Epiphone Les Paul Standard wanted without Molex
- Thread starter 357mag
- Start date
AniML
New member
Re: Epiphone Les Paul Standard wanted without Molex
If you happened to find one without the circuit board that you like, that's great. But I wouldnt want to limit my choices based on whether it has a board and connectors or not.
What is the reason you dont want the board/connectors?
If you happened to find one without the circuit board that you like, that's great. But I wouldnt want to limit my choices based on whether it has a board and connectors or not.
What is the reason you dont want the board/connectors?
Re: Epiphone Les Paul Standard wanted without Molex
Not where I live. I'm in a small area. It's simply much easier not to monkey with that crap in the first place.
Not where I live. I'm in a small area. It's simply much easier not to monkey with that crap in the first place.
Re: Epiphone Les Paul Standard wanted without Molex
I wired up a few pickguards for my Music Man, using Molex 2 pin connectors to the output jack. I can switch them out in seconds!
I am not down on the concept- I think the components are good, and I have yet to see them fail because of how they are constructed...but it does make modding Epis and Gibsons a pain.
I wired up a few pickguards for my Music Man, using Molex 2 pin connectors to the output jack. I can switch them out in seconds!
I am not down on the concept- I think the components are good, and I have yet to see them fail because of how they are constructed...but it does make modding Epis and Gibsons a pain.
Rand-O-Monium
New member
Re: Epiphone Les Paul Standard wanted without Molex
My '05 "Sykes" Epi had the Molex connectors.
Ran across one of the '60's Tributes(Plus?) in a Pawnshop for stupid cheap.Didn't have time to muck with it,tho,time budget.Was stamped 2nd on teh back of the headstock,I'm guessing a finish flaw.It was Blk,so should've looked harder.
Will be back that way next w/e,hopefully it'll still be around for a closer look.
Blk LP Gas is the last thing I need now,but the Tribs are supposed to be a step-up,from what I understand...
My '05 "Sykes" Epi had the Molex connectors.
Ran across one of the '60's Tributes(Plus?) in a Pawnshop for stupid cheap.Didn't have time to muck with it,tho,time budget.Was stamped 2nd on teh back of the headstock,I'm guessing a finish flaw.It was Blk,so should've looked harder.
Will be back that way next w/e,hopefully it'll still be around for a closer look.
Blk LP Gas is the last thing I need now,but the Tribs are supposed to be a step-up,from what I understand...
Last edited:
Re: Epiphone Les Paul Standard wanted without Molex
Time to learn maybe. It's not advanced tech stuff. "Hardest" thing is the soldering and that isn't rocket science by any stretch. I'd really hate to have my choices limited because of a PCB and/or Molex connectors. The cost to rip all that out and wire up the traditional way is minimal. Basically, pots a couple caps and some wire. The outlay to get started isn't very expensive at all. Well worth the effort to learn.
Time to learn maybe. It's not advanced tech stuff. "Hardest" thing is the soldering and that isn't rocket science by any stretch. I'd really hate to have my choices limited because of a PCB and/or Molex connectors. The cost to rip all that out and wire up the traditional way is minimal. Basically, pots a couple caps and some wire. The outlay to get started isn't very expensive at all. Well worth the effort to learn.
Re: Epiphone Les Paul Standard wanted without Molex
I agree. But I would need specific instructions. Very specific. No ambiguous generalities. And one of the problems with the web is that everyone tells you something different. This is no help to the end user. But I found a 2000 model and most likely that won't come with the molex nightmare.
I agree. But I would need specific instructions. Very specific. No ambiguous generalities. And one of the problems with the web is that everyone tells you something different. This is no help to the end user. But I found a 2000 model and most likely that won't come with the molex nightmare.
AniML
New member
Re: Epiphone Les Paul Standard wanted without Molex
The only place you are going to get very specific instructions is if someone teaches you hands on. Hopefully you canfind that person or maybe a guitar tech class.
If you want to learn on your own, buy a beater / science project and start scouring the web. As you read more and more and apply what you read to your project guitar you will become more able to figure things out as far as what is right vs wrong vs what is just different.
If you dont want to learn (not judging you if you dont, but the fact then is), you will either need to pay someone to mod your guitars or continue to limit your choices to what you can buy as is.
The only place you are going to get very specific instructions is if someone teaches you hands on. Hopefully you canfind that person or maybe a guitar tech class.
If you want to learn on your own, buy a beater / science project and start scouring the web. As you read more and more and apply what you read to your project guitar you will become more able to figure things out as far as what is right vs wrong vs what is just different.
If you dont want to learn (not judging you if you dont, but the fact then is), you will either need to pay someone to mod your guitars or continue to limit your choices to what you can buy as is.
Re: Epiphone Les Paul Standard wanted without Molex
Sweet!! Where?? Often times, the ones stamped 2nd, the WORSE thing wrong with them is the damn stamp in the headstock!! Mine was supposed to be brand new and NOT a second, but the tailpiece was tarnished and theres a tiny chip in the binding..
BUT... I got it alot less than new, with a hard case..
Sweet!! Where?? Often times, the ones stamped 2nd, the WORSE thing wrong with them is the damn stamp in the headstock!! Mine was supposed to be brand new and NOT a second, but the tailpiece was tarnished and theres a tiny chip in the binding..
BUT... I got it alot less than new, with a hard case..
Re: Epiphone Les Paul Standard wanted without Molex
Im not trying to push you or flog a dead horse, but IF you are open to the idea of a 60s trib, watch for deals. I got mine for a couple hundred less than normal new price with a hard case. (only reason I was able to get it) My preference was blue, but I ended up with trans black cuz of the price.. Funny, cuz usually I go for black guits..
As far a learning.. I thought it was silly paying someone to change my pups and pots, so I bought a soldering iron and learned to do it. I do UGLY soldering, cuz Im A retentive about worrying it will come undone, but I learned and am still learning. Matter of fact, I just learned a better way of soldering that should help me clean up my work going forward!!
Im not trying to push you or flog a dead horse, but IF you are open to the idea of a 60s trib, watch for deals. I got mine for a couple hundred less than normal new price with a hard case. (only reason I was able to get it) My preference was blue, but I ended up with trans black cuz of the price.. Funny, cuz usually I go for black guits..
As far a learning.. I thought it was silly paying someone to change my pups and pots, so I bought a soldering iron and learned to do it. I do UGLY soldering, cuz Im A retentive about worrying it will come undone, but I learned and am still learning. Matter of fact, I just learned a better way of soldering that should help me clean up my work going forward!!
Re: Epiphone Les Paul Standard wanted without Molex
Posted below is a basic, SD wiring diagram for a guitar with dual humbuckers, 3 way toggle, 2 volume pots, 2 tone pots. Here is a given ... you can learn to solder because anyone can. With that as a given, if you can also follow this diagram, then you could be well on your way to expanding your horizons and no longer having to limit your choices to guitars with certain pickups or only those without molex connectors and circuit boards. Like AniML, I'm not judging you if you don't want to learn this stuff, and you wouldn't be alone. However, if you do want to learn, and the wiring diagram makes sense to you, then consider giving it a shot.
Posted below is a basic, SD wiring diagram for a guitar with dual humbuckers, 3 way toggle, 2 volume pots, 2 tone pots. Here is a given ... you can learn to solder because anyone can. With that as a given, if you can also follow this diagram, then you could be well on your way to expanding your horizons and no longer having to limit your choices to guitars with certain pickups or only those without molex connectors and circuit boards. Like AniML, I'm not judging you if you don't want to learn this stuff, and you wouldn't be alone. However, if you do want to learn, and the wiring diagram makes sense to you, then consider giving it a shot.
Re: Epiphone Les Paul Standard wanted without Molex
I have done a lot of work on my own Strats, but those are Strats. I've done very little work on Les Pauls, except installing pickups in the non-molex 1960s Tribute model. So I'm not a total greenhorn.
But fear of the unknown is what prevents a lot of us from doing things. We all have fears. My mom refused to leave her church because she lived in fear that if she changed to a different one she would go to hell.
So I gotta admit I too have my fears.
But what you guys have said makes total sense. If I need help in the future with this I'll post. Thanks.
I have done a lot of work on my own Strats, but those are Strats. I've done very little work on Les Pauls, except installing pickups in the non-molex 1960s Tribute model. So I'm not a total greenhorn.
But fear of the unknown is what prevents a lot of us from doing things. We all have fears. My mom refused to leave her church because she lived in fear that if she changed to a different one she would go to hell.
So I gotta admit I too have my fears.
But what you guys have said makes total sense. If I need help in the future with this I'll post. Thanks.
KeeperOS
New member
Re: Epiphone Les Paul Standard wanted without Molex
I've worked with PCs for all my adult life plus a little before that. I have NEVER seen a single molex connector go bad. Burnt to a crisp from a voltage spike yeah, raped by wild monkeys sure, but not once have I seen it go bad on its' own.
If anything, the worst part about them is how tight they're built to connect to each other, making disassembly a bit of a chore.
If something goes bad on those guitars then it'll literally be anything OTHER than the molex.
On a slightly related note, in 2016 (almost 17) I find it hard to believe that people still consider straight up soldering the "right" way. I've worked around electronics long enough to know that a strong mechanical connection is in no way inferior to solder and oftentimes, cleaner too.
I've worked with PCs for all my adult life plus a little before that. I have NEVER seen a single molex connector go bad. Burnt to a crisp from a voltage spike yeah, raped by wild monkeys sure, but not once have I seen it go bad on its' own.
If anything, the worst part about them is how tight they're built to connect to each other, making disassembly a bit of a chore.
If something goes bad on those guitars then it'll literally be anything OTHER than the molex.
On a slightly related note, in 2016 (almost 17) I find it hard to believe that people still consider straight up soldering the "right" way. I've worked around electronics long enough to know that a strong mechanical connection is in no way inferior to solder and oftentimes, cleaner too.
Re: Epiphone Les Paul Standard wanted without Molex
No surprise, Im sure, but I agree with you KeeperSOS. The only problem is, (And, Im sure you know this) is that if the guitar comes with the Molex connectors, you are very limited as to pickup options and such. I think it would be an awesome thing for SD to be progressive and offering pickups with the optional connectors. I had a gorgeous Gibson LP that had the circuit board and all and Im not crazy about Gibson pups. I would have had to gut and rewire the whole thing had I kept it. Sadly, it was a klunker in the playability/tone dept, so it got sold..
No surprise, Im sure, but I agree with you KeeperSOS. The only problem is, (And, Im sure you know this) is that if the guitar comes with the Molex connectors, you are very limited as to pickup options and such. I think it would be an awesome thing for SD to be progressive and offering pickups with the optional connectors. I had a gorgeous Gibson LP that had the circuit board and all and Im not crazy about Gibson pups. I would have had to gut and rewire the whole thing had I kept it. Sadly, it was a klunker in the playability/tone dept, so it got sold..
H
HiFiRebel
Guest
Re: Epiphone Les Paul Standard wanted without Molex
It's not too bad. My hands shake constantly, so soldering has alwayd been too difficult I thought. I managed to fix my wife's electric piano headphones AND replace some pickups this year. It's not bad, really.
It's not too bad. My hands shake constantly, so soldering has alwayd been too difficult I thought. I managed to fix my wife's electric piano headphones AND replace some pickups this year. It's not bad, really.
Similar threads
