Jazz-up my Epiphone 56 Les Paul Pro

[Rob MacKillop]

I have an Epiphone "56 Les Paul Pro" Gold Top with two P90s, which, since day one, has been set up for slide - high action, thick round wounds. It has a fat, heavy neck. I'm thinking it might be fun to:

1. put Thomstik flatwounds on, maybe 12s
2. get the action lowered (might need a truss rod adjustment)
3. upgrade the stock P90 neck pickup - who makes a great P90 for jazz?
4. maybe upgrade pots, etc, and gets some shielding in there, it can be a little noisy

Any suggestions/advice?

Epiphone specs: Epiphone 1956 Les Paul Standard PRO

[339 in june]

I'd go step by step, low investment first :
Start with a good set-up with flats with the gauge you like and see the improvement in sound and playability. I guess it will be huge.
Then you'll see if you need to change pick-ups.
P90 are single coil, so I don't think they can be as silent as HB are.

[Rob MacKillop]

Well, I think the strings sound great, now that I've put them on and lowered the action. The pickups are actually quite good already. Such a heavy guitar, though, and the neck more than the body.

I can't believe this is a £300 guitar!

[Longways to Go]

A Gibson p90 would be a big step up from the Epiphone p90

[Rob MacKillop]

Or a Bare Knuckle...or one from The Creamery in Manchester - I put one of their Fat Tele replacements in my Squire, quite a transformation!

[docbop]

I might go with a set of hum-canceling P90's.

[Rob MacKillop]

I've read a few comments saying that the hum-cancelling versions take something away from the beloved P90 quality, more so than hum-cancelling single-coils for Strats. But everything on the internet is wrong, isn't it? :-)

[SamBooka]

I've read a few comments saying that the hum-cancelling versions take something away from the beloved P90 quality, more so than hum-cancelling single-coils for Strats. But everything on the internet is wrong, isn't it? :-)

I have never had a problem with hum on my p90s unless i am sitting too close to my laptop. So I have 0 gig experience with one and I never use them in high gain situations.

If this is a fun project and not a working tool go with a trad p90.

That said I have a set of Epi p90s at home that I used for a couple of projects. They were fine, I have a couple of Lollars that I love but before you swap pickups do the rest of the stuff.

Not a big fan of better quality pots/caps right away but the values are important (and only your ears know which values are "right")

Change the strings (although I like rounds on solid bodies, even for jazz). Play with the pickup height. try 500k pots vs 300K .. linears vs audio. Roll back the tone control using a .047 cap vs .018.

I had an early 90s Epi LP standard and the biggest improvement to the guitar was a replacment corian nut.

[docbop]

I've read a few comments saying that the hum-cancelling versions take something away from the beloved P90 quality, more so than hum-cancelling single-coils for Strats. But everything on the internet is wrong, isn't it? :-)

For Jazz it might be a good thing, some P90's can be harsh sounding. A buddy has a Gibson LP with P90's and recently put in hum canceling Lindy Fralins in and sound's nice.

[Rob MacKillop]

I'm thinking the Blue Note:

https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/mai...p=blue_note_90

Or the Half Note:

https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/mai...p=half_note_90

Both should be OK for jazz.

[docbop]

I'm thinking the Blue Note:

https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/mai...p=blue_note_90

Or the Half Note:

https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/mai...p=half_note_90

Both should be OK for jazz.

I like the Half Note for Jazz. The Blue Note has the crunch that I would like for funky rock.

[Rob MacKillop]

That was my first thought, but they mention under the Suitability tab at the side that the Half Note is best for archtops, the Blue Note for solids. It's a gamble.

[Rob MacKillop]

Ordered the Half Note after a discussion with Ben at Bare Knuckle.

1 x BKP Custom Audio Taper 550K CTS ¾" long shaft pot
1 x Jensen BKP 0.015μfd capacitor
1 x Half Note 90 Single

[SamBooka]

Ordered the Half Note after a discussion with Ben at Bare Knuckle.

1 x BKP Custom Audio Taper 550K CTS ¾" long shaft pot
1 x Jensen BKP 0.015μfd capacitor
1 x Half Note 90 Single

interesting.. i am a big fan of the smaller cap values.

[Rob MacKillop]

Recommended by Bare Knuckle...so I'll go with that for starters. We shall see :-)

[Herbie]

Sounds great idea! I am big fan of LP's with P90s.

Love my Lollar 50's Winds in Gibson R6, but have not played jazz with them. Tried the Half Notes too, but again: only in rockish enviroment. Sold them quickly.

If the hum is a problem You could renew the wiring of the guitar with sturdy braided shield. If the expensive guitars have cold soldering now and then why not the cheap ones too! Also a copper tape on the pot cavity as a grounding is a cheap help for electrical disturbances.

And of course: turn that bloody volume down after the song!

Good luck in Your 'Solibody and Soul'!

(Don't forget the pics and clips!)

[Rob MacKillop]

Ha, sure thing, Herbie. I'll be giving it to a good guitar tech in Edinburgh. I hope to have it all done in two weeks or so.