Duncan C-5 or Gibson BB Pro??
- Thread starter papersoul
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TattooedCarrot
New member
I have both and I prefer the C5 to the BB. Although I was impressed with the BB as far as being a stock Gibson pup goes its not too bad. But it's not staying in either 
Robert S.
Super Moderator
Why on earth would you want to sell that guitar?
In 2 years the BB pros will be a dime a dozen on ebay. Thats a killer trade in my book.
To reply to the more complicated part of your inquiry:
Most production LPs I come across (actually all) come with a mix of wiring. The output jack and pickups have vintage braided wiring but the wire that connects the pots to the switch and then out to the 2 terminals on the mounting plate that the vintage braid from the output jack connects to is four conductor with sheilding. The red connects the bridge volume pot to the switch, the white connects the neck pickup volume pot to the switch, the black is the switch out to the jack and Gibson uses the green to ground the switch.
Gibson routinely cuts back the plain wire and doing that leaves the 4 conductors unsheilded. I routinely replace that 4 conductor lead with new Belden wire and connect both the green and plain wires to the ground terminal of the switch and to a pot chassis. When wiring the JP schematic you need all 4 conductors for the circuit and the plain lead must be used as the switch ground.
I've gutted a few LPs in my day and I can now wire them in my sleep. With a little practice you'll get there.
In 2 years the BB pros will be a dime a dozen on ebay. Thats a killer trade in my book.
To reply to the more complicated part of your inquiry:
Most production LPs I come across (actually all) come with a mix of wiring. The output jack and pickups have vintage braided wiring but the wire that connects the pots to the switch and then out to the 2 terminals on the mounting plate that the vintage braid from the output jack connects to is four conductor with sheilding. The red connects the bridge volume pot to the switch, the white connects the neck pickup volume pot to the switch, the black is the switch out to the jack and Gibson uses the green to ground the switch.
Gibson routinely cuts back the plain wire and doing that leaves the 4 conductors unsheilded. I routinely replace that 4 conductor lead with new Belden wire and connect both the green and plain wires to the ground terminal of the switch and to a pot chassis. When wiring the JP schematic you need all 4 conductors for the circuit and the plain lead must be used as the switch ground.
I've gutted a few LPs in my day and I can now wire them in my sleep. With a little practice you'll get there.
WARRENLEELYNCH
New member
Really ROBERT nailed the answer, you HAVE TO TRY THE PUP in your own gear to really ever be sure you know?
If i tell you hey man the duncan custom is the best pup in the whole world,that does not mean it is to everyone else, it just means that i treid it and loved it,you may have a totally different opinion?
have you considered getting different magnets and doing swaps on the C5?
at least then you dont have to buy the whole pickup
If i tell you hey man the duncan custom is the best pup in the whole world,that does not mean it is to everyone else, it just means that i treid it and loved it,you may have a totally different opinion?
have you considered getting different magnets and doing swaps on the C5?
at least then you dont have to buy the whole pickup
papersoul
New member
One thig with the C-5 is I find soloing on the higher strings a tad thin compared to a p'up thick with thick and warm mids like the Rio BBQ or JB. Hopefully the Custom will give me the clarity of the C-5, warmth and thickness of the JB.....can't wait to try one in my Paul.
Last edited by papersoul
Warren, I have a hard enough time cracking out the soldering iron for the p'up swap let alone swapping magnets! LOL.
I am trying to get a Custom off ebay but it has a 6 1/2" lead and hopefully that will be enough. I guess I may have to extend each wire in the four conductor pair with a little solder and extra wire. I am going t ohave to pick up some spare wire this week.
Hopefully the radio shack variety is good enough.
One thing I am finding is that staring into the control cavity of my LP confuses the hell out of me. I am not certain which wires are coming from the pickups so I don't want to desolder the wrong wire. I als have the R/S electronics upgrade kit so it's twice as confusing.
Maybe I could shoot an email with a picture to one of you guys and you could point out which are coming fro mthe bridge p'up? This way I could make certain I am doing the right thing. Sorry for all the hand holding.:1:
Last edited by papersoul
Warren, I have a hard enough time cracking out the soldering iron for the p'up swap let alone swapping magnets! LOL.
I am trying to get a Custom off ebay but it has a 6 1/2" lead and hopefully that will be enough. I guess I may have to extend each wire in the four conductor pair with a little solder and extra wire. I am going t ohave to pick up some spare wire this week.
Hopefully the radio shack variety is good enough.
One thing I am finding is that staring into the control cavity of my LP confuses the hell out of me. I am not certain which wires are coming from the pickups so I don't want to desolder the wrong wire. I als have the R/S electronics upgrade kit so it's twice as confusing.
Maybe I could shoot an email with a picture to one of you guys and you could point out which are coming fro mthe bridge p'up? This way I could make certain I am doing the right thing. Sorry for all the hand holding.:1:
Robert S.
Super Moderator
Free the pickup from the guitars body and tug on the lead. Look into the control cavity to see which wire is moving.
Piece of cake baby.
With production Gibsons the pickup is wired to the outside (#3) terminal of the corrosponding volume pot. If you had it modded to some variation of the 50s wiring that may have been changed though.
Tuggy tuggy lookie lookie.
Piece of cake baby.
With production Gibsons the pickup is wired to the outside (#3) terminal of the corrosponding volume pot. If you had it modded to some variation of the 50s wiring that may have been changed though.
Tuggy tuggy lookie lookie.
WARRENLEELYNCH
New member
well that is going to be a thing of the past with a CUSTOM,the leads are thick,warm and punchy with great CLARITY not dark at allpapersoul said:
WARRENLEELYNCH
New member
papersoul said:
Warren, I have a hard enough time cracking out the soldering iron for the p'up swap let alone swapping magnets! LOL.
I hear ya man
cvansickle
New member
I love the Custom 5 in my Les Paul Custom. Highs are smooth but bright, bass is tight. It's my sound.
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