Epiphone sg electronics upgrade suggestions

[dignlivn]

This is for an Asian Epiphone sg,,btw

Thanks for your suggestions,
Bob

 

[Byrdman]

I would put 50's wiring in it and Gibson P90's. BTW, I almost bought a Korean Epi SG a few months ago. Didnt pull the trigger and went back a few weeks later and it was gone

That's what I planned on doing to that one. I have the P90's and most of the electronic components in a box in the closet.

 

[dignlivn]

Thanks,

Funny you mentioned P90's, I was giving that some thought.along with USA pots and switches.
Curious, are there too many choices, when it comes to P90's??

 

[Byrdman]

Thanks,

Funny you mentioned P90's, I was giving that some thought.along with USA pots and switches.
Curious, are there too many choices, when it comes to P90's??

I picked up the Epiphone pictured below as my first P90 guitar and although I liked it a lot, the neck was chunky and it had terrible neck dive which was a pain in the ass playing with the band. But it did sound great!

I did a lot of research and most of the info I read said that the Gibson P90's were as good or better than almost everything. In fact, most great reviews were narrowed down to Gibson, SD, and Lollar as the most with positive/favorite choices. I just happen to find a set of used Gibsons on FBMP for $120, so I got them. If I would have found SD's or Lollar's around that price, I would have gotten those. So, yes there are a lot of choices, but from my research, all the choices out there (within reason) are going to sound similar and pretty good. It's old technology and anyone can do it with small differences in tone. Get the best ones you can for the least amount of money is what I went with.

I rewired the same guitar with 50's wiring with the parts from Toneman.com. Unfortunately for that guitar, it had to get moved on due to the neck and dive issues, but I will have a P90 guitar again one day and I have everything I need when I find a suitable husk.

 

[Chocol8]

Pickups to taste will be the biggest change. I will replace pots if I don't like the taper or because they don't last, and when doing so, if not before, I replace tone caps with basic but good foil types. Hard no to snake oil or ceramics. I also almost always replace the selector switches because as simple of a deign as they are, for some reason the cheap copies don't last reliably. Input jacks I usually keep until I have a problem which is rare.

Like pickups, 50's vs 60's wiring is a matter of preference. Same goes for things like split hum buckers and series/parallel switching. I have tried it all, and I have come to the conclusion that if I like it as a hum bucker, I will probably not like it split, and I gravitate more and more towards simple switching as I find myself not using the options anywhere near as much as I think I might.

 

[Byrdman]

Pickups to taste will be the biggest change. I will replace pots if I don't like the taper or because they don't last, and when doing so, if not before, I replace tone caps with basic but good foil types. Hard no to snake oil or ceramics. I also almost always replace the selector switches because as simple of a deign as they are, for some reason the cheap copies don't last reliably. Input jacks I usually keep until I have a problem which is rare.

Like pickups, 50's vs 60's wiring is a matter of preference. Same goes for things like split hum buckers and series/parallel switching. I have tried it all, and I have come to the conclusion that if I like it as a hum bucker, I will probably not like it split, and I gravitate more and more towards simple switching as I find myself not using the options anywhere near as much as I think I might.

I always replace my electronics in Epiphones. I have had too many switches, jacks, and wiring cause trouble. Usually never the pots, but the wiring looks like a rats nest when it comes from the factory and solder connections always come apart eventually so while I'm in there, I just replace it all and clean up the wiring. Between what is laying around, and what I need to order, it's cheap insurance vs not working at practice or a gig.

I agree no snake oil, I just prefer 50's wiring on the tone control vs modern and caps are a dollar a dozen. YMMV...

 

[Jarick]

Depends on the Epiphone. If it's one of the $100 bolt on models then I wouldn't bother. If it's a nicer SG like a 61 reissue then some 500k CTS pots and Switchcraft switch and input jack would be a good start. And pickups to taste.

 

[Chocol8]

There is definitely some value to the replace it all while you have it on the bench approach.

 

[dignlivn]

Thanks y'all

I picked it up, because I always wanted to try
One. But the Gibsons where out of my budget.
Still are, now I'm 68 and got this epi,needs TLC.
Don't like the taper of the pots or the input jack .
The neck had way too much relief, so that's where I started. It's much better now and finally intonates close enough for me.
I'm a less is best kinda player, and have no use
For anything digital. I've been mainly playing my Martin for the last decade.lol.
I'll research more about the p 90,s
I've read, Warren Haynes has seen the light on them.

 

[dignlivn]

BTW
It's a set neck.