Incoming: NVD

ItsaBass

ItsaBass

New member
Got a killer deal on this from Sweetwater, due to a couple finish issues and a personal request for an even lower price...so I jumped. I can't wait to hear the chorus of "NO" when I post the progress pix of what I plan on doing to it. Let's just say that I don't care for Joe Bonamassa, natural finishes, or poly finishes, and to me, it's nothing but an affordable way into a '50s style V body with nicer specs than the Epi '58 Korina model.

It'll be my first V. I have wanted one for a while...but I was picky about specs. It had to be '50s style, but they are few and far between, and expensive. The Epi '58 Korina wasn't quite nice enough for what I wanted (I have played several over the years, and was never impressed by them). This one has everything I want...except the finish...but it's not so nice and expensive that I mind doing some major mods to it.

POP_AMOS.jpg
 
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Re: Incoming: NVD

Carry on with the mods. I am curious how this will turn out. I've always had a thing for V's but never owned one. Now I want a Dean V. :)
 
Re: Incoming: NVD

SlyFoxx said:
Lemme guess....seafoam green!
Click to expand...

No, nothing pastel or otherwise stereotypically '50s looking. I will say that it is not a classic Fender or Gibson color...but my backup idea is Inca Silver (not silver burst – just silver).
 
Re: Incoming: NVD

Awesome. Suggest this finish/mod combo ;)

rh8gxiqxkcevmjvqfl7a.jpg
 
Re: Incoming: NVD

Wattage said:
Cool, I played a few but could not get with that Joe B neck profile. Other than pickups and neck profile I didn't find any significant difference between the '58 and the Joe B.

Guitar Mag is doing a nitro/parts upgrade, looking forward to seeing what you do


https://guitar.com/guides/diy-workshop/convert-epiphone-flying-v-to-1950s-spec-part-one/

https://guitar.com/guides/diy-workshop/diy-convert-an-epiphone-flying-v-to-1950s-spec-part-two/
Click to expand...

The neck profile is better than the '58 to my taste, and the guitar includes a hard case that looks a lot better than the typical V cases you see nowadays. And I got it for only $100 more than a new '58. I didn't know a magazine was doing that project, but it'll probably be pretty similar to what I end up doing to it. If I like the pickups, they will stay. If not, Seths or DiMarzios. But I will definitely go VTT with the controls, instead of the stock VVT. Thanks for the links.

The '58 actually has the more vintage accurate headstock, as the Amos version has a scarf joint. But my paint is going to be opaque anyhow.
 
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Re: Incoming: NVD

How do you plan to get around the friction pad when you do the refin?
 
Re: Incoming: NVD

Chistopher said:
How do you plan to get around the friction pad when you do the refin?
Click to expand...

I'm pulling everything off, and reinstalling it, or different/better versions of it, after the refin.

What I do will really be very similar to what the guy did in the articles that Wattage linked me to, right down to the replacement dots, skinnier frets, 3-hole to 2-hole truss cover conversion, rimless ferrules, and true ABR-1 conversion with possibly relocated posts for better intonation adjustment range. I was actually kind of surprised, and very pleased, that he nailed nearly every darned thing I wanted to do to the guitar. Now I know it can be done and I'm not crazy or alone for wanting to take this approach. The main difference is that I won't be doing any fake aging on the guitar; I'll be going for a factory fresh finish...and it certainly won't be the typical clear finish that I dislike so much.

Stripping poly is no fun, even on a Fender style guitar. It'll definitely not be an easy project, nor will it be a cheap one. But I can't think of a cheaper way to get the V I want (including my own labor in the cost of that cheapness).
 
Re: Incoming: NVD

ItsaBass said:
I'm pulling everything off, and reinstalling it, or different/better versions of it, after the refin.

What I do will really be very similar to what the guy did in the articles that Wattage linked me to, right down to the replacement dots, skinnier frets, 3-hole to 2-hole truss cover conversion, rimless ferrules, and true ABR-1 conversion with possibly relocated posts for better intonation adjustment range. I was actually kind of surprised, and very pleased, that he nailed nearly every darned thing I wanted to do to the guitar. Now I know it can be done and I'm not crazy or alone for wanting to take this approach. The main difference is that I won't be doing any fake aging on the guitar; I'll be going for a factory fresh finish...and it certainly won't be the typical clear finish that I dislike so much.

Stripping poly is no fun, even on a Fender style guitar. It'll definitely not be an easy project, nor will it be a cheap one. But I can't think of a cheaper way to get the V I want (including my own labor in the cost of that cheapness).
Click to expand...

Are you thinkin of a satin or matte finish?
 
Re: Incoming: NVD

texred said:
Are you thinkin of a satin or matte finish?
Click to expand...

It will be glossy. Plans for the finish are still not complete. I am requesting a few quotes (RS Guitar Works, MJT, Brian Monty, Gord Miller, etc.), and also looking into getting myself a real paint gun and doing it myself. Plus I am still deciding if I want the color in a standard non-metallic, or a three-stage metallic. Also considering other colors, one of which is that insane looking new Mazda metallic red.
 
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I think that guitar loos awesome the way it is. The only thing I would change is the white plastic guard for the output jack to a black one for a more complete look.



;>)/
 
Re: Incoming: NVD

I didn't want to refin the headstock so this was workaround for the truss cover screws. The screw closest to the nut is glued into the cover and I clipped off the exposed threads

IMG_3317.jpg
 
Re: Incoming: NVD

This arrived today.

I'm not too impressed.

The finish quality is quite nice. It's a looker. The fretboard is nice looking, even being rather light in tone (Pau Ferro). At least it is a consistent light brown, not streaky, as Pau Ferro can often get.

Nut, tuners, bridge, setup, intonation, frets all pretty crappy, even after the supposed "55 point inspection" that Sweetwater claims. Intonation is MILES off.

The pickguard is cheap and thin and cut at the wrong bevel, and for some reason the screws are black (WTF).

The pickups are OK if you set them a certain way, but not very versatile. You go away from that sweet point of gain and e.q. that they want, and they're just boring and overly hot. If I keep it, it'll definitely get a pair of Seths.

The neck isn't as nice as the ones that I played in person. It's very flat and "square" feeling.

The case has the right old V case shape, but it's low quality construction in the end.

It definitely needs a lot of work. It has been a while since I bought an Epiphone, so I had forgotten just how bad they can be.

The price was pretty fair, though, and it might still be the project base I'm looking for. A good deal of this was going to get replaced anyhow. I was just hoping to have some fun with it in the meantime, until the project begins. But it's not of gigable quality, and I'm not going to bother to make it so right now, since I'll be tearing the entire thing down eventually anyhow. My only other decent option is home building. I do have the wood for it...but I just don't feel like it!
 
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Re: Incoming: NVD

ItsaBass said:
This arrived today.

I'm not too impressed.

The finish quality is quite nice. It's a looker. The fretboard is nice looking, even being rather light in tone (Pau Ferro). At least it is a consistent light brown, not streaky, as Pau Ferro can often get.

Nut, tuners, bridge, setup, intonation, frets all pretty crappy, even after the supposed "55 point inspection" that Sweetwater claims. Intonation is MILES off.

The pickguard is cheap and thin and cut at the wrong bevel, and for some reason the screws are black (WTF).

The pickups are OK if you set them a certain way, but not very versatile. You go away from that sweet point of gain and e.q. that they want, and they're just boring and overly hot. If I keep it, it'll definitely get a pair of Seths.

The neck isn't as nice as the ones that I played in person. It's very flat and "square" feeling.

The case has the right old V case shape, but it's low quality construction in the end.

It definitely needs a lot of work. It has been a while since I bought an Epiphone, so I had forgotten just how bad they can be.

The price was pretty fair, though, and it might still be the project base I'm looking for. A good deal of this was going to get replaced anyhow. I was just hoping to have some fun with it in the meantime, until the project begins. But it's not of gigable quality, and I'm not going to bother to make it so right now, since I'll be tearing the entire thing down eventually anyhow. My only other decent option is home building. I do have the wood for it...but I just don't feel like it!
Click to expand...

Get a precision guitar kit V for about $400. Great quality and fresh starting point
 
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