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Gibson Les Paul LPJ makeover

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  • Gibson Les Paul LPJ makeover

    So I picked this guitar up recently with the mind to flip it but I fell in love with it immediately.

    It needed a few tweaks but it was super freaking resonant and just had a really great vibe about it. I love the raw back and satin finish. The neck will play in beautifully over time if my Standard is any indication.

    It's hard not to eat the profits sometimes

    I liked the 490/498 set that it came with but they just looked kind of odd in the guitar, in fact the all black trim made the guitar feel very dark which is the polar opposite of how it sounded. This guitar just jumps out at you and it needed to look like it sounded IMO and luckily enough the parts I pulled off look and sound great with the Gibson LPM I have here so off we go.

    I swapped around some parts from the LPM I have here to sell and bought a few things for the LPJ that I didn't have otherwise. It was a small investment into making this guitar 100% right.

    I swapped in the set of Gibson BB '61 Zebra's (excellent pups, the best BB's yet for my tastes) and the satin hardware from the LPM and then I had to buy some cream trim pieces. So I picked up the ambered knobs and the green key Gibson Deluxe tuners for it, I gave the neck a touch of relief and softened the edges of the rosewood board enough so that it doesn't feel like it just left the factory. I also put on a set of large chrome strap pins I had laying around and got rid of the small black ones from the factory.

    I recorded a few quick clips I'll put up later.

    Original setup
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    New Setup
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    Last edited by Wattage; 10-12-2015, 01:48 PM. Reason: I have to learn to proof read....
    My Bands -
    https://kamikazechoir.hearnow.com/
    www.instagram.com/kamikazechoir
    www.reverbnation.com/theheartlessdevils

    Just some fun guitar stuff from time to time
    GUITAR KULTURE

  • #2
    Re: Gibson Les Paul LPJ makeover

    Looks way better now
    sigpic
    Gibson LP Trad Pro II->Various pedals->MEsa Boogie MkV->Owensby/219 Guitar Works Vertical Slant 2x12 w/WGS ET-65 and Veteran 30.

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    • #3
      Re: Gibson Les Paul LPJ makeover

      Originally posted by allbutromeo View Post
      Looks way better now
      I agree! Awesome!

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Gibson Les Paul LPJ makeover

        Nice,Dude!!!

        Well Done!

        "Scalloped & Stickered"
        A Colled One & A Rold One!!!

        RIP My Beloved Sleepy Flower

        https://forum.seymourduncan.com/show...t-67-Of-Myself

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        • #5
          Re: Gibson Les Paul LPJ makeover

          Thanks!

          I knew it needed this but thought I'd wait a bit before going nuts on it. Hah! It was too strong a force to resist.
          Last edited by Wattage; 10-12-2015, 06:17 PM.
          My Bands -
          https://kamikazechoir.hearnow.com/
          www.instagram.com/kamikazechoir
          www.reverbnation.com/theheartlessdevils

          Just some fun guitar stuff from time to time
          GUITAR KULTURE

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Gibson Les Paul LPJ makeover

            Looks MUCH better.

            The 61s are essentially a Burstbucker Pro with the hot coil reversed. I bought a set a year and change ago. I prefer them as the a2 "59 tribute", version which came in my 2014 Trad. Both are discontinued for 2016 it seems, but IMO they sound better than potted Burstbuckers. But I still dig unpotted BB1/2 set the best.

            At any rate, congrats again Scott!
            I'm an internet person. All we do is waste time evaluating things that have next-to-zero real world significance.

            Remember, it's just a plank of wood. YOU have to find the music in it - The Telecaster Handbook

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Gibson Les Paul LPJ makeover

              The important question is, how does it sound?

              Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

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              • #8
                Re: Gibson Les Paul LPJ makeover

                I think it sounds killer.

                I am trying to find the chord for my little recorder to put up a few clips I recorded when I finished it up yesterday. The 490/498 were fine but maybe a hair too hot? The edge of the sound is too frayed for my ears, I actually thought they were ceramics. The '61's pickups have a bit more distinct edge to them, and more of the punch of A5 mags which I like they remind me a lot of 59's.

                I dialed them back a little bit and hit a sweet spot that I knew had to be there, totally digging them.
                Last edited by Wattage; 10-12-2015, 09:12 PM.
                My Bands -
                https://kamikazechoir.hearnow.com/
                www.instagram.com/kamikazechoir
                www.reverbnation.com/theheartlessdevils

                Just some fun guitar stuff from time to time
                GUITAR KULTURE

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Gibson Les Paul LPJ makeover

                  And what did I do with the LPJ parts?

                  Made the 2015 LPM how I think it should've been

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                  Came out of the box like this -

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                  Last edited by Wattage; 10-14-2015, 03:25 PM.
                  My Bands -
                  https://kamikazechoir.hearnow.com/
                  www.instagram.com/kamikazechoir
                  www.reverbnation.com/theheartlessdevils

                  Just some fun guitar stuff from time to time
                  GUITAR KULTURE

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Gibson Les Paul LPJ makeover

                    That looks sooooooooo much better!!

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Gibson Les Paul LPJ makeover

                      Both are improved!! nice job
                      Believe me when I say that some of the most amazing music in history was made on equipment that's not as good as what you own right now.

                      Jol Dantzig

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Gibson Les Paul LPJ makeover

                        slick….
                        Originally posted by Bad City
                        He's got the crowd on his side and the blue jean lights in his eyes...

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                        • #13
                          Re: Gibson Les Paul LPJ makeover

                          The gold top looks so much better.

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                          • #14
                            Re: Gibson Les Paul LPJ makeover

                            Just an update

                            This guitar has really become a favorite. Definitely going to be my go to gigging LP, still want to switch around some knobs I have and put reflectors on it but otherwise it is done.

                            The '61's are very, very good pickups. The neck dialed in super easy but the bridge I had to dick around with for a bit to really get right. The stronger screw coil with my normal way of thinking was too toppy and thin. I ended up bringing the screws down low to the coil and voila! Sounds stupid great with the new Vox amp which make me very happy!
                            My Bands -
                            https://kamikazechoir.hearnow.com/
                            www.instagram.com/kamikazechoir
                            www.reverbnation.com/theheartlessdevils

                            Just some fun guitar stuff from time to time
                            GUITAR KULTURE

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Gibson Les Paul LPJ makeover

                              Originally posted by Wattage View Post
                              Just an update

                              This guitar has really become a favorite. Definitely going to be my go to gigging LP, still want to switch around some knobs I have and put reflectors on it but otherwise it is done.

                              The '61's are very, very good pickups. The neck dialed in super easy but the bridge I had to dick around with for a bit to really get right. The stronger screw coil with my normal way of thinking was too toppy and thin. I ended up bringing the screws down low to the coil and voila! Sounds stupid great with the new Vox amp which make me very happy!
                              Seems to be the secret with Gibson "PAF" pickups. I just put in a burstbucker 2 and 3 set in my les paul and at first the sound was too thin because i adjusted the screws to the radius, I then screwed them in almost flush just like you see on PAFs in most 59s and the sound improved drastically, much fatter.

                              I like how the Les Paul doesn't get thinner or fatter when switching pickup positions, just different levels of hotness and a slightly more broad sound.

                              that goldtop looks great. I'd put one of these on if it were my guitar:

                              Toggle switch knob Aftermarket part - not Genuine Gibson part SAE 8-32 thread size for USA guitars with Switchcraft toggle switches Amber - Looks closer to a butterscotch color...like in the picture This is for 1 switch tip*Some Gibson Studio and Tribute models use a metric toggle switch.If you have one of these models please check before ordering. Size examples for threaded toggle switch knobs:M3.0 x .5 - rare - switch diameter is 3mm or approx. 7/64" M3.5 x .6 - common Epiphone - switch lever diameter is 3.5mm or approx. 1/8" M4.0 x .7 - common Japanese switch - switch lever diameter is 4mm or approx. 5/32" SAE 8-32 - common US Gibson(except Studio/Tribute models) - switch lever diameter is approx.4mm or 5/32"

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