So, to mod or not to mod….that is the question!
I have got an Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro (I know, don’t shoot me.. I don’t have the bank balance or the playing ability to justify a Gibson one!!). Basically it is a very nice guitar and has been well received by others who have played it. It’s got the Epiphone Probucker pickups that it was built with and the push/pull coil splitting speed knobs on it. However I do find sometimes that it sounds slightly muddy and I am therefore considering changing the pickups on it and also removing the coil splitting as I never use it. If I did that I would probably change the speed knobs for the more traditional witches hat style ones. I have got a very good local guitar tech who would do the work for me for a very reasonable price.
Basically, I am looking for views and opinions on modding my guitar like this. I have never done anything like this before so any help and advice would be much appreciated. I am not worried about the expense of doing it vs the value of the guitar as I have no plans to sell it. It was my first reasonable guitar and I am emotionally connected to it. I would just like it to be the best that it can be!
Thanks very much!
Comments
If they only sound muddy occasionally I'd probably suggest a loom swap first - that might well be enough to get you where you want to be. You can always keep the old parts to be refitted in case you ever do sell.
*EDIT: thinking about it I have 1 out of 16 that is stock or complete custom built...
And now that I've read the post....
MOD!
I mod just about everything I've owned.
I’m so bored I might as well be listening to Pink Floyd
But before you even do that, adjust the pickup heights. Dropping the bass side down a (very) little might fix it.
Don't talk politics and don't throw stones. Your royal highnesses.
I didn't mod my Marleaux either - it was perfect, other than the weight.
Everything else though - fair game.
I’m so bored I might as well be listening to Pink Floyd
With price inflation in general, and Epiphone in particular, modding a guitar you own and love beats buying a new guitar anyday, and you get to mod it to your taste. Properly cut nut and fretworks can also do wonders.
I have a modded Mexican stratocaster, and the only thing stock is the body, neck and tuners. It's my only guitar and the only guitar I will never sell. It cost me a total of £1250, but when the Mccready model goes for £1600 and regular road worns go for over £1k it's a non issue.
https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/202071/nco
it really can help with the muddy feel of stock pickups, coupled with adjusting the pickup heights (lower CAN be much better)
only after these tweaks would I consider a pickup change
http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/61134/sarge/p1
I would much rather have a guitar sound right at the time of purchase - no speculative question marks on trying to get it right (it is very easy to sink £££ buying different pickups and tech time looking to achieve something that may be in your head and not actually exist).
Bit of a lame approach for a place such as this !
Most of the rest is fine - and unless irreversible can be seen as a longer game of tweaks.
EMG-60X - nice range of Jazz, Blues and Rawk sounds.
EMG-H - Nice, clear Stratty sound, low output, would benefit from an -SPC midrange booster.
BRIDGE POSITION
EMG-81X - the clichéed Rawk lead guitarist sounds that you would expect.
EMG-85X - similar output but smoother overall tone.
YET TO BE TESTED
SD Blackouts For Metal - the neck position regular Blackouts model is plenty loud when adjusted such that it barely sits above the mounting surround. The BFM is going to be insane.
Compared to the stock pickups, any of those listed above sound indisputably professional.
The Ibanez Quantum pickups aren't actually bad. They are just in the wrong host guitar.