Epiphone Les Paul Standard Total Upgrade

[Firedrake]

Hi all,

A few months ago I got myself a Les Paul Standard in Trans Amber, made in Indonesia. The guitar has fantastic build quality and the wood is extremely resonant. I love the way it plays and the neck feels amazing to my hand.
Being the keeper that she is, I decided to get her to the best possible level that she can get, as the funds became gradually available.

So, here are the photos:

Here she is before:

I used the harness from Tundratone, with vitamin q caps and cts pots. Fantastic quality and it made all the difference in the world, it's like the guitar woke up from a slumber. If I had only one upgrade to choose, I would choose replacing the electronics. I really can't stretch how much of a difference it made. The range of tones has increased significantly and you can go from clean to crunch with just a roll of the volume knob. Simply amazing, and Steve's customer support (Tundratone) was top notch.

Before:

After (a bit sloppy, but it was my first soldering job and it works, so yay):

Other items installed:
Gotoh Bridge and Gotoh alluminum tailpiece:

Schaller straplocks and Gibson top hat knobs:

Grover 106C locking tuners, tulip keys and Tusq XL nut:

The frets were polished with steel wool:

The fretboard got a much needed lemon oil treatment. No scraping was needed as it wasn't covered in anything at all. Also, I got a Gibson 57 classic:

The new tuners with the keys replaced:

And here installed (no drilling or anything else needed):

Gibson 57 Classic above, the Epiphone pup below:

Inside the cavity. Very tidy:

There she is now, finished for the moment:

The only thing left is a Gibson Burstbucker 3 when the funds are available, and she will be the best that she can be.

This was the first time that I attempted such a total upgrade and I must say that with a bit of patience, anyone can do it.
Remember, change the electronics of your standard and you will get an amazing guitar.
I love mine.

Keep rockin' !!!!

 

[SJM]

Cute story and the are where?

 

[Firedrake]

hmm, that's weird, I see the photos posted!

 

[Firedrake]

Ok I updated the image links to photobucked ones, hopefully they will show now!

 

[Joe Dirty]

Going through the same on my 01 Classic Quilt Top. Replacing everything. Tuners, nut, pickups, wiring, switch, jack, bridge, tailpiece, and knobs. This will rival or surpass my Tribute+. Good job on all the upgrades.

 

[Hack]

Hell of a job! Well done, you have a beauty that plays like a beast!

I love it!

 

[Firedrake]

Thanks guys! I really love the sounds coming off it right now

 

[Fuelish]

Nice .... I have to say, though, that with some "fine tuning," (adjusting pup heights/pole piece heights) an Epi LP Std can sound just fine as is. Mine's bone stock other than assorted tweaking and speedknobs ... I'm of the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" crowd Am sure I'll eventually upgrade parts, but only when they let me down, as a stock Epi is quite useable in it's own right....not to mention I'm a cheap bassturd

 

[nitrodc]

I'm planning on doing a similar (almost the same ) upgrade with my epi. Did you buy the longer pots or standard length? I heard you have to buy longer ones for carved top LPs.

 

[Firedrake]

Fuelish, I agree that the Standard is a lot of guitar for the money and many good sounds can come out of it. I have to say though that even by just changing the electronics with some quality ones, the guitar shows its true character and a whole bunch of aces up its sleeves.
Nitrodc, I got the standard height pots. Bear in mind that you will need to widen the holes though and also that you will need to put new non-asian measurements knobs

 

[nitrodc]

Nitrodc, I got the standard height pots. Bear in mind that you will need to widen the holes though and also that you will need to put new non-asian measurements knobs

Yeah, I was planning on ordering some pots from stewmac.com and was just unsure of what to get. So I have to carve out some wood to fit the regular length pots?

 

[Firedrake]

It's not so much about the height of the posts, the normal ones will do fine. You will need to widen the holes because the diameter of the aftermarket pots (CTS etc) is wider than the ones used in the Epiphones manufactured overseas. And as a result, new knobs will also be needed.

 

[elche]

Congrats, you did a great job here!!!
What was the total expense?
The build quality of this Indonesian LP looks very good, the shielding paint inside cavities is much less sloppy than my Tribute. What year is the guitar?

 

[SexyGibson]

Beautiful guit !

 

[Firedrake]

Thanks guys! Elche, I got the guitar new for 350 euros. It is a November 2011 construction and the build quality is fantastic. The cost of all the stuff I have put on is roughly about another 350 euros, maybe a bit more.

 

[El Greco]

beautiful guitar and a nice mod result! Congrats my friend! BTW where did you find these keystones?

 

[cheeseflavor]

Hi all,

A few months ago I got myself a Les Paul Standard in Trans Amber, made in Indonesia. The guitar has fantastic build quality and the wood is extremely resonant. I love the way it plays and the neck feels amazing to my hand.
Being the keeper that she is, I decided to get her to the best possible level that she can get, as the funds became gradually available.

Nice job, Alex! Glad it worked out good for you! Thank you for the kind words too!

Steve

 

[Firedrake]

Thank you my compatriot vonserke The keystones I got from wdmusic.co.uk They are grovers as well it seems.
Steve, my pleasure. I am very happy with the product.

 

[Jeffmt]

Nice job but I'm a little confused. Aren't those new Grovers the same tuners that come stock on a standard?

 

[Firedrake]

Hey Jeffmt, nope, these are locking grovers. The stock ones aren't locking.