NGD--another Epiphone!

75lespaul

75lespaul

New member
You've probably seen this in my other post about what I'm gonna do to the headstock, but I thought it deserved a NGD post. 1960 Tribute Plus with a Duncan Distortion bridge and Jazz neck. I don't like the series/parallel so I'm going to rewire it to split the coils with the tones pulled up. Sperzel locking tuners were installed, and it came with the Epi hard case and the original 57 Classic pickups and Epi tuners. The pics make it look like trans black, but in person, it has a green to it. Maybe it changed over time??? It's hooked up with 10s at the moment and it plays great. 10s usually make my hands cramp up after a few minutes, but the action is pretty nice on this one. One plinky fret if you do a bend around the 19th, but I don't mind. I got this for what I believe is a great price, so I'm happy. Oh yeah, the headstock. A previous owner put the Gibson logo on and did a terrible refinish, so I ordered the silver Epiphone vintage logo and silver "Les Paul model" sig and while I'm at it, I'll try my hand at gluing in some corners or cutting the top and doing a Gibson style headstock. Always wanted to try that on an Epiphone.







 
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Re: NGD--another Epiphone!

Thanks guys. The seller told me it was the fellow who owned it before him, who is a friend of his who put the Gibson logo on it. I think it looks dopey, lol.

I wish the green hue would come out in the photos, but it doesn't.
 
Re: NGD--another Epiphone!

Good luck with reshaping the headstock. Here's something goofy I did to a couple of my Epi headstocks. I just drilled a couple little holes into the flat spots and screwed in some studs,002.jpg then screw on some spikes. Pretty \m/METAL\m/ looking I think. Plus if some idiot jumps up on stage to mess with anyone you can spike them in the head.
 
Re: NGD--another Epiphone!

The "green" hue is the clear coat varnish yellowing over the trans black.
 
Re: NGD--another Epiphone!

I would just get rid of the Gibson logo and put the Epiphone decal on it. Here's why , Epiphone headstocks are narrower than Gibsons from top to bottom. So trying to replicate a Gibson headstock on one of those would be pretty useless .
 
Re: NGD--another Epiphone!

AFAIK, the Japanese have never used that headstock for epiphones, and there were no 1960 tributes in 2003.

At any rate, great looking top!
 
Re: NGD--another Epiphone!

I agree with leaving the guitar's decal intact agreeing with the "great story" comment. I have both Gibbys and Epi's and have bought Epi's where I fell in love with a finish or color and then did my usual swap out of the electronics and have killer looking and sounding guitars for a very very reasonable spend. It's funny and don't get me wrong, my LP's sound incredible and I get many compliments but when I play out with my modded Epi's I get a ton of compliments to how purdy she is.

Nice axe and thanks for sharing
 
Re: NGD--another Epiphone!

I'd prolly just leave it,at least for a while.

Not like anyone that knows is really gonna care,esp if you got it that way...

.02
 
Re: NGD--another Epiphone!

You know Jeff, its strange. When I bought it, I checked to make sure it came with the classic 57s, that it had the push pull pots etc, but I didn't check the serial number until I got it. No year was ever mentioned by the seller. Based on your post, I called Gibson and they said the serial number is not coming up in their system. He said the "F" means it was made in either Korea (epi) or Japan (epi elitist), and this ain't no elitist! He also didn't know if they made the tribute in 2003, but I've seen them advertised on da Bay (like that means anything.) I said I used the serial number tracker and he said that's like a Wikipedia for serial numbers, and that most of it is mis-info.

EDIT: In the link, our very own Ed Hunter says he bought one in 2012 and the serial number started with F. Turns out it is just a regular old made in China Tribute. One poster says the serial numbers aren't deciphered by the serial number decoder so it just throws out there that "F" means Japan.

http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/epiphone-les-pauls/221861-epiphone-1960-tribute-japan.html

At least I know its not a fake, lol.
 
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Re: NGD--another Epiphone!

There are F serial numbers of the japanese guitars...F for Fugi Gen Gakki or however it is spelled (the factory that made a ton of classic MIJ Les Pauls, BITD, like Tokai).

But for sale In Country they would have the Gibson headstock like the Orvilles that preceeded them . As an Elite or Elitist series for export they would have a more paddle shaped headstock somewhat like a Hamer.
 
Re: NGD--another Epiphone!

JeffB said:
There are F serial numbers of the japanese guitars...F for Fugi Gen Gakki or however it is spelled (the factory that made a ton of classic MIJ Les Pauls, BITD, like Tokai).

But for sale In Country they would have the Gibson headstock like the Orvilles that preceeded them . As an Elite or Elitist series for export they would have a more paddle shaped headstock somewhat like a Hamer.
Click to expand...

Yep. Quite familiar with both of those headstocks. Soooo many times I nearly pulled the trigger on an Orville, but never did. This was when you could get one for like three or four bills shipped.
 
Re: NGD--another Epiphone!

Now this gives me ideas for my Epi.;)

attachment.php


Congrats to the OP for your purchase. I myself own a 2006 Epi LP Standard I bought back in January and this guitar is a real player. I'm modifying it at the moment, but it's a guitar I plan to keep for a long while, mostly likely a lifetime.:)
 
Re: NGD--another Epiphone!

While I was really jacked at the idea to do a Gibson style headstock, I actually really like the Epiphone headstocks on my vintage Casino and original Genesis guitars. It looks like they would be easier to replicate than the Gibson headstock, and it would give the guitar a different look. I could still do the Gibby think if I don't like the way it comes out, but I really do like the old Epi headstock. Just can't bond with these new ones, never did.

Here's what I mean.

 
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