GUD (guitar upgrade day)

[Seashore]

I got this 7-string Epiphone LP a couple months ago. It's one of the new Matt Heafy signature models. Chambered 25.5", so not a typical LP sound and feel, but it has a cool vibe all its own. It came with Fishmans - the Heafy signature models are basically Moderns - good pickups but not my thing.

At first I was only going to replace the pickups, but I found myself in a position to splurge on hardware and decided to change the original gold stuff out for chrome. I kinda hate gold hardware. The finish on the stock bridge was already coming off. I have to say that the guitar was just fine the way it was, though, and the parts were more of an indulgent early Christmas present to myself than any kind of necessity.

The new bridge pickup is a Distortion. The neck is a ceramic Pegasus, which was in the bridge at first but didn't have enough teeth. The tuners are locking Gotohs. The bridge/tailpiece was the real splurge, an aluminum "Tone-a-matic" from Hipshot.

I'm waiting for metric pots that fit the mounting holes, so the pickups are just going through the switch for now. I never liked the switch location on LPs though, and since I don't really want a tone control for the bridge, I'm thinking about moving the switch down to one of the knob positions. Just not sure what I would do with the hole for the current switch. But at least it's up and running!


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[Masta' C]

Heck yes! That looks great! I bet it sounds amazing, too! \m/

 

[Demanic]

I would imagine that the Pegasus with a ceramic is similar to the SH-7, otherwise known as the Distortion N.
Nice.
I have a Distortion bridge in my 7 string Shecter and love it. It does a very close sound to Amon Amarth.

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[Seashore]

I would imagine that the Pegasus with a ceramic is similar to the SH-7, otherwise known as the Distortion N.
Nice.
I have a Distortion bridge in my 7 string Shecter and love it. It does a very close sound to Amon Amarth.

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The Distortion neck model was actually what I tried next as a bridge pickup when I felt like the Pegasus wasn't cutting it. A 7-string Seymourizer II? It was a great pickup, and I suppose it was similar to the ceramic Pegasus - I'd say a bit hotter, harder-sounding pick attack, slightly more dynamic and mid forward. Probably would have been perfect in a thicker-sounding guitar. I wasn't expecting to need this much full-on output but the bridge Distortion seems like a great fit so far. I think I could hear an Invader being good here too.

 

[Seashore]

Heck yes! That looks great! I bet it sounds amazing, too! \m/

Thank you man! It rips. Lots of bite now, and the aluminum bridge adds a bit of richness. Less clanky, more zingy. I'm psyched.

 

[Demanic]

The Distortion neck model was actually what I tried next as a bridge pickup when I felt like the Pegasus wasn't cutting it. A 7-string Seymourizer II? It was a great pickup, and I suppose it was similar to the ceramic Pegasus - I'd say a bit hotter, harder-sounding pick attack, slightly more dynamic and mid forward. Probably would have been perfect in a thicker-sounding guitar. I wasn't expecting to need this much full-on output but the bridge Distortion seems like a great fit so far. I think I could hear an Invader being good here too.

The Invader will give you more low mids. I like the Distortion because of the hair on the top end, but the perfect thick low end chunk. The mids ain't too bad either.

 

[Mincer]

That's actually a really cool look! Great upgrades!

 

[Seashore]

The Invader will give you more low mids. I like the Distortion because of the hair on the top end, but the perfect thick low end chunk. The mids ain't too bad either.

I'm very happy with the Distortion so far. It's pretty much what I wanted for a pickup in this guitar. Plays great with my amp. I think getting the pots in will help it sound more balanced, too.

I feel like this guitar might be bright and snappy enough that it would balance well with the Invader's thicker EQ - I'm only familiar with the 6 string version though. Anyway it smokes as it is right now; no real need to make another change and probably high time to put the soldering iron away for a bit.

 

[Demanic]

I'm very happy with the Distortion so far. It's pretty much what I wanted for a pickup in this guitar. Plays great with my amp. I think getting the pots in will help it sound more balanced, too.

I feel like this guitar might be bright and snappy enough that it would balance well with the Invader's thicker EQ - I'm only familiar with the 6 string version though. Anyway it smokes as it is right now; no real need to make another change and probably high time to put the soldering iron away for a bit.

I would definitely play it a while as is. Give it all of 2023 before you decide whether or not to change it.

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[Securb]

That is a freaking beast

 

[Aceman]

OK - that is freaking bad@$$. You MUST post a clip or two!!!!

 

[Demanic]

OK - that is freaking bad@$$. You MUST post a clip or two!!!!

+1

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[Rex_Rocker]

It's too bad they don't offer the Willie Adlers in 7-string format... if you like the Distortion, you would've loved the Adlers.

But it looks killer as it is right now! Congrats!

How do you like that Hipshot bridge? Do you find it finnicky to adjust? I'm considering a 6-string versionfor my own Les Paul.

And yeah, the Locktone Epi bridges kinda suck, LOL.

 

[Chistopher]

That is a very clean looking machine you got there!

 

[Seashore]

It's too bad they don't offer the Willie Adlers in 7-string format... if you like the Distortion, you would've loved the Adlers.

But it looks killer as it is right now! Congrats!

How do you like that Hipshot bridge? Do you find it finnicky to adjust? I'm considering a 6-string versionfor my own Les Paul.

And yeah, the Locktone Epi bridges kinda suck, LOL.

Thanks man! The bridge is great overall. Couple of gripes. The set screws on either side of the posts are fiddly and one of them feels like it's cross threaded or spun out - it's in place but I can't tighten it down at all. And there were burrs on the edges of the slots that access the height adjustment screws, which I took down with a diamond file. Everything else feels really smooth and well-made, and the adjustments are easy. Intonation is probably the easiest to deal with of any TOM that I've had. It's stable so far and it sounds great.

I didn't really mind the Locktone bridge for a piece of pot metal. It was better made than what came on my Gibson back in the day. But the difference in sound and feel is noticeable. I'm a lot happier with the guitar now and I guess that's the point.