understand. You spent a small fortune, getting the guitar that was perfect for you. So perfect in fact that you are afraid of playing for fear of wearing out the frets. So now you want to change everything that made the guitar special to you. What ain't I getting? I was getting bored with the guitar. same sound, same look... I decided to change it since the first thing I thought it needed was hot output pickups. I had emg's in my '{censored}ty' guitar. (it's an Ibanez JS1000 that was trashed and fixed up again) it had emg 81 and 85 so I swapped the pickups. now the Ibanez js has the 498t and 490r pirkcups. I might as well change everything if I can. but the tuners and strap locks are quite expensive so I may leave that out... I just bought a grey pearloid pickguard and plastic jackplate on ebay for about 10 bucks each. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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