Caps/Pot Questions

NathanCahill

New member
I am looking at buying a Les Paul upgrade kit from BlackRose Customs.

http://www.blackrosecustom.emerchan...342591-79157428-1336336644&A=41&B=Electronics

My first question is about the cap values. What are the general effects of the different cap values. What is standard on Les pauls (mine is a newer Epi Standard 1999 or newer). Also orange drops or Hovland, and the differances?

The Kits listed say "This kit is designed to go in the LP Standards or any other model using a metal mounting plate for the pots in the control cavity. ". When I installed the neck pickup I don't remember seeing a metal mounting plate. Could this be an issue? Any and all help is appreciated.

Also I am assuming I need long shaft pots my les has a carved flame maple top to die for.
 
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Re: Caps/Pot Questions

I just bought the pot's and hovelands from black rose. The metal plate is a plate that all the pots are mounted through, it would be very obvious what it is if you saw it in your control cavity. If it isn't there then the pots mount straight through the body. I havn't mounted any of the stuff yet, so I can't give a review. you may be able to call black rose and have them coach you a bit. i don't know what epi's have in their control cavity.
 
Re: Caps/Pot Questions

on the cap values, the higher the friction coefficient (.## uf) the deeper into the mids the tone cap will cut. .047's are the standard on les pauls i think. If you only want to roll off some irritating highs and maintain the mids as is, get a .022 or lesser value.

Sprague orange drops are the standard!

-Dan
 
Re: Caps/Pot Questions

NathanCahill said:
Anybody have anymore input on the mounting plate or the absence of?

Modern production Gibson LPs have the pots mounted on a metal plate in the control cavity. You can't change a pot without removing the whole plate assembly. The presence of the plate also means that you need long shaft pots. If there's no plate the pots are mounted direct to the wood and you need short shaft pots.

I don't know whether Epi's have the metal plate. Take the control cavity cover off and look inside. The metal plate is really obvious if it's there - right under the 4 pots - you can't miss it!
 
Re: Caps/Pot Questions

My 2002 Epi Custom doesn't have a plate in there, all pots are direct mounted.
I'm curious about this plate, I would think it is an easy way to ground all 4 pots together?
 
Re: Caps/Pot Questions

No real diff in tone between the Hovlands and Orange Drops...I've A/Bed them in the same quitar with a push/pull tone pot. No audible diff in tone, IMO. A .02 cap leaves more mids in the signal when you turn the tone pot down than a 047. Both remove treble frequencies when you turn the tone pot down but the higher value .047 cap also removes some upper mids and results in a muddier, woofier tone when the tone control is turned down. I like 500K CTS pots with P-90's, mini-humbuckers and full-size humbuckers and 250K CTS pots with Strat and Tele type single coils and single coil size Strat bridge replacement pickups like the JB JR. and Fralin Steel Pole 43. .02 Orange Drops with either...I never, ever use .047 caps in my guitars. Lew
 
Re: Caps/Pot Questions

Thanks Simon. I replaced a pickup a while back and did not rember seeing this plate. So short shafts it is. Now I just have to decide on the caps brand/value. :dance:
 
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