Hi all.. there seems to be some confusion about the tuners. The stock one's are indeed Grover 12:1 tuners. The one's I replaced them with are 18:1 LOCKING Grovers;-) Huge upgrade that obviously looks very convincingly stock:-)
Buddysimo Simonetta I don't know where you buy your parts, but it doesn't cost me 250$ for three cts pots, switchcraft output jack and switch, some wiring, and a tusq nut, dark sounding pickups are easily fixed by lowering them and raising the screws, and if that does not help you can always put a different capacitor in there, nine out of ten times the pickups themselves are not the problem, and tuners are nothing magical, they stay in tune or they don't, same with the bridge, it intonates properly or it doesn't, if it works then it's pointless to replace.
Just picked one of these up in a trade. No play on it whatsoever, super minty. 3 high frets, action JACKED UP. The guy clearly didn't know anything about guitars and was given an unplayable guitar. I can't believe Long and Mcquade would even let it out the door. He bought it at a brick and mortar too. I was shocked. Great deal for me though! Did a bunch of work on it and now its an amazing guitar...
Glad to see you back on RUclips, you had fallen far down YTs relevance list. You are def one of my favs. Even if you cover old ground you have new techniques for me to steal. Last month marked my 1 year of modding guitars. I have learned so much, and have been with you since my inception. I wound my first pup last week, tele bridge, visually it's a mess, but it sounds great,IMHO. The fun was making everything for the pup from items on hand, except pole pieces and base plate and hookup wire, even used toothpicks and cardboard, fingernail lacquer (i don't keep this on hand, but it works great to lacquer small areas. Sorry to be so wordy, glad to see you. WooHoo.
beautiful looking guitar, if only Gibsons weren't 24 3/4". Just a thought, but if you're mostly playing metal on it, why wouldn't you switch the bridge/neck PU volume knobs so the bridge is the first one and thus closer to your hand for quick mutes? Makes the most sense to me.
Never saw anyone change tuners so fast. That is a great guitar & inexpensive too. I have three Epiphones and they are excellent guitars. Thanks for your vids.
Just to second the comments recommending the Gotoh bridge/tail piece. I recently put those on my epi les pauls, and wow -- it was a huge difference. Also, from a tip on a stewmac video, I put some set screws in the holes, to give it more metal-to-body connection. Huge difference in tone and clarity.
Awesome job. But if I could suggest a couple things. You put on some good upgrades but those Epiphone bridges suck, I'd suggest replacing it with a heavy duty sturdy Gotoh bridge. I do that on all my Epiphones and there's quite a difference in tone and sustain plus no retainer wire rattle. Also the nut could probably do with a upgrade. I use tusq xl nuts for better tuning stability. You did an awesome wiring and solder job, very clean. Next time you need to enlarge holes on a guitar though try using a tapered reamer. Much safer for the guitar and finish than with tape and a drill. Still, you did a awesome job and I enjoyed watching you do the upgrades. I upgrade all my Epiphones too. Good job!
I was wondering if you don't get the "mass" of metal in the switch posts, would not that in essence be a "cols solder" joint? Prone to crack of the metal and cause a short. I always tinned the heavy metal posts then the wire, and had no problems. These switches are a different animal.
Great video, I like the template / plywood jig idea. I have used cardboard but it not as stable. I'm looking for a Epi Korina to modify to play live. Thanks
I like how you tightened the tuners with a ratchet and not a power drill or something :) Thanks for sharing, mate. I always enjoy your videos. Cheers \m/ Nice guitar, man ! Epiphone makes great stuff.
great video so nice guitar it looks like it plays like crazy i wonder why these explorer type guitars are not more popular for sure explorer could be played with rock n jazz and else great channel !
Hi, thank you for sharing your techniques for wiring. I learned some tips that made my Epi Korina Explorer Allen Collins clone project easy. I wanted to ask you if you think the wood is really Korina? There is veneer on top and bottom but I don't know what the main wood is in middle. Thanks
Awesome Guitar Nelson.I just picked up what i think was the last Epiphone Joe Bonnassa Firebird in sunburst.According to the salesman at Long n McQuade in Toronto.I have to say this guitar completely blew me away,Tone,Feel and looks.I compared it to my other real Gibsons and was shocked that it sounded as good or better.Check them out at L n M in your area maybe there are more in sunburst.I know there is more in Goldmist.They are limited stock.Let me know what you think.They are a reissue of a 1963 Firebird 1.
I read somewhere that shielded cable should be used for long cable runs. Working on guitar electronics I don't think there's anything much longer than these runs. Would it be better or an overkill?
Beautiful Explorer! How much are the original, Like a million$ ? I just got a 'new' Epi Korina V (2016), made proudly in the same China factory as yours, surely! Super light and rocks, some very bell-like tones, yeah? These aren't bad for the $, but a fret work job makes all the difference. Stock pickups were the same as yours, not bad: over potted and filled with excessive amounts of paraffin, no doubt. I did skillfully unsoldered the Pups and removed the wiring harness intact... (When you get a bag of those cheap import pots and electronics together, sell them on Ebay as a lot and put 'Cigar Box Guitar' in the description!) My V had no bridge ground wire, but had the hole for one. I used a stepper bit to get the metric pot holes in the four ply pickguard to 3/8": I replaced everything with CTS and Switchcraft. (Its important to note that "Gibson" pots have only been around for yet a little while (since 2000s?): They are basically a fine-spline CTS pot with the Gibson logo that costs double or quadruple the price, and made in china to boot!) I put the silver-topped '60s bell knobs on mine too, as I can't stand the basic black bells ('50s correct) that end up on low end models. (A little amber lacquer over the top should turns silver into gold!) How do you feel about adding knob pointers? ('50s correct.) Once I got used to the purposed functionality, I put them on if I can. They're cheap enough: Epiphone should have spent the nickel to put them on their Korina reissues. Lastly, I have noticed there's a few versions of the Epi Korinas floating around: pieced Korina with korina veneer and skarfed headstock (China), pieced K & K veneer with neck skarf joint (China), and what appears to be a Korina veneered front and back, basswood (?) bodied, mapled necked: skarfed in the neck (Korea). I actually thought my V was going to be Mahogany with only Korina Veneers, but the wood inside the cavities is that same sickly strange yellow... So yay: Korina, korina!
I have a 2016 Gibson Flying V that needs to see a luthier, anyway I know ordered the epi Korina 58 reissue from zZounds, they couldn’t tell me if it was a 2015 or 16, anyway it’s going to be some time before I can get my Flying V fixed, would you suggest I swapped the hard ware ?
You might struggle. The Epiphone hardware will all be metric whereas the Gibson will be imperial. Therefore items such as the bridge etc from the Gibson will not fit the Epiphone.
A lot of people don't understand,...if this is a Korina Explorer and it sounds different than the Gibson mahogany Explorer,...the upgrades are worth it,.....of my many guitars I have a Gibson Les Paul, and a satin finish Epiphone SG,...I personally like the Epiphone pick up and grover tuners, but to each his own,...the Gibson pick up will def. sound different and the locking tuners will no doubt hardly ever go out of tune,...a lot of the Chinese parts can be upgraded for little amount of money,...if you do your own guitar work the cost of the upgrades is very little, just because the switch's or pots are not top quality, it could still be a quality guitar.
All good common sense mods, but on the part where you soldered the pots, you roughed them up with sandpaper, then proceeded to solder all the wires where you had not sandpapered the pots! Don't understand that?
Lol my 3 way switch does the same thing most of the time it don't engage but my black korina came with Grover Tuners but no shielding under the pick gaurd and my switch had 2 spacers on the bottom side of the pick gaurd but look like I am gonna have to upgrade my switch even tho I just got my korina today used for 200$ American
Cheers Nelson, I loved the jig I showed it to my Wife and laughingly said " see now you know why I hold on to my Bits of wood" I reckon the you never know when I might need it area is a worldwide guy thing (-:
Ok so before I finish watching this, you repair and upgrade guitars, but you state the switch crackles and doesn’t engage correctly, why did you spend money on a new one when spraying the connectors inside with cleaner and a bit of sand paper would have done the trick?!?! Just sayin
Steve, thanks for popping in bud. It is an incredible guitar, with a few cheap components. The reason it got all the upgrades is because it is a well built guitar. The way they can sell these affordable is by not giving you everything I swapped out, which makes it nearly the cost of the Gibson counterpart, and upgraded much better in my opinion;-)
Hi all.. there seems to be some confusion about the tuners. The stock one's are indeed Grover 12:1 tuners. The one's I replaced them with are 18:1 LOCKING Grovers;-) Huge upgrade that obviously looks very convincingly stock:-)
FWIW Stock ones are actually 14:1.
Personally I'm good with the stock tuners, but I do appreciate an upgraded gotoh bridge.
Buddysimo Simonetta I don't know where you buy your parts, but it doesn't cost me 250$ for three cts pots, switchcraft output jack and switch, some wiring, and a tusq nut, dark sounding pickups are easily fixed by lowering them and raising the screws, and if that does not help you can always put a different capacitor in there, nine out of ten times the pickups themselves are not the problem, and tuners are nothing magical, they stay in tune or they don't, same with the bridge, it intonates properly or it doesn't, if it works then it's pointless to replace.
Great wiring job. The details are what signify a professional tech, especially the little things no one will probably ever see.
Sweet upgrades, better than what was originally built. Bad ass epiphone for sure, Woodeso guitar mods is where it's at. Good video
I like the plywood jig for soldering the pots outside of the guitar. Good trick. Thanks!
Just picked one of these up in a trade. No play on it whatsoever, super minty. 3 high frets, action JACKED UP. The guy clearly didn't know anything about guitars and was given an unplayable guitar. I can't believe Long and Mcquade would even let it out the door. He bought it at a brick and mortar too. I was shocked. Great deal for me though! Did a bunch of work on it and now its an amazing guitar...
Those Epi Korina look so 70's hard rock. I've never wanted a V until these.
Jeff Loucks It reminds me of a jazz guitar, I don't know why...
Glad to see you back on RUclips, you had fallen far down YTs relevance list. You are def one of my favs. Even if you cover old ground you have new techniques for me to steal. Last month marked my 1 year of modding guitars. I have learned so much, and have been with you since my inception. I wound my first pup last week, tele bridge, visually it's a mess, but it sounds great,IMHO. The fun was making everything for the pup from items on hand, except pole pieces and base plate and hookup wire, even used toothpicks and cardboard, fingernail lacquer (i don't keep this on hand, but it works great to lacquer small areas. Sorry to be so wordy, glad to see you. WooHoo.
beautiful looking guitar, if only Gibsons weren't 24 3/4".
Just a thought, but if you're mostly playing metal on it, why wouldn't you switch the bridge/neck PU volume knobs so the bridge is the first one and thus closer to your hand for quick mutes? Makes the most sense to me.
Never saw anyone change tuners so fast. That is a great guitar & inexpensive too. I have three Epiphones and they are excellent guitars. Thanks for your vids.
Just to second the comments recommending the Gotoh bridge/tail piece. I recently put those on my epi les pauls, and wow -- it was a huge difference. Also, from a tip on a stewmac video, I put some set screws in the holes, to give it more metal-to-body connection. Huge difference in tone and clarity.
Awesome job. But if I could suggest a couple things. You put on some good upgrades but those Epiphone bridges suck, I'd suggest replacing it with a heavy duty sturdy Gotoh bridge. I do that on all my Epiphones and there's quite a difference in tone and sustain plus no retainer wire rattle. Also the nut could probably do with a upgrade. I use tusq xl nuts for better tuning stability. You did an awesome wiring and solder job, very clean. Next time you need to enlarge holes on a guitar though try using a tapered reamer. Much safer for the guitar and finish than with tape and a drill. Still, you did a awesome job and I enjoyed watching you do the upgrades. I upgrade all my Epiphones too. Good job!
couldnt agree more about the bridges, and using the tapered reamer! much better then the drill.
Great upgrade Nelson, nice work on the wiring too the guitar sounds nice and meaty through headphones. Keep up the good work. 🤘🏻
You do articulate amazing work!!
I was wondering if you don't get the "mass" of metal in the switch posts, would not that in essence be a "cols solder" joint? Prone to crack of the metal and cause a short. I always tinned the heavy metal posts then the wire, and had no problems. These switches are a different animal.
Good up grades I love it when things are made better then factory
Love that style of guitar I plan on buying a diy explorer to build up.
just found your channel. Im planning on mod my explorer as well. Thanks for the video :)
Man that sounds great! Thanks for the lesson video.
Great looking guitar! If I had more closets, I would love to have one just full of these natural korinas..
You do great work! Sounds really good!
Great video, I like the template / plywood jig idea. I have used cardboard but it not as stable. I'm looking for a Epi Korina to modify to play live. Thanks
Hi Nelson i Really like the videos where you upgrade electronics!! that's a sweet axe my man! Cheers
I like how you tightened the tuners with a ratchet and not a power drill or something :)
Thanks for sharing, mate. I always enjoy your videos. Cheers \m/
Nice guitar, man ! Epiphone makes great stuff.
Your camera work is aces brother.
Jack
Don't 57 pickups rule? It's the reason I bought a 2016 LP Traditional over a 2017 model. Guitar looks and sounds great bro!
Dude I love the 57' pickups
that is a sweet explorer. never seen a wood grain one. looks great.
Aren't the tuners Grover already? My 2006 has gold Grovers already.
It would be heartbreaking if you got rid of this guitar, seems like you really love it!
Kickass sound. Pro upgrade. Seriously pro work.
great video so nice guitar it looks like it plays like crazy
i wonder why these explorer type guitars are not more popular
for sure explorer could be played with rock n jazz and else
great channel !
Sweet christmas, that thing sounds glorious.
Hi, thank you for sharing your techniques for wiring. I learned some tips that made my Epi Korina Explorer Allen Collins clone project easy. I wanted to ask you if you think the wood is really Korina? There is veneer on top and bottom but I don't know what the main wood is in middle. Thanks
Awesome Guitar Nelson.I just picked up what i think was the last Epiphone Joe Bonnassa Firebird in sunburst.According to the salesman at Long n McQuade in Toronto.I have to say this guitar completely blew me away,Tone,Feel and looks.I compared it to my other real Gibsons and was shocked that it sounded as good or better.Check them out at L n M in your area maybe there are more in sunburst.I know there is more in Goldmist.They are limited stock.Let me know what you think.They are a reissue of a 1963 Firebird 1.
Instead of using sand paper you should use Rosin flux paste, it helps the solder flow better and adhere to the components
You're the man Nelson. Thanks!
I read somewhere that shielded cable should be used for long cable runs. Working on guitar electronics I don't think there's anything much longer than these runs. Would it be better or an overkill?
I love the feel of an explorer . ...have to ask , how is the tuning stability with the hockey stick headstock ?
Beautiful Explorer!
How much are the original,
Like a million$ ?
I just got a 'new' Epi Korina V (2016), made proudly in the same China factory as yours, surely!
Super light and rocks, some very bell-like tones, yeah?
These aren't bad for the $, but a fret work job makes all the difference.
Stock pickups were the same as yours, not bad: over potted and filled with excessive amounts of paraffin, no doubt.
I did skillfully unsoldered the Pups and removed the wiring harness intact...
(When you get a bag of those cheap import pots and electronics together, sell them on Ebay as a lot and put 'Cigar Box Guitar' in the description!)
My V had no bridge ground wire, but had the hole for one.
I used a stepper bit to get the metric pot holes in the four ply pickguard to 3/8":
I replaced everything with CTS and Switchcraft. (Its important to note that "Gibson" pots have only been around for yet a little while (since 2000s?): They are basically a fine-spline CTS pot with the Gibson logo that costs double or quadruple the price, and made in china to boot!)
I put the silver-topped '60s bell knobs on mine too, as I can't stand the basic black bells ('50s correct) that end up on low end models.
(A little amber lacquer over the top should turns silver into gold!)
How do you feel about adding knob pointers? ('50s correct.) Once I got used to the purposed functionality, I put them on if I can. They're cheap enough:
Epiphone should have spent the nickel to put them on their Korina reissues.
Lastly, I have noticed there's a few versions of the Epi Korinas floating around: pieced Korina with korina veneer and skarfed headstock (China), pieced K & K veneer with neck skarf joint (China), and what appears to be a Korina veneered front and back, basswood (?) bodied, mapled necked: skarfed in the neck (Korea).
I actually thought my V was going to be Mahogany with only Korina Veneers, but the wood inside the cavities is that same sickly strange yellow... So yay: Korina, korina!
That's badass man. Where'd you learn to do wiring and such as that?
how come you didn't shield the whole guitar ?
dude I love your videos keep it up!
I have a 2016 Gibson Flying V that needs to see a luthier, anyway I know ordered the epi Korina 58 reissue from zZounds, they couldn’t tell me if it was a 2015 or 16, anyway it’s going to be some time before I can get my Flying V fixed, would you suggest I swapped the hard ware ?
You might struggle. The Epiphone hardware will all be metric whereas the Gibson will be imperial. Therefore items such as the bridge etc from the Gibson will not fit the Epiphone.
nice guitar BTW. and nice work, keep it up.
Were the old tuners not Grovers Nelson?
Yeah, but not locking and 12:1 instead of 18: and locking like the one's I installed, which obviously look very convincingly stock;-)
Woodeso's Guitar Mods Gotcha. Thanks, Nelson.
what guage strings do you use? i personally use 9s or fender bullet 9s.
Great video Nelson
i would've put a white pickguard on it for an Allen Collins vibe
BOING!! OH shit, my eye my eye!!! I"M BAHHLLIND!!!!!
Immature, but I love that damned guitar!!!!
Jack
What size drill bitt is needed for the new pots? Thanks!
too bad that thick ass Poly finish! A nice thin nitro or oil would be sweet?
Circuit changed at the sound is Goodsound ! I know.
Cheap circuit is no good ！
I like this hobby video.
Did the kid say " I have to poop dad'? 6:40 ish....
That's what it sounded like. LMAO!!!
Sweet, Got to many guitars...........but I want an explorer 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘
A lot of people don't understand,...if this is a Korina Explorer and it sounds different than the Gibson mahogany Explorer,...the upgrades are worth it,.....of my many guitars I have a Gibson Les Paul, and a satin finish Epiphone SG,...I personally like the Epiphone pick up and grover tuners, but to each his own,...the Gibson pick up will def. sound different and the locking tuners will no doubt hardly ever go out of tune,...a lot of the Chinese parts can be upgraded for little amount of money,...if you do your own guitar work the cost of the upgrades is very little, just because the switch's or pots are not top quality, it could still be a quality guitar.
love your soldering work, wish you where down our neck of the woods
All good common sense mods, but on the part where you soldered the pots, you roughed them up with sandpaper, then proceeded to solder all the wires where you had not sandpapered the pots! Don't understand that?
Lol my 3 way switch does the same thing most of the time it don't engage but my black korina came with Grover Tuners but no shielding under the pick gaurd and my switch had 2 spacers on the bottom side of the pick gaurd but look like I am gonna have to upgrade my switch even tho I just got my korina today used for 200$ American
"I love you honey, but can I change your eyes, nose, lips, hair, breasts, hips, the way you speak, walk, stand..."
nitro lacquer finish is all that's left to install, but you'd have to remove all the polyurethane and that's kinda tricky.
You can write upside down quite well
Do you make money doing this?
should have played the same thing after as you did in the beginning of the vid
Would have been nice the hear it stock before you dumped money into it.
Cheers Nelson, I loved the jig I showed it to my Wife and laughingly said " see now you know why I hold on to my Bits of wood" I reckon the you never know when I might need it area is a worldwide guy thing (-:
Ok so before I finish watching this, you repair and upgrade guitars, but you state the switch crackles and doesn’t engage correctly, why did you spend money on a new one when spraying the connectors inside with cleaner and a bit of sand paper would have done the trick?!?! Just sayin
if trolls don't like your work/videos why do they watch? I'm sure they could be giving their mom a pedicure or something
nice clean holes? just like my girlfriend lol
So... you start out saying what a great guitar it is then say how many Fucked up things there are . then proceed to tear it apart . What a Meat Stick
Steve, thanks for popping in bud. It is an incredible guitar, with a few cheap components. The reason it got all the upgrades is because it is a well built guitar. The way they can sell these affordable is by not giving you everything I swapped out, which makes it nearly the cost of the Gibson counterpart, and upgraded much better in my opinion;-)
total agree steve
Steve Redenbaugh YOU KNOW HE CAN DO WHATEVER HE WANTS WITH HIS STUFF THATS THE DEAL OKAY?
don't want to be an armchair tech, but if you don't want to see the spacer, put it under the pickguard.
please take the plate of your ratchet and grease the gears nelson triggering my ocd
You're bored out of your mind' aren't you?
First?