a request and a couple of questions...

[mikedem]

I know I just posted I was thinking of selling my El-Degas in the Showcase forums but I have come to my senses.

The request is for someone (Charles ) to take a fairly hi res picture of the logo on a Les Paul. Mine as you may have read was half scratched off in '84 when I got it and I thought it would be better just to remove it( I was 16 - give me a break)
Anyways if that could be done that would be great as I am going to try and get a mask made from the picture so I can repaint the logo on.
Here she is again


and the missing logo


Next question
I had replaced the bridge in the late 80's when a white plastic saddle broke and I replaced it with the same. Is there any benefit to getting a bridge with metal saddles- does it give you a better sound?


Last question - I just bought a mint OLP MM1(I'm a sucker for knock off guitars) and a brand new Orange Crush 15 amp and that made me realize how dead/soft/uninspiring the pickups are in the LP. I want to get 2 new pickups and get back the gold covers. Has anyone bought pickups from guitar fetish for their El Degas , how do they sound? I was hoping to replace the volume pots with push pull ones to coil tap them while I was replacing them as well. Any suggestions?

thanks guys

[charles]

I think I might have a vector file of the El Degas logo somewhere - I'll look for it tomorrow.

I think a bridge replacement will likely help the sound a bit, but how much? Hard to say.

I personally think GFS offers excellent value on their pickups, but they aren't all for everyone. I thought the "Vintage 59"s I put in one of my guitars a few years back was not my style. I have liked what I've heard of most of the other pickups they offer, however (esp. the Mean 90s, Crunchy PAFs, etc).

[mikedem]

Ok as for the pickups I see they have several to choose from if I want to go with original gold cover look.

1. VEH- Vintage Extra Hot- Gold- The BROWN SOUND H136
2.GFS "Classic II" Alnico 2 Vintage Wound Gold Humbucker H144
3."Vintage 59" Alnico Gold Humbucker Classic Tone! H71
4.Alnico Fat Pat Boutique Humbucker Gold H12
5.Crunchy Pat High Output Humbucker Gold H06

If I remember the original had a warm bassy tone - the dimarzio I put in it definitely gave it a crunchy treble sound compared to the OEM.

I'm think by the description on GFS's site # 4 is what I want but wanted to know what you guys think or were or weren't happy with.

What didn't you like with the Vintage 59's Charles?

BTW - just traded an old 12 string Standel for a Hagstrom Ultra Swede with EMG's - wow , what a sound....I wish my playing ability was as nice

[charles]

For me, I just thought the Vintage 59's lacked clarity and high-end. They did have a very mellow, warm, bassy sound - you might really like them. Just weren't for me - I like some high-end cut in my sound (which is against what a lot of other people think is good tone).

[mikedem]

Well when I switched out the original for the dimarzio 20 some years ago I didn't really like how muddy the 3 high strings sounded when picking notes . It seemed they were "dull" and needed more treble for lack of a better description. The dimarzio made a huge difference - actually had to roll off the tone a bit.

So then I suspect I like a similar sound that you do. Would this mean I want a hotter pickup because that's what I thought the dimarzio gave me.

I'm hoping some others have tried a specific GFS pickup that they could recommend.

[charles]

You might also want to consider the GFS Mean 90 if you like P90 tone. It's a humbucker sized P90 and from all the clips and opinions I've heard, it's great.

[mikedem]

On second thought and playing the hell of this guitar tonight I think I am going to leave the neck pickup alone. After getting a good amp setting I realized that other than a really faded gold cover , this pickup sound DAMN good. I think I will just order a bridge pickup, A new bridge with metal saddles and some gold tuners to bring it right back as close to stock as I can.

[charles]

Be careful with the bridge replacement - that's not a US standard bridge. Note the posts - that's what GFS calls "large bushing" - you will want to test-fit any part you buy before going whole-hog with it (I once had a Stop bar not fit properly)

[mikedem]

thanks. I think the one I was looking at was called large bushing and they say the posts should be 74mm which is what I measured mine to be.
The GFS site says

This is a terrific bridge- Correct IMPORT sized with big bushings, the exact spacing used on almost ALL Epiphones and imported Les Paul® style guitars.This is the exact "Tuneomatic" replacement- fully adjustable saddles, grooved at the factory, complete with the screw-in studs and bushings. Post spacing is 2 7/8", 74mm, an exact match for your Les Paul® style guitar

Hopefully they are right. I have never bought anything from them yet. Any experience with having to return anything?

[charles]

Never done any returns with GFS.
Other than that, I've liked their prices, service and shipping.

[mikedem]

Well my "crunchy PAT high output gold and Keystone gold tuners showed up today...only the box said Classic Keystone
Tuners Gold -Fits 70's, 80's Les Pauls- and inside there were a set of all black Gotoh style tuner JUST LIKE MINE HAS NOW !!!! oh well.
I guess I'll be the guinea pig for returns to GFS. And I so wanted to get this little restro job going this weekend.....

[charles]

I've heard Jay at GFS is pretty good with returns and customer service. Do bear in mind when you email him (I've run into this before): he runs a pretty aggressive spam filter, so be sure to have relevant info in the subject line of the email... "hey buddy" normally goes straight to trash

[Barry]

Ok as for the pickups I see they have several to choose from if I want to go with original gold cover look...

Hi mikedem. First of all, glad to see that you're keeping her!
I can't add anything intelligent about current PUP replacements, I've not needed to change any of mine in a very long time, but you don't need to be limited to buying ones that come with a gold cover.

You can easily find covers at almost any guitar parts supplier, so base your decision on the tone quality that you're after first. You can always change or add a gold cover later.

[mikedem]

I know you can swap out the covers.Luckily GFS has every pickup available in all colours. I did order the crunchy PAT based on what I have heard and read and given the choice I want it to look stock again. I hope this pickup is what I am looking for.
I put that zebra dimarzio in 20 years ago when I was after a different sound. I find it hard to shop for pickups, it's not like you can try them first.

[charles]

That's what I like about GFS - they have a pretty wide range of pickups and they are all available in pretty much whatever visual style you would want.

I'm looking forward to ordering some zebra Alnico 2's for a couple of my El Degas guitars.