I Turned My $500 Epiphone into a '59 Les Paul - Does It Sound Like a $3000 Guitar?

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I Turned My $500 Epiphone into a '59 Les Paul - Does It Sound Like a $3000 Guitar?

Рет қаралды 4,826

Күн бұрын

I turned my 2008 Epiphone Les Paul into a 1959 Les Paul with some simple mods. Does it have real '59 Les Paul tone though? My project was to give my Epiphone a cleaner tone and open sound. Pickups replaced with Seymour Duncan SH55 Seth Lovers.
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Пікірлер: 55

@drhoward5538 5 ай бұрын

I have that same Epi. Completely stripped electronics and added Gibson PAF uncovered humbuckers with vintage braided wiring . I love

@bobboitt3126 8 ай бұрын

Duncan Seth Lovers are great pickups! Not too hot, not too weak. You sound great.

@YellowJeep 8 ай бұрын

If you're going to buy an Epi LP, definitely go to a store that stocks a bunch of them. I worked at two high-volume guitar stores in LA, and we used to get pallets of them. About 2 or 3 out of every 10 were quite nice. The others had issues, usually fret/neck/fingerboard problems (avoid) or more minor things that could be fixed with a good setup.

@vicjames2743 8 ай бұрын

I bought an epi les paul in 92' that was made in Korea. I'll say it's been my goto guitar for gigging. I did some horse trading and got some PRS custom (not se) pickups. It sounds the best. To me as long as a guutar feels good and sounds good it doesn't matter to me if it's under 500.

@YellowJeep 8 ай бұрын

@@vicjames2743 Absolutely, I bought one of the first-year Mexican Strats somewhere around that time, and I still love it and play it often.

@autk 8 ай бұрын

@@YellowJeep My cousin gave me a Mexican Strat, a "blackie" early 2000, it has a great neck and fretboard and refuses to go out of tune no matter the abuse...changed the pups to emg singles and it's amazing.

@stricknine8623 8 ай бұрын

It sounds exactly like a Les Paul should !! The Seth Lovers are great. I have a set in one of my Lesters. I recommend Tonerider AC2. They are scatter-wound, PAF style, low output pickups..They are the best I've tried out of many while being the least expensive...$70 each. You may want to try for any future projects. They have the same, natural "airyness" with an even slightly sweeter tone while not losing that "bell" quality. Anyway,..Your guitar sounds fantastic as it is !!

@michellewilson8845 8 ай бұрын

Certainly sounds sweet, your good playing has a lot to do with it

@caseysniper308 8 ай бұрын

I bought two recently, the 50's and the 59. Both have gibson pickups and play better than gibsons i have owned. not made in us but sound and play great. got lucky buy at your own risk.

@gwhiz3708 8 ай бұрын

Sounds great Tom!

@GRBAquatics 8 ай бұрын

Very Cool, Thankyou. Sounds Amazing and Awesome Playing as always. Sustain and Openness and clarity of each individual note is outstanding. All the Best. Cheers

@scotttilley9724 8 ай бұрын

Tom you make that Epi sound great! You are one of the best players on YT when it comes to Skynyrd songs. You can play it note for note. My son is a great player too. If you have a minute check him out Matthew Scott. He has a lot of really cool vintage gear and just released a new album. Enjoy your videos!

@eternallygrateful5266 8 ай бұрын

Scotttilley9724. Your son is one of the finest guitar players on all of KZfaq. He coaxes those vintage instruments to get the most awesome tone. You should be proud!!

@mitchchandler8243 8 ай бұрын

Sounds awesome, next put in some good quality CTS pots and 50's style wiring and a good quality nut and tuners and it will be complete.

@brushstroke3733 8 ай бұрын

I'm not sure I'd recommend the 50s style wiring. I recently had my LP worked on because it had a hald dead 498T bridge pickup. I had Seymore Duncan Pearly Gates installed, along with having the orange caps replaced with Paper-In-Oil caps. I also had treble bleeds circuits installed and the wiring changed to 50s style. I love the tones, but I get almost no change in volume or reduction of overdrive with the volume controls until they're down to about level 1 or 2. It's like the pots are linear pots. Maybe they are, but for some reason I thought the pots were audio taper. I'm not sure I could tell the difference from just looking at them. Any thoughts?

@Cosmo__Kramer 8 ай бұрын

I do it with all my guitars..I have epi. Esp..ibanez ..bc rich..I buy the cheaper version..then do some upgrades..I have a Harley Benton lp..that I upgraded everything on it ..pots wiring..tuners ..pups...bridge... absolutely everything..it sounds amazing and out of all my guitars I play it 90% of the time

@davidreineke1758 8 ай бұрын

@@brushstroke3733 Audio pots will have an “A” stamped on them.

@leopoldoojeda7738 5 ай бұрын

Just pickups? Stock pots and wiring?

@sld67869801 4 ай бұрын

@@brushstroke3733CTS pots just aren't nearly as good as they used to be. Mojotone makes some good ones you might want to check out.

@AdamWellsMusic 8 ай бұрын

That fat woody tone is exactly what a LP should sound like.

@cover557 5 ай бұрын

I'm liking what I'm hearing sounds really good

@johnmcisaac8579 8 ай бұрын

Tom this is johnnyo balto md sounds great getting ready to get epiphone 59 les paul standard with the gibson pickups that sounds great keep up the great skynyrd links that you figure out thanks again

@vincentenk4449 8 ай бұрын

If I buy a guitar, it's to PLAY IT not collect it. I have a Ruby Red Metallic Squire Strat that was my 1st guitar after I lost everything & got clean. It went with me on my truck when I went OTR for 3 years. I'm going to throw probably $3-350 worth of mods to it, but she is what she is. She's not going anywhere, all she has to do is reach into my soul.

@jeffro. 8 ай бұрын

@vincentenk4449: Good for you. I'm the same, I buy a guitar to play, not to hang on the wall and show off. If a guitar feels great, and practically plays itself, it'll inspire me. Esp if it has a great sound. I set mine up myself, so I can get it like I want... But honestly sometimes I think it's me that makes it sound good, as I've taken one that I didn't care for the sound and when I got better technique, it sounded great.

@jeffro. 8 ай бұрын

I think it sounds great and looks great! Esp the way you play it! It seems to have good sustain! I like the way it sings when it breaks up, and i think it sounds great when you back off the volume to make it clean. Nice chops, Tom! 👍 👌

@amsterdamoriginalsaustralia 4 ай бұрын

I want to upgrade my Epiphone Les Paul Jr but still be able to change back to original condition 😊 whenever I want. I am happy with it as is but I just need to give it a go. I'll never sell it.

@Indobiker61 8 ай бұрын

I have bought the Epiphone '59. And it take time to get used to the sound after playing mostley strats. But i picked it up after a year and now its my nr 1.

@petemarron6677 8 ай бұрын

Bought my 76' LP standard in 90' for $600. I'm glad I did.

@raymondgower9862 8 ай бұрын

I would love to see a video of you showing how to play Mississippi Queen

@michaelhawkins6149 8 ай бұрын

I was a gigging musician in the late 80s, early 90's and I used an Epi LP with upgraded everything. I never worried about scratches or it getting stolen. 😂

@j.michaelbrown3271 8 ай бұрын

Did you changed the pods as well? My knobs are low riders as well. I'm thinking about doing the same for my EPI LP-1990 Korea. Really great work. Thanks for sharing

@BloodySoup74 8 ай бұрын

Multi Talented Tom!! MTT FTW!!

@HowardBaileyMusic 6 ай бұрын

Now you just need to upgrade to a valve combo 😉

@jamesfyffe2610 8 ай бұрын

Almost, I just need more cowbell ! Not tomorrow…NOW

@edtaubeneck8662 8 ай бұрын

What are the settings on your Katana Tom ? Sounds so good, I bought the Epiphone Firebird and it’s a great guitar. Thank you for all the great southern rock ! It’s what I connect with too.

@antlerking69 8 ай бұрын

Leslie West- It's All About The Tone

@graysaw 8 ай бұрын

Any adjustments to the Boss?

@arcticraven2462 8 ай бұрын

You should listen to Ed King with a LP at Carters Guitars with a trainwreck amp. Sounds similar to your tone. On KZfaq

@jamesseverin 8 ай бұрын

Yes! sounds great! also a great looking guitar! Your playing also is very nice. You kick ass on guitar my friend!

@allboutthemojo 8 ай бұрын

Are the guitar videos filmed after the ⛳️ videos?

@leonthompson8988 8 ай бұрын

Are you playing the katana

@RavenMadd9 8 ай бұрын

Dull the finish.....love seth lovers.....change the tunners ?.......you change the wiring harness?

@jasonwhitaker2430 8 ай бұрын

man if you ever get the chance buy a Gibson.. Nothing wrong with Epiphones with up grades they are awesome but if its in your budget Gibson's are a great guitar . Iv done the Epiphone upgrade thing then bought an 2023 50s lp Gibson and then after selling some but not all of my upgraded Epiphones bought a 2014 lp trad great guitar.. im not saying they are 2 k better price wise but they are better guitars feel tone , everything ..just my opinion, nice chops !

@johnmcisaac8579 8 ай бұрын

Links and riffs

@wyldeslash2003 8 ай бұрын

Sounds poi’fect!

@vincentenk4449 8 ай бұрын

It sounds AWESOME!

@kshillbilly1967 8 ай бұрын

you know what would really make it play and sound like a '59? if it were actually a '59. the '59 was more about the feel of the neck.

@musicproductionvideos5019 8 ай бұрын

A lot of people like to play along when watching guitar videos. You're 50 cents away from 440 here. Makes it very difficult to finish watching.

@carlosixty6876 8 ай бұрын

Great sound but most of the Tone is the guitarist ‘s job

@wildersparks9161 8 ай бұрын

If it’s a $3000 guitar, then sell it for $3000. Odds are you won’t get back what you have into it.

@istvanerdos1549 6 ай бұрын

Now test an original Gibson, and cry

@robschaller9061 8 ай бұрын

I HATE this kind of BS... Epi's are nice guitars. They do not hold their value.

@gnawbabygnaw 8 ай бұрын

If the definition of “value” is whether or not you can sell it for whatever dollars you have in it, maybe, maybe not. If “Value” means whatever changes you make will make you want to play it and keep it, which of course will make you a better player, that’s another definition of value.

@stratolestele7611 3 ай бұрын

"sound like a $3000, guitar.", not worth $3000. You see it's all about reading comprehension - and not being a xxx for no reason whatsoever.