I got given a 1955 Epiphone Century

M

Mike Knight

New member
It had no electronix at all and I want to set it up for a mellow jazz sound. Based on what I've read I'm gonna use 250K audio pots and probably a hot P90 (single coil) pup. Was looking at SSL-3 (AlnicoII) but would be interested in other opinions. Also, what uf cap would be recommended on tone pot? I'd really like to do this just once. Body is maple (ply - front & back) with tiger sides. Am refinishing now , then will be ready to apply electronix. Would appreciate your collective thoughts. Thanks.
 
Re: I got given a 1955 Epiphone Century

welcome to the forum!

im not familiar with that guitar but if its mostly original i dont know if i would start cutting holes in it. its an archtop acoustic right? i would stick with a floating pup and put the controls on the pickguard. 250k controls are right, i would use a .022 cap.
 
Re: I got given a 1955 Epiphone Century

Sorry to mislead Jeremy. Holes aleady in it. Was stripped of etronix. Neck has been reset at correct original angle, new rosewood fingerboard and new frets (never played - yet). New cream binding, filled and sanded - and there it sat for 3 years hanging on the wall of my guitar repair guy (who was installing pup in my Martin acoustic). I have ordered nitrocellulose lacquer and am now sanding w/600 then 1200 grit paper. Already bought gingerbread (tailpiece, floating bridge, tuners etc.) and want the "right" pup for a sweet jazz tone.
 
Re: I got given a 1955 Epiphone Century

the benedetto jazz pups are fantastic. i would suggest one of those or an antiquity minihumbucker. you could even use 500k pots with those if you wanted more range but you may not use it for a mellow jazz tone.
 
Re: I got given a 1955 Epiphone Century

I wish I could participate in the Phat Staple special offer in cream & gold for a neck pup. I think this would kill, but alas I likely joined forums too late. Been researching pups pretty hard for the past few weeks and digested thoroughly the SD web page on pup selection and d.c. resistance, wiring etc. That is where I got the suggestion to join forums. Been to the Tone Wizard and back a few times.
 
Re: I got given a 1955 Epiphone Century

If I go with the Benedetto A-6, would I use 500K audio pots since it is a humbucker?
 
Re: I got given a 1955 Epiphone Century

Dug this up --- is this what it looks like?

epicen59.jpg
 
Re: I got given a 1955 Epiphone Century

I have a slightly earlier model (the original pu was also gone; probably one of the early DeArmond type single coils they used late 40s-early 50's) and the best thing I've tried in it is a underwound P90...it's a old Guild Franz, but anything with an A2 and around 6K would sound pretty good if you want a legit Epi 50's tone.
 
Re: I got given a 1955 Epiphone Century

Yep. That's exactly what it looks like except it is blond maple (made first in 1954) with tiger maple sides. This was the last year they were made in New York and was in the transition period just before Gibson bought Epi in 1957 and moved production to Kalamazoo. From what I read, they were actually made in Philadelphia in 1956.
 
Re: I got given a 1955 Epiphone Century

To ES350 poster: What think you of this Phat Staple neck pup that everyone's buzzing about on the Century? Thanks for your comments
 
Re: I got given a 1955 Epiphone Century

Was looking for a case for the Century and went to a Guitar Center locally. They had an old case ready to hit the dumpster from an Epi Zephyr from the same era in need of significant external work, but the inside looks great. I got it for two cents. It must be a karma thing! LOL
 
Re: I got given a 1955 Epiphone Century

a stock phat cat neck model might also do what you're looking for, it's got dual a2/a2 magnets and is wound to around 7.5k, so it's nice and warm with decent top end clarity which is great for that jazzy archtop type tone. if you've got a smaller p-90 sized route, then a gibson p-90 would be great in there too, though you'd definitely want to use 250k for that since it's got a5/a5 magnets.
 
Re: I got given a 1955 Epiphone Century

If you want a P90, you may have to rout a little from the stock NY pickup rout.
I think the 'staple' pickup would be cool if you want a bit more punch, but my experience with a couple of 50's Epis tells me they have a snappier tone than most Gibsons with plenty of high end. Even with a P90, my Century is closer to an early ES150 CC tone as opposed to the mid 50's models. Very cool deal on the Zephyr case---have fun.
 
Re: I got given a 1955 Epiphone Century

Hey ES350 - If the Epi will have plenty of snap I am thinking of going with the Benedetto A-6 Jazz pup. It is very warm, but since it is a humbucker, I will go with A500K pots (from what I read). My only question would be selection of the uf capacitor for the tone pot. Still .022 or something else because of the 500K? I just don't know. Is is possible that someone makes a push-pull 500K/250K for wider availability of tonal range? I just don't enough about all this crap! THANKS BIG for your help on this stuff. Gonna sand it tonght!!
 
Re: I got given a 1955 Epiphone Century

if it were me id still go .022 but you could go up to .033, .047 or even .1 if you wanted. the value determines the frequency you start rolling off. higher value = lower frequency.
 
Re: I got given a 1955 Epiphone Century

You can make a 500K push pull switch between 500K and 250K operation with a resistor.
 
Re: I got given a 1955 Epiphone Century

Hey Jeremy..."higher value = lower frequency" means exactly what? (So sorry for ignorance) Lower frequency means "less bright" and "more mellow"?
Thanx.
 
Re: I got given a 1955 Epiphone Century

Doc New...Do you see any reason for not doing this? Am I whacked OR would this indeed give two different tonal ranges with one pickup???
 
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Re: I got given a 1955 Epiphone Century

no worries. lower frequency means less bright and more bassy.

you can use the resistor and push/pull if you want. its simple and cheap to do. when you go from the 500k to 250k, youll get a slightly lower output and darker sound. the taper of the 250k might be a little weird but hat isnt a huge deal for most people
 
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