Epi Special P90s - Mod

[Lizard Man]

I recently bought a yellow epi special p90s. For $90 bucks new, I figured I couldn't go wrong. Here's the model I have:

Epiphone Les Paul Special I P90 Electric Guitar | GuitarCenter


Turns out, I really enjoy this guitar. I like the neck and the stock pickups. I am thinking about replacement tuners and a replacement bridge. The tuners are pretty junky.

Anybody know of some reasonably priced tuners that would be a drop-in replacement with no need to enlarge the tuning holes?

And anybody know of a good drop-in replacement bridge? Wrap-around would be preferable, but I'm open to options. Thanks!

 

[straybeat]

Welcome to MLP!

Yeah, those tuners are just crappy stamped sheet metal. If you go here you can get them them around $25 +/-;

Gibson Style (Three On A Side)

And they have some nice intonatable bridges for around $30;

Gibson Style Bridges

Enjoy your new axe!

 

[Lizard Man]

Thanks - will all of the tuners on the link you set be drop-in replacements?

 

[River]

This is what I did to my yellow Junior. The pickup's a SD Antiquity.

My tuners are Govers, and they're excellent as-is.

 

[SJM]

HNGD. The tuner peg holes on your Special S/B 10 mm (13/32). Most of those at the link Stray gave you should work.

BTW, welcome aboard!

 

[Papa]

Lizard Man,

If your tuners look like these, they are the Epiphone Economy tuners:

.....

The hole size is likely around 8 to 8.5mm.
Grover and Grover style require 10mm holes. It's not a big deal to open them up.
Still, if you want a direct replacement I do think some of the Kluson style might work.

You would be best off to remove one...(not rocket science) and measure the holes.
The "Kluson Style" that GFS sells (Straybeat's link) might do the job.

If you want Grover or Grover style, opening the holes is only a small bit of work:
Beater Guitar Part 2 - Gibson Guitar Board

As to the intonatable wrap around...avoid this:...( Read first paragraph...I did it on purpose):
Beater Guitar Part 4 - Gibson Guitar Board

You would be much better off with this:
STEWMAC.COM : Wilkinson/Gotoh Adjustable Bridge/Tailpiece
(A few more bucks but a lot less work)

Good luck,

Papa

 

[JoanneC]

Thanks for the heads up....

I have been gassing for one of these for quite awhile, with my wife being ill and finances being tight, I did not order one.

With free shipping it is still less than $100.....

Being the wonderful wife that she is, she let me order it tonight

 

[jamdogg]

This is what I did to my yellow Junior. The pickup's a SD Antiquity.

My tuners are Govers, and they're excellent as-is.

as has been said before by another forumite - this pic does not seem to get old.

and congrats to the OP.

 

[Lizard Man]

Thanks for the input. Yes, I definitely have the epihone economy tuners. I'll probably go with a set of the green key kluson style gfs tuners. Although the guitar is tv yellow, the grain that shows through the finish gives a slight hint of green, and the green keys might go well with that.

I'm a little mixed up on the bridge. I see on the gfs site that there is a lp junior/special style wraparound bridge that looks very similar to the one on mine. Would this be an improvement, or would any of those bridges work?

I'll probably also change out the knobs for some wizard hats.

Are there any pickguards that would fit on this guitar?

 

[SJM]

Lizard Man,

If your tuners look like these, they are the Epiphone Economy tuners:

.....

The hole size is likely around 8 to 8.5mm.
Grover and Grover style require 10mm holes. It's not a big deal to open them up.
Still, if you want a direct replacement I do think some of the Kluson style might work.

You would be best off to remove one...(not rocket science) and measure the holes.
The "Kluson Style" that GFS sells (Straybeat's link) might do the job.

If you want Grover or Grover style, opening the holes is only a small bit of work:
Beater Guitar Part 2 - Gibson Guitar Board

As to the intonatable wrap around...avoid this:...( Read first paragraph...I did it on purpose):
Beater Guitar Part 4 - Gibson Guitar Board

You would be much better off with this:
STEWMAC.COM : Wilkinson/Gotoh Adjustable Bridge/Tailpiece
(A few more bucks but a lot less work)

Good luck,

Papa

I believe you're right about the hole size Papa. If he wants Grovers, he will need bigger holes.

 

[straybeat]

Lizard Man,

If your tuners look like these, they are the Epiphone Economy tuners:

.

You have better eyes than I Papa? I had to look again with a magnifying glass and you are right. I thought he had those stamped out Kluson types?

 

[Joey Anchors]

I also have one of these P90 Specials and here is a list of stuff I upgraded the guitar with.

Kluson tuners

Shed Vintage P90s

Jonesy 50's wiring harness

Bone nut

Pigtail 50's wrap-around bridge, studs/bushings

 

[icantbuyafender]

Try Wilkinson Kluson style tuners.

They are on all three of my epi LPs with much satisfaction

 

[DrummondIsland]

Joey,
How's it sound after the mods/upgrades?
Thinking of going same route,once I get back to work.

 

[charlie chitlins]

So...where are these $90 guitars.
I need a fun beater!

 

[BugsyB]

I recently bought a yellow epi special p90s. For $90 bucks new, I figured I couldn't go wrong. Here's the model I have:

Epiphone Les Paul Special I P90 Electric Guitar | GuitarCenter


Turns out, I really enjoy this guitar. I like the neck and the stock pickups. I am thinking about replacement tuners and a replacement bridge. The tuners are pretty junky.

Anybody know of some reasonably priced tuners that would be a drop-in replacement with no need to enlarge the tuning holes?

And anybody know of a good drop-in replacement bridge? Wrap-around would be preferable, but I'm open to options. Thanks!

Here's the deal with those junk tuners.Unless you are just going to replace them with another cheap set that uses bushings and two screws in the back a drill and a 3/8 drill bit is needed.You have to use this bit and just ream the holes slightly.Then the bolt on bushings of most quality machines will fit.I just did this mod on my Special ll that had the same machines on it.The 14:1 Grover machines that come stock on most Epiphones are pretty cheap you should be able to pick up a set for 35-40 bucks (Ya almost half the price you paid for the guitar)but they are possibly the best way to go as they are a quality piece.As for the Bridge Tone Pro's makes a killer one and Stewmac carries several different ones..careful at Stewmac though as some of their bridges have the wrong string spacing for an Epi...and make sure you get one with 6mm posts.