NGD Epiphone LP Gothic

[Zarg]

Hey!

I got rid of the black fake Epi Standard that I had and got myself something even more amazing to replace it - a 2008 Epiphone Les Paul Gothic.

The Top has been polished and it has been played and loved (but not looked after very well) but the frets are in excellent condition and it plays and feels wonderful. I already took some pics at work because I'm so excited!

I will take it home tonight, give it a good clean, new strings, oil the fretboard and mod it! My favorite aftermarket PU, the DiMarzio Dominion will go in the Bridge and the knobs will most likely get replaced. I love the everything black look on these guitars and I got this for a very good price used.

cheers!

 

[AK Epi Player]

Congrats and HNGD!

These Goth models get overlooked all the time because, (IMO) they lack the "flair" of your standard LP, and can often be found much cheaper as a result!
(I scored a MIJ version last year for around $400).

Looking forward to more pics when you get done with your clean-up work!

 

[paruwi]

Happy New Epi Gothic Day



Glad the deal worked for you

 

[Zarg]

Thank you all so much!

I've never seen this Pickup before, do any of you know more information about this? Is it good, should I replace it?

 

[paruwi]

Thank you all so much!

I've never seen this Pickup before, do any of you know more information about this? Is it good, should I replace it?

should have 'regular' Alnico classic pickups...

http://www.epiphonewiki.com/index.php/Goth_Series#Goth_Les_Paul_Studio

let your ears decide if they needed to be changed

 

[Zarg]

Just got done cleaning it, putting new strings on and the DiMarzio. She plays amazing! And I changed the Pick-Up, those that come with it aren't really good, in my opionion.
The rosewood on the fretboard looks really nice.

I'll probably change the knobs to some black metal ones like on the prophecy LP's but without the ugly top part, just metal - like the guitar.

Enjoy the pictures I shot really quick, I'll continue tomorrow with black Schaller straplocks.

cheers!

 

[Zarg]

I have been playing it for a few hours now and something seems off. even with the tone knob on 10 it sounds like the tone is on 0, it's muffled and dark (get it, because its dark...) it has some 500k pots in it. Should I swap the whole electronics or just the tone pots or the capacitors or the volume pots to get rid of this?
cheers

 

[dubster82]

Do you notice a change when you turn the knob?

 

[Zarg]

Do you notice a change when you turn the knob?

yes, it still appears to work. I will most likely redo the complete wiring once I'm done stripping it (the paint is in really bad shape)

 

[dubster82]

Oh wow. What's the plans? Just repaint it Matt black or do something completely custom with it?

 

[Zarg]

Oh wow. What's the plans? Just repaint it Matt black or do something completely custom with it?

I want to leave it natural (finished with tru oil or similiar) front and back, maybe back of the neck as well.

 

[Zarg]

I hope it's alright if I post my progress updates here instead of in the custom shop...
Caution: this will be pic heavy, but I'm sure you guys won't mind

I got a powersander from a friend, finally. but.... it's flat.... which is awesome for the back, I was doing great... but the top was pretty difficult to say the least.

I did the best job I could without ****ing up the wood too much, a few times I sanded down trough the second poly layer but I'm really happy with how it came out... I mean this is the first time I've done such a thing to a guitar, the most action I've gotten so far was changing pots/pickups/tuners etc.

It's very funny because even the veneer on the top is multipiece.... haha well I don't care but it's funny.... I was honestly kinda surprised to find the top and the back covered with a veneer.... I mean it's a cheap epiphone.... who knows what mystery wood you're getting!

and look at that neck joint .... seems very weird to me, never seen that. the guitar is doing fine and plays good too, again I'm not too worried by this.

Here's the pics for you folks:

 

[ScottMarlowe]

Thank you all so much!

I've never seen this Pickup before, do any of you know more information about this? Is it good, should I replace it?

Pretty sure that's a 700T/650R set

 

[Zarg]

Pretty sure that's a 700T/650R set

I remember them sounding better.
The bridge was: HOTHB8B
The neck: HB6N

 

[Zarg]

Zarg.... You gotta pull those post sockets (I forgot what they're called).

It's way easier to pull them than to work around them. All you need is a few washers, to do the job.

There's bunches of tips on cheap ways to pull them.


That's coming along nice. I'm glad you left the black in the dents on the back, as opposed to getting in there with sandpaper. Some acetone might clean them up, or you might just want to leave it like that.

I will do some research today to pull the bushings, I plan on finishing it up on the weekend. (coulnd't work yesterday because of band practice)

Thank you!
yes I'm being very careful but still around the bottom edge, close to the main cavity I sanded a little bit too deep... but I'm not too worried about it. I might leave it... we'll see.

 

[Zarg]

sorry, double post

 

[Zarg]

Update!

I pulled the tailpiece bushings super easy with a trick I found online, but I can't figure out how to get the bridge ones out, I put a lot of force into it but no results.

The top is now almost done too, getting the stuff right at the neck is pretty tedious but I should be done tomorrow.


listening to the new In Flames tracks made the work go by quickly.

cheers!

 

[Zarg]

I'm basically done now!

After all the black was sanded away (there's still some black in the dents, I will remove that with chemical stripper later on) I wet sanded it with fine grit to get it smooth, although I was aiming for a satin finish. Oiled it up with a couple coats and waited for it to dry. Put everything back on it... damn, it's looks much better than I expected.

It feels great and looks great and I'm really happy with it. Considering it was the first time I did something like that, I'm really happy with it.

here's the pics for all you guys, hope you enjoy!

 

[Zarg]

That's a great looking unique guitar.

I'd leave the black in the dents. It gives it a cool vibe, with the all-black hardware.

I see you decided to leave the neck finished. I've found Scothbrite scrubbing pads do a good job of getting a nice satin feel to the backs of neck, without messing too much with the finish. It will dull the finish, though.


Again, great look. Of course it sounds better this way, too, right?

thank you so much! I love unique looking les pauls, and to be honest it looks great while being unique.

I think it's kinda cool like it is right now, I don't like when everything is too flawless anyways.

Since everything took quite a while longer than planned, I left the neck like it is for now. Stock, the back is already satin (like the whole studio gothic is) but a lot of playing will make it semi glossy again. Steel wool also works for this application.

It adds to the tone honestly, it still has the problem that everything sounds dark and dull, like the tone knob is turned down a lot already, even if its on 10, even when the tone circuit is removed! Maybe its the volume pots, or the output jack... I will investigate and order new pots soon.

again, thank you. I'm glad with how it came out, maybe this thread can be help to some forum members

have a great weekend, cheers

 

[dubster82]

Nice!