Gold Top Restoration, Epiphone "56 Reissue.

[TKOjams]

I picked this 2006 '56 up a couple years ago with a broken HS.
I desided to re-neck it rather than just glue the HS back into place.
Installed a new neck, stripped the pukey purple finish of of the back, installed Gibson mini humbuckers, electronice and hardwear, but never completed the job because I was distracted by my first scratch build.

Two years later I'm planning to let it go so it's time to finish the job.

I need to plug the Epi bridge bushing holes and install better Gibson style ones. I also need to level and crown the frets, cut a new bone nut and remove the fake Gibson logo I put on the headstock at the time and replace it with the Epiphone inlay that was on the broken HS to begin with. (I know, I know, don't say it. I was young and foolish).



Here we go...






I don't have any gold paint, and I doubt it would match anyway.
Once the bushings are installed ya can't see it anyway,
but I did seal the open wood with clear lacquer.
...And yes I did seat that bushing all the way down after the picture was taken.



Time to get the correct HS inly set in.



While the inlay sets up, onward!!!

[TheZ]

Nice! I used to own one of those 56' Goldtop models, really nice guitars. Can't wait to see what's next!

[thexmadxtopxhatter]

What neck was that? i wonder how the nitro will react with the poly body

[TKOjams]

Flashback time, Here are some shots of the work I did two years ago.

[Bruiser74]

Good luck with it TKO, i am sure you will
do a great job.
B

[TKOjams]

Originally Posted by thexmadxtopxhatter

What neck was that? i wonder how the nitro will react with the poly body

It's a Bulldog neck.

As long as the base coat is completely cured it will be fine,
BTW I only put the lacquer on the mahogany plugs.

[TKOjams]

A before and after shot of the back.

[Ole'Lefty]

Unless you are going to top of the line(and that can be debated) why not better quality metric? That is what I'm doing on my own Epi Dot Custom Shop. We know Gotoh makes the TP's. I do believe that locking the hardware down ought to help, but the mysteries of tone might include the rattle-factor-who knows?

[TKOjams]

A quick sand off of the epoxy and a light coat of clear just to protect it untill I can finish it up, but for now back to the frets.

[intrique45]

Very nice Love the back color

[TKOjams]

Finished up the frets, finally




'60's profile neck

[SG Lou]

Originally Posted by thexmadxtopxhatter

i wonder how the nitro will react with the poly body

Putting Nitro on Poly will have no ill effect on it.
The term "Poly" that is used by everyone is actually UV cured Polyester Resin.
Once hardened this stuff is almost as tuff as Plexiglass.
Properly prep'd , Poly makes a great base coat for Nitro !

[Shepherd]

Didn't they originally have decals instead of inlays? I'm about to mod the headstock and I'm pretty sure mine has a decal. I've seen MOP stickers but never an inlay.

[TKOjams]

Originally Posted by Shepherd

Didn't they originally have decals instead of inlays? I'm about to mod the headstock and I'm pretty sure mine has a decal. I've seen MOP stickers but never an inlay.

My epi. "inlay" was removed from the original headstock. Not really sure what it was.

[lowatter]

I really like how you approached this TKO and I also love the re-use of the epi logo. Very unique and inventive. Nobody could accuse you of trying to pass an epi as a paul. I think it'll look great with the open-book headstock. Well done sir and "carry-on".

[Archer]

Nice conversion TKO! Totally fine looking guitar you should be proud of.

[TKOjams]

Well, She's found a new home, Kevin from Fuilie Guitar Pickups made me an offer I couldn't refuse. The pups and electronics are staying with me. Everything else will be headed to Michigan.
I just want to finish up the headstock,(I have the time, Kev) and install the new tuners.(should be here Wed.)

[TKOjams]

She's in good hands to say the least.

P90 neck teaser - YouTube

P90 neck teaser - YouTube

[formula73]

Awesome work! I've got one of those that I loaned to my brother a few years back and have regretted it ever since! I can't wait til I get somewhere I can actually see youtube vids. I like the idea of a 60s neck. The fat-ish neck is part of the reason I let it go but couldn't let it GO go.

You know?

[szlash280z]

That's a very classy move to put Epiphone back on the guitar! Did you originally have a Gibson inlaid veneer installed?

I still need to make a guitar with P90's man!

[TKOjams]

Originally Posted by szlash280z

That's a very classy move to put Epiphone back on the guitar! Did you originally have a Gibson inlaid veneer installed?

I still need to make a guitar with P90's man!

When I first did the neck, I used an Gibson decal. I was new to all this fake gibby stuff..



I've since become very anti fake, and had to correct my shamefull decision.
I hope I've redeemed myself.

[szlash280z]

right on man! Same here on the fakes. that's why I put a Thai name on my Bulldog Les Paul instead. Though I did put the Gibson headstock shape.

[TKOjams]

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