• Registered: 2008-10-02
  • Posts: 373

Topic: My Les Pau is doing something weird

So after talking with the wife last night looks like my les paul hunt is on pause until I can sell a bunch of gear. In the mean time I will continue using my Les Paul Studio but here is the problem. I have an Allnico II in the neck and a Pearly Gates in the bridge, I think there is a problem with the volume controls, when I use the bridge pick up with the volume all the way up and the neck pick up volume off I get about 1/3 the output until I turn the neck volume all the way up. I have the same problem in the middle position and the neck pick up has the highest or hottest volume, shouldn't the Pearly Gates have more out put? Is this normal, I didn't notice any other les pauls doing this kind of thing.

I currently hate this guitar I have put more money into it that its worth, and I could of bought the paul I wanted. The thought of dropping more money to have the guitar rewired again just makes me sick. I know I am going to take a loss when I sell it but I guess some times a dog is a dog!

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: My Les Pau is doing something weird

You can put the stock pickups back into it and sell it. Sell the Alnico II and the Pearly Gates separate... you might make more money that way.  Some people like buying guitars with all stock parts so they can customize it themselves. Pearly Gates is a popular pickup, so you should have no problem selling it on ebay. Plus, you know soldering is not that hard... neither is following a wiring diagram. You can get a good soldering iron from Radio Shack for under $20 - and since you don't like the guitar...

I'd say give soldering/rewiring a shot before you end up selling it. It might save you some wiring charges in the long run when future projects come up, and the guitar doesn't sound like it can get get any more messed up than it currently is wink You now have the luxury of experimentation.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • Registered: 2008-10-02
  • Posts: 373

Re: My Les Pau is doing something weird

Thanks Bonametal,

I have one of the original pups in my Ibanez Lawsuit Les paul - Which is a cool guitar. I have been thinking of putting the Alnico II and Pearly Gates in that guitar and selling the studio with the orginal pups. Will have to see how that sounds.

I am afraid I am not very good at soldering, I have one of those Build Your Own Clone pedals that looks like it was attacked by the soldering iron and it doesn't work so it sits on the bench. But now I have some ideas!

  • From: Sandy Eggo
  • Registered: 2007-04-29
  • Posts: 1,369

Re: My Les Pau is doing something weird

The only way to get better...

"Music is the only thing that you can share with a million million people and you don't lose, you gain. It helps you to get energy and to live long, because when your soul is very happy then you don't want to die." - Ali Akbar Khan
  • Registered: 2009-02-10
  • Posts: 470

Re: My Les Pau is doing something weird

Make sure you have the red and white wires soldered together and taped up
I made that mistake with an alnico II once, never soldered them and didn't realise that would cause the pickup to be very quiet.

  • Registered: 2008-10-02
  • Posts: 373

Re: My Les Pau is doing something weird

I will check it out when I get home. I am preaty sure I am going to put both the les paul Studio and the Ibanez Les Paul forsale. The Ibanez les paul I know I am going to regret it has one of the best necks I have every played.

  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: My Les Pau is doing something weird

Soldering a circuit board and soldering a pot is to totally different animals!!!  Circuit boards almost have to be perfect which isn't a good idea for a beginner plus you don't wanna use an iron for circuit boards you wanna use a soldering gun which heats up on contact when you pull the triger.   If you even were willing to try that and had any sucsess at all you should try resoldering this guitar.  Its much easier.  Last make sure your not out of phase to the other pickup or something because that neck sounds all wrong.

Big E wrote:

Thanks Bonametal,

I have one of the original pups in my Ibanez Lawsuit Les paul - Which is a cool guitar. I have been thinking of putting the Alnico II and Pearly Gates in that guitar and selling the studio with the orginal pups. Will have to see how that sounds.

I am afraid I am not very good at soldering, I have one of those Build Your Own Clone pedals that looks like it was attacked by the soldering iron and it doesn't work so it sits on the bench. But now I have some ideas!

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