Les Paul electronics

Eoin · Post by **Eoin** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 5:45 pm

A friend of mine has a Les Paul Studio (2004) with some mild electronic problems. I haven't really checked out what the issue is yet, but I'm thinking I might just replace the electronics completely (except the pickups, unless I can convince him otherwise). Just wondering what kind of caps, pots, wiring, pickup selector switch etc., would people consider improvements over what comes stock? Also wondering whether there are any variations on the circuit that are worth looking at?

In terms of tone, he's not really after a particularly "vintage" sound or a tone like any other guitarist in particular. I'd just like to improve the general quality, if it's possible.

Flames1950 · Post by **Flames1950** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 11:23 pm

I put kits from RS Guitarworks in both my Gibsons, with CTS pots, and the guitars sound much better -- more clarity and bite than before for sure. RS sells the kits with Mallory 150's (cheaper) or Hovland caps (much more expensive.) I used some Auricaps that I got elsewhere in mine however.
I don't know of an upgrade for the pickup selectors -- wish I did because it seems like mine needs cleaning really often to make good contact.

Billy Batz · Post by **Billy Batz** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 9:50 am

I basically used the RS kits as well though I didnt buy them from RS. There just CTS pots with hovland caps. But the kits RS sells are like $20 more expensive because they 'match' them. Im confused how having my neck pickup volume pot and bridge volume all at exactly 510k makes a difference. They also give you high pass circuits if you want to use them (a resistor and small cap in parallel). Im not a fan of that on strats or gibsons. With good pickups you shouldnt need high pass filters on the volume pot. Anyway its a good way to go. Hovland/CTS.

Eoin · Post by **Eoin** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 12:22 pm

Okay, CTS pots seem like a good idea. Auricap/Hovland - is there any consensus on one over the other? What are the "philosophical" differences between them, ie what NOS cap, if any, are they each trying to sound like?

At the end of the day, I've never heard the difference and unless I can convince Richard to buy two of each I'll probably end up making a choice arbitrarily.

I'm wondering if a sealed switch might perform better for the pickup selector, assuming one could find one to allow the on/both/on type function. I think a DPDT on-on-on switch could be wired for that. Is there any reason why that wouldn't work that I'm not thinking of? The action of the switch is going to be a bit different but...

Billy Batz · Post by **Billy Batz** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 3:29 pm

I dont think there tryiong to sound liek an nos cap. Actually I think there the opposite. Their trying to be the ultimate full range, clear linear responce audio cap. I dont know the difference between them.

Flames1950 · Post by **Flames1950** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 4:22 pm

Billy Batz wrote:I basically used the RS kits as well though I didnt buy them from RS. There just CTS pots with hovland caps. But the kits RS sells are like $20 more expensive because they 'match' them. Im confused how having my neck pickup volume pot and bridge volume all at exactly 510k makes a difference. They also give you high pass circuits if you want to use them (a resistor and small cap in parallel). Im not a fan of that on strats or gibsons. With good pickups you shouldnt need high pass filters on the volume pot. Anyway its a good way to go. Hovland/CTS.

I don't know if their "premium" kit is the one you're thinking of Dan(it runs about $46), but I just got their basic kit, about $26. I don't really see the point of the pot matching either, so I certainly wasn't paying for it.

Billy Batz · Post by **Billy Batz** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 6:55 pm

They have so many friggin kits I dont know what the hell to look at. All those kits for either strat, LP, or PRS type.

Eoin · Post by **Eoin** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 8:25 am

Billy Batz wrote:I dont think there tryiong to sound liek an nos cap. Actually I think there the opposite. Their trying to be the ultimate full range, clear linear responce audio cap.

Sounds good to me. Where do you buy your components generally?

And where can you get Auricaps? I didn't have a lot of luck googling for shops.

novosibir · Post by **novosibir** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 8:33 am

Eoin wrote:And where can you get Auricaps? I didn't have a lot of luck googling for shops.

Solen Fast, Hovland and Auricaps you'll get here:

https://secure.cedist.com/

Larry G