Pickup Change for Epiphone Joe Pass Guitar

**Spook410** · 06-13-2012, 12:04 AM

I have only done this once so I'm not the voice of experience, but I do think you'll like the wiring harness/fishing line better. I used something called Mason hard monofiliment rather than normal fishing line. If you get 20lb test or above it's quite stiff and won't tangle with adjacent wires and pots quite as easily. I'm curious to see how you continue to feel about the Stewmac PuPs. I've been stalking Ebay for some 57 classic's or Seth Lovers but those are cheaper, could be returned if there were an issue, and might be just as good.

**Cincinnatislim** · 06-17-2012, 08:14 PM

I rewired an Epiphone Sheraton II with some custom wound PAF style pickups and a pre assembled wiring harness from Mojo Tone. I'm pretty happy with the sound and the final results. They also offer a fair amount of detail on how to do it with a 335 (which is harder to do than a full hollow body): Installing a Mojotone 335 Assembly

And let's face it -- other than the fact that it says Epiphone (instead of Gibson) on it and the guitar might have only cost $500 -- with a $400 upgrade in electronics (pickups and wiring), I like to think that it's on par or very close to a much more expensive 335. I'm sure there are some purists out there that would disagree and I'm sure there are some exceptions to the rule.

**Soon** · 06-18-2012, 07:58 PM

Wait, where did you get the rosewood pickguard?

**MColtrane** · 06-20-2012, 11:59 PM

Really sick mods...id like to pick up one and try that myself

**Badchili** · 02-09-2014, 12:53 PM

I have a Joe Pass and I am looking for a Bibsby Gold Vibrato and gold roller bridge. Any body know where I can buy those?

**mongrel** · 02-10-2014, 11:40 AM

Yesterday afternoon I found a used Dimarzio 36th Anniversary with chrome cover for $60 so I took it home and installed it in the neck of my 2006 blonde Epi Joe Pass. I've had VV HCC's and Duncan Phat Cats in there and the 36th Anniversary blows them all away. Even with the TI Swings that have been on the guitar since around 2008. Its bright with lots of complexity and a real healthy output that seems to blend well with the Phat Cat bridge. I may restring it with Chromes to tone it down a bit.

**mongrel** · 02-10-2014, 04:19 PM

Shortly after I pulled the stock humbuckers from my Joe Pass, I was curious and took one of them apart. The pole screws screwed into the parafin potting and nothing else. I also had a Dot for awhile and it had the same pickups. All four of them were labeled "Epi Les Paul 57 Bridge". The Joe Pass was made in Incheon, RK, in 2006 and the Dot was made by Samick in 1999. Later I had a Samick JZ123 for a while and it had the gold covered humbuckers that were way better than the two Epiphone examples I had. So maybe its just the luck of the draw.

**voxss** · 02-10-2014, 04:47 PM

i have a joe pass lying around...i like the feel of it..and the look....im sure it could sound better ..have the Monarch..ill get googling on other peoples projects with it...advice etc welcome...thank you

**Phil in London** · 02-24-2014, 01:50 PM

interesting project... !

I am going through something similar with my Epi JP, 1994, just changed the neck pickup with a Lollar Charlie Christian (humbucker size) pickup. The result is very interesting, the guitar suddenly sounds very acoustic and woody, totally different tonal quality. I can only fully recommend this mod, the Lollar CC is a great investment.

Just bought a P90 type (again humbucker size) to mod the bridge position as well. Wooden pickguard shipping from the US is expected to arrive soon...

its fun!

**Doctor Jeff** · 02-24-2014, 03:41 PM

I got my JP back from the luthier guy--only charged $35 to remove and resolder all the connections from the neck pickup(!). I was thinking about trading it for a Peerless Sunset, but when I A/B'd them I found the JP played and sounded practically as good as the Peerless. The jumbo Peerless frets take a little getting used to, but otherwise it's a nice guitar.

I have been running the JP through a Fishman Loudbox Artist--the sweepable antifeedback control removes a lot of the tone buildup with some of the middle frequencies and really balances out the sound. I don't have any complaints with the guitar or the pickups at all.

**Phil in London** · 02-28-2014, 05:30 AM

Originally Posted by mongrel

Shortly after I pulled the stock humbuckers from my Joe Pass, I was curious and took one of them apart. The pole screws screwed into the parafin potting and nothing else. I also had a Dot for awhile and it had the same pickups. All four of them were labeled "Epi Les Paul 57 Bridge". The Joe Pass was made in Incheon, RK, in 2006 and the Dot was made by Samick in 1999. Later I had a Samick JZ123 for a while and it had the gold covered humbuckers that were way better than the two Epiphone examples I had. So maybe its just the luck of the draw.

Did the same thing - here is the Epi pup after surgery.... probably one of the sloppiest pieces of gear I have ever seen...

**mongrel** · 02-28-2014, 09:37 AM

Yes, quite a messy piece of kit. I am still toying with getting one of those Lollar CC 'bucker-sized pickups for the neck of my Joe Pass. How does the sound compare with the Tele style neck pickup he sells that has been well demonstrated by Tim Lerch on YouTube?

**Phil in London** · 02-28-2014, 12:04 PM

well, difficult to say... the Epi has no S400 body, but still, archtop reacts different from Tele (sorry to state the obvious)... the key point for me is that the CC bucker gives me 'that jazzy tone' while still keeping a good deal of acoustic quality... its different from buckers and p90 and I believe quite unique...