Epi LP concert uke modifications

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dugztheone

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I'm considering purchasing an Epiphone Les Paul concert uke but it's a "plug and play" acoustic/electric with a passive piezo wired directly to the output jack. I can adjust tone and volume at the amp but there are no onboard controls making quick on-the-fly changes difficult. One option would be to purchase an aftermarket preamp unit and cut a hole in the side of the uke and do the install. But my thot is to install mini pots to maintain the look of a Les Paul Jr., with the volume pot above the tone pot. Your thots and opinions are highly valued and respected. Thanx!!
 
In keeping with it's price range, may be easier to get a Behringer ADI21 V-Tone. It's an external pre-amp/eq that you can get for around $30. I got one so I could install passive pickups without cutting holes in my instruments.

http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/ADI21.aspx
 
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I thought of doing this to my Brunswick lp, but made an electric ukulele instead. However while researching it I found that you can wire in tone and volume pots, and they even make mini lp knobs for an lp pedal, which are available separately as spares.
 
try phils suggestion of the adi. not a bad pedal/di.
 
I'm considering purchasing an Epiphone Les Paul concert uke but it's a "plug and play" acoustic/electric with a passive piezo wired directly to the output jack. I can adjust tone and volume at the amp but there are no onboard controls making quick on-the-fly changes difficult. One option would be to purchase an aftermarket preamp unit and cut a hole in the side of the uke and do the install. But my thot is to install mini pots to maintain the look of a Les Paul Jr., with the volume pot above the tone pot. Your thots and opinions are highly valued and respected. Thanx!!

MANY fellow UU members have owned these, and there are dozens of threads here telling their experiences. The summary is that opinions are MIXED, with a leaning to the negative side.

You might want to adjust your expectations so as to not go down this path only to get disappointed and have wasted time, effort and money.

Fellow UU member Baz did a review of this instrument on 8/9/2015 here:
http://www.gotaukulele.com/2015/08/epiphone-les-paul-ukulele-review.html

And accompanying UU discussion here:
http://forum.ukuleleunderground.com/showthread.php?109398-Epiphone-Les-Paul-Review

Baz Video Review:
https://youtu.be/37qX0k9a4Gw

Baz Sound comparison to other ukes:
https://youtu.be/KMcsQnNh5kI
 
thank you all for your input - after viewing the links and hearing the comparisons my $ might better be spent on a real ukulele. As a guitar player perhaps I was infatuated with the LP style or the Epiphone name (they DO make some quality acoustic guitars) but their entry level uke is just that, very entry level. Am interested in tenor scale A/E cutaway at a reasonable entry level price point. Again, thanx for your advice!
 
Look at the Kala KAATP-CTG-CE cedar top, acacia koa, about $370, it was recommended to me by Mim and I'm very happy with it. I also had the Gretsch G9121 ACE for $220 that was also nice, not as much presence as the Kala.
 
thx mike - I've looked at some Kala and Lanakai a/e tenor ukes online...am really looking for an entry level good player under $200 if there are any
 
Depends what your goal is. My risa solid body electric was 150 bucks used not that long ago. Ohana has great deals on their solid body ukes for acoustic in that range. I also liked the Lanikai ukesb if you need to both plug in or play acoustically, especially if you don't have an audio interface.
 
I've often been tempted by the B stock Eleukes that Victor Litz sells on eBay. These have two pickups; a magnetic pickup for steel strings and a piezo under the saddle for nylon. I don't know a whole lot about these ukes but for under $150 shipped they look like a lot of fun. Disclaimer: I'm not affiliated with the seller in any way and have never purchased from them. I'm just an ukulele junkie who spends too much time on the web :)
 
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