I was so impressed with the early 90's EJ200 I got (despite slight damage in transit) I've been looking for another.
A Vintage Sunburst one that has seen much better days popped up on ebay, so I snapped it up.
It's the same early 90's vintage, but has seen better days. There's been a poor heel repair, some binding on the neck is missing, and the fretboard is coming away from the neck. BUT, it's a gorgeous colour.
For £40, I figure that if it really is beyond playable repair, it's still going to look very pretty hung on the wall.
As you can see, there's plenty missing. I've got some worn gold Grovers on the way I picked up very cheaply...
So, I need to locate a decent nut, bridge pins and bridge. I need some neck binding too. These are the things I'll need at the very least.
I'm planning to remove the rest of the headstock veneer (which is around 2mm thick and seems to come off quite easily), and even consider reshaping the headstock... In the interests of not fooling anyone, if I do add a G logo, I have the idea of adding the Epiphone rounded E logo in the centre of the crown, making it unambiguously an Epi. Could look pretty good, I think.
I'm even tempted to replace the moustache bridge with a more Gibson-y one - they seem reasonably cheap - but how difficult is that to do?
As it's already knackered, it's a good project. I'll post more pics when it arrives... but in the meantime...
All the bridge pins, nuts and bridges seem very cheap on ebay.. anyone have any experience of good ones to get - I don't want to end up with tat.
A TRC with that very wide white border...
Also, I've been searching for a decent J200 scratchplate / pickguard - but I can't find any decent ones!
Let the suggestions, help and inevitable criticism begin!
Comments
The worn gold Grovers have arrived - they'll be perfect.
So, anyone seen a good place for a nice J200 pickguard? Can't find any decent ones around, which seems odd, so I'm clearly not looking in the right places!
So, as far as I can tell (before it arrives and I assess the damage for myself), these are the items needed:
Machine Heads - Got 'em
Binding
Nut - 41mm
Bridge Pins
Compensated Saddle
Scratchplate
I'm sure there's something I've forgotten!
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Thinking about the scratchplate, I was wondering if I should consider engraving one myself. Seems like a nightmare to try and get one that doesn't look like a 99p job from China. I haven't even found someone doing repros at extortionate prices. (Just for reference rather than anything else!)
I've got a cheap rotary tool - but I do know it's a little weak,,, I wonder if it's worth a try. Perhaps even come up with my own design inspired by the original. I like the older design with the border.
My biggest enemy here is my own impatience. I often rush out of excitement, so I'm going to try and temper my own enthusiasm!
I'm not intending to bring this up to 'perfect' condition' - but make it playable and hopefully let it wear it's age and battle scars as sympathetically as possible.
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/229357500/leather-pickguard-for-j200-acoustic?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=j200&ref=sr_gallery_9
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My trading feedback thread
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