Giving My Old Epiphone a $2,000 Overhaul!

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🐕 Episode Guide:
0:00 - Intro - Check Links in the Description
0:16 - About My Old Silverburst Custom
1:32 - What We're Going to Do
2:08 - Off to Sweetwater!
2:30 - Seeing the Results
3:23 - Inside Look / Modifications
16:14 - Buckethead Tones
16:59 - Clean Tones
19:31 - Dirty Tones
21:10 - Final Thoughts
23:47 - What to Watch Next!
🎞️ Videos Mentioned:
0:01 Trogly 2020 Year End Collection
• The Collection | Trogl...
0:23 Excel Stratocaster Copy
• My Very First Guitar |...
0:51 2020 Adam Jones Signature 1979 Les Paul Custom Silverburst
• The Ultimate Compariso...
1:01 2013 Gibson Les Paul Custom Silverburst
• My First Gibson Guitar...
3:48 2020 Epiphone Les Paul Modern Faded Pelham Blue
• Is It the Best New Epi...
12:15 2011 Gibson Buckethead Signature Les Paul Studio
• What Do the Buttons Do...
21:23 Gibson Les Paul 60s AAA Flame Top Lemonburst
• Is the 60s Standard St...
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About 8 years ago, I tore apart my first really good guitar, a 2008 Epiphone Les Paul Custom, with the hopes of 80s-a-fying it with Tim Shaw PAFs and wiring harness. Unfortunately, I ran into some issues with the vintage Gibson parts not fitting into the metric guitar so it just sat as a husk for nearly a decade. Sweetwater reached out and wanted to do a fun project with me that showcases their Techs skills and instead of souping up a Gibson Les Paul - I thought it would be more fun to breathe life into this ol' gal. What does $2,000 in professional upgrades look like on an Epiphone? Let's find out!
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[@Trog]

Sweetwater made this Project Happen - Thank you Repair Team! 🍭Talk To Them About a Project ➡sweetwater.sjv.io/9gznM0 🍭Join Their Giveaways here ➡sweetwater.sjv.io/5gZyM9 🍭Shop Sweetwater + Support the Show➡ sweetwater.sjv.io/eKEerD

[@hkguitar1984]

Congrats Austin, so cool that you were able to restore your old #1. Great job and a big thanks to Sweetwater and Steve for fixing you up.

[@clarkbabin9799]

Glad to see you've got your guitar back and ready to rock with your own chosen specifications. Who knows maybe Epiphone ( or possibly Gibson) might get inspired to do a signature in your name from it. That would be so cool. I had a hand in wiring a light board way back in the the 70s when I was just a teen. The owner of the music company wanted to buy the cheapest momentary switches and intensity/rotary on / off switches. I made him realize that first of all the lighting was going to be a 110 volt board. He thought he could get away with switches rated like the one you showed us you had. It ended up costing about $2k and we had it breakered but we never had an issue running all the lights we had to plug in. We got a lot of use from that set up in the years after and it resulted in not only repeat gigs but many new jobs as well. I suppose you could call your guitar a mut or a half breed being it started out aa a decent Epiphone and You got the Gibson upgrades on it. Would've been cool too if they could've put your logo somewhere either on the back of the neck or if it could've been on them tuners. Maybe both. I have some of the newer Elixirs on my Trad Pro III. and on on of my acoustics. Otherwise I typically use Daddarios on most every guitar except my acoustic guitars which I usually use Ernie Ball strings on. You used to be able to buy Daddarios at best buy for $3 to $4 a set. Haven't seen them in there in awhile. Sounds great with them 57 s in there. The Seymour Duncans are great but the neck tends to have a a little bite unless you buy something more in a jazz tone. The guitar has a good classic rock sound in all positions I've heard you use it in with the addition of more up to date options . If you think about it you did the same thing a lot of car enthusiasts do by turning it into a sleeper. Maybe Sweetwater could team up with you to do a different kind of giveaway where the do a good upgrade on someone's guitar that they already have.

[@CorkElectric40]

Yes.....

[@CorkElectric40]

Yes

[@CorkElectric40]

Yes.

[@sleevelessace]

i love how you gave your first guitar this crazy huge upgrade.. its almost like saying " thank you we made it this far together, now your the best sounding epiphone in the world you deserve it pal"

[@sjlefebvre]

A slick surface wouldn't be something that a cat would scratch on... they scratch to sharpen not to dull...

[@TranceMasterJack]

Ha. Yeah no way a cat scratched that pattern. 🏳️

[@cataclysmicconverter]

Exactly. Besides knowing your gear, more importantly, know your pets!

[@doctoribanez]

A little relic job. Been there lol.

[@kevinnsevinn799]

Think he was being facetious 😉

[@AltGrendel]

Yep, I seriously doubt the cat did that.

[@CR0SSJ]

Love that you finally got your guitar project sorted. I always feel like that "first real guitar" is the one you should never get rid of, and glad you didn't and kept it around. Became a good video, and hopefully a guitar you re-visit again often :D

[@AntmanFelix]

Yeah I feel ya, sadly I sold off my first "real" guitar and though I have my Gibsons, a Gretsch White Falcon, and a nice Telecaster, I still miss my first real guitar. Should have never sold it.

[@watersnortmoment3734]

@AntmanFelix My first real guitar I bought for myself was a Pacifica 611, but I never got along with it. My first real guitar I was gifted was a Vintera 50s strat and I don’t ever want to get rid of it.

[@bottomkitchen250]

Yes, the keystone tuners are way nicer looking than the bean. I always thought that Gibson didn't use the keystone enough on the newer models

[@snapfinger1]

Awesome overbuilt restoration. Don’t see a lot of old school headstock Epi silver bursts.

[@magicman12b]

It’s interesting how the guitar world works. I have a similar introduction to guitars like Trogly, and my first serious guitar was a Fender Strat starter pack. Fast forward a few years later I purchased an Epiphone LP Standard Plus ($450,Honey Burst) with my first working (9-5) paycheck. I too was curious like Trogly and did similar modifications to my Epiphone to see how it compared to my first Gibson LP Studio ($1,200,Pelham Blue). I think a lot of guitar players and enthusiasts can relate to this video and say that they too have walked down the same path. I just love how a guitar can inspire so many people from different facets of life from different places around the world to experience similar feelings or near identical moments.

[@seanmurphy26]

I got a Standard Honeyburst for $250 back in April, super fun guitar! It was interesting to see the choice of Classic '57s. Heard that are the choice of many.. I was thinking of putting those new Gibson "GreeneyBuckers" or some low winds in there..

[@plinger1]

I think this is what makes Epiphone a “player guitar”. These mods are definitely worth it if you like the way the instrument plays. Beyond that in a real world scenario someone might do these over a couple years one mod at a time, giving them the instrument they want. Final note any instrument is worth it if you like it enough.

[@supermario2100]

The great thing about Epiphone and Squier guitars is that they make for amazing mod platforms without sacrificing on looks. You can get that Strat or Les Paul you've always wanted, and it'll look the part completely. Especially now that Epiphone updated their headstock lol.

[@WagnerWarner]

True that the old Epiphone headstock was the reason I wouldn't buy their guitars

[@JohnnyBGoode9]

Epiphone Vs and Explorers have had proper headstocks for years, too. I just wish the new Firebird wasn't such an AliExpress-looking misshapen disaster. Its nothing like the Gibson headstock, even the recent flat one. If they fixed that, especially if they made the proper carved headstock for banjo/Steinberger tuners, it'd be an instant buy for me.

[@extraordinary_ordinary]

$1300 just in labor? Damn!

[@BillyZakk]

Thought the same thing !!! Not a good endorsement for using them for work Add shipping for you and me I will Stay with my guy

[@Topsy_Krett]

Ouch, yes...and that is with no restoration done to the finish. I don't really see another $800 in parts either. I prefer upgrading guitars myself.

[@extraordinary_ordinary]

@@Topsy_Krett I think that is pretty on point when you consider stainless fret wire, new tuners, new pickups, new bridge/tail piece, bone nut, 3 push/pull CTS pots, wiring harness, kill switch, output jack/plate and new plastics.

[@dublev78]

They overhauled it. When you start refretting and cutting on wood, it gets pricey. It’s a waste of money in my opinion on an epiphone.

[@jeremyancelin7582]

@@extraordinary_ordinary nah fam - I had to redo my epi after being exposed to water in the basement of my secondary place. Replaced all parts for duked out stuff and it costs me around $600 this include refret, all hardware and wiring - pickups and so forth.

[@MagneticPool24]

That fretboard wood is gorgeous

[@RockyH.]

Congratulations Trogly! I'm Happy and Proud of you man...Mom and Dads gifts are so important and you turned your first into a forever guitar awesome!!!!

[@jimilee459]

That sounds and looks fantastic. Part of your first guitar is the feel. It should feel like home, I hope it does.

[@zigzagrz]

57 classics are my fav Gibby pups, great choice

[@jtyoung706]

I just finished putting jumbo frets and a brass nut in my 02' Epi LP Custom. It has the maple neck so I took the finish down to the grain fill on the back when I got it some 15 years ago. It plays like a completely different guitar now. It definitely ignited the mojo that it's been lacking for years. I can't imagine spending $2k so I did it myself for about $80 in parts.

[@scottmartin356]

Congratulations on keeping that guitar and following through with showing it some love!

[@CarsonLee-ll8ph]

"following through" Letting someone else do it after volunteering.

[@elvee7851]

That guitar sounds great - nice restoration. Just wanted to mention, I really enjoy your channel.

[@andrewbecker3700]

Other than the cost from Sweetwater, this is something many of us should consider doing. If you can handle everything except the re-fret yourself, this can be done for less than half that much. I did a very similar thing to a new Epiphone LesPaul custom silverburst a couple years ago. Now I've swapped it all into an Adam Jones sig. and couldn't be happier. It's super sick, and the only one like it in existence. Being a "The Berserker" custom art version from Frank Frazetta, makes it even sweeter.

[@eddiejr540]

@3:50…sometimes I think it was better when I was younger and had no idea about gear and I just played and had fun🤔

[@guitarplaya47560]

Love this for you Trogly! I had started doing a similar mod to my first “real” guitar which was an Epiphone SG but never quite finished the wiring. This is some great inspiration to finish that project! Thanks!

[@tobiasryan8378]

Good to know Sweetwater does a sweet job!

[@MaxCohen-mx2rf]

We have a very similar guitar journey. From Squier Strat at 10, to a Les Special II (tobacco burst), to a Les Paul Black Beauty III. I remember the same sense of awe when presented with the 3 gold humbucker goodness that was a Les Paul Black Beauty III. Couldn't fathom having a guitar that expensive. Felt like my guitar journey was finally over. The made in Korea Epiphones were next level from the indonesian or China made Epi's back in 2005.

[@ZHA]

The poor cat gets the blame when this is obviously NOT cat scratches 😅

[@kevincox9119]

Epiphone does not use lacquer

[@scottmartin356]

Lol, the cat ate my guitar finish excuse 😆

[@Snibborwocky]

That is a fantastic and creative mod for your Epi. Looks and sounds amazing. Well done on Sweetwater's end. I love these mod upgrade feelgood stories for instruments. 👍

[@monstrok]

What a fantastic restoration! Sweetwater knocked this one out of the park and so glad that you got your guitar back into playing condition. I can verify that stainless steel frets will not wear - my '93 Parker Fly is by far my most played guitar and has zero fret wear after thousands of playing hours.

[@Kahuna54]

It’s cool you have this special guitar all set up TH way you want! Congratulations!🎉

[@mr.fancypants698]

Trogly, I did something similar. Always been a fan of Epiphone/Gibson SG's. My first SG, I got, I saved up my money, and got a Epiphone SG, it had a "worn-cherry" finish, with a "thicker 50's style neck" but it has the trapezoid pearloid inlays, grover kidney tuners, for $450.00 dollars at Guitar Center in like the early 2000's. Recently, I took it to a local repair guitar shop, and had them put in Gibson Dirty Fingers pickups. It sounds AMAZING!!! I was thinking about switching out the nut, maybe to a brass nut? 🤔 Anyways, it was my first "real" guitar, that I will NEVER sell, I know that feeling, you fell in ❤ with it, and could NEVER part from it. 😁

[@guitarafter40]

I had my local luthier work on my Epi LP neck to remove the heavy poly and I LOVE the difference. No more sticky neck and it also has a custom shop look now.

[@RaccoonHenry]

beautiful, came out fantastic!! congrats, hope you enjoy it for years to come!!

[@rockinrob2004]

That's AWESOME! Congrats man! Sounds & looks GREAT! I still have my 1st real guitar from my Mom a 1975 Gibson S-1. All maple, still play it, in the 80's I changed out all the hardware, switches, & wiring. The maple fb has worn in so nicely. I would never part with it, as you know those 1st instruments from parents are "special". Enjoy!

[@juanpanchoec]

Those old limited editions are awesome... I have a Y2k korean made LP standard, and it was awesome after a pickup swap for a couple of SD's. I ended making a few more upgrades for a total of +/- $400 USD, and ended up a great guitar. People would turn and ask "what is that you are playing" and forgot about the US Fenders or Gibsons from other players in the room. Oddly enough, it currently is as disassembled as yours since I have long desired to put a custom wiring that would require routing and a cover for at least one pair of mini switches instead of one of the knobs.

[@jonathanhorne6503]

I’ve bought guitars with the plan to put crazy dollars into. It’s part of my guitar/bass fascination. The two worst $$ wastes are some of my best players. An Epi Casino Coupe with every part replaced but the bridge. It even has a scaled down frequensator tailpiece. The craziest is a Squier Bronco that has a 66 Gibson mudbucker, a Fralin 53 P bass pup, and in the bridge a Lollar T-bird. New gears, wired with a strat 5way switch and a push pull tone that will allow for every pickup combination. The Bronco was a special pink issue from CME. The bass sounds epic and looks louder.

[@RRW276]

I like the 57 classics... they're what I've had in my 335 for many years now and wouldn't think of touching them. Those custombuckers, however, sound mighty astonishing. Though I've only played em on a buddies SG and I don't like playing SG's, but those pickups are truly special.

[@topfacemod]

Agreed...the Alnico II mags in 57's and SD A-II Pros with that warmer tone but still powerful as all get out. At least for blues to hard rock and early metal

[@BushidoPhoto]

Nickel is my favorite material for guitar parts.

[@wineghost317]

Sounds awesome! Congrats Trog! It’s always fun to revisit an old fav guitar, especially when it gets the upgrades!

[@FransvandenBergeMuziekschuur]

I have allways loved a upgrade on a guitar that you know and love. It just extend the instrument. Enjoy this beautiful Epiphone.

[@peanutbutterisfu]

I have a 1995 epiphone les Paul made in Korea. I did a restoration to it as well. Fret job, evh pots, dirty fingers bridge and pearly gates neck pick ups, complete rewire all done by a local luthier that all the pros go to. The tuners were mint, it never goes out of tune so no need to change them, and the guitar pretty much sat in its case for 15 years not getting played until I got it so was like new. It completely transformed the guitar to the best sounding guitar I’ve played as well as many others. When doing the last album my band did I had all the work done to it just to have another option as well as getting a bunch of work done to my strat. The other guitarist in my band has like 20 guitars he’s a guitar teacher at the best school in my city and went to musician’s institute finishing top of his class in the jazz program so he’s a Guitar nut and the studio has a bunch of really expensive guitars and when finding the right guitar sounds we played a ton of guitars and I wasn’t even gonna test my les Paul because I hate playing it because it has one of them baseball bat necks and the studio owner said did we try the guitar in that case? I said no and when I plugged it in everybody was like wow that thing is amazing and the owner laughed when he seen it said epiphone he was almost pissed because he has all these expensive guitars and this epiphone is so amazing. Idk what wood it’s made of but when I had the neck off u can tell it’s some really good wood and it has dried out nicely over the years that’s why it sounds so great. I feel like someone made a mistake and used wood that was for a much higher end guitar.

[@ShadeHope1969]

I love my Epis,I have three or four rather,Custom pros, One is a one piece body, and three with a two piece body. Maple caps,I have modded them with cts,Dunlop,and switchcraft electronics, Seymore Duncan and TonePros, It`s all stuff I do over time,but they sound the part and play well,I can gig them and not worry so much,Thats one thing I love. But if you buy the upper end Epiphones you will do well, i think the USA casino is around $2,700. Thats not cheap and it`s well made here in the USA. Love the Channel Trogly.I been watchin for a few yrs now,Wow,How time flys,Thank you for all your work,I love staying up to date on stuff ,seeing and learning about all Gibsons is a passion. so Thank you again.and maybe one day soon I can buy a guitar from ya, Just to say I got this from TROGLY !!

[@RoachDoggJr2112]

I have one of these, from about twenty sixteen or so. I also have those markings in the center of the back. The clear coat finish on these things is really soft, and anything can mark it up.

[@akminid]

My first good guitar also was this Epiphone Silverburst. I also did modify it. First in a terrible way, but now it is my best guitar. I went for EMG Pickups and also Tone Pros Hardware and Graph Tech Locking Tuner. I really dig that guitar for it's design. I mean: It is no proper teardrop silverburst, but just look at it. That finish is a dream for a Les Paul. I found that Les Paul to be one of the "special" looking ones.

[@robspectre1973]

I own that same guitar. Replaced ProBuckers with EMG KFK 81/85 set and I absolutely love it. Installed the boost switch between the 4 pots and really polished the frets and it plays and sounds amazing. Yes, I play mostly metal.

[@scottbogfoot]

Yeah, they can do impressively clean work! Cat would not claw just the middle it would claw the edge, also for a cat to scratch it that bad it would push it off any conventional floor stand, thus alluding to the culprit

[@cataclysmicconverter]

Yep, cats aren't into scratching smooth non resistant surfaces. It has no purpose for why they do it.

[@scottbogfoot]

@@cataclysmicconverter two of my cats have beaver DNA 😂

[@cataclysmicconverter]

@@scottbogfoot Oh definitely. I have a couple door jambs to prove it! 😆

[@jim_e_g]

Enjoy your show but Sorry Trogly. Cat didn’t scratch it. I have had cats and guitars for 40 years, never happened. An amp grill cloth definitely but back of a solid guitar in that pattern that’s all you. You owe that cat an apology.

[@alessandrodecarli2462]

Good work! I’ve upgraded my 2014 Epi Custom Les Paul too but with custom made pickups, chosen and coupled by me (in conjunction with the artisan, of course) and a professional custom made wiring. And guess what? She sound heavenly! Beautiful tone, soft or aggressive when it needs, I really love to play that guitar, finally. The only thing that I didn’t do is change the tuners: why put a locking tuners on a Les Paul? Personally, is a silly thing to do…🤷🏻‍♂️…

[@dorianmode69]

I like it. I have a strat copy that I had only set up properly and it plays/sounds amazing

[@michaelheller8841]

I have no issues with the cost that you put into this guitar because you made it yours. That's the goal. I did the same thing with starting out with an American Fender Ultra Luxe Body. Everything else was custom-made for me. the SSS pickup configuration was hand-wired Tone Master pickups, wiring, and pots. The neck is a perfect Masikkraft quartersawn maple neck 12" radius with a CBS style head and locking tuners. I'm not a fan of the stainless steel frets, it feels strange to me. If I did like them I would have just gone with the Stock Fender American Ultra Luxe guitar. I didn't like the pickups either though. I told my friend the owner of Tone Master to make my guitar sound like Jeff Becks before his noiseless signatures lol. Mission accomplished. I recommend anyone making a guitar their own. The Strat is currently my #2 because my number one is a Gibson Custom Shop R8 and I never played a better Les Paul and I've played plenty of Vintage. I got really lucky. All said and done I put in almost up to 5k to make my Strat my own. Will I ever sell it? not even if you put a gun to my head lol.

[@6stringcodger450]

have a 2008 custom (natural w/gold hw)...more beautiful than any of my gibsons...got new frets and plek during the pandemic...love it more than my expensive one!!!

[@matthewaltomare7629]

With the new Epiphone offerings out there, it's sort of difficult to determine which are the correct upgrades. I just recently scored a basically brand new 2022 Epi Les Paul Trad Pro IV off craigslist for a great price. I've been dying to get a Les Paul forever, and kind of wanted it to be Gibson, to go along with my Gibson SGs, but at the end of the day, I care more about value and function over the headstock. This Epi is that satin type finish all over and love it and it already has stock CTS push/pull pots. Have been starting to look at some basic upgrades, locking tuners, bridge, knobs, but it's hard determine what actually fits. The newer/higher end Epi's are different than the old, and sometimes could be Gibson sized stuff. For $10, I ordered a Gibson metal output jack plate, which I thought would've been direct fit, but wasn't. Was barely off...and not worth my time to fill/redrill holes. I hear a bunch of different things about the knobs and am still not sure which ones. Same for bridge, etc. Then you have the quick connect pickup connections...so if I wanted to change that out, I'd probably have to hack out the harness, which is also "apparently" different than Gibson's quick connect. At the price point I paid for this Epi LP, I don't mind putting in a few upgrades, and honestly wouldn't feel bad about it. Then last night saw GC has a Gibson LP Trad V on sale for $1,799. Satin finish, custom buckers, custom wiring, locking tuners, etc. Now if I continue down the Epi upgrade path, I probably have $700+ plus in parts that I could eventually upgrade. Now the total all in cost on the Epi vs the Gibson starts getting closer, as I likely wouldn't modify the Gibson. Still uncertain...but I keep telling myself, I don't need to do anything at all. Keep what I have and enjoy the crap out them as they're already all great.

[@wokelink4732]

i got an epiphone les paul standard pro, my brother help me put push-push pots in it, instead of splitting the coils it's parallel and series for each humbucker, in the middle position it could be changed in and out of phase and put in series. i really loved that it had push push instead of push pulls. unfortunately the neck broke, and i haven't had the money to fix it yet. But one day i will. I have a Edwards Les Paul thats from the late 90s with the same setup with some other little details, its an amazing guitar i love it.

[@TheOnlyGuitarFather]

i have that same guitar... my first real guitar as well. i modded it with pearly gates and an obsidian wire harness..black tone pro bridge and saddle.. gold hum rings and locking tuners. chipped the paint a bit around one of the pot holes enlarging it for the new pots but she hangs in there with my Gibsons now

[@herbertoneto6452]

I absolutely love SS frets, have on an old ltd v 500 (with sd blackouts aswell) and man, they feel good and last (not in need of any tlc for more than a year, not even polishing) and they handle my crazy .17 to .80 set

[@dw7704]

I have series/parallel on two guitars I use series more often, but parallel is nice option to have. I have in/out of phase option on one guitar as well, but I would pick series/parallel over phase switching

[@jonathanstrand2474]

I’ve done what you did, I wanted a Firebird, well Bonnamassa did a run of epi ‘64 Firebird 1’s, $899 the single PU. Seriously it was intended to be in a glass display case, the bridge and PU weren’t in the right place. 😮 no matter $1500 parts dollars later: 3 Seymour Duncan’s the 4 sound, hotshot PU switching stacked vol/tone each PU, new Dunlop frets, a bone nut, Waverly banjo tuners and Black 3 layer pick gaurd. I knew the neck through wood and the 5 piece neck would be good. But if you twist the truss rod, you know it’s an EPI, backwards threads!😳. Still I love it now, stays in tune. I just have to remember read what it says to do, but turn it the opposite way 😂

[@garymesser9065]

Well Trogly, I purchased a Epiphone es339 p90 pro, got a Gibson USA case for it, installed Dimarzio p90 pick ups, kluson tuners and fret work. I’ve got approx $1500.00. Plus I will be installing a Roland GK3 synth pick up, it’s a great guitar.

[@rocktorrocks]

Awesome vid! Can totally relate. My first GOOD guitar was an Epiphone Les Paul standard plus in trans amber from my parents. I got it around 2005 and getting a nice $500 guitar was huge for teenage me. I was a big Jimmy Page fan and dreamed of owning a Les Paul. I cherished and played it as my number one for many years. I’ve got much fancier guitars now including some Gibsons but that little Epiphone still gets played on occasions and I’m hoping to make into a mod project like yours.

[@Chad-Farthouse]

Got stainless frets on my tele. Totally different feel on bends and its noticeably brighter. I'll also never have to have fretwork done again.

[@JokersWild70]

The same exact wiring hiring I have in my Epiphone LP Pro FX with the Floyd, but I went with Duncan '59 zebra coil pickups. That turned out sweet 🤙 Great job Sweetwater!

[@fjcaracap]

I bought two Epiphone special edition 59 Les Paul standards from Sweetwater, which came with Burstbucker pickups, CTS pots and overall better electronics. I had the two guitars plek'd before shipping them to me. Both are amazing sounding and playing guitars. Sweetwater did a great job with the setup and pleking. I then shipped them my 1990 Gibson Les Paul Custom ebony, to have the frets polished and the guitar properly setup and pleked. They did an awesome job, now plays like a dream....

[@Jimbowlcoach]

Very cool, I was wondering what you could do to an Epiphone to make it more like a Gibson thanks for doing this Trogly!❤❤❤❤

[@IndyRockStar]

It sounds great. I've been considering buying a Epiphone Silverburst Custom and trying to upgrade it. I wasn't to see how close I could get it to an actual LP Custom.

[@brucedelaney9606]

Fantastic transformation. After watching this video I have a Danelectro Vintage 12 on order. I may have them set it up. It really is worth the money. Great video. PS that guitar sounds fantastic. Don’t change a thing. Just get on your knees and thank them. Lol.

[@InkedGamerWolf420]

I’m modifying a January 2021 Les Paul Special I wraparound bridge model. I don’t like the cherry grain finish so I’m painting it a different colour but keeping the exposed grain finish but protecting it with clear coat. The pickups I’m putting in it cost more than the guitar itself (Seymour Duncan Distortion Mayhem set), and convert the factory neck into an open book style because I HATE the tombstone headstock. Paid $75 because it sat for 2 of the 3 years of its life. No intention of selling it just want her gig worthy. My 2011 bolt on Junior has a maple open book Gibson style neck (original snapped in half), push button killswitch placed where the tone knob

[@fabricemouselpixs5475]

Thank you so much for explanation ! I have my first LP for months and it works great for a Custom Limited Flame Top :)

[@frankiechan9651]

Stephen from Sweetwater did an amazing job on your guitar Trogly. It looks and sounds great - while retaining some bits that tell of it's history. I also have a keeper guitar that I may also make the investment into for SS frets - although thankfully, things like the pickups and nut I'm very happy with. (Unless I change my mind and swap out the EMG's for Fishmann)

[@jimmyjames2022]

Awesome revitalization of your sentimental Epiphone LP Custom Silver Burst by Sweetwater! Kill switch! Glad the string less truss rod survived storage, puts to bed the myths. Enjoying your playing these days, lots of cool riffs. I think it's still worth buying a used Gibson over heavily modding an Epi for the average person, lots of great used deals in local papers/sales websites if we are patient.

[@paulraider2001]

We love it when you're happy! It looks fantastic. I wanted to do a rework of my first guitar, but it got stolen by UPS. So I had to fill that hole with 5 Les Paul's. And yet I still feel empty.....maybe another 5 will do the trick.

[@GuitarBeard]

Really cool! Loved the clean bridge pickup tone

[@markcampbell7554]

I am impressed with Sweetwaters restoration of this guitar! Wow! I come away knowing that there is hope for a couple of my guitar's that need help getting back to their best.

[@donbuttaccio4464]

So glad for you that you decided to get that guitar upgraded & working again. Very cool idea.

[@stoo4534]

I love these types of videos. I have an old les paul copy that was my first guitar I'd love to spend some time upgrading 😊

[@Xaltar_]

I have always wanted a Gibson LP with a good poly finish that won't wear/age/check as easily. This fits the bill nicely, only the ugly old Epi headstock takes away from it. Doing the same on one of the new ones with the updated headstock would be a great idea. I actually considered a Chibson (without the Gibson logo) at one point for the same reason, I fully intended to gut and refret it anyway so all that would have mattered was the quality of the wood/construction. I decided it was too much of a risk that I would get trash. The lure there was the fact that I could have ordered a custom spec husk with no electronics or hardware, the inlays and finish of my choice as well as whatever logo I wanted on the headstock. I went back and forth with the seller for a while then noticed they had started getting some really bad reviews, incorrect scale length/fret placement, binding coming off etc so I called it quits. I have done much the same as this with one of my own early guitars, also 57s, push pull pots for coil splitting and upgraded tuners/hardware. The friend that gave it to me, a 90's Tanglewood Star LP copy, tragically passed at just 36 so it's got sentimental value. Next step is stainless steel frets.

[@jefffree6990]

Sounds amazing! and the Split coils make it so versatile

[@markmccawley2526]

You should send it back at some time in the future for a sand back, wet sand and polish. I love thicc just not on a guitar finish. play it and certainly enjoy it. What a one of a kind treasure!

[@TylerJohnstonGuitar]

I miss my first guitar dearly. I sold it for way below market (To GC) right before I left for boot camp. I wish I just had my family hang on to it for a while.

[@astridlenore]

Showing that old guitar some love, good on you Trogly, good on you! btw that brassy color on the old bridge is probably actual brass that got chrome-plated because that was the age when brass could do no wrong. For those curious and adventurous, the 4-wire pickup output crucial to this type of mod can be hacked at the pickup itself, but it takes an iron stomach and I'd recommend trying it first on pickups you don't care much about.

[@jamesmorvay3493]

Love it! Sounds awesome!

[@user-hb1cf7zy8n]

Looks Beautiful

[@the_nondrive_side]

my killswitch is in the switch position and my switch is in the spot you left... I also used a Fender TBX tone pot with the HPF mod and have series -parallel on my push pull volume pots

[@wrenchhead6840]

Very nice….. i chose a seymour duncan SH-1/Jazz for my epiphone upgrade…. It is a Epi V, didnt have to route the body..FABER makes a killer bridge in metric…. I also put in Kluson “drop in” locking tuners…. No drilling

[@bsjeffrey]

i know you do it for every guitar, but it still made me laugh that you sent it away to get it 'put together' to then immediately take it apart.

[@cataclysmicconverter]

Who wouldn't wanna see what they did!

[@bsjeffrey]

@@cataclysmicconverter someone without the ability to put it back together.

[@cataclysmicconverter]

@@bsjeffrey If just looking under the covers is beyond someone's abilities, absolutely. They shouldn't even own a guitar if they can't do setups and ordinary maintenance in general.

[@MisterJWJ71]

Awesome results! I mean, I'm not the biggest fan of the Les Paul shape and that finish doesn't do much for me. Then again, this isn't my guitar it's YOURS and you love it! I prefer the Kluson-style knobs on the tuners as well. To me that just says "Gibson" even on an Epiphone. As far as knocking the shine down on the kneck, I've always heard using 0000 steel Wool will work well for that.

[@bamaborn3997]

I still got my first one. A Squier classic vibe 60s strat. Upgraded 59 fender pure vintage pickups, Mojotone blender wiring harness. Flame maple fender neck. Fender bridge & saddles. Black pearl pick guard. I reach for it first. Before my American strat. Ty for the content

[@The_Hi_Life]

Sounds as great as any Gibson LP to me! Great resto-mod. And it’s got the sentimental value.❤

[@gregsguitartone]

If you like the Elixir strings then you might try the D’Addario Xt or Xs. I was a longtime Elixir user but I really like the Xt’s now.

[@matthewmckinney5387]

The real setup for the Jimmy page no2 les Paul has 2 switches under the pickguard. But with todays tech id do the push-pulls as well

[@paultaillon8361]

Wow nice, sounds great , looks great, love the perimeter burst look.

[@PeterMoore350]

I love the headstock on this. Especially the shapes around where the Epiphone logo is. Cheers from NZ 😎🎸🤘

[@Zombie_13x33]

the neck dirty in the higher register was awesome. i havent had to many neck pups ive liked but that sounds great

[@matt-770]

Learned something new! I’d love to see you go off script so to speak, and review /tear down a 1970’s Yamaha SG 1000.

[@jtbandy1]

I’ve got a 2008 epi lp custom. Don’t think I’d put $2k into it, but I’ve been planning on a DIY upgrade for a while. Maybe pickups and wiring. The poly finish on those is very thick too, so the neck sanding is probably a good idea.

[@Ari_Calamari]

I honestly prefer series/parallel to out of phase. Just sounds less anemic, but still cleans up nicely.

[@jameshughes6049]

That's awesome!!

[@johnp6269]

Looks sweet, have you ever tried babicz full contact bridges there hardware is the best i put them on all my builds the sustain is insane!!!!! I will never go back to tone pros. Job well done!!!!!

[@wrtoomes600]

😮sounds excellent 😮

[@buzzcrushtrendkill]

I love seeing a person modify a guitar to make it their own. Enjoy that great guitar. I also love the 57's. They came on my Epi 1960 Tribute Plus (which is one Epi that will hang with a Gibson).

[@unclefungus7395]

my first really good guitar was an epiphone zakk wylde les paul custom, it was really awesome!

[@stephensmith821]

I have a 1993 Mexican strat that was my first real guitar. Put noiseless pickups in it. Still love it!

[@edwinstovall3334]

You know, your "resto/mod" (restoration/modification) project reminds me of Billy F. Gibbons of ZZ Top, who had his first guitar replicated into a very hot-rodded version. In my opinion, the things you did to your old firsty are even cooler than the Les Paul Jr with tribal striping that Billy gave himself.

[@MaxCohen-mx2rf]

Just wanted correct your information about stainless steel frets. If you're a bedroom player, probably won't need a refret for 10's of years. If you're a modern gigging musician. You got about 4 - 5 years dependent on your playing style and string gauge, maybe 3 with a level and re-crowning if you're a beast.