pots and caps in new LPs??

[papersoul]

I thought the new Gibson LPs came stock with 300ks but read this...

Pots & Caps Used by the Manufacturers: Fender instruments almost always use 250K pots. There are a few exceptions, such as the HM-Series and some other models that use humbuckers. The pots used in Gibson guitars are 500K, 300K, or 100K audio taper. They originally opted for 500K pots in the majority of their designs, but switched to 300K volume and 100K tone pots in 1973. Gibson reintroduced the 500K pot sometime in the early to mid-1980s.

More...
http://www.lespaulforum.com/pots/lpfpots.html

Does anyone know for sure? I sent Gibson an email.

Thanks!
ps

 

[Fatty]

Re: pots and caps in new LPs??

I was under the impression they still used 300k pots.. (I don't have an LP though, so I can't really confirm this)

 

[jeremy]

Re: pots and caps in new LPs??

the '03 59 ri that i just worked on had 500k, assuming that they are stock but im not sure if its difference since its a historic model

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: pots and caps in new LPs??

My '00 Historic Les Paul has 500K pots. I asked everyone here who could do it to check thier pots in thier Les Pauls recently and most came back with saying they measured about 250K.

When I pointed out that when measured in the guitar 500K pots measure 250K because you have two 500K pots in parallel no one responded! :duh:

So I still don't know how many of those who thought they had 250K actually have 500K. :smack:

I maintain that 500K sounds better and retains highs that humbuckers need in order to not sound so muddy...especially the neck pickup.

But one advantage with 250K pots is that altho you'll bleed off more highs initially,even when the pot is on "10", if you compensate by turning up your treble on the amp you might retain those highs you have left when you turn down the 250K pot better than if you were using 500K pots...at least that's what I've been told.

Never tried it myself...500K all the way when it comes to humbuckers in my guitars.

Lew

 

[jeremy]

Re: pots and caps in new LPs??

When I pointed out that when measured in the guitar 500K pots measure 250K because you have two 500K pots in parallel no one responded! :duh:

So I still don't know how many of those who thought they had 250K actually have 500K. :smack:

thats damn funny!!

 

[papersoul]

Re: pots and caps in new LPs??

Lew, I contacted Gibson and they said all of there production Standards ship with 300k pots. I and my tech noticed my LP became insanely bright with 500k pots and I am going to re-install the 300ks as they allowed the tone be warmer and creamier. I tried some stock LPs today and was blown away!! The BB Pros are so nice.

I also did some serious research into caps and found that there is an audible difference when swapping cap values even with the pots on "10" so I may try a .033 or .047 in my LP rather than swap back the pots. Not sure.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: pots and caps in new LPs??

I also did some serious research into caps and found that there is an audible difference when swapping cap values even with the pots on "10" so I may try a .033 or .047 in my LP rather than swap back the pots. Not sure.

Believe it when you hear it...not when you read it.

Lew

 

[papersoul]

Re: pots and caps in new LPs??

but Lew, I did hear it.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: pots and caps in new LPs??

but Lew, I did hear it.

That's differant then..

Now you know what you like and don't like and have no further need of anyone else's opinion...

Congrat's! You're now self referencial!

LOL!

Lew

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: pots and caps in new LPs??

That I did not know. Sure I know the theory behind it, yet, I never would anticipate people mistaking 500s with 250s due to that. But it makes perfect sens.

Then again, I always measured them pots alone, not wired in!

BTW I know for a fact that my 95 standard and ex 02 standard (that I have sold) came with ~300K pots

 

[papersoul]

Re: pots and caps in new LPs??

Gibson got back to me again and said the volumes are 300k linear and the tones are 500k audio.

 

[Robert S.]

Re: pots and caps in new LPs??

New historics do have 500k pots all around, I believe my 01 RI LP had 300k in the volumes and I think they are here in the house and unused for that reason. I have metered alot of production LP pots receintly (pots out) and they have all been 300k.

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: pots and caps in new LPs??

New historics do have 500k pots all around.

Linear ones, I have to add.

Why? It is a bitch to clean the tone up with linear pots, lotsa twisting involved! :blackeye:

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: pots and caps in new LPs??

New historics do have 500k pots all around, I believe my 01 RI LP had 300k in the volumes and I think they are here in the house and unused for that reason. I have metered alot of production LP pots receintly (pots out) and they have all been 300k.

So they're back to 500K again all around? :smack: Interesting...

Thanks Robert!

Lew

 

[papersoul]

Re: pots and caps in new LPs??

Yes, they use 500k all around on the Historics but the Production models have the 300k volumes and 500k tones. I am not sure why they use the linear volume pots, but I find the guitar much warmer and more full sounding with the stock pots. My tech should be taking my LP back to stock this week.
At least this way, I'll have a baseline since I never gave the guitar a chance in stock form, but went and played some stock LPs yesterday and was very impressed.

I'd be interested to know what pots were stock on late 80s LP Standards. I ask because we compared my LP Standard with CTS 500k pots and Hovlands to my tech stock '89 Standard and couldn't see a noticable improvement with volume and tone functionality other than the fact that my LP became too bright and harsh.

 

[kaknight]

Re: pots and caps in new LPs??

My tech should be taking my LP back to stock this week.

With all of this changing things around, maybe you oughta get yourself a soldering iron At first I was afraid to do this stuff, but it's actually quite easy. LP's in particular are easy because they are really well laid on on the inside. And to top that off, there are heaps of wiring diagrams around (many on this web site) to guide you.

 

[papersoul]

Re: pots and caps in new LPs??

With all of this changing things around, maybe you oughta get yourself a soldering iron At first I was afraid to do this stuff, but it's actually quite easy. LP's in particular are easy because they are really well laid on on the inside. And to top that off, there are heaps of wiring diagrams around (many on this web site) to guide you.

I've tried soldering but it always turns out to be a major mess. I was never able to stop the solder from balling up on the back of the pots and I ended up burning out a pot in my Dean. Plus, I have no place to solder.....I was doing it on the bedroom floor, then the bed....but I burned a hole in the rug and almost threw the iron out the window. Now I take it to my tech.