more top end: covers or pots?

ksms

New member
I want just a little more treble from the '59/C5 pickups in my Les Paul. Should I start by removing the pickup covers or by replacing the stock 300k pots with 500k. Which one would make more of a difference?
 
Re: more top end: covers or pots?

I would go with the pots.

+1. That will give you more treble. If you have 300K's on the neck now, you definitely need 500K's there. Usually players don't need to add more treble to a C5, but if you have a warm body, you might need to, and 500K's will take care of that. Changing pots is easy. Do it one at a time, so you know where the wires go. You can swap all 4 pots in under a half hour, even working slow. Put an old towel on the guitar to catch solder spills, use a fan for fumes, and have good overhead light. You'll be done in no time.
 
Re: more top end: covers or pots?

Man, I have to say I spent the past 20 minutes removing the pickup covers and it did exactly what I wanted.

I put gold pickup rings on my other LP to make up for the fact that it's all black with black open coils. Maybe I'll do the same for this one since the black open coils with black rings don't look that good IMO.

I think this LP is a little shorter on highs and heavier on mids than my other one, so I still might go ahead and put a 500k on the neck.

But I think I've just realized that I like the slightly more raw sound of open coils.

Thanks for the advice though.
 
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Re: more top end: covers or pots?

I actually was in the same situation when I got my first BroBucker. Great sounding pickup, but I wanted just a touch more high end.

Removed the cover and it became the best pickup I own.
 
Re: more top end: covers or pots?

blueman335;2219928If you have 300K's on the neck now said:
definitely[/I] need 500K's there.

i never would have expected you to suggest 500k pots for the neck pup :D

im with every one else, change the pots first
 
Re: more top end: covers or pots?

I actually was in the same situation when I got my first BroBucker. Great sounding pickup, but I wanted just a touch more high end.

Removed the cover and it became the best pickup I own.

I already got my (second hand) brobucker with the cover off. But still miss some harmonics. So let rewind a brocken 59 with 9k. I hope getting nearer... otherwise i try a full charged A5 in the brobucker or a A8 (but guess it would make the mids too full sounding...)
 
Re: more top end: covers or pots?

Like you discovered.........Taking off the covers will give you a pinch more highs. Some will argue that is wrong...........Granted, 500k pots will add more highs than the cover removal, but taking off the covers is FREE! You can always reverse that mod and go with 500k pots in the future.
 
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