Epiphone Les Paul Standard bass, from active to passive

[neepheid]

6 minutes ago, bartelby said:

Quick question @neepheid, I'll admit I've not read the whole thread. Is that bridge the Gibson or Epiphone version?

 

The bass is looking bloody good so far! I'm a sucker for Black and Gold.

 

Neither, it's a Babicz.  Couldn't get a gold three pointer for love nor (reasonable) money.  A chancer in Australia was selling one but was asking way too much.

[bartelby]

1 minute ago, neepheid said:

 

Neither, it's a Babicz.  Couldn't get a gold three pointer for love nor (reasonable) money.  A chancer in Australia was selling one but was asking way too much.

 

Yeah, I know it's Babicz. But they do Gibson or Epiphone versions.

[neepheid]

1 minute ago, bartelby said:

 

Yeah, I know it's Babicz. But they do Gibson or Epiphone versions.

 

Ahh, I get what you mean now, sorry I misread.  It's the GIbson version but as my front threaded insert was flush with the body and I was up to no good at the back, it didn't matter.

[bartelby]

1 minute ago, neepheid said:

 

Ahh, I get what you mean now, sorry I misread.  It's the GIbson version but as my front threaded insert was flush with the body and I was up to no good at the back, it didn't matter.

 

 

No worries 

I've been thinking about getting a Babicz for my Epi EB3. I'd also want a gold one...

[neepheid]

1 minute ago, bartelby said:

 

 

No worries 

I've been thinking about getting a Babicz for my Epi EB3. I'd also want a gold one...

 

On a flat top like that, if the threaded inserts sit proud of the surface, you'll need the Epiphone version.  Or get the Hipshot Supertone - the fact that the inserts may or may not be flush is factored into the design with no need for separate versions.

[neepheid]

Because I'm idly twiddling my thumbs because STILL NO SIGN OF MY PICKUPS, I ordered a custom engraved "poker chip" for the selector switch.  Black, with gold lettering to match the whole black n gold vibe.  This has made up my mind regarding pickup rings - black rings, but with gold screws.  Should match the black pickups with gold rings and the new poker chip nicely.

[neepheid]

See?  Throw a wee strop and lo

 

 

Unfortunately, I think all I'll get delivered today is a customs bill, but at least my pickups are in the same city as me - that's progress

[Paul S]

Can't wait to see this done, should look the mutts.

[neepheid]

I had to go down to the Royal Mail depot for a parcel anyway so even though I didn't get the ticket through the door this morning I asked them if I could just get the parcel and pay the tax there and then.  To my surprise, I could!

 

 

They look even better in person than the photos.  Looks like I'll be a busy boy over the next couple of evenings...

[bartelby]

That looks excellent!

 

[neepheid]

Test fit

 

 

The big question is, black or gold pickup rings... I was sure I'd go for black but now I'm not so sure 

Edited March 8, 2023 by neepheid

[PaulThePlug]

Rings Match the Bezel...

But if you've gone Black Poker Chip... Let's have a look at the black rings?

bit more understated, but the Gold Screws adding the class touch...

Edited March 8, 2023 by PaulThePlug

[neepheid]

I haven't got the Rings yet, those cream ones are the only rings I have at the moment. I'll go with my gut and get black ones with gold screws. The cream ones I have for the test fit confused me for a bit.

[Paul S]

Black, defo 

[Ralf1e]

Black with the gold screws.

Is a black pickup switch surround with gold wording available as well? just a thought.

[neepheid]

1 hour ago, Ralf1e said:

Black with the gold screws.

Is a black pickup switch surround with gold wording available as well? just a thought.

 

I have already ordered a custom engraved switch surround in black/gold, so yes, I'm going down the same line of thought as you.  I thought the cream stuff I had might tie in with the cream binding but it just looks daft.

 

Black rings/gold screws ordered...

[neepheid]

Oh crap, I forgot about the jack plate, d'oh!

[neepheid]

Well, that was an effing disaster.  I'm rusty and I suck.  It buzzes, one of the tones is a volume, one of the push/pushes sounds like it does series/parallel and one doesn't.  Clicks and pops when I touch metal things.  I've made a total ar$e of it.

 

Nae happy.  Not doing any more tonight - will take a look at it tomorrow.

[Ralf1e]

7 hours ago, neepheid said:

Well, that was an effing disaster.  I'm rusty and I suck.  It buzzes, one of the tones is a volume, one of the push/pushes sounds like it does series/parallel and one doesn't.  Clicks and pops when I touch metal things.  I've made a total ar$e of it.

 

Nae happy.  Not doing any more tonight - will take a look at it tomorrow.

Wise move. Any earth missed out anywhere?

[neepheid]

2 hours ago, Ralf1e said:

Wise move. Any earth missed out anywhere?

 

 

It is probably earth related, or something's touching something it shouldn't.  I'll dive back in tonight.

 

[neepheid]

Found my first mistake - I know without looking that I missed a connection on both the push/push switches.  I've taken the black wire directly up to the middle right terminal instead of connecting it to both the bottom left AND middle right (which looks like what I should have done.  That won't help!

 

 

It should still work in up mode though, but I never checked it with both switches up because I was annoyed and not being methodical.  There's probably more wrong, but that's a good starter for 10.

[neepheid]

I swallowed my pride and handed it off to people who know what the feck they're doing.  At least now it looks like this:

 

[bartelby]

looks bloody lovely!!

[neepheid]

 

 

[neepheid]

The end is in sight. Unfortunately, one of my push/push pots is faulty - got a nasty sticky portion of the sweep and the push push doesn't seem to be switching. FFS.

 

On the plus side, these DiMarzio X2N-B pickups are sounding amazing (through headphones at least), loud, tight, focussed but characterful - exactly what I was hoping for!