Epiphone Les Paul Special Model (not II)

DagerOne · 07-05-2011, 03:50 PM

Picked up a cheap Epiphone Les Paul-style "Special Model" from Craigslist. Best I can tell, this pre-dates the "Special II" that I see everywhere...and that "II" probably came along because this one sucks.

I'm thinking these came as part of "packs" with a cheap amp and accessories? Plywood body, bolt-on neck, three-screw "Gibson" truss rod cover, and in really rough shape. Tuners read "Jin Ho" on their undersides, and they're awful. Bridge is stamped "B-2" on the underside. 22 frets. Pickups are engraved "Epiphone F" (neck) and "Epiphone R" (bridge) I'm not having any luck with the serial number, which along with the "Epiphone" logo is engraved into the neckplate.

099010530

I'm guessing that translates to a 1999 model of some kind, but I can't figure out where it was made, either. Any help?

Pictures:

Previous owner said he didn't make any changes to it, but electrical tape in the control cavity?

Oh, and ZERO strap buttons!

Kezia · 07-05-2011, 04:06 PM

Pics!

Xelestial · 07-05-2011, 04:09 PM

Agreed with A7X fan, we need pics for the analysis.

DagerOne · 07-05-2011, 04:28 PM

Pics have been added to the original post. Hope they help, and I can take more if needed.

DagerOne · 07-05-2011, 08:49 PM

Some additional pictures. This is what was under the electrical tape in the control cavity:

The ground wire wasn't connected to anything, and it was pinched between the switch and the wood, so clearly the guy had it apart at some point.

These are what the tuners look like:

Three of the bushings are missing.

The dot marker at the third fret is slightly submerged below the surface of the fretboard. It's not terrible, but detectable to my fingers. What's the best way to raise it, or should I just flow some superglue over it to make it flush and call it good?

Actually, for all its flaws, if I fix the wiring (which is a mess) and repair or replace the tuners, it's playable.

DagerOne · 07-07-2011, 10:20 AM

I guess no one appreciates cheap, beater guitars these days.

Snobs.

Anyway, someone over on the Epiphone forum suggested the first 0 of the serial number being the letter O, which makes it a Korean-made 1999 Epiphone Special model. Still not much info out there that's easy to find. The release of the Epiphone Special II makes it hard to differentiate all of the data available.

I guess I could call it a "relic" job?

The pups:

bobbylx · 07-07-2011, 10:34 AM

So what exactly are you looking for as far as information is concerned? Looks like you've decoded the serial #. I personally like these and the Special II. I've been hunting craigslist for a low priced one to refinish just for the hell of it, I'd really like to try TV Yellow.

If it were me, I'd sand it down, refinish it, rewire it, replace some hardware, and play the hell out of it. I owned a Special II many years ago and it was a great playing guitar.

DagerOne · 07-07-2011, 10:42 AM

Just sort of curious about the model's history, how much they sold for (I'm guessing not much), etc. It's tough to find any info on it, so I guess they weren't made for very long. I'm certain the pickups, pots, etc were bottom of the barrel...though I've determined that some previous owner did some rewiring for one reason or another, and it has a Switchcraft switch in it, so maybe none of what I'm seeing is stock.

I've considered sanding it down for a refinish, and I may still go that route, but staring at the multi-layered wood in those cavities and a bolt-on neck makes me wonder if it's worth it. Right now, I'm working on getting it playable (replacing the lost tuner bushings, repairing the wiring) and I'll go from there.

RavenMadd · 07-07-2011, 10:44 AM

brother I want to get one in pieces and up grade it as a blues beater for when I play on my house steps .......I played one at GC in nyc ...neck is nice

DagerOne · 07-07-2011, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RavenMadd

brother I want to get one in pieces and up grade it as a blues beater for when I play on my house steps.

That's almost precisely why I bought it. For the price I paid, I figured I couldn't go wrong.

RavenMadd · 07-07-2011, 11:26 AM

dig it .....

standard man · 07-07-2011, 08:12 PM

Thats a pretty sweet idea. lol. I like the plan you got there. I had one when I started, and kinda wish I still had it so I can do this with it. Sweet job dude!

mr_musica · 07-08-2011, 11:43 AM

I have a Special II, the neckplate says "Made in Indonesia" Thought yours should say something but guess not.

The tuners look like mine (People say "if it looks the same, it's the same brand" since they are so "generic").

I've seen a guitar like this with the gibson truss rode cover on eBay. But what intrigues me most is that I have read that the first Special models had single coils. Don't know if that's true but if it is, you have a Special II in your hands.

I would like to refinish a guitar someday but I guess I will never get to do it. But if you do, you could get it nice looking and also playable someday. Go ahead!

DagerOne · 07-08-2011, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr_musica

I've seen a guitar like this with the gibson truss rode cover on eBay. But what intrigues me most is that I have read that the first Special models had single coils. Don't know if that's true but if it is, you have a Special II in your hands.

Possible, but I don't think so. Seems the "Special Model" script on the headstock was unique to these first series guitars. When they rolled out the Special II, the script was eliminated and the truss rod cover said, "Special II" to differentiate them. I couldn't find much mention of these non-IIs, except by way of some folks complaining that their Special IIs didn't have that script, just the TRC and they weren't happy about it.

I have plans for a refinish in the works. Hopefully it turns out well enough to show it off here when it's finished.

mr_musica · 07-08-2011, 12:42 PM

What do you mean with the script? mine has the Special Model script on the headstock and the truss rod says Special II if I remember correctly (not at home right now hehe)

DagerOne · 07-08-2011, 03:43 PM

Know what? You're right...there are Special IIs out there that have both the script, and the "Special II" TRC. Found this pic on the 'net:

Not having a Special II, I couldn't know...I just know I read complaints from someone that was lacking the script, and for all I know he had some sort of anomalous one. *shrugs*

My headstock doesn't have the script anymore, though.

mr_musica · 07-08-2011, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DagerOne

My headstock doesn't have the script anymore, though.

If you have it refinished (or DIY) you cand get a "Les Paul" decal for the headstock hehehe

DagerOne · 07-08-2011, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr_musica

If you have it refinished (or DIY) you cand get a "Les Paul" decal for the headstock hehehe

I'd never dream of having someone refinish a guitar like this. It's going to be strictly DIY, and what I have planned for it, no one's going to mistake it for a typical Les Paul anyway.

Kezia · 07-10-2011, 08:53 PM

I ran across one of these at Guitar Center this weekend

They ARE junk

DagerOne · 07-10-2011, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kezia

I ran across one of these at Guitar Center this weekend

Yeah, there's only so far I can go with this one, that's for sure. That said, there are a few things I've been wanting to try for the first time (as far as refinishing and whatnot), and something like this is the perfect platform, IMO. I mean, it would be great if folks were just handing out guitars for free, but this wasn't too much more than that.

codfish89 · 07-16-2011, 01:04 PM

I modded mine a bit, upgraded the pickups and changed the knobs etc. Sounds much better than it did though!

Zyo117 · 07-16-2011, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codfish89

I modded mine a bit, upgraded the pickups and changed the knobs etc. Sounds much better than it did though!

Oh, I like that one, the body actually looks good now XD. What pups do you have on there?

codfish89 · 07-17-2011, 05:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zyo117

Oh, I like that one, the body actually looks good now XD. What pups do you have on there?

They are called 'hot irons' i think, they were like £40 for the pair from axesrus so theyre nothing special just alot better than the originals!

DagerOne · 07-18-2011, 05:44 PM

I'm going a different direction, but that looks great codfish89!

codfish89 · 07-19-2011, 04:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DagerOne

I'm going a different direction, but that looks great codfish89!

Cheers! Its my first mod im quite pleased with it! i have another les paul with no hardware or electronics i picked up from eBay for £60 i wanna put some gibson burstbucker pros in her

DagerOne · 07-19-2011, 08:34 AM

If my Special had looked as good as yours, I might not have gone the route I'm going...but there were too many deep dings and scratches on the neck that I couldn't sand out to the point of not feeling them, so combined with the rough body it became a refinish project. I've stripped it and it's in primer right now.

codfish89 · 07-19-2011, 08:57 AM

awesome! what colour/finish are you going for? On my headstock it has the script like yours saying 'special model' but says gibson on the trc mines not a special 2 either but ours look different, strange!

DagerOne · 07-19-2011, 06:10 PM

I don't know...I think ours looked pretty similar, before mine was abused. LOL.

I'm looking to replace the tuners, but the stock holes are 8mm in diameter. Most of the options I can find are for 9mm or 10mm. Can anyone point me to a decent tuner that will fit the stock 8mm holes without breaking the bank? Yes, I could just enlarge the holes, but that would prevent me from returning this guitar back to stock, which is an option I want to keep open. I've found things like this but I just don't have much confidence that they're better than the stock tuners at that price, and it would appear those aren't designed for 3x3 setup.

DagerOne · 07-24-2011, 06:18 PM

Tuners are covered. I managed to get my hands on an unused set off of an Epi Jr. Certainly nothing great, but much better than what was on it when I got it, and it's a complete set.

Anyone that might have a high-quality file of the "Special model" script that appears on the Special and Special II model headstocks? The headstock had a massive gouge on its face that went straight into the original logo, and now I'm looking to replace the script after refinishing. I suppose I could put the "Les Paul" script on there, but I'd rather not try to pass it off as something it's not and never will be. At the same time, I don't really want to leave it blank, either.

Other thoughts for what script to put there if I can't come up with "Special"? What about if I were to change the "JUNIOR" part of the Les Paul Junior script to read "SPECIAL"?

DagerOne · 08-16-2011, 08:24 AM

So...which one?

(These are just the logos printed on scrap paper and may not be placed perfectly, but the sizing is correct)

I'm a bit torn. The headstock looks awfully plain to me without something between the tuners, but I don't know that labeling it "Les Paul" is right, either. It IS a single-cut, Les Paul-shaped body loaded with two humbucker-sized pickups and topped with a neck of the appropriate scale and 3x3 headstock. And it is a genuine Epiphone. I mean, I guess that's enough of a Les Paul to label it as such, right? At least as much as a Junior is, I suppose. It doesn't make much difference in the grand scheme of things considering what this guitar is...just curious what others think.

What say the peanut gallery?

07-05-2011, 03:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
DagerOne Bartlett Retrospec Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: IN Posts: 1,660 Thanks: 37 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	Epiphone Les Paul Special Model (not II) Picked up a cheap Epiphone Les Paul-style "Special Model" from Craigslist. Best I can tell, this pre-dates the "Special II" that I see everywhere...and that "II" probably came along because this one sucks. I'm thinking these came as part of "packs" with a cheap amp and accessories? Plywood body, bolt-on neck, three-screw "Gibson" truss rod cover, and in really rough shape. Tuners read "Jin Ho" on their undersides, and they're awful. Bridge is stamped "B-2" on the underside. 22 frets. Pickups are engraved "Epiphone F" (neck) and "Epiphone R" (bridge) I'm not having any luck with the serial number, which along with the "Epiphone" logo is engraved into the neckplate. 099010530 I'm guessing that translates to a 1999 model of some kind, but I can't figure out where it was made, either. Any help? Pictures: Previous owner said he didn't make any changes to it, but electrical tape in the control cavity? Oh, and ZERO strap buttons! Mike's_LP likes this. Last edited by DagerOne; 07-05-2011 at 04:30 PM.

07-05-2011, 04:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
Kezia Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 3,077 Thanks: 66 Thanked 187 Times in 45 Posts	Re: Epiphone Les Paul Special Pics!

07-05-2011, 04:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
Xelestial Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Turku, Finland Posts: 18 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Epiphone Les Paul Special Agreed with A7X fan, we need pics for the analysis.

07-05-2011, 04:28 PM	#4 (permalink)
DagerOne Bartlett Retrospec Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: IN Posts: 1,660 Thanks: 37 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Epiphone Les Paul Special Model (not II) Pics have been added to the original post. Hope they help, and I can take more if needed.

07-05-2011, 08:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
DagerOne Bartlett Retrospec Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: IN Posts: 1,660 Thanks: 37 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Epiphone Les Paul Special Model (not II) Some additional pictures. This is what was under the electrical tape in the control cavity: The ground wire wasn't connected to anything, and it was pinched between the switch and the wood, so clearly the guy had it apart at some point. These are what the tuners look like: Three of the bushings are missing. The dot marker at the third fret is slightly submerged below the surface of the fretboard. It's not terrible, but detectable to my fingers. What's the best way to raise it, or should I just flow some superglue over it to make it flush and call it good? Actually, for all its flaws, if I fix the wiring (which is a mess) and repair or replace the tuners, it's playable.

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07-07-2011, 10:20 AM	#6 (permalink)
DagerOne Bartlett Retrospec Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: IN Posts: 1,660 Thanks: 37 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Epiphone Les Paul Special Model (not II) I guess no one appreciates cheap, beater guitars these days. Snobs. Anyway, someone over on the Epiphone forum suggested the first 0 of the serial number being the letter O, which makes it a Korean-made 1999 Epiphone Special model. Still not much info out there that's easy to find. The release of the Epiphone Special II makes it hard to differentiate all of the data available. I guess I could call it a "relic" job? The pups:

07-07-2011, 10:34 AM	#7 (permalink)
bobbylx Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Holly Springs, NC Posts: 136 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post	Re: Epiphone Les Paul Special Model (not II) So what exactly are you looking for as far as information is concerned? Looks like you've decoded the serial #. I personally like these and the Special II. I've been hunting craigslist for a low priced one to refinish just for the hell of it, I'd really like to try TV Yellow. If it were me, I'd sand it down, refinish it, rewire it, replace some hardware, and play the hell out of it. I owned a Special II many years ago and it was a great playing guitar. __________________ 08 Epi LP Standard Plus Top Trans Blue 00 Alvarez Acoustic 09 Takamine Acoustic

07-07-2011, 10:42 AM	#8 (permalink)
DagerOne Bartlett Retrospec Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: IN Posts: 1,660 Thanks: 37 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Epiphone Les Paul Special Model (not II) Just sort of curious about the model's history, how much they sold for (I'm guessing not much), etc. It's tough to find any info on it, so I guess they weren't made for very long. I'm certain the pickups, pots, etc were bottom of the barrel...though I've determined that some previous owner did some rewiring for one reason or another, and it has a Switchcraft switch in it, so maybe none of what I'm seeing is stock. I've considered sanding it down for a refinish, and I may still go that route, but staring at the multi-layered wood in those cavities and a bolt-on neck makes me wonder if it's worth it. Right now, I'm working on getting it playable (replacing the lost tuner bushings, repairing the wiring) and I'll go from there.

07-07-2011, 10:44 AM	#9 (permalink)
RavenMadd Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: nyc/nj metro area Posts: 899 Thanks: 3 Thanked 5 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Epiphone Les Paul Special Model (not II) brother I want to get one in pieces and up grade it as a blues beater for when I play on my house steps .......I played one at GC in nyc ...neck is nice __________________ Nothing Leads To Nothing!

07-07-2011, 11:26 AM	#11 (permalink)
RavenMadd Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: nyc/nj metro area Posts: 899 Thanks: 3 Thanked 5 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Epiphone Les Paul Special Model (not II) dig it ..... __________________ Nothing Leads To Nothing!

07-07-2011, 08:12 PM	#12 (permalink)
standard man Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: ptown nebraska (proud of it!) Posts: 4,299 Thanks: 271 Thanked 21 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Epiphone Les Paul Special Model (not II) Thats a pretty sweet idea. lol. I like the plan you got there. I had one when I started, and kinda wish I still had it so I can do this with it. Sweet job dude! __________________ 11 Gibson Buckethead LP Studio 00 Gibson Les Paul Standard 84 Gibson Explorer 98 Gibson SG Special (Duncan 59's, Jonesy'd) 10 Epi Prophecy Futura EX 08 Epiphone Elitist Custom (GFS Crunchy Rails) 12 Epi Trad Pro Goldtop 95 Korean Epi Standard 80 Tokai Reborn Old LS50 (Gotoh tuners) 08 Agile Dauntless (EMGs, wired Buckethead style) Schecter C1 Hellraiser A few others Amps -Marshall JCM 900 -Blackheart Little Giant Stack -Mesa Recto cab

07-08-2011, 11:43 AM	#13 (permalink)
mr_musica Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: El Salvador Posts: 66 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Epiphone Les Paul Special Model (not II) I have a Special II, the neckplate says "Made in Indonesia" Thought yours should say something but guess not. The tuners look like mine (People say "if it looks the same, it's the same brand" since they are so "generic"). I've seen a guitar like this with the gibson truss rode cover on eBay. But what intrigues me most is that I have read that the first Special models had single coils. Don't know if that's true but if it is, you have a Special II in your hands. I would like to refinish a guitar someday but I guess I will never get to do it. But if you do, you could get it nice looking and also playable someday. Go ahead! __________________ ----------------------------------------- <List your gear here>

07-08-2011, 12:42 PM	#15 (permalink)
mr_musica Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: El Salvador Posts: 66 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Epiphone Les Paul Special Model (not II) What do you mean with the script? mine has the Special Model script on the headstock and the truss rod says Special II if I remember correctly (not at home right now hehe) __________________ ----------------------------------------- <List your gear here>

07-08-2011, 03:43 PM	#16 (permalink)
DagerOne Bartlett Retrospec Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: IN Posts: 1,660 Thanks: 37 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Epiphone Les Paul Special Model (not II) Know what? You're right...there are Special IIs out there that have both the script, and the "Special II" TRC. Found this pic on the 'net: Not having a Special II, I couldn't know...I just know I read complaints from someone that was lacking the script, and for all I know he had some sort of anomalous one. shrugs My headstock doesn't have the script anymore, though.

07-10-2011, 08:53 PM	#19 (permalink)
Kezia Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 3,077 Thanks: 66 Thanked 187 Times in 45 Posts	Re: Epiphone Les Paul Special Model (not II) I ran across one of these at Guitar Center this weekend They ARE junk

07-16-2011, 01:04 PM	#21 (permalink)
codfish89 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 15 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Epiphone Les Paul Special Model (not II) I modded mine a bit, upgraded the pickups and changed the knobs etc. Sounds much better than it did though! jrnic, Mike's_LP, Hector Arcadius and 1 others like this.

07-18-2011, 05:44 PM	#24 (permalink)
DagerOne Bartlett Retrospec Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: IN Posts: 1,660 Thanks: 37 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Epiphone Les Paul Special Model (not II) I'm going a different direction, but that looks great codfish89!

07-19-2011, 08:34 AM	#26 (permalink)
DagerOne Bartlett Retrospec Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: IN Posts: 1,660 Thanks: 37 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Epiphone Les Paul Special Model (not II) If my Special had looked as good as yours, I might not have gone the route I'm going...but there were too many deep dings and scratches on the neck that I couldn't sand out to the point of not feeling them, so combined with the rough body it became a refinish project. I've stripped it and it's in primer right now.

07-19-2011, 08:57 AM	#27 (permalink)
codfish89 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 15 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Epiphone Les Paul Special Model (not II) awesome! what colour/finish are you going for? On my headstock it has the script like yours saying 'special model' but says gibson on the trc mines not a special 2 either but ours look different, strange!

07-19-2011, 06:10 PM	#28 (permalink)
DagerOne Bartlett Retrospec Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: IN Posts: 1,660 Thanks: 37 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Epiphone Les Paul Special Model (not II) I don't know...I think ours looked pretty similar, before mine was abused. LOL. I'm looking to replace the tuners, but the stock holes are 8mm in diameter. Most of the options I can find are for 9mm or 10mm. Can anyone point me to a decent tuner that will fit the stock 8mm holes without breaking the bank? Yes, I could just enlarge the holes, but that would prevent me from returning this guitar back to stock, which is an option I want to keep open. I've found things like this but I just don't have much confidence that they're better than the stock tuners at that price, and it would appear those aren't designed for 3x3 setup.

07-24-2011, 06:18 PM	#29 (permalink)
DagerOne Bartlett Retrospec Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: IN Posts: 1,660 Thanks: 37 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Epiphone Les Paul Special Model (not II) Tuners are covered. I managed to get my hands on an unused set off of an Epi Jr. Certainly nothing great, but much better than what was on it when I got it, and it's a complete set. Anyone that might have a high-quality file of the "Special model" script that appears on the Special and Special II model headstocks? The headstock had a massive gouge on its face that went straight into the original logo, and now I'm looking to replace the script after refinishing. I suppose I could put the "Les Paul" script on there, but I'd rather not try to pass it off as something it's not and never will be. At the same time, I don't really want to leave it blank, either. Other thoughts for what script to put there if I can't come up with "Special"? What about if I were to change the "JUNIOR" part of the Les Paul Junior script to read "SPECIAL"?

08-16-2011, 08:24 AM	#30 (permalink)
DagerOne Bartlett Retrospec Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: IN Posts: 1,660 Thanks: 37 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Epiphone Les Paul Special Model (not II) So...which one? (These are just the logos printed on scrap paper and may not be placed perfectly, but the sizing is correct) I'm a bit torn. The headstock looks awfully plain to me without something between the tuners, but I don't know that labeling it "Les Paul" is right, either. It IS a single-cut, Les Paul-shaped body loaded with two humbucker-sized pickups and topped with a neck of the appropriate scale and 3x3 headstock. And it is a genuine Epiphone. I mean, I guess that's enough of a Les Paul to label it as such, right? At least as much as a Junior is, I suppose. It doesn't make much difference in the grand scheme of things considering what this guitar is...just curious what others think. What say the peanut gallery?

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