I just had a tech put in an Alnico 2 in the neck and a custom custom in the bridge to replace the burstbucker pros that were stock in my Les Paul. First of all, this change was an incredible improvement, what incredible sounding pickups. Anyway, I wanted to do coil splits on them, however, I was unable to find push pull pots for this with a long enough shaft because of the metal plate that the pots are attached to. I spoke with a guy in a different store that suggested that the best way to do this would be to swith from series to parallel switching with the pots, and although there are push pull pots that would accomplish this, they would have to be long shaft DPDT pots and the metal plate would have to be removed. However, I noticed that there are wires connected to this plate so I assume this plate is a ground. Anyway, I would prefer the pickups to be switch back and forth to parrallel and series as oppossed to just coil splitting, as I think this would sound better and still keep the guitar silent. What is the best way to go about this?
Push pulls in a Les Paul - Help!
- Thread starter 89strat
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Re: Push pulls in a Les Paul - Help!
You're needing the "long shaft" or 3/4" long pots with the DPDT switch. They're out there:
Just run a search for "Jimmy Page wiring" at:
http://www.lespaulforum.com
You're needing the "long shaft" or 3/4" long pots with the DPDT switch. They're out there:
Just run a search for "Jimmy Page wiring" at:
http://www.lespaulforum.com
Zhangliqun
Questionologist
Re: Push pulls in a Les Paul - Help!
If your LP is a Historic, it's not too much of a problem -- just put the push/pulls on the bridge pickup controls (closer to the edge of the guitar) because the wood is thinner there and regular push/pulls may work.
If it's a Standard or other Gibson USA model, you've got that big metal common ground plate holding all the components in place.
I put push/pulls in a Standard once, but I had to remove the ground plate and rout the control cavity about 1/4" deeper, so there are ways to get this done if you can't get a hold of the ever-elusive long shaft push/pulls.
If your LP is a Historic, it's not too much of a problem -- just put the push/pulls on the bridge pickup controls (closer to the edge of the guitar) because the wood is thinner there and regular push/pulls may work.
If it's a Standard or other Gibson USA model, you've got that big metal common ground plate holding all the components in place.
I put push/pulls in a Standard once, but I had to remove the ground plate and rout the control cavity about 1/4" deeper, so there are ways to get this done if you can't get a hold of the ever-elusive long shaft push/pulls.
Zhangliqun
Questionologist
Re: Push pulls in a Les Paul - Help!
I don't know if the long shafts are long enough with the plate in or not. I never got any myself so I never had a chance to try.
You would really have to take the time to learn about how a guitar is wired before rewiring yours without a ground plate. The best thing to do since you're not familiar enough with guitar wiring to wire one up from scratch (which is what you would be doing wiring it up without the plate) is to have a tech do it for you.
The other possibility is to keep the ground plate but rout that cavity deeper. But even then you'd have to be familiar with using a router which if you're not, it's back to the tech again.
I don't know if the long shafts are long enough with the plate in or not. I never got any myself so I never had a chance to try.
You would really have to take the time to learn about how a guitar is wired before rewiring yours without a ground plate. The best thing to do since you're not familiar enough with guitar wiring to wire one up from scratch (which is what you would be doing wiring it up without the plate) is to have a tech do it for you.
The other possibility is to keep the ground plate but rout that cavity deeper. But even then you'd have to be familiar with using a router which if you're not, it's back to the tech again.
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: Push pulls in a Les Paul - Help!
Zhangluqun is right. It's a major pain to do this on a LP Std or Custom, and may be better reserved for a pro tech. You have to remove the plate, and route the inside of the cavity enough so that the pots go through the wood.....not to mention that they should be sticking out the same amount as the volume pots, so the knobs all look uniform. The wiring is a headache, because you've got to have a little capacitor attached to the pushpull pots.
I was lucky mine turned out the way it did......huge pain in the A.
Zhangluqun is right. It's a major pain to do this on a LP Std or Custom, and may be better reserved for a pro tech. You have to remove the plate, and route the inside of the cavity enough so that the pots go through the wood.....not to mention that they should be sticking out the same amount as the volume pots, so the knobs all look uniform. The wiring is a headache, because you've got to have a little capacitor attached to the pushpull pots.
I was lucky mine turned out the way it did......huge pain in the A.
ratherdashing
Kablamminator
Re: Push pulls in a Les Paul - Help!
I'm pretty sure guitarelectronics.com has long shaft DPDT push-pulls. I need some myself, and I recall seeing some there.
Good luck!
EDIT: I was right ... scroll down a bit: http://www.guitarelectronics.com/category/20electronicparts.2controlpots/
I'm pretty sure guitarelectronics.com has long shaft DPDT push-pulls. I need some myself, and I recall seeing some there.
Good luck!
EDIT: I was right ... scroll down a bit: http://www.guitarelectronics.com/category/20electronicparts.2controlpots/
Re: Push pulls in a Les Paul - Help!
Well, I did it. First off, the Alnico II and custom custom combo blows away the burstbucker pros that my les paul came with. Very musical sounding. I found the push pull DPDT pots at Torres engeneering online. Wired up both tone pots. They fit perfect, didn't even have to remove the cavity plate. I wired them for parallel/series switching. They sound great. I am really impressed and pleased with the sound. Reminds me of my friends PRS I had in my house for a couple of weeks but much better tone from my Les Paul. The switched sound is more P-90 than single coil, but the parallel neck is very acoustic sounding and really nice strumming sound. Both pickups on in with pots in up position gives a pretty respectable strat in-between sound. Overall, I'm glad I did it, and it didn't require butchering a great guitar.
Well, I did it. First off, the Alnico II and custom custom combo blows away the burstbucker pros that my les paul came with. Very musical sounding. I found the push pull DPDT pots at Torres engeneering online. Wired up both tone pots. They fit perfect, didn't even have to remove the cavity plate. I wired them for parallel/series switching. They sound great. I am really impressed and pleased with the sound. Reminds me of my friends PRS I had in my house for a couple of weeks but much better tone from my Les Paul. The switched sound is more P-90 than single coil, but the parallel neck is very acoustic sounding and really nice strumming sound. Both pickups on in with pots in up position gives a pretty respectable strat in-between sound. Overall, I'm glad I did it, and it didn't require butchering a great guitar.
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