Fun silly mod to my Epi J45

[radd]

Along with pulling out all the crap inside, battery, controller, etc, and putting in a KK Pure Mini I changed tuners and bridge pins. I had fun yanking off the the horrible looking thick pickguard.

I decided to recreate a 60’s Gibson double bat wing J45.

I ordered two very beautiful high quality Tort bat wing pickguards from Taylor at Holter Pickguards. He always does great work for me.

Two 60’s Gibsons, the look I was chasing



My Epi

 

[BrianW]

Along with pulling out all the crap inside, battery, controller, etc, and putting in a KK Pure Mini I changed tuners and bridge pins. I had fun yanking off the the horrible looking thick pickguard.

I decided to recreate a 60’s Gibson double bat wing J45.

I ordered two very beautiful high quality Tort bat wing pickguards from Taylor at Holter Pickguards. He always does great work for me.

Two 60’s Gibsons, the look I was chasing

View attachment 204936 View attachment 204937

My Epi

View attachment 204938

Looks ike you pretty much nailed the "look". Well done!
Tho I do have to admit to a double take on the pic of yours with the "roof wrinkles" (reflections) on the upper wing, lol.

cheers

 

[cielski]

Not silly at all. Classic look!

 

[radd]

Not silly at all. Classic look!

When I play it I feel like I’m channeling Roy Clark.

 

[cielski]

When I play it I feel like I’m channeling Roy Clark.

You could do worse. I was lucky enough to see Roy live once. Mind boggling that anyone could play like that.

 

[radd]

You could do worse. I was lucky enough to see Roy live once. Mind boggling that anyone could play like that.

Wow! What thrill that must have been.

 

[cielski]

Wow! What thrill that must have been.

Tiny cheesy bar in Topeka Kansas where I was stationed in '70. Roy walked in, apparently just passing thru the area, and asked if he could sit in with the band. They couldn't get a guitar into his hands fast enough. Played for a couple of hours of sheer magic.

 

[Ricochet]

Cool, make it you!

 

[Stingray70]

That much plastic HAS to dampen the vibration of the top... But, if you dig it...
Of course, the single guard it came with was think enough for 2 or 3 pickguards so maybe it will break even...

 

[radd]

That much plastic HAS to dampen the vibration of the top... But, if you dig it...
Of course, the single guard it came with was think enough for 2 or 3 pickguards so maybe it will break even...

I would agree on a quality well built guitar, the Chinese Epi is not that.

The top and the body wood must be thick because the guitar is heavy. I played it with the origional pickguard, with no pickguard and with two pickguards…..No difference.

I even did the ToneRite thing for a week early on so in theory the guitar should/could have opened up some.

 

[Stingray70]

I would agree on a quality well built guitar, the Chinese Epi is not that.

The top and the body wood must be thick because the guitar is heavy. I played it with the origional pickguard, with no pickguard and with two pickguards…..No difference.

I even did the ToneRite thing for a week early on so in theory the guitar should/could have opened up some.

Have you had much luck with the Tonerite on other guitars? I've never tried one before...

 

[radd]

Have you had much luck with the Tonerite on other guitars? I've never tried one before...

I used it on a beautiful built but a tad heavy Eastman e10-ooss and it appeared to help. It could just be my brain wanting to hear a difference.
I did not like the tone of the guitar originally and I do now. It is much less boxy now.