Post by dgassie on Jul 25, 2004 22:29:58 GMT -5
I did the rewiring job today on my Epi Les Paul Standard Plus. I’m glad it was Sunday because this really was a full days job. I checked out many different wiring options that are readily available on the Internet and decided on this one. For one thing, this is the clearest diagram I found and it’s the same as the 50’s mod found on the Les Paul Forum page.
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Shielded 24 gauge, two-conductor audio cable was used exclusively for the job and I started by ripping the entire original wiring out of the guitar. I made sure to keep all exposed ends as short as possible and double checked each solder joint to make it was perfectly solid before moving on to the next. I also kept all wire runs as short as possible. One thing I wanted to accomplish with this job was getting rid of as much ungrounded noise as possible. My practice room is about a mile from a TV/Radio station and is susceptible to RF interference.
Being very careful, I removed the pickups from the guitar without taking them out of their rings. Likewise, tape was used to keep the bridge height adjustment posts from moving. This guitar just had a professional setup done to it and I wasn’t about to screw it up!
Radio Shack provided the .022pf Polyester film capacitors. I realize there are some very specialized caps out there but they are almost impossible to find down here in Mexico, so I made due with what is locally available. While these may not be the “esoteric” choice, they’re what I could get. Radio Shack didn’t have the 500k pots I needed so I picked those up at another electronics store. I just bought the most expensive ones they had and left it at that.
While the strings and hardware were off, I treated the fret board to a nice Linseed oil rub and cleaned the guitar thoroughly, making sure that there weren’t any wire clippings or other materials left behind. The actual wiring job went very smoothly. Just keep that old adage in mind… measure twice, cut once… and make sure to double check the diagram before committing to solder!
So… how did it turn out? To start with, it’s A LOT quieter. In part, I’m sure it’s the new wiring and good connections but I also covered the inside of both back plates with copper tape. Also, I was very careful with all the ground connections, including one that disappears into the body and that I imagine is connected to either the tailpiece or bridge posts. The new pots work fine but feel just like the originals and I wouldn’t even presume to say I hear the caps sound signature!
One thing is certain, it sounds better now. The Seymour Duncan 59s that already sounded very good before, have a much tighter bottom end but at the same time have an “airy” quality and kind of “sparkle” in the highs. In general, I’d say the tone of the guitar is noticeably “clearer”. Another positive result is that the tone pots work along their entire sweep and you can hear the difference in tone even with small increments of the knob.
There’s only one more modification left to be done; changing the bridge and tailpiece for tone locks. Honestly, I’m kind of bummed out! Improving this guitar as been so satisfying. Every change has made it better and it continues growing on me. I just wish the sucker wasn’t so dang heavy!
guitarelectronics.zoovy.com/product/WDUHH3T2202
Shielded 24 gauge, two-conductor audio cable was used exclusively for the job and I started by ripping the entire original wiring out of the guitar. I made sure to keep all exposed ends as short as possible and double checked each solder joint to make it was perfectly solid before moving on to the next. I also kept all wire runs as short as possible. One thing I wanted to accomplish with this job was getting rid of as much ungrounded noise as possible. My practice room is about a mile from a TV/Radio station and is susceptible to RF interference.
Being very careful, I removed the pickups from the guitar without taking them out of their rings. Likewise, tape was used to keep the bridge height adjustment posts from moving. This guitar just had a professional setup done to it and I wasn’t about to screw it up!
Radio Shack provided the .022pf Polyester film capacitors. I realize there are some very specialized caps out there but they are almost impossible to find down here in Mexico, so I made due with what is locally available. While these may not be the “esoteric” choice, they’re what I could get. Radio Shack didn’t have the 500k pots I needed so I picked those up at another electronics store. I just bought the most expensive ones they had and left it at that.
While the strings and hardware were off, I treated the fret board to a nice Linseed oil rub and cleaned the guitar thoroughly, making sure that there weren’t any wire clippings or other materials left behind. The actual wiring job went very smoothly. Just keep that old adage in mind… measure twice, cut once… and make sure to double check the diagram before committing to solder!
So… how did it turn out? To start with, it’s A LOT quieter. In part, I’m sure it’s the new wiring and good connections but I also covered the inside of both back plates with copper tape. Also, I was very careful with all the ground connections, including one that disappears into the body and that I imagine is connected to either the tailpiece or bridge posts. The new pots work fine but feel just like the originals and I wouldn’t even presume to say I hear the caps sound signature!
One thing is certain, it sounds better now. The Seymour Duncan 59s that already sounded very good before, have a much tighter bottom end but at the same time have an “airy” quality and kind of “sparkle” in the highs. In general, I’d say the tone of the guitar is noticeably “clearer”. Another positive result is that the tone pots work along their entire sweep and you can hear the difference in tone even with small increments of the knob.
There’s only one more modification left to be done; changing the bridge and tailpiece for tone locks. Honestly, I’m kind of bummed out! Improving this guitar as been so satisfying. Every change has made it better and it continues growing on me. I just wish the sucker wasn’t so dang heavy!
