Phil McKnight Shows Off Our New Epiphone Hardware and Electronics Upgrade Kit

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  • čas přidán 16. 07. 2019
  • www.stewmac.com/item/Phil McKnight from the popular CZcams Channel 'Know Your Gear' introduces our new Epiphone Hardware Upgrade Kit. Many of these Epi's are really great guitars and can play like their much more expensive brothers and sisters with some new hardware and a little work you can do yourself.
    Items Used In this video:
    Epiphone Hardware Upgrade Kit
    www.stewmac.com/item/2700
    StewMac Parsons Street Humbucker Pickups
    www.stewmac.com/item/101564
    CTS Control Pots
    www.stewmac.com/item/0115
    Top Hat Bell Reflector Knob
    www.stewmac.com/item/1195-F
    Emerson Paper-In-Oil Tone Capacitors
    www.stewmac.com/item/1495
    Switchcraft Toggle Switches
    www.stewmac.com/item/1240
    Switchcraft Output Jack
    www.stewmac.com/item/4652
    Shielded Push-back Wire - 16 inches
    www.stewmac.com/item/5950
    Guitar Tech Screwdriver Set
    www.stewmac.com/item/3000
    ESP Multi Spanner
    www.stewmac.com/item/1344
    Guitar Nutdrivers (Set of 3)
    www.stewmac.com/item/5893
    Peg Head Reamer
    www.stewmac.com/item/0343
    Solomon Soldering Station
    www.stewmac.com/item/0501
    Depth Stop Drill Bit
    www.stewmac.com/item/1710
    - - - - - - - - - - - -
    StewMac has everything you need to set up, repair or build guitars.
    Everything is 100% guaranteed. Fast worldwide shipping.
    Shop StewMac: www.stewmac.com
    Facebook: / stewmac
    Instagram: @StewMac_Guitar
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Komentáře • 327

  • @malicesmom
    @malicesmom Před 5 lety +14

    Nice tutorial on this upgrade kit. Thanks for doing a before/after sound comparison. You can definitely hear how muddy the old pickups were compared to the new ones.

  • @GuitargloucesterCoUk
    @GuitargloucesterCoUk Před 4 lety +43

    What I've found upgrading my Epiphone so far:
    1) Probuckers are fine pickups no need to replace them
    2) Replace the nut - bone will give a bit more sustain and with nut sauce will help with bends. Stock nut is too high, you can fix this with a set of nut files if you don't want to change the nut.
    3) Lower pickups to about 3mm from depressed string at last fret. Adjust up gain on amp. This gives you a better sweet spot and more dynamic control.
    4) Adjust polls on pickups to reduce 'mud'. From stock flat setting adjust as follows
    Low E no change
    A string one turn up
    D string one and a half turns up
    G string one turn down
    B string one turn up
    High E one turn up
    This adjusts for different string core thickness and increases clarity.
    5) Buy gotoh bridge 6mm holes for Epiphones. Better machined than stock. Apply nut sauce.
    6) Install metal plate on jack socket, the plastic ones break. Make sure you get a curved one with the right spaced holes.
    7) Screw stock tail piece down and over wrap strings as Bonamassa does.
    8) Setup. Level frets if necessary, crown them. Check neck relief and reduce string action as per preference.
    9) You could install short switchcraft toggle switch for better reliability. (Or just clean stock once a year).
    10) Stock electronics are fine. Not much difference in changing them. IMO only worth it if you want more features ie. phase cancelling, parallel.series wiring etc. If you want every possible combination search Jimmy Page wiring diagram - good luck there are wires everywhere !
    11) Leave the tuners as they are.
    Total cost not much !

    • @LuisSalgadoG95
      @LuisSalgadoG95 Před 3 lety +1

      What if my guitar has Alnico Classics, I think there is a difference in upgrading the pickups then. Also, my guitar comes with linear taper pots that roll off too quickly. Stock Epiphone bridge rattles sometimes..

    • @simondoutre6225
      @simondoutre6225 Před 3 lety +1

      I got an Epiphone VE LP the tuners were terrible, I also hated headstock so shaved it down to a melody maker style and which it basically is, resprayed in satin OD. Looks great with new snot tuners andAlso took out humbuckers made scratchplate for neck and put a dogear p90 in bridge. gotoh bridge, stock tailpiece and earthed the neck position on toggle which made it a killswitch. It's so nice now I really like it. If you want to refinish one of these the VE is great, the paint is so thin and it had no clear

    • @ramencurry6672
      @ramencurry6672 Před 2 lety

      I did similarly upgrades. Paid around $500 to a repair man to do it.

    • @jonah_hosea
      @jonah_hosea Před 2 lety +1

      I like this. However I might consider upgrading tuners. String bends send me out of tune in my epi lp standard.

    • @InGrindWeCrust2010
      @InGrindWeCrust2010 Před 2 lety +1

      @@LuisSalgadoG95 Start with the pots, caps, and wiring. Only then would I bother with new pickups, personally. Follow this poster's instructions for adjusting pickup height and pole piece (screw) height, as that can make a tremendous difference.
      If you bother replacing the bridge, find a solid steel or proper density steel/zinc alloy. Too many times I have clients buy replacement hardware that is made from materials lower quality than the stock items, or no better. Tailpiece should be solid as above OR aluminum. Bridge saddles to taste (for example roller bridge, steel, brass, Graph-tech, etc.).

  • @theguitargeezer878
    @theguitargeezer878 Před 5 lety +15

    I got an Epiphone les paul from Sweetwater a few months ago. It came with Grover tuners, 490 and 498 Gibson pickups, Ebony Fretboard etc. Its a beautiful guitar, and sounds and plays better then a Gibson I recently got rid of. Epiphone has really stepped up there game in the last few years.

  • @SCALEBEASTS
    @SCALEBEASTS Před 3 lety +6

    It might sound simple, but the basic tips for keeping parts organized and ready to return to stick are very good.

  • @brockadcock2735
    @brockadcock2735 Před 5 lety +11

    I love that you guys included Phil in this video. I believe he is one of the few guys on youtube helping people improve their instruments that actually knows what hes talking about. This was very well thought out. God bless the team at StewMac.

    • @get_downed_boi6270
      @get_downed_boi6270 Před rokem

      fr bro . phil is a legend.

    • @markmark8174
      @markmark8174 Před 10 měsíci

      I wish he practiced a little more.

    • @lasvegasira
      @lasvegasira Před 5 měsíci

      Lololol. He’s a shill for overpriced stew Mac snake oil products. He should feel ashamed for pushing this stuff.

  • @johnpick8336
    @johnpick8336 Před 5 lety +2

    Congrats on your new gig Phillip !!!!

  • @anthonycongiano8890
    @anthonycongiano8890 Před 4 lety +1

    Thanks for this! The pickups and tuners are the main upgrade for sure. I picked up a set of Gibson 57s that came out of an SG (the owner went with active pickups) for $40 and a set of Grover Tuners and dropped them in my 1997 Epiphone Les Paul Standard. I didn't change the pots because the tone wasn't muddy and at 10 I get lots of bite and clarity. I might drop my multimeter on the pots and check if they are 500k and add 0.22 caps to see how it affects my tone but honestly, I don't think there's a need to go with paper and oil unless you're doing a retro or vintage guitar and the owner 'needs' to have old school parts. Big thanks for letting us hear the sound difference! Far too often the tech just says, "I hear a difference" but never let us here the before... .thanks!

  • @dcabinet
    @dcabinet Před 5 lety +3

    Excellent video. Thanks for posting this.

  • @BrianSGuitars
    @BrianSGuitars Před 5 lety +3

    The new pickups sound really good!

  • @4ofwands
    @4ofwands Před 7 měsíci

    Great tutorial Phil! Little tips like the papers tape template and others are really helpful. Pickups are the heart of the electric and upgrade to a inexpensive guitar will usually improve the sound. Got a set of tele pickups from SM and much improved a rebuild 👍🏻

  • @mikeldld9267
    @mikeldld9267 Před 3 lety +1

    This Tape trick for the elektronics is so good!

  • @rocknroll1600
    @rocknroll1600 Před 3 lety +1

    Nice little guitar! Throw in some strap locks and it'll be ready to rock! Good job, Phil and StewMac!

    • @dericdomino
      @dericdomino Před 2 lety

      what? its a bolt on piece of crap thats why phil is replacing everything

  • @kellybeane7546
    @kellybeane7546 Před 2 lety

    The bags and the labels and cellphone videos are a must

  • @user-ey9of9qo5u
    @user-ey9of9qo5u Před 12 dny

    I did exactly the same with different components. I used the Gotoh Brudge, Tailpiece and locking tuners. Enormous upgrade already. I also changed pickups and wiring. The guitar cuts through the mix of the band and sounds not so muddy anymore. A standard Epiphone or a Squier is nice for practicing. Now you get a great sound on a stage for way less than a Gibson. The upgrade was so big I started to test different components. A luthier (fret job, setup) and always using fresh strings makes it that the guitar sounds better than a Gibson Les Paul Standard. I also made these changes to a Stratocaster (tremolo, tuners, wiring, pickups) and a Telecaster (only wiring and pickups). It’s not cheap . I love to test components and improve the sound of guitars now.

  • @robbievalentine8239
    @robbievalentine8239 Před 4 lety +1

    Great job Phil, and great service stew Mac!

  • @brockadcock2735
    @brockadcock2735 Před 5 lety +5

    Oh btw. I think you guys should add a Graphtech nut to the upgrade kit.

  • @silverdragon0000120
    @silverdragon0000120 Před 5 lety +2

    I wish they had upgraded kits for fishman pickups so I wouldn’t have to solder them whenever I get bored of them and put back the bareknuckle pickups. I wish they had emg solderless connections. I’m staying hopeful

  • @elenbrandt290
    @elenbrandt290 Před 5 lety +1

    Great Tips, Great Video - Thanks!

  • @ZinsWorld
    @ZinsWorld Před rokem

    great tips and advice brother!

  • @suegates5
    @suegates5 Před 5 lety +4

    🚩Great Upgrade! You made it look so simple. Stew Mac is a Great place. I've spoken with them, great Customer service. I wish I had a Workbench like that. No room. Really want to upgrade my Squire Stay. She's one of the last w/Rosewood fretboard. Also want some of those tools. Stew Mac Site has great videos. Great Job! Wanna fix my Squire..!lol 👍

  • @thomastommy1192
    @thomastommy1192 Před 5 lety +1

    Is this guitar for sale? Awesome video thanks for sharing. I hope you have a blessed summer.

  • @Captain-Nostromo
    @Captain-Nostromo Před 5 lety +11

    People complain about stewmac for their high prices but i think they are awesome,
    They got the right stuff and the tools your need. Might be a bit expensive but good quality. I am just about to order the DIY SG kit. Gonna paint it transparent Cherry 😎

    • @Shifty1940
      @Shifty1940 Před 5 lety +3

      Captain Nostromo their files have to be a 500% mark up

    • @gregmartin1757
      @gregmartin1757 Před 5 lety +6

      I like stewmac also.buy most of my luthier supplies from them.but I probably won't anymore if they keep putting this guy in their videos.

    • @Captain-Nostromo
      @Captain-Nostromo Před 5 lety +2

      Does it mean you don't like Phil? as I am concerned He is one of the best CZcamsr out there.
      And I am subscribing on many guitar channels.
      I am just Curious to know why?

    • @ErickC
      @ErickC Před 5 lety

      @@Captain-Nostromo : Probably because he doesn't make constipated BLEWS LAYYER TOAN faces when he plays.

    • @coreymineard
      @coreymineard Před 5 lety +2

      Greg Martin Same. This was a decent video, but I can’t stand that guy.

  • @stockscalper
    @stockscalper Před 4 lety +1

    Must have bought the $100 Epi. I have the Epiphone Standard Plus Top Pro and it came with the hardware that's in this kit. When I played it at Guitar Center it played as well as the much higher priced Gibsons and several Gibson models.

  • @TheNinjaCoffee
    @TheNinjaCoffee Před 5 lety +1

    I highly recommend the parson street over the golden age pickups. They have more clarity and articulate to the touch.

  • @zaz4667
    @zaz4667 Před 5 lety

    awesome! Thanks Phil!

  • @1RobHunter1
    @1RobHunter1 Před 2 lety

    Awesome upgrade!

  • @moose6676
    @moose6676 Před 7 měsíci

    Brilliant thanks 🙏🏻

  • @arlingtonhynes
    @arlingtonhynes Před 5 lety

    Have you guys looked at doing a hardware upgrade kit for the Squier Jag?

  • @JoeKrol
    @JoeKrol Před 5 lety +6

    So overall I like the idea, and I have a LP Custom made by epiphone that I have done some work on. Swapped the pots and switches for Switchcraft put oil filled caps and 50's wiring, new nut etc. I have not gotten to the pups yet...mostly because I'm pretty happy with the sound. Maybe it's just my 57+ year old ears or the less than perfect speakers on my lap desk but I didn't hear THAT much of a difference in the upgrades that Phil did. Also I think the point needs to be made clear that if you perform these upgrades and think you will get more money for the guitar when you sell it you are VERY MUCH mistaken. The guitar Phil is working on new is probably about $249 to which you are adding $342 of upgrades to it. That will NEVER equate to a total value of $591 on a resale. In fact it will mean little or nothing. Also only the player can decide if everything Phil has done provides $342 in enhanced tone and performance. Eventually I will likely trade out my pups for the same pups he used here with the gold covers but I also plan to leave my instruments to my kids so resale is not an issue. Plus I like monkeying around with my instruments. From Watching his channel I know Phil is a huge supporter of using locking tuners so I was surprised he didn't use them here. I guess he was just using what Stew Mac gave him to use.

    • @kennethm.380
      @kennethm.380 Před 2 lety

      Locking tuners would actually be an upgrade worth doing. The rest is mostly nonsense.

  • @ronnienose8608
    @ronnienose8608 Před 5 lety +12

    I can hardly tell any difference when clean, but it was more noticeable with a bit of overdrive. I can't justify the price though. Surely Stew Mac would sell far more if the prices were lower?

    • @adamturnbull7826
      @adamturnbull7826 Před 3 lety

      So would Rolex but will they listen to me? 😂

    • @InGrindWeCrust2010
      @InGrindWeCrust2010 Před 2 lety +1

      You can put together your own wiring harness for a lot less money. If your Epiphone came with tuners, you can skip upgrading those. StewMac sells at the going rate for a Gotoh tailpiece and bridge, which are good quality, but that might not make as big of a difference. Change the tuners if they're cheap junk, then the wiring, switches, and pots, then if you still don't like the sound, the pickups. Great pickups can be bought for far less money these days.

  • @stephanguitar9778
    @stephanguitar9778 Před 3 lety +1

    I am chasing used Epiphone Studios on ebay right now but adding the cost of these upgrades (as sold by StewMac) would bring the price up higher than a new Epiphone modern or most of the other higher end epi's. Or conversly for the same price as the kit I could get the new Epi 2020 Studio.

  • @TheTacdriver
    @TheTacdriver Před 5 lety +3

    $345!!!! Holy crap!!! I just bought a used 2009 les paul standard for $125 Cleaned it up and rewired , changed jack and cleaned and lubed all pots and the switch and its sounds better than most of the used high dollar epi"s I have looked at. Most all of stew macs stuff is WAY over priced. I made all the tools to do fret jobs and it cost me $20 bucks.

    • @klonklone7787
      @klonklone7787 Před 2 lety

      Doesn’t sound as good to others as it does to you friend.

  • @Davefender100
    @Davefender100 Před 5 lety +21

    would be cheaper just to buy a Gibson Studio Les Paul

    • @bestplans9051
      @bestplans9051 Před 5 lety

      Apparently you've never heard the pickups on a Studio lmao.

    • @Davefender100
      @Davefender100 Před 5 lety +1

      William Scarbrough I have had a studio since 2009 with 490R neck &490T bridge which are great pickups never had a problem with them if your sound was bad can only imagine faulty pickups or just plain bad playing

    • @Davefender100
      @Davefender100 Před 5 lety +1

      @David Wang or just learn to play properly then you don't have to upgrade anything a good player makes any guitar sound good

    • @bestplans9051
      @bestplans9051 Před 5 lety +1

      @@Davefender100 Yeah explain that to every professional who chooses not to use stock pickups most of the itme.

    • @Davefender100
      @Davefender100 Před 5 lety

      @@bestplans9051 go watch premier guitar lynyrd skynyrd rig rundown you will see what good guitarists use especialy Mark Matejka a stock standard strat straight of the shelf no mods at all and only two FX pedals these guys play using guitar amp and skill

  • @biscuitranchproductions4946

    I am thinking about buying one of these guitars!

  • @F_I_J_I_W_A_T_E_R
    @F_I_J_I_W_A_T_E_R Před 5 lety +32

    How does a lighter tailpiece improve sustain? I always thought *more* weight improved sustain. Not knocking it, just curious what the difference is.

    • @spenceralridge4958
      @spenceralridge4958 Před 5 lety +8

      Greg - I don’t know the answer to the sustain issue but it is pretty clear you don’t know much about Phil. If you spend some time on his channel I think you will see that he is a pretty straight shooter. He can make mistakes like anyone but your cynical statement is simply uninformed.

    • @ErickC
      @ErickC Před 5 lety +7

      @Axxe Mann : that is... not how sound works. The speed of sound increases in a denser material, which *reduces* dampening. This is one of the major reasons why Travis Beans and EGCs are so treble-heavy and sustain so long. The greater material density increasing sustain is literally the entire point of having a solid body guitar.

    • @orangeguitarmusik
      @orangeguitarmusik Před 5 lety +1

      Not trying to start an argument but I thought solid body guitars were made to reduce resonance thereby reducing feedback which is the problem with hollow body guitars.

    • @clamus68
      @clamus68 Před 5 lety +6

      Obviously people miss the point. He said the bridge transfers vibration of the string better due to the way the posts are and as an added benefit the aluminum stop tail piece is lighter. The bridge material does affect tone in so much that brass had a different sound than steel than aluminum. Is it a huge difference? Goodness no. Though some will tell you that it is. It's more like a TINY difference that rarely merits the cost.
      But what IS a difference is how well the bridge can transfer vibrations, and this bridge setup does that better than the stock Epiphone bridge and tail piece.

    • @ErickC
      @ErickC Před 5 lety +1

      @@orangeguitarmusik : That's part of it. When Les Paul set out to build a solid body guitar, it was because he wanted:
      1.) To hear the strings and nothing else
      2.) To have a lot of sustain
      3.) A reduction in feedback
      After an unsuccessful experiment with an acoustic guitar filled with rags, then plaster-of-Paris (!) he realized that the densest material he could find was a piece of railroad track. When this proved functional but impractical, he settled on a wood block.

  • @brandonmcginnis5407
    @brandonmcginnis5407 Před rokem

    Stupid question. Does string tension hold everything in place for the bridge and tailpiece? I have tom delonge epiphone es 333 and the bridge screws in and the tailpiece has clips that hold it in. I bought this to replace them because of corrosion. It's definitely not a snug fit for the bridge or tailpiece. It screws in just fine, but otherwise neither is a snug fit

  • @stephengrant8505
    @stephengrant8505 Před 3 lety

    How do I get rid of the Push/Pull knob .... I know probably a dumb question but I want just a plain HUMBUCKER

  • @offbeatbassgear
    @offbeatbassgear Před 5 lety +4

    The Golden Age pickups are a pretty decent value for the money and the one that I put in my G&L ASAT as a neck replacement is a really nice upgrade over the factory one.

  • @thepick5663
    @thepick5663 Před rokem

    Definitely heard a difference.

  • @ozflyer1
    @ozflyer1 Před 2 měsíci

    the new inspired by gibson epi has CTS pots and probucker p/ups...... they rock as they are. Yeah ok I changed my caps but thats it.

  • @richardmckrell4899
    @richardmckrell4899 Před 5 lety

    Stewmac just resells the parts at an up charge? Any value added by Stewmac?

  • @TexanUSMC8089
    @TexanUSMC8089 Před 2 lety +1

    Great bridge, but I want 18:1 ratio tuners.

  • @doc221978
    @doc221978 Před 4 lety +2

    I just modded an SG with active EMGs, Wilkinson roller bridge, locking tuners, bone nut, and jumbo frets.... Total cost was about $175, half the cost of this kit.

    • @stephanguitar9778
      @stephanguitar9778 Před 3 lety

      Did it make a big difference?

    • @doc221978
      @doc221978 Před 3 lety

      @@stephanguitar9778 I'm loving it. It plays great, and the EMGs are really pretty versatile. The biggest change is the jumbo frets though..... I never liked the thin frets used on the SG/LP.

  • @wayneconners2614
    @wayneconners2614 Před 2 lety

    Does the kit come with new wiring or do we need to keep the originals?

  • @yusdiy
    @yusdiy Před 5 lety +10

    Where is Mr. Erlewine? I hope he's doing well.

    • @gregmartin1757
      @gregmartin1757 Před 5 lety +2

      Yes.were is he? hope is okay and in good health.please! bring him back!

  • @rubbersoul132
    @rubbersoul132 Před 4 lety

    I have an Epiphone Les Paul Special II and I'm planning to change the bridge and tailpiece set of it with a roller ones, but I'm hesitant to buy online because I don't know its measurements, can you recommend or help me on this?

  • @gergemall
    @gergemall Před 2 lety

    Thank you

  • @Deedadee42069
    @Deedadee42069 Před 2 lety

    Question im buying the Golden Age parson humbuckers can i just use the stock wiring in my 2021 Epiphone Les Paul Standard 60s? Its CTS wiring???

  • @tracyc7813
    @tracyc7813 Před 5 lety

    The idea is a good one but they should have included a TusQ nut and price point of the "everything" kit is unreasonable for a guitar like this one. They need to offer a similar kit using Alpha pots, Orange drop caps that is priced more appropriately.

  • @northof50now
    @northof50now Před 5 lety +1

    Awesome Job Phil! Lots of improvement over the first spot. Best of luck with the new gig.

  • @johnraba9322
    @johnraba9322 Před 2 lety

    Sounds the same except either you had the volume turned up on the new pickups or they were just hotter.

  • @DaisyHollowBooks
    @DaisyHollowBooks Před 5 lety

    Cool. Shielding?

  • @torturedsoul8066
    @torturedsoul8066 Před 5 lety +1

    will work for guitar parts

  • @12south31
    @12south31 Před 4 lety +1

    Just picked up a new pick, or plectrum for you Brits, from Stew Mac. Only $20 each, same as any other pick but this one says Stew Mac!

  • @nickhem12
    @nickhem12 Před 3 lety

    Are these upgrade kits compatible with the epiphone special ii models?

  • @jimuelisgood9942
    @jimuelisgood9942 Před 3 lety

    What kind of neck rest you have looks nice

  • @rusty6314
    @rusty6314 Před 2 lety

    How about adding a treble bleed circuit to brighten high frequency at low volume, cheap upgrade.

  • @CosminNeagu
    @CosminNeagu Před 5 lety +1

    Biggest crossover yet

  • @monymakr45
    @monymakr45 Před 3 lety

    Did the new tuners require reaming to fit them?

  • @ErickC
    @ErickC Před 5 lety +3

    The only major gripe I have about Gotoh's metric version of the Nashville bridge is that they used Phillips head screws, which belong on absolutely nothing.

    • @ErickC
      @ErickC Před 4 lety

      @Thor Crowley : slotted, because Phillips head screws are only useful if you like stripping screws. Slotted screws are much harder to strip. Ideally, we'd probably use Allen heads, but that's probably overkill.

  • @philbivins7133
    @philbivins7133 Před 5 lety +1

    You know what they say about "assuming something" but I suppose this kit will fit a Harley Benton LP style guitar ie. SC 550 and SC Custom...thanks

    • @pdp977
      @pdp977 Před 4 lety

      From what I just heard you would actually make the HB worse. Don't know what country you're in, but for about £70 - which is probably about $80 now - you could get a pair of Blues Engines from Irongear that would make your guitar sing. www.irongear.co.uk/irongear_pickups_006.htm

  • @lordmorderca8110
    @lordmorderca8110 Před 5 lety +2

    I thought it was Tom Morello on the thumbnail XD

  • @ranman58635
    @ranman58635 Před 3 lety

    What did you do with the old hardware?

  • @irishwanderer4206
    @irishwanderer4206 Před 5 lety +1

    Nice guitar

  • @bobbob4652
    @bobbob4652 Před 4 lety

    Hell yeah.. new knobs make all the difference..😂

  • @guccitony2.027
    @guccitony2.027 Před 3 lety

    Does this work with the epiphone sg the normal one that costs 180

  • @kellybeane7546
    @kellybeane7546 Před 2 lety

    And write on the back with a sharpie pointing to the right spot

  • @johnbrasher1495
    @johnbrasher1495 Před 4 lety

    I couldn't hear much of a difference with the upgrade. Both sounded thick and muddy. I'm on a desktop with a nice set of speakers. This is just my experience, but when a guitar is dull and muddy, there isn't much that can improve it.
    Best advice in the vid is to hold on to the original components. If he sells the guitar, don't want to give away the StewMac parts. I think the new pots have to stay, though.

  • @joeyannece6197
    @joeyannece6197 Před 3 lety

    I like Phil. For me the only useful thing is the tape trick. Soldering outside the cavity. Put tape on your drill bit to set depth. Also to you guitar gurus out there: Why buy a fret rocker? Wont any properly sized metal straight edge do?

  • @Jpw824
    @Jpw824 Před 5 lety

    LP? Long Play?

  • @BigThomTattoos
    @BigThomTattoos Před 5 lety +2

    I literally was about to message Phil to ask if it was worth upgrading my Epiphone Special 2 because I see alot of Squire upgrading but, nothing for the Special 2.

    • @oneeyedlittleman
      @oneeyedlittleman Před 5 lety +3

      Thom Macy you can, but I’d advise against it. I would spend the money to get a used guitar that has an adjustable bridge instead of pumping money into a guitar that can’t be intonated

    • @oneeyedlittleman
      @oneeyedlittleman Před 5 lety

      @David Wang the special 2 or any one piece wraparound bridge does not work like that. You can't consistently intonate a wraparound because it's only adjustable at 2 points. Any adjustment to 1 string is an adjustment to all strings. If these bridges could be intonated better than "good enough" there wouldn't be an aftermarket full of attempts to fix the problem, but as they ship there will always be something off with the D and G strings.

  • @thomascelentano433
    @thomascelentano433 Před 5 lety +73

    Stupidly overpriced. No justification for that price when they cost as much as the guitar itself. You can get everything in this kit for way less.

    • @northof50now
      @northof50now Před 5 lety +3

      Oh shut up.

    • @Pgcmoore
      @Pgcmoore Před 5 lety +14

      yep, $342.24

    • @donaldmoser212
      @donaldmoser212 Před 5 lety +21

      Pgcmoore - OMG, if that is the actual price, that is crazy. That makes sense why he didn’t mention the price in the video or the description section.

    • @thomascelentano433
      @thomascelentano433 Před 5 lety +8

      @@northof50now
      No.

    • @benlogan430
      @benlogan430 Před 5 lety +7

      Dang, then you have an Epi that costs more than either of my LP Studios?

  • @johnpick8336
    @johnpick8336 Před 5 lety +2

    Stew Mac is high priced but in 30 years I have never had a problem with their quality and customer service...always a first quality supplier !

  • @frankmedina4230
    @frankmedina4230 Před 5 lety +1

    Love StewMac, ya the prices are a little high, but if anything goes wrong the customer service is absolutely amazing, and Its way worth the little extra cast. Sorry but McKnight is McBad! Please, please give us back Dan or Eric. :-)

  • @perihelion7798
    @perihelion7798 Před 5 lety +6

    Add the cost of this kit to the cost of the new guitar, and you could buy a pretty nice used Gibson, or a less advertised but excellent brand of guitar. The 'kit' is essentially a way for Stewmac to grab your money. After all the money and work---you still have an Epiphone, worth WAY less than the money and labor that you have put into it. Just saying...

    • @trentc7329
      @trentc7329 Před 5 lety +3

      It's fun to do. I like doing things like this and the skills learned are worth more than the cost of the parts.

    • @perihelion7798
      @perihelion7798 Před 5 lety

      @@trentc7329 OK, but you can learn on a very cheap guitar with very cheap parts, and work your way upwards. Eventually, you will realize that almost $600.00 for this guitar is just silly.

    • @bestplans9051
      @bestplans9051 Před 5 lety

      @@perihelion7798 Depends on your goal. I did this to my Epi and yeah it sounds better than a Gibson too. The haters may not like it but for my playing it was money well spent. I don't sell and trade so for me that's a moot point. I spent the extra money to get Seymour Duncan pickups as well. The scratchy Epi pots issue is gone as well and I don't have to worry about the finish of the guitar cracking over the years the way it does on a Gibson, or the QC issues either.

    • @perihelion7798
      @perihelion7798 Před 5 lety +1

      @@bestplans9051 OK...you make a valid point. For your personal use, this way was cost effective. As for myself, I prefer to buy each part, including the neck and body, and then make a brand new, unique guitar. I might keep it or sell it. A lot of the fun for me is the designing and building.

    • @bestplans9051
      @bestplans9051 Před 5 lety

      @@perihelion7798 Not a problem and no right or wrong if you wind up with an instrument that is good for you, then you've accomplished what you set out to do.

  • @devito4107
    @devito4107 Před 5 lety +50

    $342.24??!??! jesus christ at that point just buy a different guitar!

    • @asdf9890
      @asdf9890 Před 3 lety +7

      StewMac prices, yeah....enough said.

    • @billkoetting5197
      @billkoetting5197 Před 3 lety +7

      @@asdf9890 At that mod cost you will never recover it on a future sale. If you need to.

    • @fatfro1
      @fatfro1 Před 3 lety +4

      @@billkoetting5197 True story

    • @geraldhenrickson7472
      @geraldhenrickson7472 Před 2 lety +5

      In your humble and considerate opinion. For some it is the journey from which the most satisfaction is achieved, rather than the destination. Why have the same exact guitar that anyone can buy?

    • @JoshPendergrassFilms
      @JoshPendergrassFilms Před 2 lety +11

      I went through several fenders for years… but always went back to this same squier strat I always had. The way it felt in my hands just did it for me. I finally spent more than the guitars worth on upgrading tuners, pickups, trem, nut, cosmetic pieces, and more. Now if feels just the same and sounds better than any fender I’ve played til this day. It’s my number 1 and I love it to death. it was 100% worth it to me and I got so much enjoyment out of the mod process, it’s beyond worth it to me. No one will spend what everything on it is worth but that’s okay, I’ll never sell it, and the market value of it doesn’t matter, it’s the value it holds to you.

  • @GtrMan863
    @GtrMan863 Před 5 lety +2

    Phil , can you recommend a Classic vibe strat replacement vibrato bridge ?

  • @DougHinVA
    @DougHinVA Před měsícem

    ...and what does the kit cost?

  • @stu-j
    @stu-j Před 5 lety +1

    A set of epiphone probuckers and quick connection wiring will be soooooo much better than the overpriced pickups you picked

  • @seanpop2886
    @seanpop2886 Před 5 lety +4

    Nearly $350 (at the time of writing this)... There's a point when you suffer diminishing returns.
    If you just tap off the ceramic magnets and drop in alnico... Humm...

    • @trusso11783
      @trusso11783 Před 4 lety

      Sean Pop can you elaborate on that? I never did something li,e that before

    • @seanpop2886
      @seanpop2886 Před 4 lety

      @@trusso11783 replace the ceramic magnets and steel pole pieces with alnico slugs or magnets. Videos on CZcams get into it pretty well.

  • @DaveWestGuitar
    @DaveWestGuitar Před 3 lety +1

    If there were a way to replace “Epiphone” on the headstock with “Gibson” and change the headstock to match Gibson’s shape!

  • @angshu08
    @angshu08 Před 4 lety +1

    Has someone tried this upgrade kit? If yes, what is the feedback?
    I have gone though comments, but sadly I did not find anyone addressing this question.
    Thank you in advance!!!

    • @user-ey9of9qo5u
      @user-ey9of9qo5u Před 12 dny

      I did exactly the same with different components. I used the Gotoh Brudge, Tailpiece and locking tuners. Enormous upgrade already. I also changed pickups and wiring. The guitar cuts through the mix of the band and sounds not so muddy anymore. A standard Epiphone or a Squier is nice for practicing. Now you get a great sound on a stage for way less than a Gibson.

  • @timmcdonald9877
    @timmcdonald9877 Před 5 lety

    Great job as usual Phil!!!

  • @kirabarsmith9353
    @kirabarsmith9353 Před 5 lety +3

    I needed this video, thanks Phil!

  • @kdc300z
    @kdc300z Před 4 lety +1

    That depth stop didn’t really do its job, did it?

  • @imogendedo8296
    @imogendedo8296 Před 5 lety

    Do you guys carry an import sg kit as well or do you think this one will work well with an sg special ve?

    • @stewmac
      @stewmac  Před 5 lety +1

      Yes, that kit should work on an SG with a metric Tune-o-matic system.

    • @imogendedo8296
      @imogendedo8296 Před 5 lety

      Thank you

  • @Supperconductor
    @Supperconductor Před 5 lety +1

    Does anyone make quality pots that fit in the existing holes on Epiphones? I'd rather not ream out the holes if I don't have to.

    • @clamus68
      @clamus68 Před 5 lety +4

      Unfortunately, as an owner of multiple Epiphones, no. I've had to do this to several Epiphones. It's not a big deal. It's nerve racking the first time but it's worth it. It gives you usable pots.

    • @oliverle8438
      @oliverle8438 Před 5 lety +1

      Epiphone likes to use Metric-spec pots in their Chinese factory which is a pain in the ass I agree. But, the plus side is that really you’re doing a service not only to yourself but anyone who owns the guitar after you because then they won’t have to do it. Every Epiphone should get new pots, sooner the better

    • @beerman7079
      @beerman7079 Před 5 lety +1

      Ream em out no big deal

    • @ErickC
      @ErickC Před 5 lety +2

      Any Alpha pot will do. If you want to splurge, CTS makes coarse-spline metric potentiometers (link below). But Alpha pots are just fine. The best advice I can give you is to ignore the crap the blues lawyers are always trying to sell you. Most of them don't know anything about physics or electronics, or much else beyond hype and Veblen goods.
      www.philadelphialuthiertools.com/electronics/pots/cts-metric-500k-split-shaft-audio-taper-potentiometer-coarse-spline/

    • @Supperconductor
      @Supperconductor Před 5 lety

      @ErickC Thanks for the info.

  • @GrimYak
    @GrimYak Před 4 lety +1

    At 350$ for the kits i would have sold the Epiphone and bought a used Gibson for 700-800.

  • @tedblumstein6772
    @tedblumstein6772 Před 4 lety

    The ultimate bolt neck Epiphone upgrade? Use it as a canoe paddle...

  • @eb972
    @eb972 Před 4 lety +3

    Sounds exactly the same. Lol

  • @pdp977
    @pdp977 Před 4 lety +15

    "Improves the transfer of vibration." For what? Your guitar has a pickup that creates a signal by disrupting the magnetic field of a pickup. Pickups are not microphones and electric guitars are not acoustic guitars. Any vibration transferred to the body (or Floyd Rose, or any other bit of dense material) is not being transferred to the pickup - i.e. you are losing sustain. Selling a replacement bridge on the basis that it won't break your strings as often or is easier to intonate, fine, but "transfer of vibration"? Please. Bring on the "tone paint". Also, given that the original setup and the new one sound pretty much identical - muddy - and you certainly wouldn't spot the difference in a mix, where is the economic justification for this. Aside from SM making money, that is.

    • @bobbob4652
      @bobbob4652 Před 4 lety

      Amen brother

    • @McFly-guitars-n-stuff
      @McFly-guitars-n-stuff Před 4 lety

      Exactly

    • @SickMetalAddict
      @SickMetalAddict Před 4 lety

      Strawman fallacy. He didn't go specifically into detail as to what "improves the transfer of vibration" really means, you just assumed that it means it leaks the vibration into the bridge.

    • @adamdavey2084
      @adamdavey2084 Před 4 lety +1

      For sustain

    • @stephanguitar9778
      @stephanguitar9778 Před 3 lety

      Like most of these vids put out by commercial organizations, it is an advertorial more so than a magazine article or guitarists self help collective. Good for ideas but then find the realistic alternative.

  • @jarnix2
    @jarnix2 Před rokem

    I would probably break everything in my guitar if I tried something like that

  • @nizodizo9549
    @nizodizo9549 Před 5 lety

    Oh, shit. Man, do you think I want to build this thing?

  • @marcionobrega5117
    @marcionobrega5117 Před 4 lety

    Adorei 🙋🎸

  • @rmstevens01
    @rmstevens01 Před 5 lety

    Or just turn the treble knob on the amp up a wee bit.

    • @rmstevens01
      @rmstevens01 Před 5 lety

      @David Wang Only part of that $350 upgrade worth doing on that $300 guitar was the tuners. Might as well buy a decent guitar for $800. Drunk people at the pub can't hear the slight difference, nor can many in the comments. But you're a know it all rock and roll star, hey Wang? Googled your name and only Chinese restaurants come up. I'll have the the sweet and sour lamb with noodles and rice. Thanks.

  • @Sameold87
    @Sameold87 Před 4 lety

    Bill burr's voice 🤣

  • @seandrummond8861
    @seandrummond8861 Před 4 lety

    THey always forget to tell you that the bridge saddles come unnotched so people like me who don't know how to file are screwed.

    • @stewmac
      @stewmac  Před 4 lety

      Hi there, please contact Customer Support, we are here to help.

  • @ClavaLad
    @ClavaLad Před 3 lety

    Hey I have the same guitar

  • @scottestes7768
    @scottestes7768 Před 5 lety

    Phil is working for stewmac?

    • @stewmac
      @stewmac  Před 5 lety +2

      No, we have a good relationship with Phil and asked him if he'd like to make a couple videos for us to introduce these two new upgrade kits.

  • @russellesimonetta3835
    @russellesimonetta3835 Před 5 lety

    The gotoh parts are highest guality and nit so expensive. They are drop in metric for chinese made guitars.