[yuyaya]

So here is the situation - you've spent your hard earned funds on your dream Epiphone Les Paul and now you would like much more out of it in the sound area. You are perfectly happy with how it looks and yes, of course you'd have preferred a Gibson original, but finances dictated that the Epi was the way to proceed. Unfortunately now the sound it produces is now starting to irritate you - so what's the solution?

Why don’t we begin by stating that the Epiphone ES 335 is a decent electric guitar in anyone's book. To the untrained eye they're pretty much equal to the Gibson original. Of course the maple top is a thin laminate and not the chunky carved top found on the Gibson, but there is a hefty cost difference and in my honest opinion they represent fabulous value for money.

So why is it that they seem to sound a bit too flimsy?

The guitar's sound is the accumulation of numerous features, and all the the aspects on the Epiphone are obviously slightly lower quality to its more pricey big brother. The wood, the hardware and especially the guitar's pickups have an effect on the overall tone but in my opinion it's the guitar pickups that spoil it the most, and luckily this is an area that is simply upgraded with aftermarket varieties.

You will discover a great deal of choices to choose from when it comes to picking a superb set of humbuckers. You will see the established old boys such as Seymour Duncan and Di Marzio and then there are the newer boutique, handwound firms such as Tub Guitar Pickups in the UK. For many years I have been a fan of Seymour Duncan but I really love the new boutique crew. The good ones employ fabulous materials and wind meticulously by hand. Some deliver an excellent alternative to the 'old firm'.

When it comes to the sound, that's down to you as every guitarist wants something different. Visit some websites, take a look at the various guitar pickup specs and maybe listen to some sound samples. Never get baffled with the science of it all because the magnets, the coil wire and the number of winds will get daunting. Your best bet is to listen and make your judgement from that. Luckily a few businesses will let you return your pickups if you aren't 100% satisfied with the product.

If you've got large amount cash burning a hole in your pocket you may instead choose to upgrade straight to a Gibson Les Paul Standard or perhaps a 1959 VOS R9. If not, then change those pickups and hear your Epiphone growl. It's really not difficult.

*removed*