Need to clear up LP neck pickup.

[Mike M.]

I have a swamp ash LP Studio that I bought in July. I have no complaint's at all with the bridge pickup but the neck pickup is a bit dark. I've lowered the pickups height considerably and have tried adjusting the pole pieces with no real change. Before I do something as drastic as changing the pickup, would changing the 300k pots to 500k make much of a diferance in clarity? Thanks.

[Benjy_26]

Re: Need to clear up LP neck pickup.

YES!

Get yourself some CTS 500k pots and Orange Drop caps (I like .022mfd for the neck and .047mfd for the bridge). Lowering the pickups works too.

If all of this doesn't work, a new set of pickups might be in order. I have a Pearly Gates set in my LP Standard and I love them.

[Simon_F]

Re: Need to clear up LP neck pickup.

Yes again!

500k audio taper pots made a huge difference in my LP. They brighten things up, make the sound "bigger" and give you more precise control of the rolloff.

I'm assuming your neck pickup is a 490R. I found that pickup woolly in my LP, even after a pots and caps change, so you might still want to consider replacing it.

But do the pots and caps first. It really does make a big difference.