• From: Belfast
  • Registered: 2010-02-01
  • Posts: 110

Topic: Les Paul Vol Clean-Up advice please

hey guys I am playing a 95 LP Standard into an old Marshall and am having very limited success with the clean up on the guitar vol. The pickups are stock 490/498 and i feel they may be a little too hot. The bridge pup wont clean up with the vol control until about 1. the amp isn't that dirty sounding either. Someone said to me it might be the taper of the pot rather than the pickup but I just feel the pickup is too strong. I am considering some Duncan Seth Lovers or Antiquitys. I would really like to have this:

Guitar vol on 3= clean(ish)
guitar vol on 6= semi dirt
guitar vol on 10= full solo tone.

any help would be great

Guitars: 95 Les Paul Standard, Relic Strat,
Amps: 1973 Marshall JMP 50 head and Vintage Modern Cab. I use no effects other than a Cry Baby on occasions.
  • Registered: 2009-02-10
  • Posts: 470

Re: Les Paul Vol Clean-Up advice please

Sorry but I'm going to have to back up whoever said about the pots.
Change the pots to some 500k CTS and you will find it cleans up.

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

Re: Les Paul Vol Clean-Up advice please

The most noticable and nice volume control I ever had was a vol in a PRS McCarty.

on 10, it was wide open, and clean was verging on gain
on 8, it was like all my other guitars on 10. I tried to keep this guitar on 8

The pot is worn out now, so I'm wondering what this vol pot has/had so I can dup it on all my other guitars.

- 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: 2009-01-01
  • Posts: 665

Re: Les Paul Vol Clean-Up advice please

Jimi_lp wrote:

Change the pots to some 500k CTS and you will find it cleans up.

+1
I have a Les Paul Traditional with 57s. I put in the RS Guitarworks set (pots and caps) and the difference is very noticeable.

  • From: Massachusetts
  • Registered: 2008-10-27
  • Posts: 577

Re: Les Paul Vol Clean-Up advice please

Bluesbreaker wrote:
Jimi_lp wrote:

Change the pots to some 500k CTS and you will find it cleans up.

+1
I have a Les Paul Traditional with 57s. I put in the RS Guitarworks set (pots and caps) and the difference is very noticeable.


Do you still have the LP Tradtional?  What wiring set did you put in it from RS?  What do you think of it?  I am thinking of doing the same to my Tradtional....


Everyone,
What is the concensus on here about RS Guitarworks products???

2009 Gibson Les Paul 1958 VOS (with black plastic)
2008 Gibson Les Paul Traditional Goldtop (with the cream plastic from the 58RI)
> Marshall Bluesbreaker 2 pedal >Boss sd-1> DD3 > Vox Ac15cc1

6 Reply by Bluesbreaker (edited by Bluesbreaker 2010-10-13 08:02:29)

  • Registered: 2009-01-01
  • Posts: 665

Re: Les Paul Vol Clean-Up advice please

LesPaul4 wrote:
Bluesbreaker wrote:
Jimi_lp wrote:

Change the pots to some 500k CTS and you will find it cleans up.

+1
I have a Les Paul Traditional with 57s. I put in the RS Guitarworks set (pots and caps) and the difference is very noticeable.


Do you still have the LP Tradtional?  What wiring set did you put in it from RS?  What do you think of it?  I am thinking of doing the same to my Tradtional....


Everyone,
What is the concensus on here about RS Guitarworks products???

It was the Pre-Wired Premium Vintage Electronics Upgrade Kit- Long Shaft http://www.rsguitarworks.net/rsstore/pr … cts_id=392
although I had to take it apart when installing it (to fit the pots into the guitar's body). So pre-wired is a bit of a misnomer.
I liked the guitar before but found the neck pickup a tad muffled and this upgrade made it airier and more open. I experimented with various wirings: modern, 50s, and even mixed (50s for the neck and modern for the bridge) but eventually got back to the original (50s) for both pups. The bridge is quite brighter than it was before the upgrade (hence the modern wiring at one stage) but I simply turn down the tone knob to 4-5.
In short, with these upgraded pots and caps the tone and volume controls suddenly make sense. I use the four knobs for tonal variety now rather than tap-dancing on a pedalboard.

7 Reply by NPB_EST.1979 (edited by NPB_EST.1979 2010-10-13 09:06:21)

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

Re: Les Paul Vol Clean-Up advice please

I got RS guitarworks wiring after I ripped the EMGs out of my Explorer.
But I combined them with covered Rio Grande pickups and stopped playing the guitar... the pickups are too dark sounding for me... so I'll be looking to sell them.
Just posted it in the JB Forum Marketplace as a matter of fact!  cool

- 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: Les Paul Vol Clean-Up advice please

I had the same problem in my LP Studio it would never clean up with the same 490/498 pups, I changed them out to Duncans and you know what, they still wouldn't clean up either. I determined that the pots and wiring need to be redone but I sold that guitar to by my LP Traditional (I am also looking at the RS Kit) anyway I have the 490 in my Ibanez LP and it cleans up fine when I roll off in that guitar.