05 Epi LP Custom, Black/ Converting gold hw to nickel

[Dega500]

Wanting to get your thoughts on this conversion. I've been looking for a set of gold 57 classics to drop in my Epi custom and have had no luck so far. I have a brand new set of nickel pups and got to thinking about what it might look like with all nickel hardware. I also have an 05 Gibson SG that could possibly be the hardware doner, It already has single screw grovers tuners in it.

 

What kind of problems do you guys foresee me having swapping out the Gibson hw for the Epi on my 05 Custom? The Epi is an incredible playing guitar that I don't hesitate to gig with but it could stand a little help in the pup department. ihave the 57 classic in my 80 LP Standard and I'd love to get the Epi somewhere close to that sound.

 

Thanks,

 

Mike

[blind radish]

wait and do the gold ....

[cavpilot]

Just a heads up: Gibson and Epi hardware aren't made off the same measurements, so not everything just drops in without some modification.

[lp_junkie]

Other than tuners, strap buttons and pickups, none of the other Gibson parts will fit the Epi, the differences between Imperial and metric measurements and parts sizing prevents swapping. I have converted several customs to nickel over the years, and usually add cream plastics and gold speed knobs when I do.

[alfsboy]

i went all nickel on my Dot .I changed the bridge and stop tail to nickel using Gotoh parts from Ebay .Far better quality than the stock Epi .I also changed the tuners to Grover deluxe and put nickel Tonerider Rocksongs in .it transformed the guitar.It made it far more toneful and vibrant ,much less buzz..Much more like a Gibson .I bought all the parts on Ebay but make sure you get Epiphone fit parts not Gibson, as others have said .

[_pete_]

The Gibson parts that won't fit without modification are the bridge and the pup rings.

You can use a bridge w/6mm mounting studs. If you want a Gibson bridge, you would have to fill the stud holes and redrill.

Epi pup rings are wider than normal. The mounting screw holes will not line up with Gibson rings.

 

Just for reference, this is a black Epi LP Custom I used to have with all chrome hardware and cream plastics.

 

[newbuilder]

Nice!^^^

[lp_junkie]

Hey that looks like my black Epi Custom........ it's one of my backup guitars.

[metal0822]

ever thought of getting nickel pickups and just buying gold covers for another few bucks?

[mortkort]

Just for reference, this is a black Epi LP Custom I used to have with all chrome hardware and cream plastics.

 

[Dega500]

Wow, that's nice.

 

Couldn't I just put the Gibson pups in the Epi rings or are they a different hole spacing. I kind of figured the bridge would be the catch.

 

The Gibson parts that won't fit without modification are the bridge and the pup rings. You can use a bridge w/6mm mounting studs. If you want a Gibson bridge, you would have to fill the stud holes and redrill. Epi pup rings are wider than normal. The mounting screw holes will not line up with Gibson rings. Just for reference, this is a black Epi LP Custom I used to have with all chrome hardware and cream plastics.

[Dega500]

Actually, no I haven't. I've never changed covers on pups before. I'll have to look in ti that. Thanks!

 

Mike

 

 

ever thought of getting nickel pickups and just buying gold covers for another few bucks?

 

[_pete_]

 

Wow, that's nice. Couldn't I just put the Gibson pups in the Epi rings or are they a different hole spacing. I kind of figured the bridge would be the catch.

 

 

Sure that's fine.

The Epi rings are just a bit wider than normal rings. If you swap in non-Epi rings, the screw holes won't line up.

[metal0822]

yea the pickups will be the same size, the rings are just drilled in different places for mounting, i would imagine. im surprised they even made them different.

[Dega500]

 

You can use a bridge w/6mm mounting studs. Just for reference, this is a black Epi LP Custom I used to have with all chrome hardware and cream plastics.

 

 

I have only found Gotoh bridges w/ M8 or M4 post threads so far.

 

Looking at Stewmac

 

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailpieces/Electric_guitar,_Tune-o-matic_bridges/Gotoh_Tune-o-matic_Bridge.html

[Dega500]

 

You can use a bridge w/6mm mounting studs.

 

 

hey pete,

 

I can only find a Gotoh bridge w/ 8mm or 4mm post threads.

 

String spread Saddle radius Post spacing Post threads

 

#1511 2-1/16" (52.39mm) 12" (304.80mm) 2-29/32" (73.82mm) M8 x 1.25

Use a 7/16" or 11mm drill bit for the stud bushings.

 

#0167 2-1/16" (52.39mm) 12" (304.80mm) 2-29/32" (73.82mm) M4 x .7

 

Am I missing something here?

 

Thanks,

 

Mike

[Dega500]

I keep posting a reply and it never shows up. Let's try again without quotes!

 

I can only find M8 and M4 threaded posts for a Gotoh bridge.

 

pete said I woudl need to find M6 mounting studs. Am I missing something here?

 

Dega

[Dega500]

bump!

[59humbucker]

I changed the p'ups in my epi custom to some nickle ones out of a LP standard and have never felt the need to change the rest of the hardware.

 

The golds quite worn in the bridge and tailpiece and the whole effect is quite workmanlike

[_pete_]

 

I have only found Gotoh bridges w/ M8 or M4 post threads so far. Looking at Stewmac http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailpieces/Electric_guitar,_Tune-o-matic_bridges/Gotoh_Tune-o-matic_Bridge.html

 

Sorry, I don't hang out here as much as i used to.

 

The ones you want are the #1511. Those are 6mm studs. Click on the "Specs" tab and you'll see the differences.

[Dega500]

I see now Pete,

 

The top stud that the bridge sits on is 6mm (5.94 to be exact) not the thread.

 

Thanks,

 

I went ahead and ordered a few items for the conversion.

 

Gotoh 1511 bridge

Gotoh 0168-N Tailpiece

1217 Chrome Three Way Toggle Switch

Nickel Pickguard screws

Nickel Pichup Ring Screws (9/16" long)

0105 Chrome Pickguard Bracket

 

So far the problems I've ran into are:

 

The new nickel tailpiece bushings are too small a diameter (and a little too long) for the holes already drilled in the Epi. They just drop right in. The threaded posts screw in fine so for now I'm ok with the gold ones but will eventually try and find replacements if I can identify the ones I need. I didn't even try to remove the bridge bushing, the posts screwed in fine so I'll deal with that later.

 

The only pickup ring screws offered at SM were 9/16" long. The bridge pickup ring screws are much longer thatn that (around 3/4" I'm guessing) so I may be needing more screws for the bridge ring.

 

The Epi has a thick plastic jack plate and the pickguard screws I bought are not long enough.

 

Other than those minor setbacks I think things are looking pretty good. I have the Three Way in and the pups mounted (loosely) and ready to be soldered to the pots. (I hate cutting brand new pickup wires off, It's like crossing the point of no return and I always tend to leave them longer than I should), the tailpiece is fit snuggly to it's posts.

 

Hopefully, pics will be coming this weekend sometime.

 

 

Thanks for all your help guys, any info on those nickel/ chrome bridge and tailpiece post bushingswill be appreciated.

 

Later,

 

Dega

[Dega500]

here is the Epi with the Nickel hardware. I think it looks good with the bright fretmarkers and headstock diamond.

 

The 57 Classic/ 57 Classic+ sound good too, even with the factory pots and caps.

 

I still need to get the right bridge and tailpice bushings to fit existing holes but it's a start.

 

Thanks for the help!

 

Dega

[goosefartfan]

 

The 57 Classic/ 57 Classic+ sound good too, even with the factory pots and caps.

 

 

WTF??

 

Those PU's only sound good? I would have expected a world of diff between those PU's and epi's!! Even w/the original electronics.

 

why do I care? b/c I want to trade up to those exact PU's in my LP copy, and I was hoping for an orgasm, at least!

[Dega500]

Honestly, I haven't had a chance to really push them yet and see how they act in the Epi. The original pups actually didn't sound that bad but when I switched straight from the Epi to my Gibby (see below) I could tell a big difference in sound level and brightness. The epi pups seemed a little weaker and grainy at the same gain settings I use.

 

I have dual Classic 57's in my 80 Gibby Standard and I can with out a doubt say that they sound great. They cut through the mix well and really respond to tweeks of the guitars controls (All 500k pots).

[goosefartfan]

 

Honestly, I haven't had a chance to really push them yet and see how they act in the Epi. The original pups actually didn't sound that bad but when I switched straight from the Epi to my Gibby (see below) I could tell a big difference in sound level and brightness. The epi pups seemed a little weaker and grainy at the same gain settings I use. I have dual Classic 57's in my 80 Gibby Standard and I can with out a doubt say that they sound great. They cut through the mix well and really respond to tweeks of the guitars controls (All 500k pots).

 

 

I know the Epi pu's don't compare to the Gibson's, so I expected a major diff when you switch from one guitar to the other!

 

If you can, it would be extremely helpful if you would record a minute of the Epi before and after you install the new PU's. of course all at the same settings, etc., etc.....

 

I've got GAS for classsic 57's and I'm putting them in a LP copy, so I really want to hear about it!

 

thanks:wave: