Installing Invader Bridge in Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro

[Yunhaoli]

Hi everybody

I want to install a Seymour Duncan Invader Bridge pickup in me Epiphone Les Paul custom pro. It has coil tap, but after looking at the wiring diagrams I'm still somewhat confused on how I should solder my new pickup. It's also worth mentioning that the old pickups were solderless. I've included some pictures.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Installing Invader Bridge in Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro

You will need a minimum to also replace the volume pot that the Invader is soldered to. You will need another push pull with correct shaft length and diameter and definitely atleast 500k with a Invader. Its not too hard to do and is easy to find.

The alternative is to find some of the molex connectors. Not expensive but hard to do. I'm not familiar with those exact ones. You would need to find a part number and order them from mouser or another such company. Both epiphone and gibson have used a couple different ones so try to make sure which you are getting.

Like i said replacing the pot it easier.

 

[Gibson 1964]

Re: Installing Invader Bridge in Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro

Or cut the molex connector off the old pickup, convert color codes, solder together, and install.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Installing Invader Bridge in Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro

Or cut the molex connector off the old pickup, convert color codes, solder together, and install.

Are you high? The molex connector is crimped on, there is no way to reopen it to remove the old leads and put in new ones.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Installing Invader Bridge in Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro

Are you high? The molex connector is crimped on, there is no way to reopen it to remove the old leads and put in new ones.

No, I don't think he meant to open the connector and solder in the Invader's wires. Cut the pup wires an inch or so away from the connector and splice the Invader's wires to those existing wires keeping the guitar's solderless connectors.

I agree that this is the best/easiest solution. Keep all of the existing pots, switches, push/pulls, caps, and wiring intact. The newer Epi's actually have pretty good electronics.

 

[Yunhaoli]

Re: Installing Invader Bridge in Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro

Are the color codes for epiphone pickups the same as gibson?

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Installing Invader Bridge in Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro

No, I don't think he meant to open the connector and solder in the Invader's wires. Cut the pup wires an inch or so away from the connector and splice the Invader's wires to those existing wires keeping the guitar's solderless connectors.

I agree that this is the best/easiest solution. Keep all of the existing pots, switches, push/pulls, caps, and wiring intact. The newer Epi's actually have pretty good electronics.

Gotcha... still not a fan of it. You wind up with a big knot of butt soldered wires and heatshrink. But it is a workable solution.

 

[Gibson 1964]

Re: Installing Invader Bridge in Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro

Are you high? The molex connector is crimped on, there is no way to reopen it to remove the old leads and put in new ones.

No, but I can read. (I never said anything about opening a molex connector.) Guitardoc took my meaning. Cut off the molex connector, (I'd give myself 2 inches of wire at least to disperse heat,) convert the color codes, twist together, solder, cover each wire you solder with heat shrink tubing or tape, snap together and done. It is going to be a bit bulky but costs almost nothing and the resulting fix is still smaller than the connector and does not risk burning out a pot as those new to soldering sometimes do. It is the smarter way for a person new to guitar electronics.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Installing Invader Bridge in Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro

I like the cutting wires solution here. If you add heatshrink tubing, it won't look too messy, but it works well and you don't need to get a new switch. You just have to translate the color codes, and won't have to buy new parts (unless you want to).

 

[Zarg]

Re: Installing Invader Bridge in Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro

Or cut the molex connector off the old pickup, convert color codes, solder together, and install.

i did that on an epi i owned, worked perfectly fine. +1 to this.

also heres the conversion:

Black wire from the Duncan pickup to the (small) red wire on the plug
White wire from the Duncan pickup to the white wire on the plug
Red wire from the Duncan pickup to the green wire on the plug
Green wire from the Duncan pickup to the black wire on the plug
Bare ground from the Duncan pickup to the red or black larger gauge wire on the plug