Mini to full size humbucker conversion :: 2012 Gibson Les Paul Studio 70's Tribute [9.0 lbs]

View fullsize

A local player wasn't digging these mini humbuckers and wanted to install full size humbuckers in his Gibson 1970's Tribute Les Paul Studio.  This involves enlarging both pickup cavities with a router.  I used a straightedge to guide my cuts.

View fullsize

View fullsize

Next is installing corner blocks in order to mount the pickup rings.

View fullsize

The player supplied a Gibson PAF for the neck and a WCR Icebreaker for the bridge.  New cream pickup rings were fit to the top before the pickups could be mounted.  Making the solder connections at the pots finished off the mini to full size humbucker conversion.

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

I used this video from the Youtube channel of Paoson WoodWorking for inspiration on this project.

Broken headstock & upgrades :: 1992 Gibson Les Paul [7.7 lbs]

View fullsize

Broken headstock & upgrades :: 1992 Gibson Les Paul [7.7 lbs]

Another Gibson, another broken headstock. The neck break was repaired along with an odd break in the control cavity.  While the guitar was in the shop, the player decided to make a few upgrades, including a Tonepros bridge, amber bell knobs and cream appointments (pickup rings, switch plate, output jack plate - all originally black).  The player will be swapping out the Dimarzio "Mega Drive" (DP107) bridge pickup himself for a classic '57.  In order to cosmetically match the new pickup, the player had me install a gold cover on the neck pickup.

Below is the headstock repair.  We opted for no finish touch ups, so I just wet sanded and buffed the area to improve the feel.

View fullsize