LP Sig vs J Casady Bass

[BlendedCat]

I have an original Les Paul Signature low impedance pick up and several of the original 50/250/500 transformers used in the Signature Bass.  If I were to replace the pick up and transformer in a Jack Casady Bass with these, in your opinion how close to the sound of the LP signature would I get?

[Basvarken]

Very close. The pickup is the most important factor in the character of this bass.
Apart from the pickup, the only real difference between a LPSig and a JCSig is the wood used for the back of the body. In my opinion that hardly affects the amplified sound.

[godofthunder]

  Doesn't the Epi have a maple ply back like the LP Sig?

[uwe]

There is one other relevant difference: The LP Sig has a three-ply maple neck and will always sound snappier and attackisher than the maho-necked JC Sig which is overall more goodnatured in response and mellower. An LP Sig can be a real dominant, even vicious beast, angry P Bass style. People tend to expect hollow-bodies (and the LP Sig is almost one and not just a semi) to sound docile, the LP Sig belies expectations, the JC Sig not quite as much.

[BlendedCat]

I am not sure of the construction of the Epi.  I saw one LP Sig bass on Ebay with all the electronics replaced going for over $2000.  It was  beat up and just not worth it.  I started to consider the Jack Casady bass as it would also be possible to put it back to original condition and sell should a LP Signature body appear down the road.   It would give me a way to use and enjoy the electronics I currently have instead of leaving them on the shelf for future use.  BTW, You don't feel the using the original transformer would really much to the sound?  If not I was thinking of experimenting and trying it out on the recording guitar to see if it might add a little punch and power.

[BlendedCat]

Thanks uwe, that is something i wasn't aware of.   I guess I will pass on the Casady and keep waiting.  I have a fair collection of Gibson Basses now but the original EB1, Curly top 1981 RD Artist and the Signature are a little pricey for this old boy.  I have to say though that I play everything I own (or so the story goes when my wife asks).

[Basvarken]

  Doesn't the Epi have a maple ply back like the LP Sig?

The LP Sig has a walnut back (and sides)

There is one other relevant difference: The LP Sig has a three-ply maple neck and will always sound snappier and attackisher than the maho-necked JC Sig which is overall more goodnatured in response and mellower.

Do all LP Sigs have a maple neck?
I'd swear I've also seen specifications mention three-ply mahogany. 

[Basvarken]

Must have been this one that gave me that impression

[drbassman]

Interesting ad.  My LP Sig has the 3 piece maple neck.

[Granny Gremlin]

Wasn't there also a difference as regards sustain block/lack thereof between the 2?

[4stringer77]

Not sure about the sig but I'm loving my Epi JC since I picked it up a month ago. The pickup doesn't cry out for replacing to me, but it would be an interesting experiment to see if an original LP sig pickup would make much of an improvement in the JC. It's Jack's assertion that the pickup in the Epi was actually an improvement over the previous Gibson design.

[Grog]

Wasn't there also a difference as regards sustain block/lack thereof between the 2?

I'm not sure what the Epi has, but I seem to remember the LP Sig having a "T" shaped block that doesn't quite go to the end of the body..................

"The Signature was an odd guitar in a lot of ways. Cosmetically, the guitar was much like an old Les Paul Standard, with metallic gold top, cream-colored pickguard and control plates and a bound rosewood fingerboard with trapezoidal pearl inlays. The body shape and construction were basically patterned after the ES-335 design. However, the double cutaways were asymmetrical - the bass-side cutaway was rounded and joined the body at the 16th fret (like on an ES-330), while the treble-side cutaway was standard Les Paul. Also, the solid center block was square rather than rectangular; it covered the area under the wide-travel tune-o-matic bridge and stop tailpiece but didn't extend further toward the end pin and the neck heel as it does in a 335. The neck was made of 3-piece laminated maple as opposed to the more typical mahogany."

[copacetic]

I recently sold one of my LP Sigs that was in a teaburst/honey burst finish that was definitly the maple neck. The one I kept was the goldtop that definitly has a Mahogany neck. I have the Casady LP Sig and it is definitly snappier as Uwe mentioned. I have to say that the Lp Sig is a 'mellower' sweeter instrument and I prefer it. I would say the Casady can cut through in louder settings.

[Basvarken]

When I compared an original Epi JC Sig with an original Gibson LP Sig I found the Epi sounding kinda bland /meek in comparison to the Gibson. Didn't have the authority of the Gibson.

In that very same session where I (and co-forummers Chris and Bart) compared those two bass guitars, I also brought my own modified Epi JCS with Gibson Lo-z bass pickup. Mine sat sort of in between the Epi and the Gibson with a tendency towards the Gibson LP Sig.
Still very happy with that modification. I can recommend it to anyone wanting to spice up their JCS.






By the way: We've discussed all this earlier here:

http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=2953.msg43308#msg43308

[gearHed289]

THAT looks SO right!