Inkstained
New member
Has anyone swapped out pickups with the "new" Gibson PCB board? How big a deal is it?
Changing pickups with Gibson circuit board
- Thread starter Inkstained
- Start date
DrNewcenstein
He Did the Monster Mash
Re: Changing pickups with Gibson circuit board
I've seen these threads before but thankfully have never owned one. Can this board not be removed? How are the original pickups connected to it? I know the pots are mounted/hardwired to the board, but surely replacements can be found.
I've seen these threads before but thankfully have never owned one. Can this board not be removed? How are the original pickups connected to it? I know the pots are mounted/hardwired to the board, but surely replacements can be found.
ToddStaples
New member
Re: Changing pickups with Gibson circuit board
I have. Well, The shop I manage has.
Save yourself a LOT of trouble and gut the guitar like a fish. Replace everything. New Pots, New pickups, Everything..(You can save the 3 way.) You will save yourself a ton of headache just doing it this way.. Lol
I have. Well, The shop I manage has.
Save yourself a LOT of trouble and gut the guitar like a fish. Replace everything. New Pots, New pickups, Everything..(You can save the 3 way.) You will save yourself a ton of headache just doing it this way.. Lol
Inkstained
New member
Re: Changing pickups with Gibson circuit board
So not only new pickups, but an RS wiring kit, too?
So not only new pickups, but an RS wiring kit, too?
Rand-O-Monium
New member
Re: Changing pickups with Gibson circuit board
Seems to be the case.
Does the whole "module" pop out?I guess the p/ups are modular,too.
Did yer MM come in ?!?!?!?!?!?!
Seems to be the case.
Does the whole "module" pop out?I guess the p/ups are modular,too.
Did yer MM come in ?!?!?!?!?!?!
ToddStaples
New member
Re: Changing pickups with Gibson circuit board
It does come out in one piece, yes. The pickups plug into the modular board much like the emg/blackout plug on the back of those pickups.
Seems to be the case.
Does the whole "module" pop out?I guess the p/ups are modular,too.
Did yer MM come in ?!?!?!?!?!?!
It does come out in one piece, yes. The pickups plug into the modular board much like the emg/blackout plug on the back of those pickups.
JeffB
Let it B
Re: Changing pickups with Gibson circuit board
Super easy if you are using another quick connect pickup. You can also cut the lead on the Gibson quick connect pickup above the heat shrink "shroud", and then just tie/solder in any new pickup as the quick connects have standard 4 conductor wires..., just get the wire colors correct when matching up from brand to brand.
And if you do want to gut it, everything comes out/unplugs easy peasy. I put a mojotone harness in my 335S, but my new Classic has amuch better taper on the controls, I wont bother until I am ready to drill out the cap (where the boost mini toggle is), and rewire for a simple 2vol2tone 3 way switch.
Super easy if you are using another quick connect pickup. You can also cut the lead on the Gibson quick connect pickup above the heat shrink "shroud", and then just tie/solder in any new pickup as the quick connects have standard 4 conductor wires..., just get the wire colors correct when matching up from brand to brand.
And if you do want to gut it, everything comes out/unplugs easy peasy. I put a mojotone harness in my 335S, but my new Classic has amuch better taper on the controls, I wont bother until I am ready to drill out the cap (where the boost mini toggle is), and rewire for a simple 2vol2tone 3 way switch.
Inkstained
New member
Re: Changing pickups with Gibson circuit board
20 minutes ago. Freezing. I'm letting it acclimate.
Seems to be the case.
Does the whole "module" pop out?I guess the p/ups are modular,too.
Did yer MM come in ?!?!?!?!?!?!
20 minutes ago. Freezing. I'm letting it acclimate.
Myaccount876
Amira-Maker
Re: Changing pickups with Gibson circuit board
I wouldn't buy a wiring kit, but you will be doing yourself and any other techs in the future a HUGE favor by replacing the entire wiring with single insulated wires - making everyone's life easier.
If you already have ~22 AWG gauge wire, a soldering iron, and some solder, you just need to buy 4 potentiometers which roughly cost $2-$3 each. 500K Audio (labeled A500K) is what most people use, or you could go with the stock Gibson values, 300K Linear (labeled B300K). I personally prefer 500K Linear (labeled B500K).
I wouldn't buy a wiring kit, but you will be doing yourself and any other techs in the future a HUGE favor by replacing the entire wiring with single insulated wires - making everyone's life easier.
If you already have ~22 AWG gauge wire, a soldering iron, and some solder, you just need to buy 4 potentiometers which roughly cost $2-$3 each. 500K Audio (labeled A500K) is what most people use, or you could go with the stock Gibson values, 300K Linear (labeled B300K). I personally prefer 500K Linear (labeled B500K).
Inkstained
New member
Changing pickups with Gibson circuit board
Myaccount, the RS Guitarworks kit to which I refer contains the pots. I'm on my iPhone at the moment so I can't include a link. I'll do that later:
Myaccount, the RS Guitarworks kit to which I refer contains the pots. I'm on my iPhone at the moment so I can't include a link. I'll do that later:
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Inkstained
New member
Re: Changing pickups with Gibson circuit board
http://store.rsguitarworks.net/pre-wired-premium-vintage-electronics-upgrade-kit-short-shaft/dp/356
http://store.rsguitarworks.net/pre-wired-premium-vintage-electronics-upgrade-kit-short-shaft/dp/356
Mr. B
New member
Re: Changing pickups with Gibson circuit board
That price seems pretty steep. I would think you could do it for a third of that cost by ordering the separate components and wiring them up yourself.
I have an SG with that crap in the control compartment too. Worse than sticking this junk in the back where it can't be seen, is the truss rod cover for the new standard that says Mini-E Tune in big letters on the face of your headstock. Also, can you imagine what a mess the back of your headstock would look like if you ever needed to take that mini-Etune system off and replace the tuners? I don't want digital crap or robotic parts that will break on or in my SG. Its not a frickin iPod, its a guitar. Just make me a good guitar for a fair price and leave it alone. In another couple of years they will leave this crap off one model and charge an extra 300 dollars for it, calling it the "SG Authentic"....
That price seems pretty steep. I would think you could do it for a third of that cost by ordering the separate components and wiring them up yourself.
I have an SG with that crap in the control compartment too. Worse than sticking this junk in the back where it can't be seen, is the truss rod cover for the new standard that says Mini-E Tune in big letters on the face of your headstock. Also, can you imagine what a mess the back of your headstock would look like if you ever needed to take that mini-Etune system off and replace the tuners? I don't want digital crap or robotic parts that will break on or in my SG. Its not a frickin iPod, its a guitar. Just make me a good guitar for a fair price and leave it alone. In another couple of years they will leave this crap off one model and charge an extra 300 dollars for it, calling it the "SG Authentic"....
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Chocklit_Thunda
New member
Re: Changing pickups with Gibson circuit board
Why on earth would anyone ever buy a wiring harness....?? Ever??
Why on earth would anyone ever buy a wiring harness....?? Ever??
JeffB
Let it B
Re: Changing pickups with Gibson circuit board
This years mintune is easily replaceable. It is only fastened with the post washers. You can swap out easily for tuners. Andertons is offering customers who buy aminitune and want regular tuners on their Les Paul standards, free labor on the swapout if you buy the tuners from them.
This years mintune is easily replaceable. It is only fastened with the post washers. You can swap out easily for tuners. Andertons is offering customers who buy aminitune and want regular tuners on their Les Paul standards, free labor on the swapout if you buy the tuners from them.
Inkstained
New member
Re: Changing pickups with Gibson circuit board
Still have a few more hours before taking it out of the box.
Chocklit, I haven't purchased the kit. I'm not even sure if I need it.
If I were to get, say, an SD Antiquity P90 (or a pair of them) sometime down the road, would I need to replace the PCB plate? Or could a good tech just work with the board, using connectors?
Still have a few more hours before taking it out of the box.
Chocklit, I haven't purchased the kit. I'm not even sure if I need it.
If I were to get, say, an SD Antiquity P90 (or a pair of them) sometime down the road, would I need to replace the PCB plate? Or could a good tech just work with the board, using connectors?
Rand-O-Monium
New member
Re: Changing pickups with Gibson circuit board
"Should be" able to work w/it,I'm thinking.
Patience,Grasshopper...
"Should be" able to work w/it,I'm thinking.
Patience,Grasshopper...
Chocklit_Thunda
New member
Re: Changing pickups with Gibson circuit board
Are the stock pots still 300K? If so I'd gut it, and rewire the whole thing. There's no point buying a wiring harness though. You can do it all yourself. Those NOS kryptonite film Russian princess dielectric capacitors straight from darth vader's chest plate are no better than some 10c polyester, Mylar or even a good ceramic disk cap the only difference is the tolerances between caps.
Trust me, I'm a cheapskate so I've done the tests. Just get yerself some decent quality stuff and you should be set for years to come
Are the stock pots still 300K? If so I'd gut it, and rewire the whole thing. There's no point buying a wiring harness though. You can do it all yourself. Those NOS kryptonite film Russian princess dielectric capacitors straight from darth vader's chest plate are no better than some 10c polyester, Mylar or even a good ceramic disk cap
the only difference is the tolerances between caps. Trust me, I'm a cheapskate so I've done the tests. Just get yerself some decent quality stuff and you should be set for years to come
ToddStaples
New member
Re: Changing pickups with Gibson circuit board
Are saying PIO caps sound like orange drops which sound like other ceramic caps?
I respectfully disagree.
Are the stock pots still 300K? If so I'd gut it, and rewire the whole thing. There's no point buying a wiring harness though. You can do it all yourself. Those NOS kryptonite film Russian princess dielectric capacitors straight from darth vader's chest plate are no better than some 10c polyester, Mylar or even a good ceramic disk cap
Trust me, I'm a cheapskate so I've done the tests. Just get yerself some decent quality stuff and you should be set for years to come
Are saying PIO caps sound like orange drops which sound like other ceramic caps?
I respectfully disagree.
Re: Changing pickups with Gibson circuit board
That is a nice upgrade kit (the RS one), but for what it is it, is WAY overpriced. Some of the vendors on MyLesPaul do these kits just as nicely for half the price - and this is with premium CTS 550k pots with vintage taper, PIO caps etc. It doesn't cost that much more than the RS kit to get one from those vendors with vintage Sprague Bees!
ReWind
Jonseyblues
MartinSixStringCustoms
all do great prewired harnesses.....but also you can buy the parts unsoldered for much less.
And you'll have to do a bit of soldering anyhow regardless.....pickups, output jack, switch wires.
And I also find differences between cap types....subtle, but there.
That is a nice upgrade kit (the RS one), but for what it is it, is WAY overpriced. Some of the vendors on MyLesPaul do these kits just as nicely for half the price - and this is with premium CTS 550k pots with vintage taper, PIO caps etc. It doesn't cost that much more than the RS kit to get one from those vendors with vintage Sprague Bees!
ReWind
Jonseyblues
MartinSixStringCustoms
all do great prewired harnesses.....but also you can buy the parts unsoldered for much less.
And you'll have to do a bit of soldering anyhow regardless.....pickups, output jack, switch wires.
And I also find differences between cap types....subtle, but there.
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