Epiphone Les Paul, Whole Lotta Humbuckers and Jimmy Page wiring

[edson]

Hi!

I've almost successfully upgraded my Epiphone Les Paul with a set of Whole Lotta Humbuckers and Jimmy Page wiring.

Now, the problem... everything seems to be working fine to me, except from when I pull the neck tone knob. If the switch is set to treble, it just kills the sound. It is supposed to set the humbuckers in series as far as I know.

Any ideas what I can look for? I used this wiring schematic: :http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/schematics.php?schematic=jp_style

I have also grounded the pots by soldering a cable to each of them (which wasn't in the schematic).

Thank you
/Edson

 

[blueman335]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul, Whole Lotta Humbuckers and Jimmy Page wiring

Hi!

I've almost successfully upgraded my Epiphone Les Paul with a set of Whole Lotta Humbuckers and Jimmy Page wiring.

Now, the problem... everything seems to be working fine to me, except from when I pull the neck tone knob. If the switch is set to treble, it just kills the sound. It is supposed to set the humbuckers in series as far as I know.

Any ideas what I can look for? I used this wiring schematic: :http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/schematics.php?schematic=jp_style

I have also grounded the pots by soldering a cable to each of them (which wasn't in the schematic).

Thank you
/Edson

You did it right. That's how it's supposed to work. The PU's are in series with the neck tone pulled up and the toggle is in the neck and middle position.

 

[hermetico]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul, Whole Lotta Humbuckers and Jimmy Page wiring

I'm sorry to say that but this is not the right JP diagram.
The right one in on the vault or, you can also take a look here:
http://hermeticoguitar.blogspot.com.es/2012/11/wiring-diagram-jimmy-pages-mod.html
Notice how the two middle lugs of the 3-way are wired. This is key to recognize the right JP wiring mod.

Anyway, it's well known that JP's wiring has some combinations where you get NO SOUND.
I would recommend you my LP Exchanger 2 mod, which will give you same as the JP and, one more additional unique combo and, it will never give you a no sounding combination.
I find it more logical and easier to mental map, also.
http://hermeticoguitar.blogspot.com.es/2012/12/wiring-diagram-hermeticos-lp-exchanger.html

 

[edson]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul, Whole Lotta Humbuckers and Jimmy Page wiring

Soo... now I'm confused. Is it the right wiring schematic or what?

I posted it at the gear page, and the good folks there "approved" it

If blueman335 is right, I did it correct, and can give myself a pat on the shoulder by managing to do this as a n00b project. (I've only done some pedal mods before).

If hermetico is right, I have the wrong schematic So, it is wrong.. or inferior to the one in the link?

/Edson

 

[swampstomper]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul, Whole Lotta Humbuckers and Jimmy Page wiring

Soo... now I'm confused. Is it the right wiring schematic or what?

I posted it at the gear page, and the good folks there "approved" it

If blueman335 is right, I did it correct, and can give myself a pat on the shoulder by managing to do this as a n00b project. (I've only done some pedal mods before).

If hermetico is right, I have the wrong schematic So, it is wrong.. or inferior to the one in the link?

/Edson

It sounds like people have different opinions about how Page wired his LP. I would suggest that if you like it the way it is now it's time to enjoy playing it and exploring the various new sounds. Or if you're in the mood for more tinkering try Hermetico's configuration.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul, Whole Lotta Humbuckers and Jimmy Page wiring

I don't think the JP wiring has anything to do with how Jimmy actually has/had it wired. On that note, it's a notoriously challenging diagram to wire, not least because of differences in schematics. I also put it in my Epi Les Paul, replacing the three way with a new Gibson one. (Did you do this?) Second, I used the schematic with the Gibson title block and added the missing casing grounds. As was mentioned above, when you pull the Series Pot it silences the output in the Bridge position.

(I did a bonehead move on the Series Pot and wired the push-pull backward, up is parallel, down is series. I never switched it back because now all pots down is the hottest output. Oh well... )

Good luck!

 

[edson]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul, Whole Lotta Humbuckers and Jimmy Page wiring

I think I will keep it as it is now, and just play.

PFDarkside: Yes, I did change the switch.

Actually did the following:

* Changed the nut to a TUSQ XL
* Sanded away some of the finish from the neck (much smoother/faster now)
* Changed the three way switch.
* Changed the jack.
* Changed the stock humbuckers to Whola Lotta Humbuckers from Seymour Duncan
* Changed the trussrod cover to one that says "Les Paul Custom"

I did this to challenge myself a little bit, and the Epi Les Paul was one that I didn't care too much about if I had messed it up.. It's cheap, and not my main guitar. But I like playing it more now after the mod

I think I'll keep it this way, since I did struggle with the wiring and do not feel like redoing it hehehe

And yes, I did ground all the pots by using the bridge ground, and soler a wire to all of them (like a "square").

Thank you for the feedback guys, I'm planning to write about the mod I did on my webpage, perhaps it might help another newbie like me.

For the future, I might change the tuners and bridge. Any tip on those? I'd like to change the tuners with ones that have some aged white on the tuner heards (or whatever those are called).

I will post a picture of my guitar soon

 

[AlexR]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul, Whole Lotta Humbuckers and Jimmy Page wiring

There are many variations on JP wiring, ones that will do certain things like independant volumes, the options for coil splitting like Hermetico's as well as the basic coil splitting/series/phase etc.
One of the real reasons for the 'improved designs' are the 'dead' positions.

You CAN pat yourself on the back. You correctly wired according to the diagram you chose, but there are simply more efficient and better ways to achieve that scheme for no positional black holes.

Tuners are almost not worth changing unless you've got cheap ones. If the epi's still come with Grovers, then you'll only get a cosmetic change. Page actually swapped out the Kluson style ones to Grovers on his '59's

The bridge/tailpiece on the other hand are worth the upgrade. You can get a locking Tonepros kit with an aluminium tailpiece. You just need to know the size of the studs that go into the wood. These will be a vast tonal upgrade to the epi hardware (its an upgrade to Gibson hardware too!), and you can go for nickle plated which looks more classy.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul, Whole Lotta Humbuckers and Jimmy Page wiring

If blueman335 is right, I did it correct, and can give myself a pat on the shoulder by managing to do this as a n00b project.

You did it right, which many guys don't do on their first attempt. Everything works per the diagram, what more could you want?

 

[edson]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul, Whole Lotta Humbuckers and Jimmy Page wiring

The bridge/tailpiece on the other hand are worth the upgrade. You can get a locking Tonepros kit with an aluminium tailpiece. You just need to know the size of the studs that go into the wood. These will be a vast tonal upgrade to the epi hardware (its an upgrade to Gibson hardware too!), and you can go for nickle plated which looks more classy.

Is it one of these? http://www.musiciansfriend.com/acce...tic-tailpiece-set-small-posts-notched-saddles

And thank you! I did pat myself on the shoulder I wish I knew of the more "functional" Jimmy Page wiring variations. But now, I don't feel like bothering to rewire. Perhaps another time. The Whole Lotta Humbuckers from Seymour Duncan sound great. I've actually played a little bit on this guitar today. I usually only play on my G&L Legacy USA

/edson

 

[edson]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul, Whole Lotta Humbuckers and Jimmy Page wiring

You did it right, which many guys don't do on their first attempt. Everything works per the diagram, what more could you want?

No more (for now) sounds great

Next step will be 7 sound strat on my G&L Legacy USA, much simpler than what I did now

Here is a picture of my upgraded Epiphone Les Paul

 

[Aceman]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul, Whole Lotta Humbuckers and Jimmy Page wiring

sweet burst
great pups from what I hear
cool wiring

My understanding is that a number of the potential Page options are very similar/no different for practical purpose. That said - go for it! Can't hate on an Ultra Flexible, awesome looking tricked out Epi. I personally always thought the Page wiring would really shine with high outputs, where you had a considerable power range.

 

[edson]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul, Whole Lotta Humbuckers and Jimmy Page wiring

sweet burst
great pups from what I hear
cool wiring

My understanding is that a number of the potential Page options are very similar/no different for practical purpose. That said - go for it! Can't hate on an Ultra Flexible, awesome looking tricked out Epi. I personally always thought the Page wiring would really shine with high outputs, where you had a considerable power range.

Thanks!

I guess the reason I did the Jimmy Page wiring is because I could.. (try)

I rarely use this guitar, it's my first electric. I bought it based on looks and a good price, I was a n00b when i bought it. I later found out that I liked the Strat sound more... And ended up with G&L Legacy USA instead of a Fender Strat..

Anyhow, it's cool to have the options with the push/pull, although I don't know if I'll use it much... but so far, it seems like I will be playing this guitar more than before! That's for sure

/edson

 

[wolf]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul, Whole Lotta Humbuckers and Jimmy Page wiring

Here's my own diagram of the Jimmy Page wiring

It has one dead spot - if it is set for "series" then the pickup switch in the neck position will produce no sound at all.
The entire article is located here:http://www.1728.org/guitar9.htm

 

[Duffy1949]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul, Whole Lotta Humbuckers and Jimmy Page wiring

Thanks!

I guess the reason I did the Jimmy Page wiring is because I could.. (try)

I rarely use this guitar, it's my first electric. I bought it based on looks and a good price, I was a n00b when i bought it. I later found out that I liked the Strat sound more... And ended up with G&L Legacy USA instead of a Fender Strat..

Anyhow, it's cool to have the options with the push/pull, although I don't know if I'll use it much... but so far, it seems like I will be playing this guitar more than before! That's for sure

/edson

Sooner or later you will use that LP. Keep it protected, don't lend it out, etc. Someday you will be picking it up; possibly the day you get a real good tube amp.

Also, those G&L's are something that you will want to keep. Have you noticed that we are seeing less and less of them around now. One of these days they will be hard to find and they actually are really nice guitars. I like the tremolo's. I have a G&L Tribute ASAT Classic semi-solid telecaster with the regular MFD tele pickups, not the P90's. It is Vintage Sunburst and has a maple neck and fretboard. It is an awesome guitar.

All you really need is good pickups and a three way switch, so I wouldn't worry too much about the advanced wiring situation. It's a nice guitar.

 

[edson]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul, Whole Lotta Humbuckers and Jimmy Page wiring

Sooner or later you will use that LP. Keep it protected, don't lend it out, etc. Someday you will be picking it up; possibly the day you get a real good tube amp.

Also, those G&L's are something that you will want to keep. Have you noticed that we are seeing less and less of them around now. One of these days they will be hard to find and they actually are really nice guitars. I like the tremolo's. I have a G&L Tribute ASAT Classic semi-solid telecaster with the regular MFD tele pickups, not the P90's. It is Vintage Sunburst and has a maple neck and fretboard. It is an awesome guitar.

All you really need is good pickups and a three way switch, so I wouldn't worry too much about the advanced wiring situation. It's a nice guitar.

I have a couple of nice tube amps, Two Rock EXO-15 and Fender EC Vibrochamp

I'm happy with G&L Legacy. I have a friend that has a friend (who doesn have that?) who has a really expensive custom shop Fender strat. And he told me once, that he thought my Legacy was better... Of course it is a subjective thing, but I'm convinced that you get a lot for the money when you get a G&L

/Edson

 

[hermetico]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul, Whole Lotta Humbuckers and Jimmy Page wiring

It sounds like people have different opinions about how Page wired his LP. I would suggest that if you like it the way it is now it's time to enjoy playing it and exploring the various new sounds. Or if you're in the mood for more tinkering try Hermetico's configuration.

Watch out!!!.
This is not Hermetico's configuration.
This is the 100% REAL JP WIRING, drawn by ArtieToo with the Collaboration of SD Staff. You can find it in The Vault section of this forum.
The JP diagram that you can see in diagrams section, isn't the real one, just a variant, as there are others.
This was widely discussed some years ago.

 

[hermetico]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul, Whole Lotta Humbuckers and Jimmy Page wiring

Here's my own diagram of the Jimmy Page wiring
View attachment 51375
It has one dead spot - if it is set for "series" then the pickup switch in the neck position will produce no sound at all.
The entire article is located here:http://www.1728.org/guitar9.htm

This is your take, I assume. Not the real one, neither.

 

[hermetico]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul, Whole Lotta Humbuckers and Jimmy Page wiring

Soo... now I'm confused. Is it the right wiring schematic or what?

I posted it at the gear page, and the good folks there "approved" it

If blueman335 is right, I did it correct, and can give myself a pat on the shoulder by managing to do this as a n00b project. (I've only done some pedal mods before).

If hermetico is right, I have the wrong schematic So, it is wrong.. or inferior to the one in the link?

/Edson

I'm 100% positive on this!!!.

 

[wolf]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul, Whole Lotta Humbuckers and Jimmy Page wiring

Hermetico,
You said

This is your take, I assume. Not the real one, neither.

Correct, it is my "take" on it.
I thought by stating

Here's my own diagram of the Jimmy Page wiring

, and having the website listed on the graphic and posting a link to my own site might have been sufficient to avoid confusing some people but I guess not.