NGD Epiphone SG

HNB · Post by **HNB** » Wed Feb 19, 2014 8:33 pm

Picked this up used for cheap. I really like it. It is a G310 I believe. I am not a fan of set necks, so the bolt on is something I like. The frets on this one are pretty nice. Pickups are ok. I might change them out for something different. They are a bit muddy.

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Wed Feb 19, 2014 9:12 pm

Isn't this the same as the Hagstrom you got the other day?

HNB · Post by **HNB** » Wed Feb 19, 2014 9:35 pm

Similar.

They sound a lot different. They both feel ok. I think both could use better pickups.

theshadowofseattle · Post by **theshadowofseattle** » Wed Feb 19, 2014 11:10 pm

BLACK ON BLACK. I like your style.

meltedbuzzbox · Post by **meltedbuzzbox** » Wed Feb 19, 2014 11:32 pm

I used to have the same guitar. How are you getting on with it? Any mods planned?

HNB · Post by **HNB** » Thu Feb 20, 2014 12:30 am

Might change pickups. Also might up the pots to 1meg instead of 500k. They seem kind of muffled.

paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Sat Feb 22, 2014 3:07 am

I would change the pickups before deciding on a pot change. No Gibson-style guitar with buckers I've ever heard would've benefited from 1meg pots (at least as far as a balanced Gibsony tone is concerned), though every Epiphone I've ever had has benefited from a pickup change, and the older/cheaper "Epi classic" buckers (not the new '57 Classics, which are sweet) are well known to have a muddy sound.

This is what my G400's bridge pickup (which melted) was like under the cover. I picked it apart some more in "oh fuck it" mode and indeed, there was not a bobbin to be found, just bobbin shaped bits of plastic holding the poles/coils in line at the very top. If this was what was in the G400 I shudder to think what's in the much cheaper G310 (although oddly enough they score instant bonus points for being open-coil and therefore presumably more traditionally constructed... might sound just as bad though)

HNB · Post by **HNB** » Sat Feb 22, 2014 3:51 am

Looks like a soap bar.

paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Sun Feb 23, 2014 1:53 am

ultratwin · Post by **ultratwin** » Mon Feb 24, 2014 3:26 am

Nice stuff, HNB...Switched out pots may be all it takes for you to like it that much more.

I as well was surprised at how well they play out of the box (I love the fat neck on our Emily G310, most of all) though I myself couldn't stand how stuffy the stock humbuckers were to my ears. Of course, the guitar being a keeper for my wife I blew multiple wads of cash on making it a real winner: bone nut, grovers, and crunchy Kent Armstrongs...I even did a vari-tone 5-way for a while, but it proved to be fairly boring sounding except when used with considerable gain, and was removed.

You've probably got a few dozen more single coil pickup guitars strong to warrant another, but since this old video of mine is still up after all these years...

[youtube][/youtube]

HNB · Post by **HNB** » Mon Feb 24, 2014 5:02 am

I love the finish on that one! Very cool. I wish I didn't have so many projects up at the moment. I want to get new pups for this one and maybe the Hagstrom, but I want to get that Tele done first. It is just so sexy and just needs a neck.

Freddy V-C · Post by **Freddy V-C** » Mon Feb 24, 2014 11:44 am

I didn't realise that the G-310 had a bolt-on neck... very interesting. I'm a big fan of SGs as of recently, but I much prefer bolt-on necks. Perhaps worth considering when I next have some of dat guitar money!

brainfur · Post by **brainfur** » Mon Feb 24, 2014 2:47 pm

i've a g-400 that I love but I'm considering a p-90 pup swap since its a v murky sounding guitar

HNB · Post by **HNB** » Wed Feb 26, 2014 2:47 am

Swapped in the chrome covered pickups that came on my Jaguar HH. Looks much better and I am guessing it will be an improvement to the stock Epiphone pickups.

ultratwin · Post by **ultratwin** » Wed Feb 26, 2014 3:05 am

Well done, sir! Proper chrome covers alone have brought manland rock to the scene and I'm sure you've got an upgraded deal going on

Reminds me of one of our G310's other manifestations (c.2008) that probably sounded the best overall, when it had a Kent Armstrong 6-Shooter PAF and SD Phat Cat (originally a bridge position pickup, hence it being sunk flush with the guard to balance output w/the PAF). Honestly I'm tempted to go back to this configuration sometime, the Phat Cat by itself had them lovely Stratty toanz galore.

HNB · Post by **HNB** » Wed Feb 26, 2014 5:27 am

Wow! Another really cool finish job.

Rayjaysonic · Post by **Rayjaysonic** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 10:37 pm

Very nice. Big fan of Epi SGs. Picked up my G400 second hand for no money at all. I swapped the pots for CTS, put in decent wire, Switchcraft jack and switch, set of Tonerider Rebel P90 pickups and added a Bigsby using the Vibromate system. Spent more on the upgrades than the initial price of the guitar but it don't half play well and sound lovely.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 10:42 pm

brainfur wrote:i've a g-400 that I love but I'm considering a p-90 pup swap since its a v murky sounding guitar

Having owned an absolutely tits black Gibson SG, and recently having got into P90s, I have no doubt THE most rocking guitar possible is a motherfucking SG with motherfucking P90s.

YuriK · Post by **YuriK** » Thu Mar 20, 2014 1:12 am

Does this guitae have a dat neck? If so, I may have to look into it and do pickup swaps. Thin necks really hrt me.

HNB · Post by **HNB** » Thu Mar 20, 2014 1:40 am

I think it is on the thicker side.