I have a 2014, Gibson LP Futura. I'd like to swap out the Sidewinder HP90 (which is a humbucker voiced to "sound" like a P90) neck pup with a true P90. I took it to a guitar tech shortly after I got it and he said it would be too much "trouble", that is b/c of the wiring, coil-tapping, db boost, etc. . . Has anyone on the forum done this? I know these guitars are part of the "weirdo" Gibson collection and prob not that many were manufactured. Maybe that's why I got such a good price on it. It really is a f'ing tone machine and plays like buttah. I'm just looking for that extra hot-sauce in the neck. Any help/direction here is greatly appreciated.
Les Paul Futura -- pick up question
- Thread starter ejk517
- Start date
Re: Les Paul Futura -- pick up question
You can switch it out with any of our P90 pickups. Of course you couldn't split it, but the boost should work fine. I am assuming you have some sort of PC board in that, so it would have to be figured out. My guess is that the 4 wires of the pickup in there currently end with some kind of connector. You could find a similar connector and attach it to one of our pickups so you could plug it right in. Or, you could cut the connector off of the current pickup and splice the wires. P90s normally have 2 conductors, so you'd have to figure out the color code to see what gets spliced to where. It is a little tricky, but it can be done.
You can switch it out with any of our P90 pickups. Of course you couldn't split it, but the boost should work fine. I am assuming you have some sort of PC board in that, so it would have to be figured out. My guess is that the 4 wires of the pickup in there currently end with some kind of connector. You could find a similar connector and attach it to one of our pickups so you could plug it right in. Or, you could cut the connector off of the current pickup and splice the wires. P90s normally have 2 conductors, so you'd have to figure out the color code to see what gets spliced to where. It is a little tricky, but it can be done.
Shooter.556
New member
Re: Les Paul Futura -- pick up question
Or if you don't use any of that boost and split stuff, rip it out and replace it with 50s wiring. Thats what I did on the 60s Tribute which is like your Futura but it had BB1 and BB2s in it..
I made money selling them and that circuit board on Reverb.. I bought a JB a 59 a 50s wiring kit on Ebay and put $50 in my pocket after the dust settled and had a more controllable better sounding Les Paul.
The 300k pots have always been the Achilles Heel in a Les Paul and that stupid circuit board just made it more of a pattern.
If you are absolutely sold on keeping the circuit board and adapting you can but the molox connector on Reverb for under $20 for 2 of them and plug it into the board using Seymours wiring colors..
I vote for 50s wiring though, P90s are badass with 50s wiring, I love the growl they put out.. Its easier with 50s too because you can order two conductor and its like 4 wires if you buy a pre-built harness.
Toneman makes excellent prewired harnesses..
Or if you don't use any of that boost and split stuff, rip it out and replace it with 50s wiring. Thats what I did on the 60s Tribute which is like your Futura but it had BB1 and BB2s in it..
I made money selling them and that circuit board on Reverb.. I bought a JB a 59 a 50s wiring kit on Ebay and put $50 in my pocket after the dust settled and had a more controllable better sounding Les Paul.
The 300k pots have always been the Achilles Heel in a Les Paul and that stupid circuit board just made it more of a pattern.
If you are absolutely sold on keeping the circuit board and adapting you can but the molox connector on Reverb for under $20 for 2 of them and plug it into the board using Seymours wiring colors..
I vote for 50s wiring though, P90s are badass with 50s wiring, I love the growl they put out.. Its easier with 50s too because you can order two conductor and its like 4 wires if you buy a pre-built harness.
Toneman makes excellent prewired harnesses..