Comes off kinda like a public apology video at first lol but you're 100% right - it's your. Maybe yours forever, maybe yours til the next one comes along, but it is yours and your to do with whatever you want. You work hard, enjoy it!
Gorgeous Burst! Loved the opening bluesy thang, too. Like you said, it's YOUR guitar, you get to do what you want to it. I don't think anyone would be crazy enough to actually strip it but the world is full of vintage guitars with a baggie of original parts cohabitating in the case. One more isn't hurting anyone. "Vintage" isn't always better, either. Congrats and a belated Happy Birthday!
I'm in the I get it camp on this one. I get the fact that it is yours to do what you want to it. Especially the pickups. The builder used what he felt sounded good to HIM. While many buyers might agree others, like you felt a change was needed and I am glad you found some you like. I might of fine with some custom wound to my personal specs working with the winder. I also like the no cover look and would of gone with no covers on both. Everything else was tribal and minor. I would however of gone and upgraded the bridge too. Keep on changing the world to your liking
Great video! You’re right.. it’s your guitar. Enjoy it. Guitars are here to be played and enjoyed. Doesn’t matter if it’s real Burst or whatever. Btw I love these videos bro!
Lovely guitar and I agree. I couldn't drop 20K on a guitar but, my 2000 Honeyburst Standard I have swapped the pickups( big Bareknuckle fan) the wiring is RS Guitarworks vintage wiring and put a set of aged Grovers on from Historic Makeovers. My main guitar, had it for a long time now and wouldn't part with it. Putting it through a Victory 25 and of course The Herc. all I need. Cheers from UK.
It’s like owning a hot rod or an any other performance vehicle. You’re always going to tweak and modify it to get the most out of it. Why not swap the pickups? Making a guitar your own is half the fun.
@@MayorMcCheese2000 That’s a fair opinion, but in your analogy you’re assuming the owner of said car has little knowledge to build something themselves. But that doesn’t mean the individual doesn’t know how to tune their vehicle or adjust the suspension to make it perfect for their ideal driving scenario. Similarly with Zach’s guitar, he found a guitar that he connected with that plays well and was built by an extremely well respected builder. Swapping out the pickups for something that better suits his playing style is no different. Regarding the price, he felt it was worth the expense and spent the money. Whether or not you would do the same is a moot point.
@@MayorMcCheese2000 My father built the 2004 Ridler Award Winner. It was over $1M+ build. The owner was also an engineer and enthusiast, but lacked the fabrication skills to do his own build. After winning, he’s showed it for a year and then continued modifying and tweaking the car on his own. Because that’s what curious minds do. My Dad took no offense. And having been around Chip, I don’t think he would care either. You’re also calling a guitar a piece of art. I agree it is to a certain degree, but it’s a tool at the end of the day.
@@MayorMcCheese2000 You’re paying for an instrument that plays phenomenally. And again, if Zach can afford it, then who cares what he does to it. It goes back to my original analogy. Pickups are subjective. Just because it’s right for the builder, doesn’t mean it’s right for the player. Would we still be arguing if it was a $5,000 Murphy Lab? Or if [pick your rockstar] swapped pickups on a $50k vintage guitar to better suit their taste? Moral of the story “to each their own.”
I totally get the modding thing, I also love hotrodding guitars, and tweaking them to my liking, it's yours, doesn't matter what people say, I do it on a lower end scale because I don't have that kind of $$, but kudo's to you enjoying and loving this stuff and doing what you want to them.
More power to you, I have a 2016 Standard and the only thing left from the original guitar is the wood and the bridge. In the process DHL broke the neck and now its become a bit of a mutt, but its mine and it sounds, plays and looks exactly how I want, in essence its become my signature Les Paul. 😊👍
I absolutely agree with everything, particularly your right to own it and modify it (which should be completely unapologetically). For myself, I have not been able to get convinced that a different same price between my current LP and a pricier one will be sufficiently audible to avoid buyers remorse. Plus, I have the lack of my current standard having a gorgeous woodgrain. I am considering changing of the pick ups, however.
I love that you own it and enjoy modding. I think it is a great way to make it ‘yours’ but also look at the history of mods: Jimmy Page 1 and 2 with all of their switching under the guard, Jimmy Page (Jeff Beck) tele which he added mirrors to and then repainted, Gilmour’s black strat with pick up mods, new necks, the Kahler addition/ removal and wood filler paint job (and the addition of the black guard,). Clapton’s Blackie which was the formed from body and neck from several strats he bought (that has always reminded me of the bit in the Good, the Bad and the Ugly where Tuco is making himself the best revolver). The list goes on and on: Van Halen, Blackmore, Malmsteen, Malcom Young etc
I totally understand everything you did except for the uncovered pup, never have liked that look but, if you dig it that's what counts ! Happy birthday man !! 🎈🎉🎁
People mod stuff all the time just put the parts in the case! It’s a beautiful guitar dude congrats!!You can always put the parts back. Dude I just seen your ZZTop pedal it sounds amazing! I never heard of your pedal company before today! Great work on the ZZ pedal
I get it. I got a LP Standard "Greeny". As a guitar it's a good one. It plays and sounds great w/no QC issues at all. As a replica? Well... There's a lot that's not right. So i got in line to have those issues fixed by Historic Makeovers. Can't wait to get it back. It's gonna be EPIC!
Do you have, or will you be making, any more videos with the Falcon 20? I have one and love it. I have your Chupacabra which I use with it. I would love to see you feature more pedals into it instead of plug-ins.
@@MythosPedals I hear you. I would never have kept this amp in my old house. But, where I live now I can blast it all I want. Too bad you can't use amps where you are located.
I do the same to all my guitars, I just love the journey of making them my own. The only time I didnt was with my PRS modern eagle V... why, I had a PRS CE24 before which I modded trying to get it to sound close to a LP but with the PRS playability etc.... it ended up a great guitar, but it just felt wrong... I ended up giving that guitar away to a friend that is a brilliant guitarist and deserved a better instrument and I decided to get a PRS to be what a PRS wants to be, the MEV is a very unique guitar and I dont think any mod that I`d do to it could upgrade it. It is not my favorite guitar, but it is its own thing, a work of art and a love it for what it is - all the rest, fully modded - Fender Strat Custom shop, Luthier Tele, Luthier thinline, Luthier super strat, 2 japanese Yamaha revestar and a Gibson Lespaul Special - all entirely modded, entirely mine, visually and in sound, love it!
With you 100%!! If you're a collector and purchasing something for it's collectable value... then that's different. But when you purchase an instrument that you play, that you use as a tool, you need to make it "yours"! That's how we connect with our instrument, and that connection drives inspiration.
I’m totally ok with mods like this. First thing I would do is take off the pickguard and change the wiring (master volume, and passive 3 band tone control) this is what I did to my ES135, PRS singlecut, and I just have to have it now.
I'm kinda curious, why not get a luthier built Burst replica made? They're like $5000k and probably the closest thing to the real deal in terms of old growth honduran mahogany, old braz rosewood etc etc. Most of them also has the G logo on the headstock with the open book headstock
Yea it’s a bit of a no brainer unless you’re being extremely biased. I own two built by a master luthier and they are much better than any Gibson historics I’ve played and pretty much on par if not better than some of the old ones I’ve played as well. My R9 needed a lot tweaking to get it closer and it’s still not nearly as good
Beautiful Les Paul and sounds great too. Like you said, it's your guitar. Do whatever you want to it as long it makes you happy. You mentioned that the Custombucker with alnico 5? Doesn't all Custombucker pickups come with alnico 3? Keep Rocking!
I thought I was the only one doing these mods to my expensive guitar 😂 I totally agree with you I have that talent of listening to them and making the mods that will bring them to some degree of completion, we live in a time that we have all these amazing options, like PU builders, hardware ect.. I hope someone of the UA-camrs will make episodes of “some of the best guitars out there don’t have to be vintage” they are actually moded by players, like you and this beautiful guitar which can be very close to a real burst or even better then. You don’t need to apologise on the contrary you need to encourage people to do so, this way they truly make it theirs without selling and swamping guitars all the time.
the best guitars are usually not vintage. I was around when all there was available was vintage. Unless someone has fixed it, vintage guitars are just like vintage cars, ya way cool but if you want to drive it anywhere? You going to have to rebuild completely or its going to make it lol.
Good on you Zack,and what a beast of a burst. I also like improving a good guitar, to make it sound better and look the part. I changed a lot on my Les Paul standard it now looks and plays as good as a custom shop imo
I think everything you did was reasonable and reversible. But it brings up a question I have pondered and haven't settled for myself. Does swapping pickups (or pickups covers) on a very expensive and/or vintage guitar devalue the guitar if you keep the original pickups and reinstall them prior to selling? Does disturbing the original solder matter enough to change the value? As a buyer, I don't think that would bother me so long as I knew the reinstalled pickups were original, but I am sure opinions vary. Thoughts?
That is great, I also like to modify all my guitars. Why don't you go all the way and change the Pots to Crazy Parts Burst Pots and the Caps to russian PIO Caps 15nF for the Neck PU and 22nF for the Bridge PU!
I have a 2012 Standard. Nowhere near as valuable as a custom shop R9, but my workhorse nonetheless. And I completely agree with you. Regardless of price, once it's yours, it's yours. To do with as you wish. I myself am a tinkerer and I'm planning on going to town on that guitar still. Already swapped out the Burstbucker Pros for Custom Shop SDs, the Grovers for Gotohs and had the whole wiring redone from that awful 2012 circuit board to 50s style. Straplocks was the first mod! Haha. I pretty much do it to everything I own, whether gear, clothing or my motorcycle. Just love that process of REALLY making something yours, you know?
Congrats on the guitar Zach, enjoy! I too just turned 40 and am hoping to go shopping. Wont be a $20k guitar, but will be a guitar. ES335 or McCarty 594. But which should i get..........???
That is a great looking guitar! Getting the best Les Paul in a place like Wildwood is cool. All the changes you made make sense-why wouldn’t you want to modify it with a few minor, reversible mods.
Mod your guitar to suit you and your needs. Everyone thought it was sacrilegious for Rick Derringer to put DiMarzios and a mini toggle in his split headstock 58 Explorer. If he’s fine with it so be it.
Other than the pick ups Which is very subjective and up to the individual I think you did the right things by swapping out those other parts for more historically correct ones!👍 I did the same thing on my historic R9. Gibson still does not have these 100% cloned.
"In 1984, I was hospitalized for approaching perfection." Made a similar (in concept, if not in cost) choice for myself to gut and re-do a 1966 Gretsch Country Gentleman. It was beat up enough that I didn't light a bunch of "value" on fire but I do love that I get to take something so classic and really make it my own without worrying about it. I hope you get the same experience with this and that we both get a bunch of sneers showing off our shit. Emerging grey-in-the-beard solidarity!
My 60s Standard RI, is definitely not a Murphy Lab LP, but it is quite nice. I didn't really dig how the Burstbucker '61 pups sounded. Which is weird, cos those same pups sound great in the '61 SG Standard RI. So, being a fan of the Lollar pups in my JM, I order 2 Lollar Imperial humbuckers, standard wound. I've also swapped out the caps; one NOS Bumblebee from Sweetwater, and the other is an RS Guitarworks vintage OIP cap. I also swapped tuners to vintage Gibson Deluxe tuners, as I like the look better than the standard beans. Next up is a B7 Bigsby, with Vibramate. I think that will be the last mod Stella gets. Stella, as she has been named after my gals Shih-Poo who passed at 15. Cheers
I mean it's not like you stripped the finish and painted it pink .the mods you have done a very subtle and compliment the guitar and it's your at the end off the day mate .ps loved the Chicago music exchange vid you did cheers .
Best to make it what you really want. Tweaking is how you get there. Every big name guitarist does it so when we tweak toe tones of our guitars we are just doing the same. I've been doing this in my repair shop for 40 years. Most of my work is setups and electronic changes.
Talk to me about the top wrap. Do you always do that on your Les Pauls? I've done it both ways, but currently dont have it top wrapped... Can't decide on it tbh
Similar story. I had been looking for a Les Paul for years, hanging out at stores trying out the American standards, but they didn't have that sound. Found it in some reissues, but the timing was never right. Finally came across a CC Sandy going for sale, and I jumped on it. It sounded between vintage and modern, and I swapped everything physically possible, including drilling out wood for the posts. It looked more authentic and sounded closer to vintage than modern after all the work. Mod your stuff the way you want it, please. The whole value thing is just messing with people. I think Joe B put it best when he said the barometer should be: If the guitar would become worthless one day, would you still buy it?
I get the modding thing. In my opinion, a stock guitar is just that: a stock guitar. Which doesn't mean that it can't already be great that way. But I've modded most of my guitars, to make them great for me, whether it's esthetic, functional or for sound. To me, that's personalizing a guitar, which makes total sense. What kind of Custom Shop is that, if I might ask, that it is more than double the price of the average Custom Shop Les Paul?
I say mod away. I have a thing with owning a unique guitar. I will never afford a custom shop LP so I got a 01 classic and Im putting Pete Flynn PAFs in it and sending it to MJT to for a 58 relic job. Thats as close as I will ever get but its mine and its killer! Thanks Zack!
I just saw the video where you modified Rhett's Les Paul. The video noted you had Throbak's in your guitar. Did you switch, and if so, which Throbak set? Thanks.
Like you said , it's your guitar and do what makes you happy . Those mods , if you want to refer to them as mods , is swapping out some parts and I totally agree with your choice of replacement parts . And , personally , I wouldn't care if there are people who get on your case for such a thing . They may have their preference on the subject and more power to them but when it gets into the area of passing judgement of " I'm right and you're wrong ! " , It's time to back off and let it be . And as far as aged guitars there is a point that I really like about them . I started buying used guitars back in 1968 . They were not vintage guitars then they were used guitars . My very first Les Paul that I tried to buy was a '59 sunburst . I have been incredibly fortunate to have been able to buy some incredible guitars and to have been able to play many guitars that had been played to where they had such a wonderful feel and most of the time a great sound . Played some dogs too . But when new guitars are able to have that broken in feel and have the look of a very well played guitar I'm attracted to that . I love the look of a good guitar that looks like it's had a life of constant use . As we all know most of us cannot afford those original 50s & 60s guitars but guitars like the Murphy Labs are more within the reach for more players . Instead of ragging on each other get what you like and let the others enjoy what they have . There is more negativity in the world now than there ever had been . Don't add to it , play your guitar and try and make people feel good with the music you play and understand that we are all different but are all on this little planet zipping through space . We are all in this together . By the way , beautiful guitar and it's great to see how stoked you are with it ... Enjoy !
Dude, congrats on a great instrument. It's yours, make it yours! I modded my 75th Anniversary Telecaster by putting on a modern Gotoh Bridge, my luthier had to drill 4 new mounting holes. I play a lot of high gain high volume stuff with the band and I needed a bridge that wouldn't vibrate and feedback. Technically I destroyed the resale value but I won't be selling the guitar, I wanna play it. It's all legit as long as you don't buy the instrument as an investment :) Keep rockin! 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
Great video and nice mods. I topped out at an £9k R9 with Brazilian rosewood (2018) after escalating the price of the les Pauls I was buying over time. Owned 6, a few of which were Murphy labs over the time period. I never found one I liked and came to the conclusion that they're just not for me. Maybe they're not for you either if you're having to modify even a 20k one? Just a thought.
I do agree, it’s your guitar and if you want to mod it, go for it I wouldn’t have done that, but it’s not my guitar If I spent $20,000 on a guitar, I would get one that I didn’t want to change anything on. But again, maybe just me. I modded my first electric, but it did need some repairs, and so I changed other stuff,and it’s kind of unique I bought one for the purposes of modding, it was used beat up, and was fun But normally a mod for me is changing the knobs, or something simple
I there are a couple dynamics at work. One is you're clearly right, it yours, do what you want with it. I guess the other question is whether or not owning something neutralizes any criticism of what you do with your property. An extreme example: if I want to buy 59 LPs and set them on fire, I can, but that wouldn't make it reasonable.
Like you said, it's yours. Do what you want. Sometimes we get a special guitar but it's still not exactly what we want. Maybe it's 90-99% there but there's that last thing we can do to make it exactly what we want. It's fine. Do that. Who cares what others think. It's you that will be spending time with it. Not them.
I love the fact that you don’t mind getting into your guitar. The confidence and care is evident. I can also see you at 50. At 40 bought an awesome Gibson. At 50 just bought Gibson…😂
I have had the pleasure of meeting Zach the last time he was at Mass St. Music. We talked about this very subject and very in-depth. I was asking questions about my Novo Solus H2 and he simply asked me if I thought this guitar is a lifer? I replied absolutely yes! He then gave me insight and all the possibilities that I could do to make “KEEF” my dream machine. Such a down to earth and very approachable person! Thank you Zach!!! BTW, your new Gibby looks and sounds deluxe🤘🏽🤙🏽🎸👈🏼
Whether or not people agree with what you did, it’s yours. Everyone has an opinion…but that and $5 will get ya a cup of joe at Duncan lol. It’s YOURS. Do what you want with it. Either way, I’m here for it man!!!
I support player guitars that are expensive. I honestly think it is better to buy a instrument every five years to a decade for most of us and get quality and pay the price. Those details on nicer instrument the materials and craftsmanship is something you will appreciate daily.
If someone complains about the modification, send them the guitar bill or some of your bills to pay so they can have a opinion on it. The money is yours, the guitar is yours, you have the right to make it as your own taste. Wonderfull guitar btw
Modding expensive guitar is almost as hot topic as relicing guitars. I mean, if there is perfect guitar, that just need couple of tweaks, then why not? And it does not matter if its 200 or 20000 guitar. The more, if those are just hardware/electronics, that you can easy put there and back again. If you buy this guitar and then decide to route it for Floyd Rose, or reshape neck profile, that would be something else.
All I heard was a list of harmless and easily reversible mods. And if vintage ones were mystically perfect then players wouldn't have monkeyed with em way back when. I'll save my trepidation for when you start eyeing a Kaler
You know everyone’s tastes in soapbar pickups is so different. My first thought with any Guitar of that caliber is ThroBak. But I also love Fralin. I wish there was one answer, but sometimes it’s just a rabbit hole you have to climb into.
Anyone may do whatever they wish with $20k. IMHO, this package is a better value: vintage Les Paul Recording, Professional, and Signature guitars, and a new Les Paul Studio. Also, IMHO, manufacturers should use Brazilian rosewood on only acoustic instruments. Rich lite is ideal for electric guitar fingerboards.
Long live the Bursts i bought a 2009 50th anniversary les Paul and didn’t get on with the pick ups which were the burst bucker’s so i replaced them with a set of Montys paf’s and now it sings like a tele on steroids i will never sell it . Glad you got a guitar you love money shouldn’t come into it because if you have it for the rest of your life maybe another 50 years that is $400 a year which is $1.12 dollars a day which isn’t even a cup of coffee a day so play the hell out of it and happy birthday . Side note back when i bought mine they were 15000.00 Australian so they haven’t really increased that much since then .
That is a killer Les Paul. There is a 95% chance I worked on that one and I am so pleased to hear your praise and that you’re making it your own. ❤
It’s an absolute stunner!
Comes off kinda like a public apology video at first lol but you're 100% right - it's your. Maybe yours forever, maybe yours til the next one comes along, but it is yours and your to do with whatever you want. You work hard, enjoy it!
Gorgeous Burst! Loved the opening bluesy thang, too.
Like you said, it's YOUR guitar, you get to do what you want to it. I don't think anyone would be crazy enough to actually strip it but the world is full of vintage guitars with a baggie of original parts cohabitating in the case. One more isn't hurting anyone. "Vintage" isn't always better, either.
Congrats and a belated Happy Birthday!
I'm in the I get it camp on this one. I get the fact that it is yours to do what you want to it. Especially the pickups. The builder used what he felt sounded good to HIM. While many buyers might agree others, like you felt a change was needed and I am glad you found some you like. I might of fine with some custom wound to my personal specs working with the winder. I also like the no cover look and would of gone with no covers on both. Everything else was tribal and minor. I would however of gone and upgraded the bridge too. Keep on changing the world to your liking
Great video! You’re right.. it’s your guitar. Enjoy it. Guitars are here to be played and enjoyed. Doesn’t matter if it’s real Burst or whatever. Btw I love these videos bro!
Lovely guitar and I agree. I couldn't drop 20K on a guitar but, my 2000 Honeyburst Standard I have swapped the pickups( big Bareknuckle fan) the wiring is RS Guitarworks vintage wiring and put a set of aged Grovers on from Historic Makeovers. My main guitar, had it for a long time now and wouldn't part with it. Putting it through a Victory 25 and of course The Herc. all I need. Cheers from UK.
It’s like owning a hot rod or an any other performance vehicle. You’re always going to tweak and modify it to get the most out of it. Why not swap the pickups? Making a guitar your own is half the fun.
@@MayorMcCheese2000 That’s a fair opinion, but in your analogy you’re assuming the owner of said car has little knowledge to build something themselves. But that doesn’t mean the individual doesn’t know how to tune their vehicle or adjust the suspension to make it perfect for their ideal driving scenario.
Similarly with Zach’s guitar, he found a guitar that he connected with that plays well and was built by an extremely well respected builder. Swapping out the pickups for something that better suits his playing style is no different.
Regarding the price, he felt it was worth the expense and spent the money. Whether or not you would do the same is a moot point.
@@MayorMcCheese2000 My father built the 2004 Ridler Award Winner. It was over $1M+ build. The owner was also an engineer and enthusiast, but lacked the fabrication skills to do his own build. After winning, he’s showed it for a year and then continued modifying and tweaking the car on his own. Because that’s what curious minds do. My Dad took no offense. And having been around Chip, I don’t think he would care either.
You’re also calling a guitar a piece of art. I agree it is to a certain degree, but it’s a tool at the end of the day.
@@MayorMcCheese2000 You’re paying for an instrument that plays phenomenally. And again, if Zach can afford it, then who cares what he does to it. It goes back to my original analogy.
Pickups are subjective. Just because it’s right for the builder, doesn’t mean it’s right for the player. Would we still be arguing if it was a $5,000 Murphy Lab? Or if [pick your rockstar] swapped pickups on a $50k vintage guitar to better suit their taste?
Moral of the story “to each their own.”
I totally get the modding thing, I also love hotrodding guitars, and tweaking them to my liking, it's yours, doesn't matter what people say, I do it on a lower end scale because I don't have that kind of $$, but kudo's to you enjoying and loving this stuff and doing what you want to them.
More power to you, I have a 2016 Standard and the only thing left from the original guitar is the wood and the bridge. In the process DHL broke the neck and now its become a bit of a mutt, but its mine and it sounds, plays and looks exactly how I want, in essence its become my signature Les Paul. 😊👍
Guitars are for playing! I put 50s p90s in my murphy labs r6
I absolutely agree with everything, particularly your right to own it and modify it (which should be completely unapologetically). For myself, I have not been able to get convinced that a different same price between my current LP and a pricier one will be sufficiently audible to avoid buyers remorse. Plus, I have the lack of my current standard having a gorgeous woodgrain. I am considering changing of the pick ups, however.
I love that you own it and enjoy modding. I think it is a great way to make it ‘yours’ but also look at the history of mods: Jimmy Page 1 and 2 with all of their switching under the guard, Jimmy Page (Jeff Beck) tele which he added mirrors to and then repainted, Gilmour’s black strat with pick up mods, new necks, the Kahler addition/ removal and wood filler paint job (and the addition of the black guard,). Clapton’s Blackie which was the formed from body and neck from several strats he bought (that has always reminded me of the bit in the Good, the Bad and the Ugly where Tuco is making himself the best revolver). The list goes on and on: Van Halen, Blackmore, Malmsteen, Malcom Young etc
I totally understand everything you did except for the uncovered pup, never have liked that look but, if you dig it that's what counts ! Happy birthday man !! 🎈🎉🎁
I am probably going to put new covers on these anyway
Should have just added a cowbell mount to it.
People mod stuff all the time just put the parts in the case! It’s a beautiful guitar dude congrats!!You can always put the parts back. Dude I just seen your ZZTop pedal it sounds amazing! I never heard of your pedal company before today! Great work on the ZZ pedal
I get it. I got a LP Standard "Greeny". As a guitar it's a good one. It plays and sounds great w/no QC issues at all. As a replica? Well... There's a lot that's not right. So i got in line to have those issues fixed by Historic Makeovers. Can't wait to get it back. It's gonna be EPIC!
Do you have, or will you be making, any more videos with the Falcon 20? I have one and love it. I have your Chupacabra which I use with it. I would love to see you feature more pedals into it instead of plug-ins.
It was a loaner and went back to Gibson. We are working on recording with amps. It's hard in our current offices
@@MythosPedals I hear you. I would never have kept this amp in my old house. But, where I live now I can blast it all I want. Too bad you can't use amps where you are located.
I do the same to all my guitars, I just love the journey of making them my own. The only time I didnt was with my PRS modern eagle V... why, I had a PRS CE24 before which I modded trying to get it to sound close to a LP but with the PRS playability etc.... it ended up a great guitar, but it just felt wrong... I ended up giving that guitar away to a friend that is a brilliant guitarist and deserved a better instrument and I decided to get a PRS to be what a PRS wants to be, the MEV is a very unique guitar and I dont think any mod that I`d do to it could upgrade it. It is not my favorite guitar, but it is its own thing, a work of art and a love it for what it is - all the rest, fully modded - Fender Strat Custom shop, Luthier Tele, Luthier thinline, Luthier super strat, 2 japanese Yamaha revestar and a Gibson Lespaul Special - all entirely modded, entirely mine, visually and in sound, love it!
With you 100%!! If you're a collector and purchasing something for it's collectable value... then that's different. But when you purchase an instrument that you play, that you use as a tool, you need to make it "yours"! That's how we connect with our instrument, and that connection drives inspiration.
I’m totally ok with mods like this. First thing I would do is take off the pickguard and change the wiring (master volume, and passive 3 band tone control) this is what I did to my ES135, PRS singlecut, and I just have to have it now.
I'm kinda curious, why not get a luthier built Burst replica made? They're like $5000k and probably the closest thing to the real deal in terms of old growth honduran mahogany, old braz rosewood etc etc. Most of them also has the G logo on the headstock with the open book headstock
I've never played a replica I liked more than any Gibson I've come across, and I've played a lot.
Yea it’s a bit of a no brainer unless you’re being extremely biased. I own two built by a master luthier and they are much better than any Gibson historics I’ve played and pretty much on par if not better than some of the old ones I’ve played as well. My R9 needed a lot tweaking to get it closer and it’s still not nearly as good
Beautiful Les Paul and sounds great too. Like you said, it's your guitar. Do whatever you want to it as long it makes you happy. You mentioned that the Custombucker with alnico 5? Doesn't all Custombucker pickups come with alnico 3? Keep Rocking!
I thought I was the only one doing these mods to my expensive guitar 😂 I totally agree with you I have that talent of listening to them and making the mods that will bring them to some degree of completion, we live in a time that we have all these amazing options, like PU builders, hardware ect.. I hope someone of the UA-camrs will make episodes of “some of the best guitars out there don’t have to be vintage” they are actually moded by players, like you and this beautiful guitar which can be very close to a real burst or even better then. You don’t need to apologise on the contrary you need to encourage people to do so, this way they truly make it theirs without selling and swamping guitars all the time.
the best guitars are usually not vintage. I was around when all there was available was vintage. Unless someone has fixed it, vintage guitars are just like vintage cars, ya way cool but if you want to drive it anywhere? You going to have to rebuild completely or its going to make it lol.
Now that’s a proper gift to give to yourself! Congrats! Well earned!
🎸😎👊🙌
Sensational guitar, great present to yourself. Absolutely do whatever you want to your guitars, as long as they’re played who really cares!
Good on you Zack,and what a beast of a burst. I also like improving a good guitar, to make it sound better and look the part.
I changed a lot on my Les Paul standard it now looks and plays as good as a custom shop imo
What a beat, Zach! Cant wait to see this featured more in the future! Happy 40th too
I think everything you did was reasonable and reversible. But it brings up a question I have pondered and haven't settled for myself. Does swapping pickups (or pickups covers) on a very expensive and/or vintage guitar devalue the guitar if you keep the original pickups and reinstall them prior to selling? Does disturbing the original solder matter enough to change the value? As a buyer, I don't think that would bother me so long as I knew the reinstalled pickups were original, but I am sure opinions vary. Thoughts?
That guitar is stuck in my memory after our Nashville trip. Thank you for letting me play it! And thank you for having us at your shop!
I'm a big believer in modding any guitar. If you know what you're going you can improve almost anything!
That is great, I also like to modify all my guitars. Why don't you go all the way and change the Pots to Crazy Parts Burst Pots and the Caps to russian PIO Caps 15nF for the Neck PU and 22nF for the Bridge PU!
I have a 2012 Standard. Nowhere near as valuable as a custom shop R9, but my workhorse nonetheless. And I completely agree with you. Regardless of price, once it's yours, it's yours. To do with as you wish. I myself am a tinkerer and I'm planning on going to town on that guitar still. Already swapped out the Burstbucker Pros for Custom Shop SDs, the Grovers for Gotohs and had the whole wiring redone from that awful 2012 circuit board to 50s style. Straplocks was the first mod! Haha. I pretty much do it to everything I own, whether gear, clothing or my motorcycle. Just love that process of REALLY making something yours, you know?
Congrats on the guitar Zach, enjoy! I too just turned 40 and am hoping to go shopping. Wont be a $20k guitar, but will be a guitar. ES335 or McCarty 594. But which should i get..........???
Cool guitar. I like what you’ve done
That is a great looking guitar! Getting the best Les Paul in a place like Wildwood is cool. All the changes you made make sense-why wouldn’t you want to modify it with a few minor, reversible mods.
Its perfect now...its yours...yours to do what u want...I did on my ML 59...EMG's....ha- u can imagine the grief...love the show-
You’ll want the 4 uncles abr bridge on that
Had not seen that yet! Thanks!
my 1st thought, and daves pu's
Mod your guitar to suit you and your needs. Everyone thought it was sacrilegious for Rick Derringer to put DiMarzios and a mini toggle in his split headstock 58 Explorer. If he’s fine with it so be it.
Other than the pick ups Which is very subjective and up to the individual I think you did the right things by swapping out those other parts for more historically correct ones!👍 I did the same thing on my historic R9. Gibson still does not have these 100% cloned.
"In 1984, I was hospitalized for approaching perfection."
Made a similar (in concept, if not in cost) choice for myself to gut and re-do a 1966 Gretsch Country Gentleman. It was beat up enough that I didn't light a bunch of "value" on fire but I do love that I get to take something so classic and really make it my own without worrying about it. I hope you get the same experience with this and that we both get a bunch of sneers showing off our shit.
Emerging grey-in-the-beard solidarity!
You got one of the best guitars you’ve ever played and you made it yours! You deserve every success!
Just curious why did u too wrap it?
I like how slinky it feels
I changed the pickups in my Murphy Lab 59 to BareKnuckle Mules with aged cream bobbins. No covers. Looks and sounds great.
Did you change it because the Neck PU was too muddy?
My 60s Standard RI, is definitely not a Murphy Lab LP, but it is quite nice. I didn't really dig how the Burstbucker '61 pups sounded. Which is weird, cos those same pups sound great in the '61 SG Standard RI. So, being a fan of the Lollar pups in my JM, I order 2 Lollar Imperial humbuckers, standard wound. I've also swapped out the caps; one NOS Bumblebee from Sweetwater, and the other is an RS Guitarworks vintage OIP cap. I also swapped tuners to vintage Gibson Deluxe tuners, as I like the look better than the standard beans. Next up is a B7 Bigsby, with Vibramate. I think that will be the last mod Stella gets. Stella, as she has been named after my gals Shih-Poo who passed at 15. Cheers
I mean it's not like you stripped the finish and painted it pink .the mods you have done a very subtle and compliment the guitar and it's your at the end off the day mate .ps loved the Chicago music exchange vid you did cheers .
Best to make it what you really want. Tweaking is how you get there. Every big name guitarist does it so when we tweak toe tones of our guitars we are just doing the same. I've been doing this in my repair shop for 40 years. Most of my work is setups and electronic changes.
I guess it's like modding exotic cars. Make great things ever more amazing by putting your own touch.
Talk to me about the top wrap. Do you always do that on your Les Pauls? I've done it both ways, but currently dont have it top wrapped... Can't decide on it tbh
Zach you legend!! just the content I needed to escape work. Happy birthday man much love from Argentina ❤🎸
Similar story. I had been looking for a Les Paul for years, hanging out at stores trying out the American standards, but they didn't have that sound. Found it in some reissues, but the timing was never right. Finally came across a CC Sandy going for sale, and I jumped on it. It sounded between vintage and modern, and I swapped everything physically possible, including drilling out wood for the posts. It looked more authentic and sounded closer to vintage than modern after all the work.
Mod your stuff the way you want it, please. The whole value thing is just messing with people. I think Joe B put it best when he said the barometer should be: If the guitar would become worthless one day, would you still buy it?
I get the modding thing. In my opinion, a stock guitar is just that: a stock guitar. Which doesn't mean that it can't already be great that way. But I've modded most of my guitars, to make them great for me, whether it's esthetic, functional or for sound. To me, that's personalizing a guitar, which makes total sense.
What kind of Custom Shop is that, if I might ask, that it is more than double the price of the average Custom Shop Les Paul?
I say mod away. I have a thing with owning a unique guitar. I will never afford a custom shop LP so I got a 01 classic and Im putting Pete Flynn PAFs in it and sending it to MJT to for a 58 relic job. Thats as close as I will ever get but its mine and its killer! Thanks Zack!
I can see why you like the worn tail piece. It looks more comfortable and the wear/ aging is really well done.
I just saw the video where you modified Rhett's Les Paul. The video noted you had Throbak's in your guitar. Did you switch, and if so, which Throbak set? Thanks.
Lovely guitar.Just like you said
, it is yours to do what you like.
I love the riff at the beginning - any link to any tabs for that? Great video btw - do what you want with your gear, you paid for it!
Like you said , it's your guitar and do what makes you happy . Those mods , if you want to refer to them as mods , is swapping out some parts and I totally agree with your choice of replacement parts . And , personally , I wouldn't care if there are people who get on your case for such a thing . They may have their preference on the subject and more power to them but when it gets into the area of passing judgement of " I'm right and you're wrong ! " , It's time to back off and let it be . And as far as aged guitars there is a point that I really like about them . I started buying used guitars back in 1968 . They were not vintage guitars then they were used guitars . My very first Les Paul that I tried to buy was a '59 sunburst . I have been incredibly fortunate to have been able to buy some incredible guitars and to have been able to play many guitars that had been played to where they had such a wonderful feel and most of the time a great sound . Played some dogs too . But when new guitars are able to have that broken in feel and have the look of a very well played guitar I'm attracted to that . I love the look of a good guitar that looks like it's had a life of constant use . As we all know most of us cannot afford those original 50s & 60s guitars but guitars like the Murphy Labs are more within the reach for more players . Instead of ragging on each other get what you like and let the others enjoy what they have . There is more negativity in the world now than there ever had been . Don't add to it , play your guitar and try and make people feel good with the music you play and understand that we are all different but are all on this little planet zipping through space . We are all in this together . By the way , beautiful guitar and it's great to see how stoked you are with it ... Enjoy !
Dude, congrats on a great instrument. It's yours, make it yours!
I modded my 75th Anniversary Telecaster by putting on a modern Gotoh Bridge, my luthier had to drill 4 new mounting holes. I play a lot of high gain high volume stuff with the band and I needed a bridge that wouldn't vibrate and feedback. Technically I destroyed the resale value but I won't be selling the guitar, I wanna play it. It's all legit as long as you don't buy the instrument as an investment :)
Keep rockin! 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
Great video and nice mods. I topped out at an £9k R9 with Brazilian rosewood (2018) after escalating the price of the les Pauls I was buying over time. Owned 6, a few of which were Murphy labs over the time period. I never found one I liked and came to the conclusion that they're just not for me. Maybe they're not for you either if you're having to modify even a 20k one? Just a thought.
I loved it before. Love it even more now. How could it not be for me?
“When you pay for it, it’s yours, to do with it as you wish” I absolutely love that!
Beautiful guitar and like you said, it’s yours to make into what you wish.
I do agree, it’s your guitar and if you want to mod it, go for it
I wouldn’t have done that, but it’s not my guitar
If I spent $20,000 on a guitar, I would get one that I didn’t want to change anything on.
But again, maybe just me.
I modded my first electric, but it did need some repairs, and so I changed other stuff,and it’s kind of unique
I bought one for the purposes of modding, it was used beat up, and was fun
But normally a mod for me is changing the knobs, or something simple
I bought myself a Les Paul R8 for my 40th... enjoy!
Love it!
Just got an expensive guitar myself and was feeling bad about wanting to mod it.....UNTIL NOW....!!! Thanks.....!!!!
That is probably the nicest Les Paul I’ve ever seen.
I there are a couple dynamics at work. One is you're clearly right, it yours, do what you want with it. I guess the other question is whether or not owning something neutralizes any criticism of what you do with your property. An extreme example: if I want to buy 59 LPs and set them on fire, I can, but that wouldn't make it reasonable.
The fact that it's such an expensive guitar is all the more reason to truly make it yours as far as I'm concerned. Congratulations. It's gorgeous!
Every guitar I buy is for my birthday…regardless of the time of year lol
Zach’s playing isn’t praised enough! Killer tone and phrasing!
Its so funny that here in Brazil we can get that grade of “Jacarandá” fingerboards for 30-50 USD 😂
Like you said, it's yours. Do what you want. Sometimes we get a special guitar but it's still not exactly what we want. Maybe it's 90-99% there but there's that last thing we can do to make it exactly what we want. It's fine. Do that. Who cares what others think. It's you that will be spending time with it. Not them.
I love the fact that you don’t mind getting into your guitar. The confidence and care is evident. I can also see you at 50. At 40 bought an awesome Gibson. At 50 just bought Gibson…😂
Right on! Gotta make it yours.
I have had the pleasure of meeting Zach the last time he was at Mass St. Music. We talked about this very subject and very in-depth. I was asking questions about my Novo Solus H2 and he simply asked me if I thought this guitar is a lifer? I replied absolutely yes! He then gave me insight and all the possibilities that I could do to make “KEEF” my dream machine. Such a down to earth and very approachable person! Thank you Zach!!! BTW, your new Gibby looks and sounds deluxe🤘🏽🤙🏽🎸👈🏼
Just put emgs and a floyd in it.
I mod everything always! Rock on 🤘
CONGRATS DUUUUUUUDE!
Nice upgrades Zack!
Whether or not people agree with what you did, it’s yours. Everyone has an opinion…but that and $5 will get ya a cup of joe at Duncan lol. It’s YOURS. Do what you want with it. Either way, I’m here for it man!!!
I support player guitars that are expensive. I honestly think it is better to buy a instrument every five years to a decade for most of us and get quality and pay the price. Those details on nicer instrument the materials and craftsmanship is something you will appreciate daily.
The PRS 594 you had sounded much better
Different guitars my friend
Good for you it’s beautiful..just get that pick up cover on ffs it’s driving me mad 😂😂great post and congratulations 👍👍
If someone complains about the modification, send them the guitar bill or some of your bills to pay so they can have a opinion on it. The money is yours, the guitar is yours, you have the right to make it as your own taste.
Wonderfull guitar btw
$20k for that guitar? A strip of fretboard and some beating up your guitar should not triple its price.
I think you don’t even need to explain Zach. It’s your guitar and you can do as you wish. I also think the mods are killer!
So when is Zach going to start his side hustle as a consultant for Murphy Labs? 😂
Awesome guitar! 🔥
I mean…
LOL… working so hard to try to justify buying that guitar. Happy birthday!
Pre happy 40th! you deserve that guitar, It looks and sounds great. I'm curious about what wiring, standard or 50's? treble bleed?
I played an A on a regular Murphy and instantly my DNA changed…
Did the NEW YOU think, "Gee, I coulda bought a Benedetto!"?
@@williambarabanitz3858 no. The cheapest Benedetto costs more than what I paid for a R9 Murphy.
Modding expensive guitar is almost as hot topic as relicing guitars.
I mean, if there is perfect guitar, that just need couple of tweaks, then why not? And it does not matter if its 200 or 20000 guitar.
The more, if those are just hardware/electronics, that you can easy put there and back again.
If you buy this guitar and then decide to route it for Floyd Rose, or reshape neck profile, that would be something else.
So the same pickups as your other Murphy finished 2014 R9? I guess something can move, what is the definition of 'a lifer' anyway 😅
The R9 now has a Antiquity Hot Rod Jazz/JB Set🤘
All I heard was a list of harmless and easily reversible mods. And if vintage ones were mystically perfect then players wouldn't have monkeyed with em way back when. I'll save my trepidation for when you start eyeing a Kaler
Looks and sounds amazing... congrats! Quick question - if you were going to mod a 56 GT Murphy Lab... which P90s would you go for?
You know everyone’s tastes in soapbar pickups is so different. My first thought with any Guitar of that caliber is ThroBak. But I also love Fralin. I wish there was one answer, but sometimes it’s just a rabbit hole you have to climb into.
@@MythosPedals Agreed... think ill b looking in those directions. Looking fwd to hearing more of your Burst in future vids. Cheers
I notice you didnt mention the tuners, I've never seen anything with tuner buttons that yellow. Will they be next?
I have ;)
Anyone may do whatever they wish with $20k. IMHO, this package is a better value: vintage Les Paul Recording, Professional, and Signature guitars, and a new Les Paul Studio. Also, IMHO, manufacturers should use Brazilian rosewood on only acoustic instruments. Rich lite is ideal for electric guitar fingerboards.
You're my hero.
Any instrument we own should reflect the personality of the player. It is an extension of us in my opinion. But what do us Sparta people know.
Love it 👏
Hey! Why not make a great guitar better with pickups you like more. Makes total sense.
Long live the Bursts i bought a 2009 50th anniversary les Paul and didn’t get on with the pick ups which were the burst bucker’s so i replaced them with a set of Montys paf’s and now it sings like a tele on steroids i will never sell it . Glad you got a guitar you love money shouldn’t come into it because if you have it for the rest of your life maybe another 50 years that is $400 a year which is $1.12 dollars a day which isn’t even a cup of coffee a day so play the hell out of it and happy birthday . Side note back when i bought mine they were 15000.00 Australian so they haven’t really increased that much since then .