Epi Explorer gets a complete makeover

[Dave Sloven]

Well, as I have mentioned elsewhere, I have been starting to feel that the Explorer sounds too dark with the Warpigs, and that it is not a usuable backup for my Stockholm-loaded SG Junior in my new d-beat punk band where I am tuned to D standard.  So today I removed the bridge pickup and replaced it with the A-Bomb I had laying around, the one I hated in my SG Standard because it was too nasal and middy.  I adjusted the bridge and pickup heights and it sounds great!!!  Much better than in the SG, and a very viable backup to my SG Junior in a live setting.

I just need to decide now on a neck pickup to replace the Warpig.  I'm thinking either a Nailbomb, VHII, or Rebel Yell humbucker, or else a Stockholm HSP-90.  I'm leaning toward either the first (NB) or last (SH) options.  Any advice?  The other alternative would be a HSP-90 size Supermassive.

The Stockholm set has a much smaller difference in output between neck and bridge than the Nailbomb set, even though the resistance readings of the bridge in each are very close.  Any ideas why?  This seems to be the case across the P-90 sets compared to HB sets.

I got the black plastic Gibson pickup rings in the mail yesterday and used that as an excuse to install the Nailbomb and a set of Ernie Ball Beefy Slinky strings.  The new strings are a huge improvement on the Dunlop Heavy Cores, which I totally hated.  I find the Beefy Slinky to be similar in feel to the D'Addario EXL116 set I installed in my SG Junior recently.

[metale]

The guitar looks alot better with the covered pickup. The pickguard somehow reminds me of Hetfield's ESP explorer on the I Disappear video, which is one of my favourite guitars of his.

[Dave Sloven]

The guitar looks alot better with the covered pickup. The pickguard somehow reminds me of Hetfield's ESP explorer on the I Disappear video, which is one of my favourite guitars of his.

I agree.  There is also less problems with the pickup tilting in the pickup ring, which has been an issue with the uncovered pickups.  I've never read anyone say this before but it seems that the tighter fit really helps.

I'm currently tossing up between a Stockholm and a Nailbomb for the neck slot, either one chrome covered.

[Dave Sloven]

The crew at BKP are back at work on January 2 - I just received an email to say that the Nailbomb neck pickup for my Explorer has been posted  8)

[metale]

"Posted" as in "mailed"? That was quick!  :o

[Dave Sloven]

Yes.  I placed the order last weekend after a conversation with Ben regarding when they would be back at work. He said they would be back Monday, which was when they started processing my order (i.e., my credit card was charged) and then it was sent out on their next day back at work (January 2).  I'll  probably have it here within ten days.  BKP provide the best service!  8)

[metale]

Yep, that was quick indeed.

I'm finding that there is a big diference between orders with regular covers (like your's) and custom etched ones, which was kind of expected.

[Dave Sloven]

Yes.  I placed the order last weekend after a conversation with Ben regarding when they would be back at work. He said they would be back Monday, which was when they started processing my order (i.e., my credit card was charged) and then it was sent out on their next day back at work (January 2).  I'll  probably have it here within ten days.  BKP provide the best service!  8)

Pickup arrived today :)

One interesting point I've noticed with recent orders: ratings on the card seem to consistently be higher than those on the BKP website for the relevant pickup.

In this case:

Advertised: 9.8KΩ
Tested: 10.3KΩ

Not complaining, just wondering if it is a trend.

[Dave Sloven]

Put the Nailbomb neck pickup in today, didn't take very long - I'm getting used to installing pickups.  I didn't even swear or lose a spring under the counter for five minutes at a time, or burn my fingers with the iron.

I left the highest and lowest strings on so that the bridge and tailpiece wouldn't fall off and then slid the pickup out after disconnecting everything. Then I left the low string from the Beefy Slinky set on and replaced the others with the Rotosounds so that I could try out the songs I've been writing to make sure they all work in Drop D as well as D standard (my usual tuning).

I adjusted the pickup height and got the cleans sounding really good. I haven't really played any leads on it much as yet but it does a fuzzy stoner sounding rhythm sound through my Classic 30 with the Black Secret turned on.

I think it looks much better with the chrome covers.  Next and final stage is to take it to the tech to have the chrome tailpiece and bridge bushings (together with the rest of the TonePros set) installed and have it set up with a new set of Beefy Slinky strings and a TUSQ nut.

[metale]

Looks great  :D

[Dave Sloven]

Just got the guitar back from Peter Jenkins (Dr Guitar, Happy Valley, South Australia) who did a full set-up and installed the Tonepros bridge and tailpiece set, finishing the transformation to chrome hardware.  The ferrules that came in the kit were the wrong size though, so he had to source others in chrome in the correct size.  Something to be aware of if ordering a Tonepros metric kit for an Epiphone.

So now it's finished and plays great!

[Dave Sloven]

Okay, so I finally got it outside and took a decent photo.

Guitar is finished now and plays really well.  Like a completely new guitar.



And this is what it looked like before I started with the mods (I think it looks much better now!!):

[metale]

Looks great now, congrats!

If you are anything like me, you'll start thinking right away about another guitar to pick up and mod  :lol:

[keith]

Yep certainly looks much better without the gold :D

[Dave Sloven]

Yep certainly looks much better without the gold :D

I detest gold hardware!  Never again!