Gibson LP PCB Question (I wasn't sure where to post this)

[Drunken Bowling]

Hello everybody. A few weeks back, I bought a Gibson 50's Satin Tribute LP Studio. It's the 2016 version with the humbuckers (490R/498T).

The guitar is really nice and the 498T has a pretty good tone, but I'm not completely happy with the neck pickup and I plan to change it out at some point. While I'm at it I may swap the bridge pickup as well. That brings me to my question. This guitar has the printed circuit board in the control cavity. Do I have to buy some sort of connector in order to properly install the pickups?

I wasn't sure if I should post this in the Pickup Lounge or the Guitar Shop.

Thank you very much :1:

 

[bladefrenzy]

Re: Gibson LP PCB Question (I wasn't sure where to post this)

I usually shop around on Reverb.com and find a kit to wire up and just get rid of the pcb altogether. To my ears its much more open and toneful. Last one I got was less 35 bucks and all pro stuff.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Gibson LP PCB Question (I wasn't sure where to post this)

"Easiest" way is to get 4 good pots and some wire and start from scratch.

We, as a group need to identify the terminals and connectors Gibson uses. Strip, crimp and connector is easy.

I'd love to hear two equivalent Les Pauls, one with PCB and one with discrete wires to hear if there's actually a difference. Everyone that has removed it has taken out the stock pickups which, IMO, will make far more of a difference than a PCB trace.

 

[Shooter.556]

Re: Gibson LP PCB Question (I wasn't sure where to post this)

I ripped mine out and went to 50s wiring. It truly sounds better than the PCB if you use your volume and tone controls.
If not, Reverb and Ebay sell Molox connectors to allow you to splice onto your pickups and connect to the board.
The other option is to cut the ends off of your stock pickups and solder your leads onto the Gibson wires..
I'd recommend 50s style wiring be done with it. You can buy a prewired harness and make things easier and sell your Gibson pickups and PCB on Reverb to more than cover your pickup and controls swap.
Thats what I did on the 60s Tribute I bought in 2013 and it plays and sounds phenomenal!

 

[Drunken Bowling]

Re: Gibson LP PCB Question (I wasn't sure where to post this)

I was talking about it earlier with a buddy of mine. He said pretty much the same thing, and recommended an RS Guitarworks harness.

 

[Darg1911]

Re: Gibson LP PCB Question (I wasn't sure where to post this)

I know the connectors for the pickups. There is a different connector for the switch but that shouldn't have to be messed with.

For the pickups the housing is Molex part # 51021-0500 (Mouser 538-51021-0500)
For the pins/connectors Molex part # 50079-8100 (Mouser 538-50079-8100)

Buy extras ... especially the pins !!!

You need crimpers as well although you could solder if you are real careful. The dedicated crimpers are best but they cost silly money. There are plenty of universal crimpers available that do the job. Probably 20 or 30 bucks for a half way decent set that will do the job. Or, you can just buy the pigtails and solder the wires. Crimping those little wires are a pain but still much quicker than soldering pickups in and out.

My take on the PCB and connectors. If you aren't sure what Pickups you want to go with, consider the connectors. They make it easier to swap pickups in and out. If you know what pickups are going in, and staying in, maybe just pull the PCB and wire up the guitar the old fashioned way. I've got Rio Grandes in a 70's Tribute right now. But it's nice to be able to quickly swap back in the Dirty Fingers when I just want to have some fun for a while. I'm keeping the PCB in, for a while longer at least.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Gibson LP PCB Question (I wasn't sure where to post this)

Thanks for the part numbers Darg!

Connector: http://www.mouser.com/Search/m_Prod...5c/ciCZEDEa3geaIUECQyzOO4wi9jcLNW8EHUPmyr0A==

Terminals: http://www.mouser.com/Search/m_Prod...pFX8fN2PAu4jd4fz9IcRF2%2bY4lERR3P74n4l9TD0w==

 

[bladefrenzy]

Re: Gibson LP PCB Question (I wasn't sure where to post this)

The color codes are the same as Gibsons standard, although Ibended up swapping my pickups later, it did make a difference to get rid of the pcb.