Refinished Epiphone LP Custom

Re:Refinished Epiphone LP Custom (DerGeist)

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:44:23 GMT

And a big ugly picture of Ace's face on its headstock. Oh well, its only 3 grand.

The Alpine white studio also has an ebony fretboard. I actually quite like that one. Good pickups and the classiest looking studio.

For my money, i think the custom VOS serious is a much better choice than the straight custom series. But I suppose it comes down to whether you want the original specs from a specific year or the modern improvements. Also, not chambering on the VOS series.

Re:Refinished Epiphone LP Custom (Jessie Sammler)

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:46:54 GMT

Come to think of it, there is also the Ace Frehley signature Les Paul, which has three pickups and is (kind of) a Custom.

Re:Refinished Epiphone LP Custom (Tap)

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:13:02 GMT

Jessie,
Yeah, I stand corrected, thanks. My brother has one purchased custom from Gibson set up like Frampton's. Ran into some troubles with the way it was to be setup but he finally found the right tech at Gibson to complete the job correctly. He had Peter sign his guitar as well.

-TAP-

Re:Refinished Epiphone LP Custom (Jessie Sammler)

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:44:34 GMT

No, among Customs, only the "Black Beauty" models had three pickups. Generally, a Custom just has more binding (five-ply on the body), gold hardware, and block inlays on the fretboard. Among Gibson models, the Custom also has an ebony fretboard.

Re:Refinished Epiphone LP Custom (Tap)

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:08:58 GMT

HMMMM.....
I bought an old japanese epiphone electric at a garage sale for $25 . I really liked it a lot. This post reminded me of it, so I had to go look it up. It must have been a crestwood. Very Unique Solidbody... Sounded and played kind of like an SG but not nearly as heavy as my Brothers SG-special. What a really nice instrument it was, and unique. My brother has an old Epiphone Acoustic guitar which sounds just phenomenal. Good luck with your Custom. I thought the Custom's had three pickups?

-TAP-

Re:Refinished Epiphone LP Custom (batsbrew)

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:22:05 GMT

yeah!

Re:Refinished Epiphone LP Custom (Jessie Sammler)

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:06:30 GMT

Re:Refinished Epiphone LP Custom (batsbrew)

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:53:52 GMT

hehe

it's kinda like what zappa said....

"shut up and play yer guitar"

Re:Refinished Epiphone LP Custom (Jessie Sammler)

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:01:07 GMT

Now that I've had this thing strung up and playable for a few days, I've gotta say...

Fat Albert on a pogo stick, it's awesome. It's what I always thought a Les Paul should sound like. It now makes most of my other guitars sound like lifeless pieces of crap by comparison. And isn't that what we guitarists want, anyway -- to own over a dozen pieces of crap that we no longer want to play?

Re:Refinished Epiphone LP Custom (Jessie Sammler)

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:57:56 GMT

The best forum conversation I've ever had went something like this:

Me: I like Gibsons better than Epiphones. I think they're worth the extra money.

OP: Well I've played a lot of junk Gibsons and a lot of great Epiphones. A great player with an Epiphone will sound better than a poor player with a Gibson.

Me: I've played a lot of junk Epiphones and a lot of great Gibsons. A great player with a good Gibson will sound better than either one of the others.

OP: But a great player with an Epiphone will sound better than a poor player with a Gibson.

Me: Poor player or not, I'd rather have a good Gibson than a good Epiphone.

OP: But I've played some great Epiphones and some really bad Gibsons.

Etc., etc., etc.

Re:Refinished Epiphone LP Custom (batsbrew)

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:31:49 GMT

i've played some crap gibsons.

i've played some crap epi's.

same for good......

Re:Refinished Epiphone LP Custom (Jessie Sammler)

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:59:03 GMT

I think the best choice depends on whether you have more money or time. I've sunk a lot of both into this Epiphone, and frankly, I'd rather be playing than wearing a mask and holding a sanding block. I've got three American guitars and an Ibanez JEM, and all of them were worth every penny. No more cheap guitars for Jessie.

Re:Refinished Epiphone LP Custom (MemphisJo)

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:45:41 GMT

I don't know, I think Gibson are just as hit and miss as Epiphone and a decent Epiphone can be worked on to play and sound as good as a Gibson. A lot of famous artists have used Epi to record their first albums with (and even after) what the signal goes through next has a huge amount to do with the sound anyways. Spend the extra on a decent half stack (there is NO substitute for a 4x12, IMHO no amount of modeling in the world can reproduce that sound 'cos it's as much a feel as a sound)

Many people don't know that many of Slash's guitars that say Gibson on them are actually made by a ghost builder for him. The one he used for recording the Appetite for Destruction album was not made by Gibson either, along with many of his 'Gibson looking' vintage replicas (59's etc.) In fact a lot of famous artists use ghost builders because they are not satisfied with stock quality.

It's kinda ironic that Gibson was about to go out of business and Slash saved them with a replica.

I did like the Garry Moore signature, I should have got one, they were a bargain. Can't find one for love nor money now (if you can they're probably 2K+) I like the DC Pro (another bargain) with it's chrome hardware and no binding on the neck but sadly they stopped production.

Re:Refinished Epiphone LP Custom (Jessie Sammler)

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:24:29 GMT

I've played only a handful of Gibson Les Pauls, but I think they were all awesome. I think they're better enough than an Epiphone to justify the price.

However, when I bought my Epi, I just didn't have Gibson money. It was my first guitar that wasn't a Strat or a Superstrat. The headstock, the set neck, the carved top, the hardware... it was all magical. The magic of a good Gibson just slaughters it, though. My refinished Epilady can only hope to capture a fraction of the mojo of a real Les Paul.

I still think they're nice if you're on a budget, but if you've got Gibson money and you're looking for a Les Paul, it's a no-brainer.

Re:Refinished Epiphone LP Custom (MemphisJo)

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:02:23 GMT

I think you have got more patience than you give yourself credit for, it looks great, and at the end of the day if it sounds better then that is what you need, not re-sale value!

I think Bats suggestion is a good one.

Epi LP's are highly underrated (although some are not cheap anymore).

I've wanted to get the black out of my Jackson KE2's neck for years now and have it natural tung oiled but would not have the courage to do it myself.

I had a 2001 LP plus that had black back sides and neck (not poly - I don't know how Gibson does their black finish) and I hated it. I think that you have nicer binding on your neck than a Gibson (I actually don't like the binding on Les Paul necks - I prefer that they have none).

You can look forward to the day, after you have had your first few mega hits, when Gibson will approach you asking if they can do the Jessie Sammler signature Paul.

Re:Refinished Epiphone LP Custom (batsbrew)

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:49:56 GMT

way better!!

i think that honey color looks so much better than the original....
wow.

you might want to dig out the old archives, and look up Mick Ronson.

he did the same thing, to a gibson.

you could always save up a little cash, take it to a luthier to polish it out, and add a very thin layer of clear nitro over it, just to keep the wood calm.

Re:Refinished Epiphone LP Custom (guitardog247)

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:33:27 GMT

Wow, that's really good work. What's ghetto about it?
I think it looks killer.
I use to have a Les Paul studio, it had a yellow/gold burst just like that. Your guitar reminds me of it. Damn, I miss that guitar. Don't know why I sold it.

Re:Refinished Epiphone LP Custom (Jessie Sammler)

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:09:03 GMT

I believe strongly in bone nuts for guitars that don't have locking trems. I had this one done over the summer.

Re:Refinished Epiphone LP Custom (spacey)

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:06:20 GMT

Jessie Sammler

I'm really enjoying this thing. It looks cool, and it sounds the way it looks. It's more open, brighter, woodier, more vibrant. It can scream, purr, lilt, growl, chunk, roar, twang, etc.

It reminds my of the USA Les Pauls that I've played. It's not all there, of course, but it's just about as close as I can take it. The only things left would be the capacitors, the hardware, and the finish on the top. I love the top enough that I won't touch it unless I find the tone to be lacking, which I'm not. The capacitors are a fairly easy change, but I don't think there's anything wrong with what I've got in there. The bridge is going to be a TonePros soon. That should do it.

Jessie it looks very cool. Of course the enjoyment and sounds are more important IMO.
The binding looks good so you avoided a major mistake many make IF you used a chemical stripper.
Just curious about the nut..I may have missed mention of...is it bone? I'd think Epiphone used plastic but I don't know.

Re:Refinished Epiphone LP Custom (Jessie Sammler)

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:17:38 GMT

Thanks, Doc. It's finally got the sound I've been after, too.

Re:Refinished Epiphone LP Custom (Doc_Hollingsworth)

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:38:05 GMT

Jessie. It looks nicer this way.

Re:Refinished Epiphone LP Custom (Mully)

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:49:35 GMT

Looks good.. really like the almost tiger striping in the wood.

Connecting with your instrument to get it to sing is a big thing so kudos to you I say!

Cheers and thanks for the share.

Edited to make sure the statement(s) read in the intended context after rereading. " />

Re:Refinished Epiphone LP Custom (Jessie Sammler)

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:28:12 GMT

I'm really enjoying this thing. It looks cool, and it sounds the way it looks. It's more open, brighter, woodier, more vibrant. It can scream, purr, lilt, growl, chunk, roar, twang, etc.

It reminds my of the USA Les Pauls that I've played. It's not all there, of course, but it's just about as close as I can take it. The only things left would be the capacitors, the hardware, and the finish on the top. I love the top enough that I won't touch it unless I find the tone to be lacking, which I'm not. The capacitors are a fairly easy change, but I don't think there's anything wrong with what I've got in there. The bridge is going to be a TonePros soon. That should do it.

Re:Refinished Epiphone LP Custom (Jessie Sammler)

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:20:20 GMT

Mooch4056

hmm never mind -- it was a lame joke anyway

I thought it was a good joke.

Re:Refinished Epiphone LP Custom (Jonbouy)

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:17:14 GMT

That looks like a ton of hard work.

I always get one of my people to do my more tedious D.I.Y. tasks.

I still get the satisfaction of it being my idea and the having end product and they get the pleasure of choking up gobs of polyurethane dust.

Re:Refinished Epiphone LP Custom (Mooch4056)

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:07:04 GMT

hmm never mind -- it was a lame joke anyway

Re:Refinished Epiphone LP Custom (Jessie Sammler)

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:12:33 GMT

bdickens

Doesn't look too ghetto to me. Maybe the pics don't do it justice? " />

Well, it didn't exactly zoom in on the sides of the bindings, where the sanding can be uneven and I slopped some stain on it here and there. I'm waiting for the finishing oil to dry completely, then I'll tape off the wood and sand/scrape the bindings clean again, them smooth them out where they need it.

For right now, though, I'm just glad to have it up and playing again. " />

Re:Refinished Epiphone LP Custom (Jessie Sammler)

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:09:45 GMT

Ah, the Custom 5 and the Custom. Two very fine pickups. I have a TB5 in the bridge of a Jackson Dinky, and it's a great all-around metal pickup. The SH14 is highly regarded over at the forum; they seem to like it a lot better than the JB for an Alnico 5 bridge humbucker, espcially in a Les Paul.

Re:Refinished Epiphone LP Custom (CreatingNoise)

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:01:00 GMT

I can't recall exactly but I think it was the SH14 or SH5? The local guitar dude (technical description of his position) recommended it for that particular guitar. I was immediately pleased with it (much more output than the stock pickup). I've since picked up two more guitars that I play all the time so the Kramer is case ridden for now.

Re:Refinished Epiphone LP Custom (bdickens)

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:47:16 GMT

Doesn't look too ghetto to me. Maybe the pics don't do it justice? " />