Jimmy Page Les Paul Wiring - Question...

[Kenni]

Hello there.
Just signed up, and thought this would be the place to ask questions about my up-coming wiring job.

I have a Les Paul Standard, which is getting the Jimmy Page Les Paul Wiring, but I have a question..
I came across a thread, here on the SD Forum, also about the JP Wiring.. That thread had 3 different wiring diagram for that same JP wiring...

First of all, this is the current JP Les Paul Wiring Diagram, found on the SD webpage:

Here's one with the title "Jimmy Page Wiring - Standard Volume Controls, 50s Style Tone Wiring:"

Lastly, here's one with the title "Jimmy Page Wiring - Standard Volume Controls, Modern Style Tone Wiring:"

What's all this? I can't wrap my head around it... Of course I see 50's and Modern wiring, but what's to gain from one over the other?
I hope someone here can share some info

Thanks
Cheers.

 

[shadowfire90]

Re: Jimmy Page Les Paul Wiring - Question...

I was researching this wiring the other day. I know the diagram well but the history of it more than anything. There are better 4 push pull wirings. Aside from the out of phase and series/parellel of all the humbuckers I've got something you'll like even more unless you're doing a Jimmy Page 1959 Gibson Les Paul "number 2" style project. If you do stick with whole lotta humbucker set or 59 set to really take advantage of the series wiring this provides.

Based on what you provided the first diagram the graphic designer was too lazy to hook up the grounding on the backs of the pots, maybe he was getting paid per wire haha. This is why everyone was so upset about it for the last 10+ years. Sure it's a hard diagram, even to draw neatly and they think not many novices will attempt it. But for those who stay up late it's always a good reassurance to have every wire suggested. In my own diagrams I draw for myself and others if there is a lot going on I just add thicker lines to highlight parts.

**edit** ok so they actually fixed it, my mistake.


This is my drawing based on Brejatoneworks everyone claims works just I made this diagram neater than his, this features 1950s tone controls for a better tone and suggests the right tone capacitors Jimmy used
View attachment 101726

and to me this wiring is better, easier to understand and more sounds. It's like two Seymour Duncan triple shots that give you 24 sounds. Best of all this is 10x easier to wire up and I can even trouble shoot it for you as I've done one incarnation of this wiring or another on probably 50 guitars.
View attachment 101728

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Jimmy Page Les Paul Wiring - Question...

The first two diagrams are 50’s wiring. The third is modern. 50’s leaves you more treble to work with, avoiding treble bleeds, and with the right pickups and guitar body gets you right in the ballpark of Jimmy Page’s sound.

There are dozens of ways to wire up JP wiring. I’ve done 17 variations myself. But to be JP wiring basically is to have the ability to split the coils on either pickup, and to be able to put both pickups in series with each other and/or out of phase with each other.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Jimmy Page Les Paul Wiring - Question...

The first two diagrams are 50’s wiring. The third is modern. 50’s leaves you more treble to work with, avoiding treble bleeds, and with the right pickups and guitar body gets you right in the ballpark of Jimmy Page’s sound.

There are dozens of ways to wire up JP wiring. I’ve done 17 variations myself. But to be JP wiring basically is to have the ability to split the coils on either pickup, and to be able to put both pickups in series with each other and/or out of phase with each other.

To further clarify the differences in the first two, the first is independent volumes, in the middle position if either volume is above 0 you will get sound. The second is dependent volumes, if either volume is on 0, the output is muted. The third is dependent volumes with modern tone controls.

As for modern vs. 50’s, they both have pros and cons. I think a lot of people that really start tweaking and like to play with the volume controls to change breakup levels end up preferring 50’s.

In the end, as I always say, everyone who is wiring up a Les Paul should experiment, by control with 500k, 300k and 250k pots, both linear and audio/log taper, then independent/dependent volumes and 50’s/modern tone controls.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Jimmy Page Les Paul Wiring - Question...

Since we're talking about Jimmy Page wiring, here's the diagram I came up with for my Les Paul:

50s style tone controls, independent volumes, and the neck pickup splits to the screw coil for hum canceling when both are split.

 

[Kenni]

Re: Jimmy Page Les Paul Wiring - Question...

@Shadowfire90 - so is the current diagram, found here on the SD webpage wrong?

I don't understand.. you say the ground wires aren't fixed on the current diagram, but they seem to be?
There are 4 point, going through all 4 pots, that looks like ground, between the 4 pots?

 

[shadowfire90]

Re: Jimmy Page Les Paul Wiring - Question...

I'm seeing it now, yeah you're right. Follow this diagram the usual way they have it set up and you shouldn't have an issue. The original diagram of this I remember seeing around 2012 or so they didn't include the ground wires to the backs of the pots and I remember contacting someone as I was new to wiring at the time.

Anyways good luck with your project

 

[Kenni]

Re: Jimmy Page Les Paul Wiring - Question...

@shadowfire90 - Phew, I'm pleased to hear that.. I was worried for a second there!
Thanks, I've done that, and I'm about half way through the wiring - looking forward to the finished product!
Okay, I see - well, it's great that they've added that.

Thank you - and thanks for the reply!

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Jimmy Page Les Paul Wiring - Question...

Based on what you provided the first diagram the graphic designer was too lazy to hook up the grounding on the backs of the pots,

I don't know what diagram you are looking at, all of the diagrams have grounding wires hooked up.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Jimmy Page Les Paul Wiring - Question...

Just be sure as you're wiring it up that you are extremely careful to do everything accurately. That means PERFECT. Make sure all of your solder joints are perfect and that there are no hot wires or connections that inadvertently touch ANY grounded spot/area. Once you are finished, if something doesn't work the way you expect, it is a real bugger to trouble-shoot and may require you to start over anyway.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Jimmy Page Les Paul Wiring - Question...

Just be sure as you're wiring it up that you are extremely careful to do everything accurately. That means PERFECT. Make sure all of your solder joints are perfect and that there are no hot wires or connections that inadvertently touch ANY grounded spot/area. Once you are finished, if something doesn't work the way you expect, it is a real bugger to trouble-shoot and may require you to start over anyway.

I wired my JP harness on a piece of cardboard with holes punched in the same pattern as the guitar. After you finish soldering and before installation, use a multimeter to check everything. As GuitarDoc says, making a change once it’s installed is a pain.

 

[Kenni]

Re: Jimmy Page Les Paul Wiring - Question...

Just be sure as you're wiring it up that you are extremely careful to do everything accurately. That means PERFECT. Make sure all of your solder joints are perfect and that there are no hot wires or connections that inadvertently touch ANY grounded spot/area. Once you are finished, if something doesn't work the way you expect, it is a real bugger to trouble-shoot and may require you to start over anyway.

Thanks, GuitarDoc - I will, trust me.
I have my multimeter ready, for each connection I make, and test it.
So far all has been good, I get to finish it tonight,and hopefully be well and good!
I'll let you all know!

 

[Kenni]

Re: Jimmy Page Les Paul Wiring - Question...

I wired my JP harness on a piece of cardboard with holes punched in the same pattern as the guitar. After you finish soldering and before installation, use a multimeter to check everything. As GuitarDoc says, making a change once it’s installed is a pain.

Exactly, PFDarkside! I have done the same thing, using a piece of cardboard with the holes alligned in the same pattern.
It makes the job a lot easier!
The multimeter is right beside me, everything gets tested, trust me!

Cheers.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Jimmy Page Les Paul Wiring - Question...

I wired my JP harness on a piece of cardboard with holes punched in the same pattern as the guitar. After you finish soldering and before installation, use a multimeter to check everything. As GuitarDoc says, making a change once it’s installed is a pain.

I do that same thing. I have 3 or 4 scraps of masonite that I have the holes drilled for each electrical component (switch, vol and tone pots, tone bypass switch, etc) for every guitar that I build. It is wired up perfectly BEFORE it even goes into the guitar. That avoids a heck of a lot of issues down the road.

 

[Kenni]

Re: Jimmy Page Les Paul Wiring - Question...

Sounds like you've got a great way of doing things, GuitarDoc! Excellent!
I'm going to finish the wiring tonight - soldering the switch and pickups on - looking forward to it!
So far all is connected, and tested with the multi-meter, and all is good - yay!

Stay tuned!

 

[SAguitar]

Re: Jimmy Page Les Paul Wiring - Question...

Way to go, Kenni! It is a challenging project indeed, and easily the most involved wiring I've ever done for a guitar. I love the way mine turned out, it looks stock from the outside and it becomes very intuitive to use onstage in the heat of the battle.

 

[Kenni]

Re: Jimmy Page Les Paul Wiring - Question...

Thanks, SAguitar!

Well, it's all wired up now, but when I plugged it into the amp I only got buzz.. No sound coming through?!
When I touch the bridge, for example, then it goes away, but still no sound?!

What's going on here?
I've followed the diagram, checked things with a multi-meter, making sure connections are all good, but still??

Please help me out, good people.
Thanks!

 

[cactus jack]

Re: Jimmy Page Les Paul Wiring - Question...

Question, what pickups do most folks run with this mod? I always hear it's difficult to get usable split tones out of humbuckers, and this does way more than basic splits.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Jimmy Page Les Paul Wiring - Question...

Question, what pickups do most folks run with this mod? I always hear it's difficult to get usable split tones out of humbuckers, and this does way more than basic splits.

I'm using a '59 in the neck with a '59/Custom Hybrid in the bridge. The Custom coil in the Hybrid offers a very usable split tone, while the '59 coil really works best when combined in series with the neck pickup (also split). The neck '59 also splits pretty well.

 

[Kenni]

Re: Jimmy Page Les Paul Wiring - Question...

There's a JB SH-4 in the bridge and a SH-2N Jazz in the neck on the one I'm working on..

Guys, and suggestions for what went wrong with my wiring?
My previous post is above..

Thanks...