#1927001 - 04/14/08 12:29 PM
Completely gut my Epi Lucille...
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Omaha
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Registered: 12/10/06
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Loc: Omaha, NE
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I posted a few weeks ago about my search for new pups for my Epiphone Lucille. Well, I am going to up the stakes a bit.
Its been acting up, with the bridge pickup dropping out intermittently. My tech took a look at it, and thinks is in the wiring somewhere. He was pretty sour in general on the quality of Epi wiring, and looking at it with him, I can see why.
So, I think I am going to gut this thing out and replace everything...pickups, pots, toggle, etc. No point in going half way. I like the guitar, and would feel better with "Grade A" parts all the way through.
The question is what to do with the Varitone. I don't have any indication that it is a problem, so do I just re-use the one that's there? Otherwise, any advice? It looks to me like all I need to do is buy what amounts to a parts kit for a Les Paul and work from there.
Any thoughts?
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#1927027 - 04/14/08 12:48 PM
Re: Completely gut my Epi Lucille...
[Re: Omaha]
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Mudcat
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...The question is what to do with the Varitone. I don't have any indication that it is a problem, so do I just re-use the one that's there? Otherwise, any advice? ...
I would either leave the stock circuit in there, or if I wanted to go really crazy, replace it with a Torres Engineering Deluxe Vari-ToneKit. Torres adds a push-pull pot that gives you five additional tone options. They use nothing but top-shelf parts. The kit runs $29.00.
If you want Torres' Standard Vari-Tone Kit it runs $15.95.
_________________________
Mudcat's music on Soundclick "Work hard. Rock hard. Eat hard. Sleep hard. Grow big. Wear glasses if you need 'em."-The Webb Wilder Credo-
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#1927099 - 04/14/08 03:09 PM
Re: Completely gut my Epi Lucille...
[Re: picker]
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fantasticsound
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LOL, Picker!
Actually, I loved the Varitone on the Little Lucille (a Blueshawk with Lucille color, appointments and electronics hooked to dual P-90's) I played over lunch time everyday when I worked at Gibson. Of course, I only loved one position on it.  I believe it was one of the extremes. Gave a beautiful, bell-like clean tone on the neck p'up through a Gibson GA-15RV. 
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#1927133 - 04/14/08 03:49 PM
Re: Completely gut my Epi Lucille...
[Re: picker]
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Dr. Ellwood
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The question is what to do with the Varitone. I don't have any indication that it is a problem, so do I just re-use the one that's there? Otherwise, any advice? It looks to me like all I need to do is buy what amounts to a parts kit for a Les Paul and work from there.
Any thoughts? Do you actually like the Varitone?  I have never heard one make a sound that didn't range from mildly constipated to full-on impacted!  I'd leave that sucker our and use the hole for a coil tap switch.
Well see there is where the personal differences with this stuff comes into play. I like pretty much every tone or combination of tones I get out of my Varitone with the regular tone controls. I use three or four of the positions all the time on mine. Just another tone/taste thing.
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#1927165 - 04/14/08 04:42 PM
Re: Completely gut my Epi Lucille...
[Re: Dr. Ellwood]
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Omaha
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Yeah, I really like it!
Love the variety. Between the Varitone and my Peavey Classic 50, I can get about any tone I want without switching guitars. Very handy.
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#1927443 - 04/15/08 06:24 AM
Re: Completely gut my Epi Lucille...
[Re: Mudcat]
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Omaha
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Thanks for the tip. I just sent an e-mail off to Torres.
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#1927645 - 04/15/08 12:12 PM
Re: Completely gut my Epi Lucille...
[Re: Omaha]
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GeoffB
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I found the Varitone on the Frankenstrat comes into its own in the Overdrive.
I hike the active mid-boost 'way up to Pos 5 and the it's 2 clicks down on the Varitone - killer tone.
G.
_________________________
"When the power of love overcomes the love of power the World will know Peace": Jimi Hendrix
Frank M:Back in the day you could have a trio with two people.
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#1929831 - 04/20/08 05:57 PM
Re: Completely gut my Epi Lucille...
[Re: GeoffB]
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Omaha
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I talked to Dan Torres a couple of time last week. We are all set. He is putting together a complete new harness for me, new pickups, everything.
Good thing, too. She really acted up at rehearsal today. At first, she would cut in and out completely every few seconds. I pulled the access cover off and moved some wires around. That got things working for today, but I can't stand unreliable gear.
Can't wait to get the new Torres setup installed.
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#1929992 - 04/21/08 05:46 AM
Re: Completely gut my Epi Lucille...
[Re: Omaha]
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Mudcat
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I talked to Dan Torres a couple of time last week. We are all set. He is putting together a complete new harness for me, new pickups, everything...
Nice! So you are going with Torres pick-ups as well? Which ones?
Looks like you are putting several $$$ into your Lucille. That thing should be SMOKIN' when you're done with it!
_________________________
Mudcat's music on Soundclick "Work hard. Rock hard. Eat hard. Sleep hard. Grow big. Wear glasses if you need 'em."-The Webb Wilder Credo-
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#1930752 - 04/22/08 11:58 AM
Re: Completely gut my Epi Lucille...
[Re: Mudcat]
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Omaha
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Nope. Decided to go with Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates.
When you look at the dollars, round numbers I've got $100 in the Bigsby tremolo, $100 in the locking tuners and now $370ish in the new pups and pots and such.
Oh, and I'm working on a project where I'm using dice from defunct Vegas casinos for knobs. I've got Sands, Sahara, Stardust and Desert Inn dice ready to go once I get the new pots.
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#1930789 - 04/22/08 01:30 PM
Re: Completely gut my Epi Lucille...
[Re: Omaha]
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Mudcat
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...Oh, and I'm working on a project where I'm using dice from defunct Vegas casinos for knobs. I've got Sands, Sahara, Stardust and Desert Inn dice ready to go once I get the new pots.
SWEET!
_________________________
Mudcat's music on Soundclick "Work hard. Rock hard. Eat hard. Sleep hard. Grow big. Wear glasses if you need 'em."-The Webb Wilder Credo-
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#1949152 - 05/28/08 07:24 AM
Re: Completely gut my Epi Lucille...
[Re: Mudcat]
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Omaha
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The stuff finally arrived yesterday. I think we are about set here.
Here is a photo of her, still a work in progress, but you can see how the dice are working out.
Very cool.
The only problem is I didn't get a wiring diagram. Torres wired the four pots and the varitone together. But I don't know how to connect the three-way switch, the output jack and the pickups. None of the wiring diagrams I can find include the Varitone.
I also have a problem that the face of the guitar is too thick for the three way switch that Torres sent. I may go ahead and de-solder the stocker and use that, but its a little different because of the stereo operation that came from the factory.
Anyway, I'm pleased so far. I've got a gig Saturday, so I need to get this buttoned up pretty quick.
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#1949301 - 05/28/08 10:30 AM
Re: Completely gut my Epi Lucille...
[Re: Omaha]
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Dr. Ellwood
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"I also have a problem that the face of the guitar is too thick for the three way switch that Torres sent."
Just reduce the thickness locally around the washer and nut area and use the Torres
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#1949570 - 05/28/08 07:37 PM
Re: Completely gut my Epi Lucille...
[Re: Caevan O'Shite]
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Omaha
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The dice are semi-removable. I just drilled a slightly undersized hole and pressed them on. They go on pretty hard, and wouldn't come off unless you really wanted them to, but there you go. They are all authentic vintage dice once used in actual casino play at the four casinos listed.
Just about got things put together tonight. The geometry of the new three-way switch made carving out for it impractical. I ended up reusing the stocker, which seemed to be of decent quality anyway.
I'll have her all finished and ready to rock tomorrow. Can't wait to hear how those Pearly Gates sound.
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#1949698 - 05/29/08 05:29 AM
Re: Completely gut my Epi Lucille...
[Re: Caevan O'Shite]
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Omaha
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Well, just now I've finished her off. Quick first impressions (I drug my amp into my office, but I can't play it on more than about "1.5" without pissing off all my employees)... this thing absolutely kicks ass. Its like a new guitar. Why not? Just about everything on it is new.
What I notice most of all is the clarity and the "chimeyness". The difference from the stock Epi pups is like night and day.
As for the Torres Varitone, it sounds great too. I like the true bypass position. Its hard to say what I'm hearing: The new pups or the new Varitone, since I changed both at the same time. But I'm very happy at this point.
As for strings, I use Ernie Ball Nickel Wound mediums (13 - 17 - 26 - 34 - 46 - 56). With the semi-hollow body construction of the Lucille, I actually get quite a bit of acoustic tone when I play unplugged.
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#1949799 - 05/29/08 08:37 AM
Re: Completely gut my Epi Lucille...
[Re: Omaha]
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Caevan O'Shite
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I'm sure that lots of people here are probably sick of my gushing about 'em, but I've gotta say- if you like the EB nickels, you really, REALLY aughtta try DR "Pure Blues" nickel-wound on round-cores in the same gauges... I'd bet that you'd LOVE them!
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_ _ ___ _ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _
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#1950302 - 05/30/08 02:30 AM
Re: Completely gut my Epi Lucille...
[Re: picker]
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Chad
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...Do you actually like the Varitone? I have never heard one make a sound that didn't range from mildly constipated to full-on impacted! ...
That must be the famous "brown sound" we've heard so much about...
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"The fat boy in the back was the bass player, and who wanted to be him?" - Paul McCartney
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#1950334 - 05/30/08 04:10 AM
Re: Completely gut my Epi Lucille...
[Re: Chad]
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picker
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...Do you actually like the Varitone? I have never heard one make a sound that didn't range from mildly constipated to full-on impacted! ... That must be the famous "brown sound" we've heard so much about...
I'd say that would be the term to use in polite company...
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"When I awoke today, suddenly, nothing happened.
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#1952391 - 06/03/08 06:20 AM
Re: Completely gut my Epi Lucille...
[Re: picker]
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Omaha
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Last update on this...
We had a gig on Saturday, and the re-configured Lucille was killer. Sounded great all night. And I got a lot of comments on the dice! I'm totally happy with the results here.
I put all the old parts up on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230258729240
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#1952424 - 06/03/08 07:27 AM
Re: Completely gut my Epi Lucille...
[Re: Caevan O'Shite]
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Mike Gug
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I'm sure that lots of people here are probably sick of my gushing about 'em, but I've gotta say- if you like the EB nickels, you really, REALLY aughtta try DR "Pure Blues" nickel-wound on round-cores in the same gauges... I'd bet that you'd LOVE them!
DR Pure Blues. I'll quickly second that.
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Did he crumble any crackers?! ...oh, then it's a meal.
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Moderator: myles_rose, A String, Bluesape
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Good idea.
