Vintage Gibson Mod...(no faint hearts please)
- Thread starter skids
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msplines
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Re: Vintage Gibson Mod...(no faint hearts please)
I've fitted a several varitone kits from Torres Engineering in LP and 335 type guitars (you can find all the details on their website) and it's a piece of cake (two wires and no battery), but remember, the varitone switch body is relatively fat, but not much more than a normal Gibson pot. The thread length is relatively short, but it's only a problem on Les Pauls that need long thread pots. I also have an Aria pro III Thorsound that has one as standard and it's what got me hooked on these - the varitions are endless (mind you, the Aria also has seperate single/parallel/humbucking switching options for both pickups and out of phase AND an on board preamp, fun or what?)
As for the sound, I use a three of them most of the time and all of them some of the time - you do get a wide range and buckets of mids. Some of the positions can be a bit nasal and some guys don't like that, but you won't be disappointed.
The main difference with the mid boost alternative is you can wire a push/push pot to bring it in and that's easier on stage if you need it then and there compared with a rotary multi switch.
Nice looking guitar by the way - clips when it's done???
I've fitted a several varitone kits from Torres Engineering in LP and 335 type guitars (you can find all the details on their website) and it's a piece of cake (two wires and no battery), but remember, the varitone switch body is relatively fat, but not much more than a normal Gibson pot. The thread length is relatively short, but it's only a problem on Les Pauls that need long thread pots. I also have an Aria pro III Thorsound that has one as standard and it's what got me hooked on these - the varitions are endless (mind you, the Aria also has seperate single/parallel/humbucking switching options for both pickups and out of phase AND an on board preamp, fun or what?)
As for the sound, I use a three of them most of the time and all of them some of the time - you do get a wide range and buckets of mids. Some of the positions can be a bit nasal and some guys don't like that, but you won't be disappointed.
The main difference with the mid boost alternative is you can wire a push/push pot to bring it in and that's easier on stage if you need it then and there compared with a rotary multi switch.
Nice looking guitar by the way - clips when it's done???
Last edited:
skids
New member
Re: Vintage Gibson Mod...(no faint hearts please)
good advice all! definately clips when done! the blender pot is definately a consideration msplines...but may try the varitone first, i'm enamoured with the idea for now....
Lew, i've done some homework on those sp43s. are you familiar with the tele version of that model? i think they're about .2" longer than the strat one, and closer to the size of the existing gibbo pups. maybe i'm splitting hairs here since i need a new guard regardless, but maybe bigger is better in this case?
thanks again guys! now to get this sorted out.....
good advice all! definately clips when done! the blender pot is definately a consideration msplines...but may try the varitone first, i'm enamoured with the idea for now....
Lew, i've done some homework on those sp43s. are you familiar with the tele version of that model? i think they're about .2" longer than the strat one, and closer to the size of the existing gibbo pups. maybe i'm splitting hairs here since i need a new guard regardless, but maybe bigger is better in this case?
thanks again guys! now to get this sorted out.....
Re: Vintage Gibson Mod...(no faint hearts please)
Skids, that's a very nice guitar you have there! I have one, but yours is nicer than mine. I hope you don't plan to remove any wood with your mods :nono:
Another pup suggestion: Harmonic Design S90. Conventional-sized single, made specifically with a P90 sound in mind. I know a player who searched high and low for P90 tone in a standard single-coil size for his tele, and his search ended with that pup. Adjustable polepieces. Worth checking out. Lotta guys like his pups.
Another guy who makes a P90 in that size is Bill Chapin: www.chapinguitars.com
I've not read much about his pups, but if they're anything like his guitars.....
Skids, that's a very nice guitar you have there! I have one, but yours is nicer than mine. I hope you don't plan to remove any wood with your mods :nono:
Another pup suggestion: Harmonic Design S90. Conventional-sized single, made specifically with a P90 sound in mind. I know a player who searched high and low for P90 tone in a standard single-coil size for his tele, and his search ended with that pup. Adjustable polepieces. Worth checking out. Lotta guys like his pups.
Another guy who makes a P90 in that size is Bill Chapin: www.chapinguitars.com
I've not read much about his pups, but if they're anything like his guitars.....
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