Pots for Gibson Classic '57 pickups

M

Mr Natural

New member
I've recently purchased a Gibson SG that came with Classic '57's and 300K linear pots mounted on a circuit board. It's a great guitar and I'm happy with the sound, but all my other humbuckers use 500K volume pots.

I'm wondering if it would be worth the trouble to install 500K volume pots with those pickups. They do seem to lack a certain amount of "air" and "openness" on the top end that my other PAF's have (splitting hairs here), but I'm going to be playing mostly Rock & Roll on this guitar with lots of gain and effects.

I replaced the 300K pots that came on my 490r/t equipped Les Paul and it made a tremendous difference on that guitar with those pickups - the 490r in the neck came to life. The bridge pickup sounded marginally better, so it only made a little bit of difference there.

I have been told to leave my Gibson's as stock as possible because they will retain more of their value, so I want to make sure it's going to make a significant improvement to change them out.

Any advice certainly appreciated.
 
Re: Pots for Gibson Classic '57 pickups

Are you more interested in your guitar just retaining value, or are you more concerned about it sounding the way you want so you can play it?

Changing to 500k pots from the 300k pots in it now will brighten up your tone considerably. But this is a reversible mod so you don't really have to worry about losing value...you can always change it back if you want.
 
Re: Pots for Gibson Classic '57 pickups

I see posts every day about people pulling the stupid PCB mounted stuff for component pots and caps. A nice set of 500k pots, caps, and 50s wiring will wake that thing right up.
 
Re: Pots for Gibson Classic '57 pickups

Thanks for all the input. Looks like I'll be changing out those volume pots!!!
 
Re: Pots for Gibson Classic '57 pickups

Just to be a negative P.I.T.A. guitars do not retain value except for a very small percentage of unique collectibles etc. You buy a guitar it is worth about half of what you pay for it(the money you can actually get) after you leave the store or open the box. This is a one sided worst scenario opinion , I get guitars to play and I do horrible things to them that repulse many on this forum.
 
Re: Pots for Gibson Classic '57 pickups

As the owner of two SG's -2013 and 2014, I had them gutted and set up by a pro. They lost the 57's and the associated boards with junk. One received a WLH set and the other has a DMZ's 36th Anniversary set and new from scratch harnesses.

The 57's and stock boards are on the shelf gathering dust should they ever have to go back into the guitars. But this isn't a foreseeable situation unless I decide to sell the guitars in some distant aeon and the new owner really has to have the stuff.

The 57's and stock circuitry really doesn't offer anything that can't be improved upon by carefully selected pickups, good pots and caps.
 
Re: Pots for Gibson Classic '57 pickups

Condemned soul said:
As the owner of two SG's -2013 and 2014, I had them gutted and set up by a pro. They lost the 57's and the associated boards with junk. One received a WLH set and the other has a DMZ's 36th Anniversary set and new from scratch harnesses.
Click to expand...

Nice choices!
 
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