Epi les paul with JB and 59s - Wring Question

[Beaker]

Hi all, first post here.

I recently bought a 1991 Epiphone Les Paul. The original pickups aren’t that good so I decided to replace with JB’s for the bridge and 59’s for the neck.
This is my first attempt at changing pickups in a guitar but I thought i’d give it a bash. I checked the wiring diagram on the Seymour Duncan web site (2 humbuckers, 2 volume, 2 tone and 3 way) but the wiring inside the epi is completely different.

Has anyone had any experience in fitting to an epi les paul and can offer advice.
Thanks.

Beaker

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: Epi les paul with JB and 59s - Wring Question

welcome to the forum! now, do you mean that the toggle switch connection is different from the diagram? because that should be expected. is this your first rewiring project? if it is, i'd just leave everything in there and swap the pickups only. what you need to do is; desolder the stock pickups. solder the black wires from the duncans where the old pickups were soldered, the green/bare wires to ground(back of pot connected to ground source is the easiest) and twist, solder, and tape off the red/white wires. make sure they're soldered to ensure connectivity and that they're taped of to ensure they don't short anything out. should be easy as pie

 

[Beaker]

Re: Epi les paul with JB and 59s - Wring Question

Thanks for the speedy reply mate.

Yes this is my first wiring project, I thought i'd give it a go (to save money but mainly to learn a bit more about the workings of my guitar).

I soldered the bare and green to the volume pot and the black to where the old pickup came from, I guess my mistake was that I didn't solder the red and white together, I just taped them up and forgot about them.

So, all I should need to do is solder the red and white together and then get them out the way? Does it matter if the bare and green are touching, I guess not as they are both soldered to the same place?

Thanks again Ryan.

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: Epi les paul with JB and 59s - Wring Question

Thanks for the speedy reply mate.

Yes this is my first wiring project, I thought i'd give it a go (to save money but mainly to learn a bit more about the workings of my guitar).

I soldered the bare and green to the volume pot and the black to where the old pickup came from, I guess my mistake was that I didn't solder the red and white together, I just taped them up and forgot about them.

So, all I should need to do is solder the red and white together and then get them out the way? Does it matter if the bare and green are touching, I guess not as they are both soldered to the same place?

Thanks again Ryan.

yea just solder the red and white together and tape it off. i usually solder the green and bare in the same place, since technically they'll be touching anyways since they're both soldered to ground.

 

[Beaker]

Re: Epi les paul with JB and 59s - Wring Question

Thanks for the help.

I'll give that a shot tonight.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Epi les paul with JB and 59s - Wring Question

I've rewired dozens of Epi's and other Asian imports. They're pretty simple. Like Super Rad Ska said, until you get some experience, only disconnect what you need to. I've bought a few used Epi's that somebody cut all the wires out of, and then couldn't figure out where to hook up the new wires. Total mess. Take this in stages with basic stuff; as your comfort level increases, then maybe try some alternative wirings with push-pulls. I'm self-taught, and have no prior electrical or handyman skills. This is easy low-tech stuff. And you're dealing with a 1/4 watt inside the guitar, so you won't get electrocuted.

Keep in mind that every electrical part (PU's, pots, switch, and jack) all have a hot wire and a ground wire. The grounds are all interconnected in a big loop that goes to the bridge or stop bar. If you miss something in the ground loop, you'll get noise. Also, make sure all your solder connections are bright, shiny, and firm. If you get frustrated, come back later when you're fresh. We're here if you have any questions.

 

[guitarded]

Re: Epi les paul with JB and 59s - Wring Question

If it was me and I won't go as far as to say this is the best way to do it... I would simply cut the existing pup wires close to the PUP (assumes you do not plan to re-install any where else), tin the wires on the new pups... solder together into the exiting wiring and shrink tube over all conductive surfaces. Try to avoid excess wire length as it contributes to the resistance of the wiring and it also more surface to pickup EMF from external sources.

Like others have mentioned if you are not splitting the coils you need to solder the red and white wires together..... Also use shrink tubing over that union. The whole process should not take a lot of time. I have locking tuners, so half the time... I re-use the same strings if they are still fresh

Hi all, first post here.

I recently bought a 1991 Epiphone Les Paul. The original pickups aren’t that good so I decided to replace with JB’s for the bridge and 59’s for the neck.
This is my first attempt at changing pickups in a guitar but I thought i’d give it a bash. I checked the wiring diagram on the Seymour Duncan web site (2 humbuckers, 2 volume, 2 tone and 3 way) but the wiring inside the epi is completely different.

Has anyone had any experience in fitting to an epi les paul and can offer advice.
Thanks.

Beaker

 

[Beaker]

Re: Epi les paul with JB and 59s - Wring Question

Cheers for the info everyone, this is the most helpful forum i've ever came across.

I'll give that a try tonight, strings are due to be replaced anyway so that’s not a problem. The only thing I removed was the old pup and it's wires, everything else is untouched (i was cautious). As you say, it should just be as easy as wiring the bare and green to the ground, black to where the old pup was and connect the red and white together and bish bash bosh all should be ok.

I'll let you all know how it goes and if I hit any problems.

Beaker

 

[Beaker]

Re: Epi les paul with JB and 59s - Wring Question

Folks, thanks very much.

Wired in the JB as advised and she's working a treat...!!

Cheers

 

[guitarded]

Re: Epi les paul with JB and 59s - Wring Question

Let me know how you like it in the EPI. I have a JB and a 59 I removed from a Strat and I am thinking of dropping them in one of my EPI Pauls.

Folks, thanks very much.

Wired in the JB as advised and she's working a treat...!!

Cheers

 

[Diocletian]

Re: Epi les paul with JB and 59s - Wring Question

I replaced the pickups in my Epi Black Beauty and like you noted, the wiring was a nightmare. It seems as if someone decided to double the amount of wires needed and put two in for each connection.

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: Epi les paul with JB and 59s - Wring Question

I replaced the pickups in my Epi Black Beauty and like you noted, the wiring was a nightmare. It seems as if someone decided to double the amount of wires needed and put two in for each connection.

my last tech did that, he used 2 conductor to wire everything up as it normally should be, but had the frickin' exposed ground wires right up next to all the hot lugs! i'm surprised nothing shorted out in that guitar....

 

[Beaker]

Re: Epi les paul with JB and 59s - Wring Question

Right folks, the JB is in the bridge and sounds amazing..!!

Just need to get the neck 59 wired up. Am I right in saying I just solder the outer wire mesh to the top of the volume? What do I do with the inner hairy stuff

Cheers again.
B

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: Epi les paul with JB and 59s - Wring Question

Right folks, the JB is in the bridge and sounds amazing..!!

Just need to get the neck 59 wired up. Am I right in saying I just solder the outer wire mesh to the top of the volume? What do I do with the inner hairy stuff

Cheers again.
B

an even easier thing to do is to take a lead wire, wrap an exposed bit around the braid and throw a little solder on that. then solder the other end of that lead to the back of the pot. soldering braid to the back of a pot is lame/stupid/hardly works/usually kills pickups for me:banghead:

 

[Diocletian]

Re: Epi les paul with JB and 59s - Wring Question

an even easier thing to do is to take a lead wire, wrap an exposed bit around the braid and throw a little solder on that. then solder the other end of that lead to the back of the pot. soldering braid to the back of a pot is lame/stupid/hardly works/usually kills pickups for me:banghead:

I'm with you. I've never killed a pickup or even a pot when soldering (yet) but it's much easier to just solder on an extra little wire. Also easier to do stuff when it comes to any other mods you might want to make in future.

 

[Diocletian]

Re: Epi les paul with JB and 59s - Wring Question

BTW Beaker - where in Glasgow are you? I've been looking for a band for MONTHS now! (I'm in Old Kilpatrick).

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: Epi les paul with JB and 59s - Wring Question

I'm with you. I've never killed a pickup or even a pot when soldering (yet) but it's much easier to just solder on an extra little wire. Also easier to do stuff when it comes to any other mods you might want to make in future.

eh i just accidentally melted the braid through the cloth shielding right into the actual lead once, i had to cut off that part of the lead and extend it. i've had some close calls with killing pickups, but not pots. in fact, i've got a couple alpha(i know i seem to be on an alpha kick today:laughing push pulls from way back that sill function!

 

[Beaker]

Re: Epi les paul with JB and 59s - Wring Question

Cheers, good tip. I'm in Finneston at the moment, playing in a cove band called Calm Yer Jets

I'll solder a wire round the pup wire, do i need to cut away the black fabric wire under that and older to where I removed the old epi pup?

Thank again folk, learning experience

 

[Diocletian]

Re: Epi les paul with JB and 59s - Wring Question

Cheers, good tip. I'm in Finneston at the moment, playing in a cove band called Calm Yer Jets

I'll solder a wire round the pup wire, do i need to cut away the black fabric wire under that and older to where I removed the old epi pup?

Thank again folk, learning experience

Aye you need to cut away the fabric to reveal the metal wire, then solder that where it needs to go.
Once you do your first pickup, it becomes a LOT easier. You realise there's no black magic involved, it's really nothing difficult. :1:

And if you're looking for a jam on some rock or metal, gimme a shout, am gettin desperate here.

 

[Beaker]

Re: Epi les paul with JB and 59s - Wring Question

All done, both pups are in and working
Was quite easy when you know how.

guitarded, i'd drop them into your epi les paul, I think they sound amazing imho.

Diocletian, i'm really busy at the moment but i'll keep your offer in mind for the future

Thanks for the help.