New Epi Les Paul have question on a bridge upgrade.

Re: New Epi Les Paul have question on a bridge upgrade.

For my part I don't know that I've noticed a meaningful sound difference between the bridges myself, but wasn't really looking and there were other things going on at the same time. I can say that once I've radiused the saddles and cut grooves on the new one it certainly makes for a better setup. What I more like about them is lockdown feature. Next time I'm down in the shop I'll photo and weigh the stock against the TonePros part to see how much difference in mass and weight we're talking about. The TPs stuff feels heavier and figures to make some kind of difference I just couldn't tell you what it is, or if it's better or worse.

Never did any hard analysis on changing the pots or wiring I've changed out either*, I just prefer putting in quality stuff while I'm doing all of this other work. I don't have the best luck with stock electronics on cheaper guitars, something always seems to start acting up before long.

*One exception - I helped out an engineer pal/guitar player experimenting with all these different caps...my .02, save your money. As it happens I have a decent stock of orange drops to burn through but other than checking to see if a given cap is reasonably near where it's supposed to be, I wouldn't put a lot into it. Unless you want something that looks cool under the hood. We did the Folgers switch test with 5 of them and our ears failed miserably.

Obviously a well-setup guitar should play better, and presumably help a given player sound better. I like certain materials better for a nut but you only really hear it with open strings, mostly it's the effect of a properly installed nut that does the trick.

Then ofc the pickups and I doubt I need to get into the major differences there on this forum.
 
Re: New Epi Les Paul have question on a bridge upgrade.

Ascension said:
Uh I work in a PAWN SHOP this one was brand new and I got it STUPID cheap. It's an exceptional player or I still would not have bought it and have a box of pickups to choose what I drop in it on hand. Trust me I am in this one at way under the $300 mark here!
Bought this one to use in those worship sets where I don't want say my 07 PRS Custom 24 in the stand on stage with a lot going on around it!
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I agree. That was my point. An Epi (used or new) at under $300 is a great guitar to add some upgrades to.
 
Re: New Epi Les Paul have question on a bridge upgrade.

Just to throw out what we are talking here is my sub $200 with case Epi.

 
Re: New Epi Les Paul have question on a bridge upgrade.

I got a new bridge for My epiphone years ago, I didn't notice any change in tone, except it stopped rattling!

If it were me I'd change the wiring to 50s style and change the pickups. Maybe if the briidge still has the retainer wire in it i'd change the bridge but not for tone.

IMG_4168.jpg

Heres mine it's with SD 59s in it 50's witing alpha pots so no resizing of holes still the same switch for 10 years and still works. Hell even the same nut, tailpeice and tuners
 
Re: New Epi Les Paul have question on a bridge upgrade.

Blueman is right, get new pickups before a bridge. I still have my Epi Black Beauty with a JB/59 combo (did away with the wiring for the middle pickup a while ago) and it's a beast of a guitar. Other, newer Epi Les Pauls and even a Gibson have come and gone, but that one BB is a great instrument.

I have changed the bridge over the years but only because the gold tarnished and I wanted something sturdier than the little skinny pieces of crap that came on them back in the 90's (my original bridge BENT!)
 
Re: New Epi Les Paul have question on a bridge upgrade.

My newish Epi LP Trad Pro sounds pretty righteous I gotta say. I haven't changed anything out yet and it's hanging with everything else just fine.
 
Re: New Epi Les Paul have question on a bridge upgrade.

Far and away the best value upgrade bridge for a Epi Les Paul is the Wilkinson Brass Rollerbridge. Its the only option for a brass TOM for the Epi. Its just a cast bridge. I haven't found any machined steel or machined brass bridges metric bridges for the Epis and imports ;

http://www.stewmac.com/Hardware_and...ne-o-matic_Bridges/Locking_Roller_Bridge.html

For less than 40 bucks -and comes complete with metric studs for Epi- , you get rid of the zinc complete and total junk plinky/ thin and get a nice substantial brass bridge that tames the stock zinc bridges harsh brittle treble and and adds warmth , sustain and girth.. A tiny bit of filing may be required on the brass holes to make it fit down on your Epi bridge studs.
This is far better than any of the ( some expensive) aluminum bridge options suggested by others. If you can put up with the kind of funky look for the sake of tone, this is hands down the best option, even though its cast and not machined.

BTW, the stock Epi ( and even the Gibson) tailpiece is a hilarious joke. It Needs replacement by any means possible- it will single-handedly destroy all tone on an Epi, or any guitar even. Replace it , and throw it in the garbage!
I'll let you know what the options are for replacement of that junk stock Stop Tail later, cause I am now completely familiar with those options , some which are brand new, having been through the ringer on trying to get a decent stop tailpiece for the Epi .
 
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Re: New Epi Les Paul have question on a bridge upgrade.

Ascension said:
Who makes a straight bolt on tuneomatic set for these that would fatten the tone a little?
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For all the benefit that might exist to swapping the bridge, I've never heard that it a swap will fatten the sound at all. Most of the difference, if any exist with respect to transfer of vibrations between string and body, seem to be in the higher frequency range, well above where the fat is to be found.
 
Re: New Epi Les Paul have question on a bridge upgrade.

DreX said:
For all the benefit that might exist to swapping the bridge, I've never heard that it a swap will fatten the sound at all. Most of the difference, if any exist with respect to transfer of vibrations between string and body, seem to be in the higher frequency range, well above where the fat is to be found.
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Thats cause you were replacing it with Aluminum, which is almost just as bad as zinc.
Brass and especially steel easily yields fatter bottom, thicker mids, increased sustain, and less much brittle highs. Up untill recently there were limited options to switch bridges for brass or steel ( and also tail Pieces), especially on imports like Epiphones , but now there are some more very good options.
 
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Re: New Epi Les Paul have question on a bridge upgrade.

MetalManiac said:
Thats cause you were replacing it with Aluminum, which is almost just as bad as zinc.
Brass and especially steel easily yields fatter bottom, thicker mids, increased sustain, and less much brittle highs. Up untill recently there were limited options to switch bridges for brass or steel ( and also tail Pieces), especially on imports like Epiphones , but now there are some more very good options.
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I agree with this except for the brittle highs part. The brass can be a bit over bearing or even sound a bit rounded on the high end which is why I swapped for titanium. Kept the highs and still had great lows as well. These are what I noticed when I had a big brass block on my Floyd then swapped.
 
Re: New Epi Les Paul have question on a bridge upgrade.

I put an aluminum bridge and tailpiece on my epi explorer. The babicz Tom and stoptail. it rounded the highs, boosted the mids a tiny bit and added a huge, unusable amount of bottom end. The guitar was inherently dark sounding anyway, I should have known better. I see a steel bridge and tailpiece in my future. Btw, it did helped the sustain of the instrument.
 
Re: New Epi Les Paul have question on a bridge upgrade.

InbredJunk said:
I put an aluminum bridge and tailpiece on my epi explorer. The babicz Tom and stoptail. it rounded the highs, boosted the mids a tiny bit and added a huge, unusable amount of bottom end. The guitar was inherently dark sounding anyway, I should have known better. I see a steel bridge and tailpiece in my future. Btw, it did helped the sustain of the instrument.
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to my knowledge, the only current production Tune-O-Matic Steel bridge for an Epi is teh Callaham ABR-1 conversion bridge w/ posts.

Tailpieces though they make metric steel conversion studs very reasonably priced that will allow you to put a few different available steel or brass tailpieces: Faber Bilet Steel ( also sold as Pinnacle)/ Callaham Billet steel / or 'Pinnacle' ebay brass.
 
Re: New Epi Les Paul have question on a bridge upgrade.

Rockstar216 said:
I agree with this except for the brittle highs part. The brass can be a bit over bearing or even sound a bit rounded on the high end which is why I swapped for titanium. Kept the highs and still had great lows as well. These are what I noticed when I had a big brass block on my Floyd then swapped.
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I agree if you are ion a band situation, then the brass might be too rounded. For me, its the perfrect mate to a Floyd Rose Tremolo thouhg- really tames the sometimes over the top brightness of the Floyd.
In my estimation, besides the Floyd, for TOM bridges, Steel is laways best, and Titanium, although almost prohibitavely expensive, is probably even betetr than steel!Good on 'ya!
( BTW, sell me your Zephyr set! lol)
 
Re: New Epi Les Paul have question on a bridge upgrade.

After a good set up may leave this one alone.Played it out twice so far and much to my amazement am digging the tone even with the stock pickups now. In particular the neck pickup really sings on the thing. Shocked here as I didn't expect much out of the stock electronics but the guitar sounds really good through the old Boogie I use at Church as it is. Got the pingy tone out with a set up and the fret work on this one is fantastic so---.
 
Re: New Epi Les Paul have question on a bridge upgrade.

Ascension said:
Just to throw out what we are talking here is my sub $200 with case Epi.

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I love this look. My first guitar was a black Epiphone Les Paul with cream accessories just like this one. I had uncovered black and cream pickups in it though. Loved that guitar. I definitely miss it. It's been 10 years since I sold it now.
 
Re: New Epi Les Paul have question on a bridge upgrade.

I've got one of those WIlkinson style roller bridges. No differences in tone, but sustain appears to be longer. Specifically, the transition time between decaying note, and feedback swell is noticeably far less abrupt too. Cost all of £12 from eBay I think.
 
Re: New Epi Les Paul have question on a bridge upgrade.

blueman335 said:
That happens occasionally, but the point is: don't sink a lot of money into upgrades on a guitar. It's money you're not going to recoup, and all guitars get sold eventually, and usually by the original owners.
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hmm gotta disagree with ya.. i have rarely sold or traded any guitars....

guitars are meant to be played.. so any upgrade to make it play better is an investment.. in saying that.. some guitars might never get to that point .. no matter what hardware/electronics someone puts in it.. if he plans to sell it.. leave it as is because he wont be able to recoup his investment

id buy all the hardware from guitarfetish.. pickups from Iron Gear.. electronics from allparts or iron gear..seriously no need to put high dollar items on a cheap guitar.. GF has some inexpensive hardware that is of pretty damn good quality
 
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