Maestro by Gibson P-90 Pickup Conversion & Neck Repair

This video documents how I fitted a P-90 pickup into a single humbucker pickup guitar, fixed the frets and painted the neck black.
www.harpethguitar.com

[@American_Jeeper]

Scott, I have a blue burst LPJ Maestro I got from a young lady on LetGo for $25 and am modding too. I went a bit different route than you, though. I stripped the headstock and got rid of the Maestro logo, then I stained the back of the neck dark tan, painted the front and back of the headstock with black lacquer, giving the back a "stinger", then applied Gibson LPJ decals that look really nice and then clear lacquered just the headstock and sanded the neck from 800-grit to 1500-grit, nice and smooth. For the tuners (which are total dog poo), I went with Kluson Revolution 19:1 in gold. The adjustable wraparound tailpiece is also gold and from Gotoh. I changed the volume and tone pots to CTS 500k/250k pots, respectively, with a .022µF Orange Drop cap, wired to late 50's specs, and I went to Gibson Gold top hat knobs (one of the original speed knobs had broken and been super glued at some point in its life) and pointers. The input jack is from Switchcraft too. I sanded the frets evenly and lightly sanded the fretboard, before saturating it in lemon oil....looks much better now. The strap buttons have been switched to Schaller locking S-type buttons in gold. The neck plate chrome had completely worn away to the copper, so I got an Epiphone neck plate on Mercari for $15. It will be the only chrome piece on the guitar. I swapped in a plain truss rod cover that's longer, so it looks more like a real LPJ. For the final piece, I'm getting a ThroBak KZ115 humbucker, and all the wiring is shielded and braided. I might or might not change the pickguard from black to tortoise shell, I'm not 100% decided yet, but regardless all of the hardware is gold now.

[@harpethguitar]

American Jeeper. Whoa 😮 you are ambitious!

[@American_Jeeper]

@@harpethguitar Nah, just retired, LOL!

[@royknowlton2947]

Nice. After watching your video I got a hold of one that from the factory came with a black painted neck. And a proper wrap around bridge. I have since found that these were the ones that had the name Maestro running up sideways between the tuners on the headstock. But i changed the nut, replaced the tuners for Kluson style Grovers, shimmed the neck slightly and installed a Gibson P90. That first is rock solid now. Thanks for the inspiration!!!

[@harpethguitar]

Sounds like a good rocker!

[@sunnyray7819]

That came out nice!!! My projects have more of a patina look to them usually........... I like how you knocked on the frets like that.... Good tip!!!! Thanks for posting!!!

[@tanxsora]

I'm looking to pick up one of these for a pretty ambitious project so seeing this gave me hope! Was the pocket/heel basically a tele shape or just similar?

[@harpethguitar]

It is very similar to the Telly neck pocket. Cheers

[@ronnyholton]

I bought a used one set it up it plays fine with the humbucker

[@bernhardnizynski4403]

Lovely background music!

[@wyattsdad8561]

Looks great man!

[@anthonybeers]

I got one of these at a second hand store and have completely gutted eventually it will be a slide guitar, waiting on parts.

[@touchthesun2448]

let me know how it works...I was thinking the SAME THING!!!!!

[@wyattsdad8561]

How much do those maestro guitars cost new? Do they still make those?

[@harpethguitar]

They were really cheep. $150.00 maybe 🤔

[@wyattsdad8561]

@@harpethguitar wow were they made in this country?

[@harpethguitar]

I’m guessing South Asia

[@algreen266]

Hi i was wondering if you can help me , i purchase a new harness assembled harness kit for my les paul.I also purchased 1 490 and 498 pick ups, unfortunately the 498 has 5 wires and the 490 has 1 wire wrapped with a neutral and i dont know where they should be soldered.can you help me.Thanks

[@harpethguitar]

You should be able to contact the seller or manufacturer for some guidance. I can tell you that a multimeter will come in handy for testing the circuit

[@harpethguitar]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bYbJqYR4ndaYpJo

[@harpethguitar]

Watch these: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iHKkf4aEgclgopI

[@stringspicksandfiddlestick6388]

I got a Blueburst from a pawn shop that made no sound for $43. I installed a GFS Black Dream 90 humbucker sized P-90, Wilkinson EZ lock tuners, Wilkinson stop tailpiece, two GFS 375 ohm pots and a kill switch.My neck is loaded with birdeyes and I like the feel of it so I left it alone.

[@konjunto2477]

Hi did the GFS Black Dream 90 Humbucker just drop in or did you have to do major modification. I have a Maestro that i've slightly upgraded. New Wilkinson 3 x 3 Roto style tuners and a new black TUSQ slotted nut, shimmed the neck with a 1.0 and .25 degrees shim. plus filed the frets down a bit. I am not a guitar tech just what I've learned on you tube. So far it plays a lot better.

[@ernestschultz5065]

What about a fret press?

[@harpethguitar]

I don’t know Ernest. I’ve never used a fret press

[@touchthesun2448]

cool

[@ayhcult]

Killer ! I have p90'd three Maestros now and carry 'em all around the world, leaving my Les Pauls at home

[@harpethguitar]

Nice! You can’t go wrong with a P-90!

[@fyom]

Now put a Telecaster pickup in the neck position.

[@jeffwalker3006]

Change the bridge its set up for a wound 3rd it will never intonate!

[@harpethguitar]

Nice Catch! 😀

[@jeffwalker3006]

I got one for 70 bucks straightened the neck worked the frets ordered the correct wrap around bridge still had to grind on the stud mount to get it right but she's good to rock now!

[@harpethguitar]

That’s Excellent!!!

[@jeffwalker3006]

@@harpethguitar scott I appreciate your reply I'm 70 years on and I'm still younger than the remaining stones or Beatles but. I've been playing since.about 1960 I'm not great but adequate .its all a journey .

[@ronnyholton]

Quit complaining it's a 100 dollar guitar not a 1,5000 dollar les paul