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Electronics Evaluation, Upgrades and More
Evaluation - Neck and Bridge Pickups
We'll begin our evaluation with the factory-installed pickups on this 2003 Epiphone Les Paul Custom. As they are still working fine after all these years, I recommend that both be retained. To recap, the neck humbucker is the one with a red lead, plus "Epiphone" and a circled "F" etched on the bottom. Its DCR is 8.60K, and this value has been marked on the bottom for easy reference. Meanwhile, the bridge humbucker, the one with the black lead and just "Epiphone" etched on the bottom, reads 8.84K. I've duly marked this value on the bottom for the benefit of anyone working on this guitar in the future.
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| Neck Pickup DCR is 8.60K |
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| DCR Value Marked |
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| Bridge Pickup DCR is 8.84K |
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| DCR Value Marked |
Evaluation - Control Cavity Components
The control cavity itself is totally unshielded. Factory-issued [stock] control cavity components include two Alpha B500K full-sized volume pots, two Alpha A500K full-sized tone pots, and two 0.047uF polyester film tone capacitors. Unshielded wire has been used for all connections. Recommended upgrades are control cavity shielding, replacement of all control cavity components, and rewiring with coaxial [shielded] cable.
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| Stock Control Cavity Components |
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| Alpha Pots/Poly Film Capacitors |
Evaluation - Toggle Switch and Output Jack
The factory-issued pickup selector switch on this guitar is a generic "box" three-way toggle, wired to the control cavity components and output jack via unshielded wire. In the images below, you can clearly see that unshielded wire has been used for all connections. Recommended upgrades are a new toggle switch and output jack, plus rewiring with coaxial cable.
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| Stock Box Toggle Switch |
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| Stock Mono Output Jack |
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| Stock Switch, Jack and Wiring |
Upgrades - Shielding and Grounding
I've shielded the entire control cavity with conductive shielding paint, and installed a copper tape tab. This tab will make contact with the underside of the control cavity cover, which has been shielded with copper foil. A new bridge ground [bare copper wire] has also been installed in the lower tailpiece bushing hole.
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| Control Cavity Shielding |
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| Control Cavity Cover Shielding |
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| New Bridge Ground |
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| Checking Bridge Ground Connectivity |
Upgrades - Components and Wiring
We'll start with the control cavity, where brand new Alpha A500K volume and tone pots have been installed with coaxial cable. The stock 0.047uF polyester film tone capacitors have been upgraded to 0.022uF Mallory 150Ms.
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| Upgraded Control Cavity Components |
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| Mallory 0.022uF 150M Capacitors |
An Epiphone three-way toggle switch and Switchcraft output jack have also been wired in as replacements for their worn out predecessors. Once again, only coaxial cable has been used. As it stands, the only unshielded wires you'll find in this upgraded circuit are the grounds.
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| Epiphone Three-Way Toggle Switch |
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| Switchcraft Output Jack |
Finishing Touches
There are three details that need to be taken care of before upgrades on this 2003 Epiphone Les Paul Custom are complete. The first is new screws for the output jack plate. As per the owner's request, I've installed gold screws. They look awful nice, don't you think? The second is to adjust the pickup polepieces to match the 14" fretboard radius. And finally, once again at the owner's behest; is to install a bone nut. I do declare, clients who know what they want make my job a whole lot easier.
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| Gold Jack Plate Screws |
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| 14" Pickup Polepiece Radius |
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| Electronics Upgrade Completed |
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| Bone Nut Installed |
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