Epiphone Les Paul 3 Pickup Overhaul

[danshermankazoo]

I had a strat that I refitted with a JB Jr, Duckbucker, Lil '59 and loved it. Now I picked up a 3pup Less Paul Black Beauty and want to transform it. I am looking for an extremely versatile guitar with tone out the butt.

Any comments on the following combination:
JB - Bridge
Phat Cat - Middle
Jazz - Neck

I would like to rewire with 5 position switch for:
Bridge
Bridge/Mid
Mid
Mid/Neck
Neck

My concern is wheher the PhatCat is the right pup for that pop in the middle pickup position. I am looking for a duckbucker style vintage strat pop.

Looking for input. Ready to rip, strip and solder.

Thanks.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul 3 Pickup Overhaul

Welcome dansherm!

I am a fan of the three pup LP. Not many of us out here. There was however an excellent post on wiring for this just recently - past two weeks or so maybe.

As for the pups, JB/Jazz is always a sporty combo. Not a fave of mine or many people out here - but we have some particular tastes here. Phat Cat is a popular choice fior P-90 goodness as a really different sound.

A combo that I think would be awesome (don't know for sure) would be:
Pearly Gates
Distortion Neck
Custom

Do a search on posts by me or the subject three pups, triple humbucker, middle HB etc...There are a couiple of good posts on this subject, but not many. Nice call on the 5 way. Artie is the guy to check for that.

 

[mrturtle_91]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul 3 Pickup Overhaul

Get one of these and put a duckbucker in the middle. Problem solved

 

[blueman335]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul 3 Pickup Overhaul

Looks like a good set up, but as you observed, 3 pup LP's & SG's aren't really any more useful than the regular models. I have both & am satisfied with 2 HB's. Wiring a 3 HB guitar takes some imagination, but you can come up with some good ideas.

I don't know why Gibson/Epiphone didn't use 5-way switches on their triple HB models, to make soem use of all those coils.

In you wiring, are you going to have separate volumes for each pickup (or a blend pot) so you can get the pickups in dozens of combinations? If two HB's are on at the same time, & both at full volume, they're linked in parallel, and the sound isn't always so hot.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul 3 Pickup Overhaul

I picked up a 3pup Les Paul Black Beauty and want to transform it.

I've had one as well; the middle pup always stood in the way of my picking... I've ended up disconnect it from the circuit but I didn't take it out for cosmetic reasons; I had to screw it really LOW to be able to play without any hindrance. Three pups in a LP is nowhere near like three pups in a Strat, mind you. Not having enough room for picking was a real PITA for me.

If I were you, I'd take the middle pup out, get a Jazz set and use the Jimmy Page wiring scheme. Or for a hotter output, put a Jazz bridge on neck and C 5on bridge, always using the Page wiring scheme.

I actually use the last combination (without the Page wiring) and I swear by it.

HTH,

Pepe aka Lt. Kojak
Milano, Italy

 

[blueman335]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul 3 Pickup Overhaul

From what Zhang said, a Phat Cat in the middle may solve the normal crappy tone of a middle humbucker. I think your plan is a good idea.