Modding a Les Paul, Need Idea's

[some_dude]

I'm going to be installing a EMG-ZW set of pickups in my LP soon, along with an EMG-PA2.

The problem is, I don't see alot of toggle switches on Les Pauls, and don't really know where to stick it. I'd use the EMG-AB, but I don't really want to give up a tone knob for it.

Any suggestions?

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: Modding a Les Paul, Need Idea's

You really use the tone knobs that much??

 

[some_dude]

Re: Modding a Les Paul, Need Idea's

You really use the tone knobs that much??

I do right now, because the stock pickups sound like sh*t. But I also don't want to give up a tone knob because I might add a EMG-EXG or SPC module later on, and I would still like to have a tone knob left when I'm done.

 

[Sequanselar]

Re: Modding a Les Paul, Need Idea's

Look at SLash's LPs. I think he has a coil tap or something *isn't familiar with Slash, knows he doesn't know* but he still has a toggle on his Paul.

 

[butnut]

Re: Modding a Les Paul, Need Idea's

The LP's I;ve seen with mini toggles have them somewhere inbetween the 4 knobs...I assume because it's already routed thinner there and there is the space. Pete Townshends LP has 2 full sized toggles...kinda wierd/kool look, probably took extra routing and a large rear cover plate though...

 

[McLaughysSN]

Re: Modding a Les Paul, Need Idea's

The LP's I;ve seen with mini toggles have them somewhere inbetween the 4 knobs...I assume because it's already routed thinner there and there is the space. Pete Townshends LP has 2 full sized toggles...kinda wierd/kool look, probably took extra routing and a large rear cover plate though...

one of many of pete's weirdly modded guitars.. i love them all.. i wonder if theres a pete townsend guitar history page devoted to his gear?

 

[butnut]

Re: Modding a Les Paul, Need Idea's

Pete's always had a kick ass tone and killer style. Here's the page I got the pic from, his LP era in the 70's...there's probably more somewhere...
Pete's LP's
BTW, Wattages friend Chris, who set up his latest Tele and is making a Tele neck for me, just had one of Pete's numbered LP's in his shop... it was broken...hmmmm :wink:

 

[some_dude]

Re: Modding a Les Paul, Need Idea's

Look at SLash's LPs. I think he has a coil tap or something *isn't familiar with Slash, knows he doesn't know* but he still has a toggle on his Paul.

I just went a looked at a pic of his collection (Guitar Player Mag, June 04), and the one on the cover has a mini-toggle right between the two tone switches.

 

[some_dude]

Re: Modding a Les Paul, Need Idea's

The LP's I;ve seen with mini toggles have them somewhere inbetween the 4 knobs...I assume because it's already routed thinner there and there is the space. Pete Townshends LP has 2 full sized toggles...kinda wierd/kool look, probably took extra routing and a large rear cover plate though...

That's about where I wanted to put them originally, but I'm not too interested in further routing.

I wanted it up around where the volumes are, but I figured I'd knock it alot as I like to ride the volume.

I'm thinking Slash's location is a pretty good compremise though. Does anyone know what his does?

 

[ex-250]

Re: Modding a Les Paul, Need Idea's

 

[some_dude]

Re: Modding a Les Paul, Need Idea's

That's the one. Aren't they $8000 or something retarded like that?

What does the switch do (tap, phase, ect)?

(Although I suppose I could go look it up on the Gibson site myself.)

 

[Thames]

Re: Modding a Les Paul, Need Idea's

But I also don't want to give up a tone knob because I might add a EMG-EXG or SPC module later on, and I would still like to have a tone knob left when I'm done.

Hmm.. I think the EXG and SPC are designed for single-coils.. not HB's...

BTW, I have both gizmos in my Strat.. and I dont use those that much, and I'm into PinkFloyd very much... so ... :O The EXG sounds too boomy and lacks clarity on the wound strings, while the SPC has too much thickness in the mids IMO.... I can only use them at 30%... and they sound artificial at 100%.

 

[some_dude]

Re: Modding a Les Paul, Need Idea's

Hmm.. I think the EXG and SPC are designed for single-coils.. not HB's...

BTW, I have both gizmos in my Strat.. and I dont use those that much, and I'm into PinkFloyd very much... so ... :O The EXG sounds too boomy and lacks clarity on the wound strings, while the SPC has too much thickness in the mids IMO.... I can only use them at 30%... and they sound artificial at 100%.

Thanks. I'll take that into consideration. I might try emailing EMG to see what they say about it too. I'll post whatever they return.

I don't really expect to dime either one of those modules; it's more for a slight change in the EQ curve. Do they work well when used in that type of manner?

 

[some_dude]

Re: Modding a Les Paul, Need Idea's

What about stacked or push-pull pots?

Is there a place that sells 25k stacked/push-pull pots?

 

[sooperunkn]

Re: Modding a Les Paul, Need Idea's

I put 2 two-way toggle switches between my volume and tone knobs. You can kind of see them on my avatar. They are used for coil tapping my C5/Jazz pups. My 2 tone knobs are also push/pull pots used for switching from parallel to series and reverse phase. These mods are known as the Jimmy Page mods. I think EMG makes coil splitting pups if you wanted to do that... its bad ass!

 

[some_dude]

Re: Modding a Les Paul, Need Idea's

Check with one of the supply Seargant's,being a signals base there should be a way to get something.Also try the boys at Soundworks,they deal with a lot of audio.

Everything is plug-N-toss now. We don't actually fix alot of our stuff anymore, just tag it and send it back for a referb. The joys of silicone chips (can't get a soldering iron on microscopic circuts).

I'll check out Soundworks though.