An update of my current pedal board

Hey guys! It's been a long time since my last update. Sorry about that.
Here is a quick update about my current pedal board.
Still, I am using my Pedaltrain/1 HC that is a product of Pro Stage Gear/ Pedaltrain. Just love it!
If you haven't got a chance to check it yet, do it now!

http://www.pedaltrain.com
Click here for the spec of the pedal board and the hard shall case that comes with it.

I added couple new pedals to my pedal board and took out few pedals also.

Here is the order of my pedal chain.
1. Route 66 - Visual Sound
2. OCD - Fulltone
3. Phase 90 - MXR (Jim Dunlop)
4. Volume Pedal JR - Ernie Ball
5. Carbon Copy - MXR (Jim Dunlop)
6. Flashback - TC Electronic
7. True Bypass Looper - Keeley Electronics 
8. H2O - Visual Sound
9. M9 Stormbox Modeler - Line 6


All pedals are powered by Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus and they are connected with George L's solderless cable and Planet Wave solderless cable.

Here is the look from the back of my Pedaltrain pedal board. As you can see, it is very clean and neat. All cables are hidden under the pedal board. And you can even fit the Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus under the pedal board. Again... I just love it!

I will be reviewing all of these pedals and explaining the order of the pedal chain later. Stay tuned! --- GXC

DIY modify an Epiphone Les Paul with new humbucker pickups.

I bought this Epiphone Les Paul Gold Top six years ago.

For beginner or anyone who has lower budget, getting an Epiphone may be a good start.
Considering the price of a Gibson is almost 10 times of an Epiphone...
On guitar center or musician's friend, the price for a Gibson Les Paul Gold Top is $3999, and a Epiphone is $499.
Of course, you get what you paid for. But if you have a limited budget and you want the unique sound of the Les Paul, changing the pickups on an Epiphone may be a good way.
The humbuckers in a pair cost around $200, but it's worth the money.

Beside new bumbuckers, you will need solder and solder iron.

I also changed the potentionmeters (volume knobs). 

Here's a demonstration from Seymour Duncan showing how to change the pickups.

Seymour Duncan's guide on replacing pickups
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgib50ROqRc&feature=related

Replacing a pickup requires soldering skills. It you are not feeling comfortable doing this yourself, it is better to ask a guitar technician to do that for you. It may be another $70 - $100, but usually most guitar technicians also help you set up the guitar (e.g., setting up the bridge).
Now, you are paying around $900 for an Epiphone but getting close to the sound of a $4000 Gibson. =) 

I had a great time replacing the pickups on my guitar. You can do it too. Enjoy and have fun! --- GXC

DIY pedalboard.

So I tried to make my first pedal board for my guitar effect pedals that I had to bring them with me to New York and Chicago for some performances.
It took me almost three days of non-stop making... NON-STOP

I think it looks okay... but I finally didn't bring it with me... Because it's too HEAVY.
It was fun to build one though.
I end up bought the Pedaltrain/1 HC made by Pro Stage Gear/ Pedaltrain.
Check out their website : http://www.pedaltrain.com
And this is the one that I bought : http://prostagegear.com/products/pedalboards/pt1/

 



















For me, it's the best pedalboard. And I'm glad that I bought this. (though it's not as budget as building your own pedalboard from woods, there are some advantages of buying one)
Here's the demonstration by gearmanndude on youtube showing how to attach pedals and power supply.

Pedaltrain Jr pedal power mounting demo 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTjQWRfOzgk
Building a small pedalboard w Pedaltrain PT-MINI PART 1 of 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrtwyGaIg1E&feature=channel
Building a small pedalboard w Pedaltrain MINI Part 2 of 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3ZxN9P87sI&feature=fvw

Here's a comparison between building one and buying one.
Building one from woods
- Pros: Much cheaper
- Cons: Heavy to carry around, takes lots of time to build, requires some skills
Buying one (e.g. Pedaltrain/1 HC)
- Pros: Takes less time, much lighter to carry, more durable, looks cleaner
- Cons: More expensive

It's really worth  the money for buying the Pedaltrain pedalboard.
It's very neat as you can hide all the cords and the power supply under it.
Highly recommended.

As you may see in the picture above that I have already attached my pedals on the Pedaltrain pedalboard with velcro. I will show my pedals one by one later.
Hope you guys enjoy and have fun. --- GXC