'89 Les Paul Custom...what pups are in it?

[BrianS.]

Hello fellas,

I'm selling a 1989 Les Paul Custom for a customer of mine, and was asked by a potential buyer what pickups are in it. I have no clue. What is the best way to get this info?

They seem to be decent pickups...hotter than my Pearly Gates and 59, yet still quite articulate. They sound good.

Thanks for any info...

 

[muttznmongrelz]

Re: '89 Les Paul Custom...what pups are in it?

Could be Bill Lawrence "The Original" HB-R/HB-L Circuit Board Back Humbuckers.

 

[BrianS.]

Re: '89 Les Paul Custom...what pups are in it?

Well, I measured them "in-circuit" and they both are 7.4K. Maybe they are some kind of more "vintagey", "P.A.F. y" type of pickup? I'm not going to pull them or take pics or anything...I don't think it's that big a deal.

I did notice that when playing with high gain, they do have some feedback...maybe some unpotted type of pup?

Another thing I noticed that I'm curious about...when I turn the tone knob down on the bridge pup, it's like the pedal up position on a wah, more hollow than muffled. Kind of cool, but not what I really expect from a tone control. Speculations?

 

[blueman335]

Re: '89 Les Paul Custom...what pups are in it?

I'd take off the back cover panel and look for signs of rewiring, either PU's or pots. Only takes a few minutes to loosen the strings and check the PU's.

 

[BrianS.]

Re: '89 Les Paul Custom...what pups are in it?

I went through and cleaned all the pots and switches...there is no sign of any rewiring. Still, I'm intrigued now, so I will take some pics of the backs of the pups.

 

[BrianS.]

Re: '89 Les Paul Custom...what pups are in it?

Neck:

Bridge:

 

[Ayrton]

Re: '89 Les Paul Custom...what pups are in it?

Tim Shaw era T Tops....

Or did all of them have the ink stamp?

 

[BrianS.]

Re: '89 Les Paul Custom...what pups are in it?

Is it possible that I read the serial number wrong and that this guitar is actually from the early to mid 80s, rather than '89? Hmmm...

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: '89 Les Paul Custom...what pups are in it?

Those are Shaws, I'm almost positive...they look right and the DC range is spot on!

Is there anything special about the LPC??

Heritage series, reissue type/style, anything??

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: '89 Les Paul Custom...what pups are in it?

Another note...guitars from that era often came with 300k, 200k...even 100k pots!!!

I had a real hard time really loving the Shaws in my Moderne...pulled the stock (100K) volume and tone pots and replaced them with 500k...night and day difference...good turned to great real fast!

 

[BrianS.]

Re: '89 Les Paul Custom...what pups are in it?

It's got the factory Kahler and "fold-out" tuners. Oh, and some strange looking strap buttons. That's about it.

Would these pups increase the value of the guitar? We have it listed at $1200 right now.

I've never been into Les Pauls, and really don't know much about them. I never realized there was so many variations. Thanks for your help.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: '89 Les Paul Custom...what pups are in it?

That era LPC with those features don't really bring a ton of cash but because it has the Shaws it might be a slightly easier sell...

Shaws on their own can bring decent money but nothing too crazy...I see them prices at $400 a set give or take all the time but I never see them really bring that.

As for the guitar as a whole...I dunno what it's really worth.

You're going to be met with a bunch of "It's a vintage Gibson, it's worth this much money" but you're also going to be met with "it's a Norlin era and not the model folks want so it's worth this much..."

I dunno to be honest but I do now that the chrome hardware versions with the tremolo systems bring less than the typical stop tailpiece/gold hardware versions...

 

[BrianS.]

Re: '89 Les Paul Custom...what pups are in it?

Good info, thanks.

I dunno to be honest but I do now that the chrome hardware versions with the tremolo systems bring less than the typical stop tailpiece/gold hardware versions...
___________

Yeah, I've seen that searching on the bay. Still, the prices they do fetch seem pretty high to me.

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: '89 Les Paul Custom...what pups are in it?

nice t-top 1989 Tim Shaws there bud.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: '89 Les Paul Custom...what pups are in it?

Guys, T Tops and Shaws are different pickups.

Different winds, different wire and different magnets.

 

[AlexR]

Re: '89 Les Paul Custom...what pups are in it?

Yep, t-tops are quite different to shaws.

 

[lNllClK]

Re: '89 Les Paul Custom...what pups are in it?

Would these pups increase the value of the guitar? We have it listed at $1200 right now.

With regular wear on an old guitar that thing will probably sell quickly at that price, especially a custom, I'd say put $1500 and let them haggle... whatever floats your boat