Need help on modding my Epiphone Dot.

[matthew_1004]

Hi guys! I need help on modding my Epiphone Dot. I would like to change mostly the pickups and do some proper re-wiring of the guitar. What do you guys think about it?

I can't afford a Gibson ES-335 now so I was thinking of modding my Epi Dot. Maybe, you guys can give me some advice on the type of pickups, etc...

Pickups: I was thinking of a Gibson Classic 57 and Classic 57+. Will they sound good on my Epi?

Re-wiring: I don't really know what to do with it. I can only think of bringing my guitar down to a guitar technician.

Bigsby: I wanna add a bigsby like the ones on the Gibson ES-355. Got any ideas?

I may also wanna change the tuners and some other parts as well but that will be another time. ( I don't think I have enough money for it)

Okay, that's all. I'll really appreciate all the advices and recommendations you give. Thanks! Cheer!

PS: I play mostly bands like Oasis.

 

[dudelove]

gibson 57 classics are expensive. they are gibson's take on the PAF pickups.

you can find much cheaper and maybe better PAF style pickups if you look around. seymour duncan antiquities are darn good for the cash. if not dimarzio's 36th ann pafs also look good. have extra cash? go for handwound boutique ones. i personally like wolfetones and lollars.

as for wiring, the stock pots and caps are crap. even todays gibsons have crap parts. first of all volume potentiometers are 300k. it takes abit too much treble off the pickups. 500k will do the trick. what u get is like "taking a blanket off your amp" kinda feeling. volume roll off is smooth and consistant if you get high quality pots. grab some NOS paper in oil caps if you're planning on a vintage tone. the stock ceramic ones have absolutely no mojo. i'd recommend you just get an upgrade kit from RS guitarworks. its pretty costly, but its definitely a worth while modification.

bigsby, from my personal experience, dont do it. it makes your guitar look great, i love how bigsbys look on les pauls, thats why i put mine one. have you played a bigsby equipped guitar? you should try one, before making your decision. sure, they look great, but your guitar needs to be perfectly set up, so that the bigsby works fine without causing other problems. when i first installed my bigsby, my guitar could nvr ever stay in tune. i had to spend extra cash to get a roller tune-o-matic, get my nut lubed and cut properly and i might even resort to installing locking tuners. if i just skipped the bigsby all these incurred costs could have been avoided. till now, i still have tuning problems even after all the cash i've pumped to trying to get it to stay in tune. worst of all, the bigsby only gives a very very subtle vibrato, half a step detuned at max, no more. all the trouble and cash put into it, its not worth it, imo.

tuners are usually an unnecessary change, because most tuning problems are the result of a friction caused by certain points on the guitar. consider getting your nut slotted by a professional, and properly lubricated. better still, change them to graphite nuts or bone nuts, which are really hard and slippery.

all the best in your guitar overhaul. sounds like a plan you have there..