So I did it (almost) - Blackout Gibbo

Rex_Rocker

Well-known member
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I've always loved the tone of my Gibson Les Paul Tribute. I've experimented with several pickups in it. I've even come to tolerate the fat neck and the tiny frets, LOL. But I've never been sold on the whole boomer-burst aesthetics (J/K).

I want my guitar to look as good as it sounds, so I decided to make a little less old-school-looking and more modern and sleek. I got it Gotoh self-locking tuners, Schaller STM roller bridge, Grover straplocks, and a Gotoh aluminum tailpiece (as well as the black plastics and Fishman Fluences that you guys already saw it with before).

So they got here today, and I swapped them out, but the metric studs did not fit the stock Gibson inserts. So I removed them, and the Gotoh inserts are too narrow for the holes, LOL. So I had to leave the nickel studs for now. Gonna have to suck it up and buy Authentic™ tailpiece studs somewhere. Does anyone know where I can get some in black that will fit?

So how do you guys like it? I love it!
 
All that black looks really good on that guitar. Nice job.

It seems that I've seen studs that fit an aftermarket bridge to Gibson inserts somewhere. Can't remember where so I can't help you. Sorry. Good luck finding them.
 
Thank you, guys!

I've found Kluson makes brass ones with USA threads. But I'm in Canada, and I'm moving soon, so I need to find a place that can get them to me FAST before I move, LOL.
 
Very nice guitar, I have the same one. I kinda did the same to mine but not black. I agree this is an excellent guitar, very resonate. I opted for the 498t/490r set in mine. Nice mods my man.
 
Thanks, man! Honestly, if mine had come with the 498T in the bridge rather than the 490T, I wouldn't have changed it out. Maybe I would've removed the cover, but I love me some 498T action.
 
Yes I just replaced the bridge and left the neck alone when I rewired. I remove the PCB's from all my modern collection guitars and put in pots and capacitors and a pure tone output jack (a real wiring harness).
 
I've had a few different pickups in mine looking for the right one, hahaha. Duncan Black Winter, DiMarzio X2N, Gibson 500T, Fishman Fluence KSE Ceramic, Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic, Fishman Fluence Will Adler Bridge, but I think I might have finally settled on the Modern Alnico for now.

Honestly, all of them have sounded good. It's just the guitar that makes anything sound good, LOL, but if I had to pick a least favorite one, it surely would be the X2N. It was just kinda dark and bloated compared to the rest.
 
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OK... so my Tribute had a regression.

I kinda like it. Looks kinda cheap, tho, LOL. Like an Epi LP100. But I mean... it is cheap for a Gibson.

I did notice the sound changed a little. I guess different bridge materials. The black Schaller was Zamac with Brass saddles. The API is Aluminum, no idea what the saddles are made of. Sounds like it has a little less low mid content now. I kinda like it. Still way fatter than my Epi, tho.
 
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This is what it looked like before the regresssion... honestly, much cooler, LOL. But I kinda dig the nickel hardware better. The Grovers (with the Kluson-type buttons) are more stable than the Black Gotohs, and the bridge I feel sounds more lively... not sure how much is placebo effect, though.

I might just swap the black plastics back in.
 
I've got a gothic Epiphone model explorer, it's always been my number one guitar.
My first dream guitar ever was a black Les Paul Custom with the gold hardware. It sort of is to an extent, though I prefer rosewood boards and cream binding nowadays. I'd prefer a solid black LP Standard.

But I remember when I first Yahoo'd (not sure if Google was even around back then) "Metal Les Paul", the Gothics were the first thing that popped up, and I immediately wanted one. Honestly, that's kinda what I was going for blacking my Tribute out. Too bad it still has the boomeburst finish, LOL.
 
My first dream guitar ever was a black Les Paul Custom with the gold hardware. It sort of is to an extent, though I prefer rosewood boards and cream binding nowadays. I'd prefer a solid black LP Standard.

But I remember when I first Yahoo'd (not sure if Google was even around back then) "Metal Les Paul", the Gothics were the first thing that popped up, and I immediately wanted one. Honestly, that's kinda what I was going for blacking my Tribute out. Too bad it still has the boomeburst finish, LOL.

A single can of Flat black krylon will fix that for around $6. If you have the cajones to do it ha ha ha.
 
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