Complete EPI custom setup

[lukemacauley]

Can anyway point me to a UK website with the Gotoh bridge that Roman talks about in nickel? Rather than a US site? Cheers.

[rob9]

tried thomann?
Gotoh Guitar Bridges - U.K. International Cyberstore

[lukemacauley]

Yes, but which bridge is it he is talking about? I can't seem to find it on any UK site.

[rob9]

I dont know which bridge roman is talking about, why dont you ask him?

[mlepage]

I just tried the fingerboard scrape project. What was unclear to me, is what angle the razor should be. Is it "shaving" (like you'd chisel wood or shovel snow) or is it "dragging" (like you'd sweep with a broom or paint with a brush)? I started shaving but switched to dragging.

Anyways, it didn't seem to get any white gunk out of my 2008 MIC Epi LP Std, even though I see a bit in some of the wood grain. Maybe it's all off the top surface already? Also, I could see how this would level out the trapezoid inlays but mine were pretty good to begin with.

So I'm just wondering if I did it right.

[Sudetenland]

Thanks for taking the time and sharing. I see a few things I can apply to make my guitar better.....

[will c]

Originally Posted by mlepage

I just tried the fingerboard scrape project. What was unclear to me, is what angle the razor should be. Is it "shaving" (like you'd chisel wood or shovel snow) or is it "dragging" (like you'd sweep with a broom or paint with a brush)? I started shaving but switched to dragging.

Anyways, it didn't seem to get any white gunk out of my 2008 MIC Epi LP Std, even though I see a bit in some of the wood grain. Maybe it's all off the top surface already? Also, I could see how this would level out the trapezoid inlays but mine were pretty good to begin with.

So I'm just wondering if I did it right.

I'm pretty sure he just scraped it with the blade perpendicular to the neck surface. You risk gouging your fingerboard if you angle the blade. You may just need to do it a little more to get through all the polish. Let us know how it turns out!

Will

[Yoooder]

Couple quick questions for clarification....

Roman, you mentioned finding loose frets by feel with your file. Any tips for finding them without any luthier-specific tools?

Also, could you elaborate a little on getting the neck dead-level? Do you use one of those special straight-edges with notches that 'jump' the frets?

Lastly, thanks a ton for the info! Lutherie photos always make me miss woodshop and look forward to living in a place where I can setup a workbench again.

[Termanator7]

Roman,

How much would all of this cost if I were to send in my Epi?

[YourLoveNeverFails]

would i need to set up my guitar if it is brand new? the company told me before they send out my guitar they do an inspection. Which include intonation, checking bridge, and what not. Pretty much what a regular set up is but i'm not sure if they shave down the fret to even things out though. So should i still get a set up?

[cmcoram]

Originally Posted by YourLoveNeverFails

would i need to set up my guitar if it is brand new? the company told me before they send out my guitar they do an inspection. Which include intonation, checking bridge, and what not. Pretty much what a regular set up is but i'm not sure if they shave down the fret to even things out though. So should i still get a set up?

If you are satisfied with it out of the box, then maybe not.

For me, all my guitars get new strings (my preferred brand and gauge) as soon as I get them. Because of this, I also do a set up. JMHO, YMMV.

Learn to do it yourself, much more rewarding. I'm doing my Elitist LPC today.

[73Custom]

thanks for this thread Roman

[Mookakian]

Wow, this is an amazing thread, really, thankyou. The necks on this thread look so smooth and playable!!!!!
Roman, i think you have turned my passion for guitar close to euphoria, practicing on a few old rigs now, finished 1 with pretty good results Have B & A pics but dont wana flood thread.

A few questions if thats cool,

1- When you say "crown of the frett" is that the top of the whole length of the frett or just the top edge of the frett
2- Could you please tell us a little more detail how you scraped the fretboard, Angle of razor, Direction of scraping, things to be careful of when scraping

As if u havent shared enough of your Master Luthier knowledge, a jerk like me milks it

[emoney]

....so, Roman, I was thinking....Florida is really nice this time of the year. Maybe you and your tools, wait, I meant "family", could come and visit......

[George Hanson]

This is the finest stuff you can put on any wood during a refinishing/restoring project (like a fretboard). It ain't cheap but it goes a loooong way and your grandmother's old chest of drawers probably would appreciate a coating of it as well!!

Kramers Best - What makes it different?

[ACELUEK]

Originally Posted by Roman Rist

The last thing. Intonation.

I play the open string........check it on the tuner.

Hit the 12th harmonic.......check it on the tuner

Hit the 12th fret.........check it on the tuner

If sharp, the saddle goes back.
If flat , the saddle goes forward.



On a side note; Epi bridges are not that great. The good news is that the import version of the Gotoh/tonepros is a DIRECT fit.

It is a much better bridge. It is pre notched and you wouldn't even have to install new studs and inserts. Just put it on and set the intonation and action.

I bought the Gotoh TOM for my EPI.. I have a few questions. Each of saddles are facing the same direction. I would assume that it does not matter which way the face other than being able to set the intonation. Did you install with the screws heads facing the pickups or the tail stop? Does it matter? Hope you have the time to answer these questions.

[ACELUEK]

Originally Posted by lukemacauley

Yes, but which bridge is it he is talking about? I can't seem to find it on any UK site.

Here is one from stewmac.. I just bought it and it fit my epi Les Paul perfect.
Gotoh Tune-o-matic Bridge with Studs/Bushings at Stewart-MacDonald


1511-N_1spec.gif

[ACELUEK]

After installation of Gotoh TOM Bridge and new TUSQ nut..

Nut 2.jpg

Nut 6.jpg

Bridge 2.jpg

Bridge A.jpg

Guitar 1.jpg

[pchor]

Amazing information here! Thank you!

I went ahead and did this procedure to both my Epi Les Paul Standard and Epi Studio Goth.

I do have one question if someone doesnt mind:

It seems now that when im bending notes that it feels more rough. It seems much less smooth, my fingers seem to be sticking to the frets, sometimes geting stuck completely and ruining my bend

Did I scrape too much off the frets? Is there anything I can do to make it smooth again? Maybe I didnt put on enough oil?

The procedure I used on the fretboard was: scraped with razor, sanded with 600grit, steel wooled the frets and then applied boiled linseed oil in 3 layers, waiting 30 mins in between layers and wiping excess in between.

Anyone else experience this? Or know what I could do to make it better?

Some pics of the LP Standard after the procedure:



Thanks!

[lzvrsam]

How do you remove the plate underneath the toggle switch, do you have to completely remove the actual toggle or can you remove the plate by just taking off the first couple of nuts?

[Killowatt]

Awesome thread! It's threads like this that make the internet worthy (besides the porn). I was recently contemplating doing this to my epi, but was wondering how to do it. Many thanks to Roman for the great walk through. When I installed a Gotoh saddle, and I had to deepen the grooves slightly to hold the stings during bends.

[LordRevan]

That's what I was trying to say in another post...

Epiphone Les Paul can play as good as a Gibson, but of course, you cannot expect the hardware that has been fitted in is as good as the one fitted on a gibson.

The bridge on Epis (not only the LP) has soft saddles and they get cut easily creating buzz, the tailpiece can be left as it is.

The frets are not always precise and they always need some levelling (some of them can be loose sometimes).

Tuners are generally bad quality ones and the nut doesn't help.

Pots, switch, output jack and wiring is cheap stuff, it works, but it's easily gonna be a problem with time (you can get a better tone with decent caps).

Pickups are cheap stuff as well, some people may be alrite with it, but when I have replaced them with good ones I could really tell a big difference.

At the end of the day if they had made stock Epis sounding as good as a Gibson... who would actually spend 2 grand or more for a Gibson???

Woods are good, the guitars are well assembled... but of course they had to save somewhere...

[toomuchhorrorbusiness]

I kind of questioning the procedure of scraping the fingerboard…

Yeah, you're removing some plastic-esque material from the fingerboard, resulting in making it look better and more like wood, but anyone think that it might be there for a reason?

Possibly to keep the fingerboard slick or to add years of protection?

I'd imagine it would get worn out alot quicker ?

[closetrocker]

Similar project here:

Adventures in Epi LP Tinkering

[ll Dizzi ll]

thanks Roman!!

[aussie2009]

Thank's Roman,This has to be one of the best thread's for the aspiring muso that want's to learn how to setup a epiphone guitar.
YOU ROCK

[kec]

I'm not sure how Roman checks for a perfectly straight neck. Maybe he has an eagle eye or a Stew-Mac $70+ notched straight edge. I dunno

Since this is your thread, Roman, I hope you won't mind if I post this

I made a cheap clone of the Stew-Mac notched straight edge using 1-1/2" x 36" x 1/8" aluminum flat stock from Home Depot. Try to select one that's as straight as possible (edge & flat) with no dings on the edges.

1. Cut the stock to 16-1/2" in length.
2. Mark the fret locations with an existing neck (I did 25.5" on one edge 24.75" on the other) using a sharpie.
3. Notch the fret locations on a table saw (or dremel) w/mitre gauge. Allow approx. 1/8" on either side of the fret.
4. Remove any burrs.
5. Mark the entire (no voids) edge(s) with a sharpie.
6. On a known flat surface tape down one full sheet of 220 grit wet/dry sandpaper (9" x 11") on one corner then the opposing diagonal corner (no tape on the other diagonal corners). I used a surface plate @ work, but you could use any flat surface - 1/4" safety glass (shelves), plate glass, cast area of a table saw, etc...
7. While holding the ends and light-medium pressure run the edge across the diagonal area of the sandpaper keeping it as perpendicular as possible. Do this until most of the sharpie marks are gone.
8. Clean off the edge and place it on the flat surface. Use a piece of paper to see if the are any gaps between the edge the surface. If there is, sand a little more and check it again.
9. Switch to 320 (or 400) grit and repeat steps 7 & 8. You could take it a step further and wet sand at this point (I didn't).
10. Repeat step 8.
11. Scotch brite (I used gray) or steel wool the sides ONLY! Don't touch the edges that you just lapped.
12. Wash with warm water and dish soap. Dry. Be careful not to ding the edges.
13. You are done. Try it out!

This took me about an hour total to complete.

The total cost for me was around $8 IIRC and there's enough to do 2 of them. I already had everything else.









Before truss rod adjustment...


After truss rod adjustment...


Thanks for this thread Roman

[shtdaprdtr]

put a straightedge over the frets..if its touching all the frets..then the necks straight, as far as the saddles all facing the same direction..you must adjust intonation first...if it goes beyond the point of where the saddles reach..you then remove the saddle by loosening the screw all the way and flip the saddle around...they basically come neutral and you have to adjust the saddles accordingly..as far as scraping the FB...do it in a sweeping motion with multiple passes pressing firmly but not too hard..must be patient as you wont see shit at first.

[mickeles]

I just got new Epi Les Paul Standard, I'm just curious do I need to do something else to it besides tune it? This is my first ever electric guitar and about the only thing I know how to do is tune it and play it.

[Hichisky]

Very nice tutorial.

This is my favorite Epiphone. I never had it setup, and is one of the best guitars I have played (Les Paul Custom, Ebony). I did put a couple 57 classics in it with a plus in the bridge position though. The only down side of it is the electronics as far as volume and tone are not nearly as good as Gibson. But other than that, it's hard for another guitar to beat this one, Epiphone or Gibson, IMO. I think I must have got real lucky with it. The nut also is very slick, strings like never stick so tuning is very easy. Ive had the guitar for 4-5 years, but yet when I get done playing it I can still say WOW.