Input needed to modify/upgrade Epiphone Les Paul Standard Flake Top

[breakerbreaker]

Hey guys, I recently purchased this Epiphone LP Blue Flake Top, this one was made in 2000 (it isn't one of those new flake tops that are out now, has much more "sparkle" to it). It's a beautiful guitar but I think it needs a few changes, and I would love to hear your suggestions.

I took some pictures....it's actually a darker blue color than it appears in the pics and the trim is a cream color (it looks white in the pics).







I'm debating whether or not to put a pickguard on it or just leave it be (if I get one, I was thinking a cream-colored pickguard) Also, I'm not crazy about the gold knobs or tuners....any suggestions on new knobs/tuners? The pickups sound kind of muddy to me, so I was thinking that down the road I should replace them...maybe EMG's or Dimarzio Tone Zones.

Any input would be appreciated!

[Benniator]

You could add some cream speed knobs. Make sure you get metric knobs so they'll fit.



Most aftermarket pickups will be better quality than your stock pickups, so your decision should be purely based on what type of sound you want to achieve.

And nice sparkly LP you've got there.

[lastyesterday]

Love the cream knob idea. You can also take the selector ring off, and maybe change the p.u rings to black. Oh and if you can afford it, install some EMG's

[lastyesterday]

Oh and i forgot to mention, GROVER TUNERS(chrome). They are great, and better looking than the stock tulip ones.

[breakerbreaker]

great idea on the cream speed knobs.....I just ordered a set!
I'm going to keep the cream-colored selector & pickup rings for the sake of consistency. The chrome Grover tuners will definitely be the next addition.

[The Guitarist]

imo the tulips look great, adds a bit more class to the guitar, but if you like the chrome grovers , then go for it! Cream speed knobs, great idea BTW!

[Akahito]

Sand it down and refinish it.

[lastyesterday]

Originally Posted by Akahito

Sand it down and refinish it.

Thats not a bad idea Akahito, are you planning to refinish another les paul sometime? I'd defanetly love to see it, and so would everyone on MPL forums.

[dennistruckdriver]

Originally Posted by breakerbreaker

....The pickups sound kind of muddy to me....Any input would be appreciated!

Here we go again!
Dude that's a nice looking guitar. Leave it alone.
Muddy pickups? Do you just want to switch pickups for the sake of doing it? What amp do you play through? That may be your 'mud'.

[lastyesterday]

Oh and breaker, please please consider getting:

http://www.musicexpress.com.au/ICimages/J6547.jpg Makes the frets shine just like using 0000 steel wool.

and

http://www.blind-summit.co.uk/review...a 65 Lemon Oil , makes the fretboard look AMAZING



..and this won't hurt either

http://www.blind-summit.co.uk/review...lish & Cleaner

[Akahito]

Originally Posted by lastyesterday

Thats not a bad idea Akahito, are you planning to refinish another les paul sometime? I'd defanetly love to see it, and so would everyone on MPL forums.

If I find some for cheap to do it on, sure why not. Though I'm planning on getting an archtop next.

[lastyesterday]

Originally Posted by Akahito

If I find some for cheap to do it on, sure why not. Though I'm planning on getting an archtop next.

Archtop Green Machine

[Akahito]

Originally Posted by lastyesterday

Archtop Green Machine

It's gonna be orange with a black stripe though.

[04renostar]

Originally Posted by breakerbreaker

Hey guys, I recently purchased this Epiphone LP Blue Flake Top, this one was made in 2000 (it isn't one of those new flake tops that are out now, has much more "sparkle" to it). It's a beautiful guitar but I think it needs a few changes, and I would love to hear your suggestions....


Any input would be appreciated!

Hmmmm... I kinda like it just like it is, the cream speed knobs will be a nice add, but if you need to do more might i suggest you trade it for a new Alpine White studio. I can help with that if you need.

[breakerbreaker]

why would I trade in a LP standard for a studio...?

As far as the pickups, they are just kind of "lackluster" IMHO. I'm playing it through a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier by the way, and I'm very adept at getting great tones out the amp. At higher gain levels, I don't feel like their is much clarity and too much feedback. I would like to get a tighter more metallic sound, thinking of maybe putting in an EMG85 in the bridge and EMG60 in the neck position...but I'm going to stick w/ the current PUP setup and mess around with it a bit more before I fork over the $$$.

[redcoats1976]

yes,it looked just like that but it had a cream pickguard.i saw one at the last orlando guitar show so they are still out there.the guy had bought it off ebay and had one of each of the other colors at home.i believe red and silver were also made.i wouldnt refinish it if i were you...oh yeh,his was not for sale.i did come home with an epi boneyard so i left happy.

[breakerbreaker]

I know these were supposed to be "Limited Edition" but does anyone know how many were actually made? My serial # is 0176

[redcoats1976]

i dont think that information is readily available,i have wondered that about my boneyard too...

[City Static]

Cream speed knobs would look great. A pick guard might be pretty cool too.
Those two minor changes would make a huge difference.

On another note, the sparkles on that guitar looks like a cluster galaxy.

[04renostar]

Originally Posted by breakerbreaker

why would I trade in a LP standard for a studio...?
.

ah.... it was a joke!

[Jayman]

That's my 1996 Epiphone Blue Sparkle. I have put Sperzal Locking Tuners on it to keep it in tune. The pickups are PRS Dragon II's, which are pretty hot but sound amazing. The knobs are just clear speed knobs. For some reason my geetar looks a little lighter in color than yours...

[dennistruckdriver]

Originally Posted by breakerbreaker

....I'm playing it through a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier....

It ain't your amp, then!

Originally Posted by breakerbreaker

I know these were supposed to be "Limited Edition" but does anyone know how many were actually made....

"Limited Edition" in Epiphone-speak means "Think we can sell ten thousand?"

[guitarsmark]

In regards to the tuners, I have the grover cream tulips in my goldtop.... I think it would match, and give you the grover quality if you wanted a consistent colour.

[lowe]

dont put a pickguard on it

[Sinmastah]

Originally Posted by lastyesterday

Oh and i forgot to mention, GROVER TUNERS(chrome). They are great, and better looking than the stock tulip ones.

Ewww, why put Kidney Beans on your guitar? Also they will make your guitar heavier btw.

[breakerbreaker]

Jayman, nice guitar! Mine is definitely a darker blue color than yours, and is darker in real life than in the picture. In fact, unless there is a direct light shining on it, you can't really even tell it has a flake top, just looks like a solid dark blue color...

As far as the knobs, I got a cheap set of cream-colored knobs..they look nice but now the volume is cutting out/getting messed up with certain pickup settings, not sure why this is....

[breakerbreaker]

also, the reason I ask how many were made is because I rarely see these flake-tops for sale on ebay, music stores, online, etc. And the few times I've seen them for sale, it is always the silver flake top (I almost never see the other colored flakes like blue, purple, etc on sale)

[breakerbreaker]

haha I guess I spoke too soon....there are 6 different colored flake tops on ebay right now:

epiphone SPARKLE, Musical Instruments items on eBay.com

The blue one looks identical to Jayman's....I didn't realize there were variations of the blue color for the flake-top (my darker blue vs the other lighter blue).

[lowe]

Originally Posted by breakerbreaker

why would I trade in a LP standard for a studio...?

As far as the pickups, they are just kind of "lackluster" IMHO. I'm playing it through a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier by the way, and I'm very adept at getting great tones out the amp. At higher gain levels, I don't feel like their is much clarity and too much feedback. I would like to get a tighter more metallic sound, thinking of maybe putting in an EMG85 in the bridge and EMG60 in the neck position...but I'm going to stick w/ the current PUP setup and mess around with it a bit more before I fork over the $$$.

cause its an epi, then a gibson....?

[Jayman]

Yep. Mine has gotten lighter with time though... Where the pickguard used to be and the poker chip used to be are a tad bit darker than the rest of it. Mine is a 1996 so its 13 years old.