Complete EPI custom setup

[goofballone]

Originally Posted by FFXGuitar

...it looks hard. I'm afriad of hurting my cherry babe.

That's why you should seek the help of Professionals, Like Roman. This isn't something you should try your self if you do not have a few throw away necks/guitars* to try it out on first, Ive tried it twice on the same neck and still have not got it right.







* When I say Throw away, I mean guitars or necks you buy for real cheap cuz you dont mind messing them up.

[SiameseDreamer]

Originally Posted by Roman Rist

This brings us back to the EPI.

We are putting gold grover vintage style tuners on it.

but before that, here is the roughed in nut blank.



Now some tuners.



I hate stickers!! It makes a guitar look cheap, like it was made in China! Maybe it was, but the whole damn world doesn't have to be reminded of it.



Ok, they are gone.

If I may ask... do the backs of the tuner line up down the back of the headstock???

Also, the tape on the drill bit was so as not to drill through the headstock... correct???

[Christmas]

Originally Posted by SiameseDreamer

If I may ask... do the backs of the tuner line up down the back of the headstock???

Also, the tape on the drill bit was so as not to drill through the headstock... correct???

They sure don't line up, unlike on a Gibson where they can be dead straight...another downfall of the Epi headstock design (aside from the questionable looks). I tried my best to get my Gotoh Klusons to line up on the back and look right from the front, but it just ain't physically possible.

[Hectgore]

Originally Posted by Christmas

They sure don't line up, unlike on a Gibson where they can be dead straight...another downfall of the Epi headstock design (aside from the questionable looks). I tried my best to get my Gotoh Klusons to line up on the back and look right from the front, but it just ain't physically possible.

imo it isnt a big deal though,i rarely look back there.hell i messed up the finish on the back of it and i already forgot about it

[Jason]

Dude, the tuners on my Gibson are far from straight.

[Christmas]

Originally Posted by JasonC

Dude, the tuners on my Gibson are far from straight.

Sorry to hear that...they're sure straight on this Gibson beauty, which is (of course) how they should be:

[vivalaking]

thanks so much for this thread. you just got yourself another customer. Once my pups arrive, ill be getting in touch.

[Hectgore]

Originally Posted by vivalaking

thanks so much for this thread. you just got yourself another customer. Once my pups arrive, ill be getting in touch.

yea man romans definitely,top notch

[Raxef]

How much would you charge if I sent an Epi LP Custom or Elitist Custom into you? Would you ever do any other guitars, like a strat or telecaster?

[lowe]

Originally Posted by Roman Rist

Now that the nut is off, I adjust the neck. What I am looking for is dead straight.
This will reveal all the neck and fret imperfections.

Roman

How can you make sure the neck is dead straight?

[SiameseDreamer]

Thanks everyone for the help'er'oo

I've got two guitars to re-machin head... going to try and get them straight hehe

[bluzjamer]

Roman I'm glad they didn't toss all the Romans to the Lions or was that Lions to the Romans. Anyhoo! Do you have any cousins or brothers on the East Coast? Awesome job, thanks for sharing it with everyone. I hope people try this with a junker before they start hacking up some of their pride and joys. Roman is an expert, he's probably done this a thousand times. This is excellent material and should be read and reread many times before you grab the first tool. Bravo Roman you've probably just started many people on the road to guitar repair that in itself is worthy of a standing ovation...again Bravo. Superb post.

[lifele55]

I'm just re-reading this thread cause its soo soo useful

[SiameseDreamer]

Originally Posted by bluzjamer

Roman I'm glad they didn't toss all the Romans to the Lions or was that Lions to the Romans. Anyhoo! Do you have any cousins or brothers on the East Coast? Awesome job, thanks for sharing it with everyone. I hope people try this with a junker before they start hacking up some of their pride and joys. Roman is an expert, he's probably done this a thousand times. This is excellent material and should be read and reread many times before you grab the first tool. Bravo Roman you've probably just started many people on the road to guitar repair that in itself is worthy of a standing ovation...again Bravo. Superb post.

I actually have tried various parts of this project on two of my beauties... it was the only way I could ensure a good job, using something I really cared about doing right... and so far so good

[stringdancing]

From what you have done,and shown in pictures;how much would a repair person charge for this kind of set up? Billy G. ---

[Roman Rist]

I just "Romanized" an Epi for a new MLPer, I think he is going to have something to say about it.

I originally posted this thread so that Epi owners would not feel left out or inferior. Sometimes I think some Les Paul snobbery hits you guys and that is not right, We are all on the same team.

With the proper love an Epi can play as well as it's more upscale brother. I am, in part, here to do my best to make that so.

For all you folks asking about prices, I don't feel it's appropriate to discuss that on a public forum. PM or email me and I will be glad to discuss it.

Lastly, if I have educated or inspired any of you, all the better!

cheers,
Roman

[Hectgore]

Originally Posted by Roman Rist

I just "Romanized" an Epi for a new MLPer, I think he is going to have something to say about it.

I originally posted this thread so that Epi owners would not feel left out or inferior. Sometimes I think some Les Paul snobbery hits you guys and that is not right, We are all on the same team.

With the proper love an Epi can play as well as it's more upscale brother. I am, in part, here to do my best to make that so.

For all you folks asking about prices, I don't feel it's appropriate to discuss that on a public forum. PM or email me and I will be glad to discuss it.

Lastly, if I have educated or inspired any of you, all the better!

cheers,
Roman

Roman i was originally gonna take my guitar to you once again,cept this time for the electronics we talked about, but you inspired me to do it myself!
After some tries and some mistakes i learned some valuable stuff about changing pickups, electronics to learning to read the diagrams. I am glad i did it myself,you just get that extra feeling of satisfaction!!
Except now i still need to reset the action and intonation back to where its good.(cause i basically took the whole guitar apart,to "dull" the finish,which i wasnt to happy with but oh well!) if anything ill "relic" it later on.

Good job! and im sure this post got you some "customers"

[WOLFHAWKSHAW]

ROMANIZED!!!! New member here just chiming in about my new Epi and the services of one Roman Rist.It started out a Epiphone Chameleon that I got and was not sure what to do with it.So I called Roman who has worked on several of my other guitars.Since he is here in town its just a quick drive over.He recommended a Romanization of it so it would be possible to use it live.He started with a complete neck job(leveling,scraping,polishing etc)Then he used Water Buffalo Horn to make a perfect black nut.He pulled the tuners and cleaned up and tightend them.He then gutted the wiring and replaced it and soldered everything proper.He also added some orange caps but kept the pots stating they were actually good and new ones were an unnecessary expense.We put a Gotoh Aluminum Tail piece and a Gotoh bridge on as well.With one of my pickups in the bridge and a inexpensive GFS Dream 90 in the neck we were in business.I have done enough sessions and played enough shows to say you can play this thing now anytime anywhere.I have plenty of Les Pauls and this things right there with them,especially the playability.The neck is heaven and it sounds awesome! In short Roman has opened my eyes to Romanizing lower budget guitars to make them equal or better to there more expensive brothers.And with Roman's amazing skills as a luthier, it makes it a VERY affordable option for a beginner or even a pro.Sweet! Thanks Roman!

[somesay]

Hey Roman, I'm thinking about sanding the back of my neck, can you tell me what size steel wool you used to finish it? Any tips? Thanks!

[Roman Rist]

400 grit first, 600 grit next and then follow up with 0000 grade steel wool, and you will be smooth and slinky.

Over time, your hand will act as a buffer and shine it up again, but a short scuff job with the steel wool will get you to satin again.

Roman
Ps. make sure to cover your pickups with masking tape to keep the steel wool from sticking to them.

[Anchorman]

RR makes good!!!

Thank you and keep 'em coming!!!

i.e lets see what happens with the pick-up height and pole piece adjustment.

[somesay]

Thanks Roman

[mushroom-eater]

This is really good stuff I never have found such an open discussion very knowledgeable. Very generous roman rist.

[MrWrong]

Great photo essay, thanks Roman!

[matthornet]

Originally Posted by Roman Rist

Glad to hear it diceman

Ok, moving on.

The frets are ready for sanding. I tape off the fingerboard so I do not scratch it.




Some people use fancy "sanding sticks" I use my fingers. With my finger I can control the pressure and "feel" what is going on.

I put pressure on only the sides of the fret, so as not to take any meat off of the top.

I start with 220 and go down to 600 grit.



Then I take an old auto body sander and make sure the tops are still level and intact.

Hi Roman, The gibson vintage setup tips teaches to steel wool the entire fretboard even the rosewood and also some other tips to smoothen the fretboard nad fill the pores. Is it safe to do so? why did you not do that? thanks.. I'm pretty confused with all the different opinions

[Stewart_Widowmaker]

Originally Posted by Roman Rist

Here it is after the oil. The fingerboard is now much darker as well.



sorry for the poor photos, but any white stuff on the fingerboard that people have complained about, is gone.

I have a Custom with those same white marks on the fretboard, no matter how much I use lemon oil they don't go away and it does feel like there is a slight finish on the board.

Do you recommend scraping the fretboard with a razor then applying some lemon oil to soak?

[Andyhannah]

This thread is awesome, thanks for sharing this with us Roman, just wish i could get mine setup with you, shame i live in the uk

[brink]

i can only wish to have that amount of knowlege...maybe someday. great post,im def. glad i joined here.

[CuttingJesse]

Originally Posted by Roman Rist

We have now drilled the tuners (without drilling though), and they are buttoned up and we move on to the nut.

The string spacing on the old nut was good, so I just mark off the slots with a pencil using the old nut as a template.



Now that the slots are marked off, with a small jewelers file, I notch for the strings.



Once again, I am sorry for the poor image quality. I would also love also to show certain steps, but I only have 2 hands, and not an extra to hold the camera.

Just wondering, Im assuming you glued down the nut. If so did you use an epoxy or just a carpenters glue??

[The_Sentry]

This is a really awesome thread, but I think something needs to be said here for the majority of folks out there.

When one takes their guitars (specifically their epi's) to a repair shop, they DO NOT TAKE THIS MUCH CARE. I've took mine in twice for some fret buzzing and both times it came back even more jacked up than when I brought it in and one repairman told me the guitar wasn't even worth it.

So....that really pushed me down the DIY path. I'm at the point now where I'm comftorable with just about every upgrade/replacement with the exception of fretting and cutting a nut. But even with these one has to be careful because the setup is only going to be as good as the tech who is performing it.

(Here's a classic example...I don't know what it is, but some repair folks seem to believe that bastardizing the saddles and jacking the action up to the moon is the "fix". On one occasion in Virginia I took it in and that guy cut a bone nut which I still suspect is flawed and he filed off the edges of the saddles as "the fix"....garbage. I ended up replacing the saddles immediately. Another tech thought the fix was to expand the grooves in the ABR-1 saddles even deeper....and neither wanted to do a dress job on the fretboard. Crap crap work!!!)

Thanks again for posting this, Roman. This really tempts me to get a really cheap student model or junk guitar to practice with until I get the knack for a full dressing like this.