Howdee all. I have a cherry red bog standard (Chinese made I imagine) Epiphone Casino. Solid. I like it. A few things I have heard people usually upgrade:
The pickup covers rattle. Very noticeable when playing unplugged. Tricky to replace I believe? Or not?
I already have a wiring harness I'll most likely get around to having installed as well.
I don't find any big issues with the stock pickups, though I have nothing to compare them to. I have seen lots of videos with replacement pickups etc, and it has been suggested they do make a difference, depending on the make.
Would it also be worth replacing the bridge and tailpiece? I understand some better quality metals might or might not make a difference here too?
Triggers brush!
Comments
Compressible foam elevator pads will dampen some of the rattle.
Upgrading the bridge may involve extracting the stock threaded inserts. This, in turn, may disturb the ground wire.
There does come a point where the total funds invested in a budget guitar, upgrade parts and a visit to a guitar tech might have been better spent on a more expensive instrument.
Mine is a 90s Korean model and it had very high output, dark sounding pickups. That informed the upgrades - loom, pickup rewind, plastic pickup covers. Basically anything to get a bit more top end and reduce the P90 output.
Unfortunately, while you now buy a nice set of PAF-like humbuckers easily and relatively cheaply, you can't get Casino P90s from too many places.
They're a funny size and don't use standard components. The people who do make them tend to be at the top end of the market and charge accordingly (e.g. Lollar, Mojo).
I'm still not sure what to do with mine. If there was a decent budget option I might be tempted to try it. However the risk of spending hundreds more on the guitar for no guaranteed improvement is not one I'm prepared to take at the moment.
Bisgby...?
Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups ... Oil City Blog 7 String.org profile and message
I do want to replace the metal pickup covers though, with black ones, if just for aesthetics!
@stickyfiddle I had thought of a Bigsby, but think I will hold off. I don't know if a better quality tailpiece would be a handy upgrade...
@funkfingers you are talking sense! I have the loom anyway, so will go ahead with that, and if I can replace the pickup covers too, that would be a good first step!
https://www.axesrus.co.uk/EPICasinoPUPKit-p/p90kitcasino.htm
If removing the existing cover is as difficult as is made out, I might not bother!
They are not on the site yet - first stock taken in yesterday. Message me with your email and I will send you an invoice.