Hi All,

I picked up a couple of interesting non-Fenders over the last few months and thought I would share.

I had been jonesing for a blue Epi les paul for a long time and picked up this 2nd hand one for $350 with a case. I blacked out the hardware, did a full re-wire and installed GFS Mean90 pickups (Humbucker sized P90s) with orange drop caps. This thing sounds and plays amazing. I've read quite a few mixed reviews for GFS pickups, but they nailed it with this set. I sold off my black MIM strat with EMGs to fund this purchase. As time goes by I'm realizing I like the shorter LP scale of 24.75" vs. 25.5" on a Strat




I also had a nice score (IMHO) trading my MIM Toploader that I refinished in copper for a PRS SE Singlecut in white with masked binding. The build quality on this PRS SEs are is really nice. Action, fit and finish are outstanding. The only negative I found were the stock tuners and I think I'm being a bit nit-picky at that. I also blacked out the hardware on this one as well and put on locking tuners. The scale length on these is 25" somewhere between Strat and LP. Stock electronics sound fine. I had less than $200 in the Tele that I traded and the PRS is in MINT condition.




I still LOVE my Sherwood Green Strat that I refinished as well as my Natural Tele and they will be going nowhere. I'm pretty happy with my collection at the moment, I think it is a pretty well rounded collection of mid-level axes.

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I just picked up the same guitar (Epi Les Paul Standard Plus Top, transparent blue). It's a great axe. I really like the stock pickups, so have no intention of upgrading as you did.

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Cheers
Steve

Yeah I don't mind the stock Epi pickups, but when I bought it, it had already had "upgraded" pickups. EMG H3 passive humbuckers. I thought they just completely lacked any character whatsoever and I've always wanted to try the Mean90s from GFS. They really brought the guitar to life.

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Thanks for the compliment, Steve. I actually really liked the Tele. It played really nice and the rails pickups sounded great. I put it up for trade on Craigslist just to see what interest there might be and could not pass up on the PRS SE. I had so little money invested in the Tele, so I felt I came out waayy ahead. I'm also left with the feeling that I could build another Tele like that again any time and probably do a better job. Really the only knock on that Tele was that I'm not crazy about the small frets from the MIMs of that era. Here's a pic if anyone wants to see it.

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Nice looking set of toys, here comes that Les Paul gas I've been running from.
Dammit
John.E

Amazing collection.. !!

Jealous here.. !!

cheers!

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'11 FSR Am. Vtg. Ltd. Ed. CAR '57 Stratocaster (SN# LE02639)
'14 American Deluxe Ash Stratocaster
'12 Telebration Empress Telecaster
'99 Deluxe Nashville Telecaster
'12 FSR Telecaster HH
'10 Heritage H-535
'99 Martin DC-1E
'13 Lanikai Tenor Ukulele

Thanks Lightnin. Got to love Craigslist. I only bought one of my electrics new (Epi Silverburst). I bought the rest used or traded for them and saved a bundle, usually paying about half of what Guitar Center charges.

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Congrats X 2 Kong! Two beautiful guitars!

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.