New pots/caps for Les Paul?

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guitup too

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I have a 2016 Gibson Les Paul Studio 50's Tribute T that needs new pots and caps. This LP has the circuit board from the factory. I would like to replace with quality parts of same values since I like the way it sounds and the way the controls interact. Don't want to pay extra for hype and/or snake oil. Where to buy, and what heighth pot shafts?
 
CTS long shaft are the typical choice.

http://www.philadelphialuthiertools.com ... tiometers/

If you pay the extra couple bucks for Emerson or Mojo (CTS pots) they might be sorted for good taper and closer to 500K tolereances. The ones that I had measured between 440K and 560K. That could make a difference in how bright it is. Any cap will work. Get a few and clip them in if you want.

Squeze the split shaft together a little so the knobs go on kind of easy. sometimes the pots break when you pull too hard removing the knobs.
 
Yup CTS 500K pots and orange drop caps work well too, I think mine were polyester but they could have been 715 or 716 polypropylene with SD antiquities and my LP sounded awesome with nice clarity, ceramic caps can introduce some grit to the tone which I feel is undesirable in guitar wiring, as a bright cap in an amp sometimes that grit grind sound great. I think the vintage bumblebee caps might be entering into SNAKEOIL territory but i sure people swear by them.
 
I'll second the Orange Drop suggestion. I've tried a whole bunch of caps. Some were really good, some were absolute crap, but most were not any better than the Orange Drops. When you compare prices, the OD caps win hands down. FWIW, I used polyester ODs, but any of them will work fine. I agree, too, that ceramic caps are just too gritty in a guitar. I had Bumblebees in a Historic '57 and, while not the worst, aren't nearly as good as the ODs. I know they're just relabeled modern caps, though. I've tried PIO caps, and didn't care for them, either. Definitely some snake oil around...

I've tried several custom flavors of CTS pots, but at the end of the day, just some long-shaft CTS will get the job done. More snake oil around those, too. I do think it's worth it to pay a little extra for better taper and closer tolerances, though.
 
Awesome Paul. I just ordered that kit. Still digging the BFG modded JCA 22 Custom btw.
Thanks!
 
guitup too":a5tc2rzo said:
I have a 2016 Gibson Les Paul Studio 50's Tribute T that needs new pots and caps. This LP has the circuit board from the factory. I would like to replace with quality parts of same values since I like the way it sounds and the way the controls interact. Don't want to pay extra for hype and/or snake oil. Where to buy, and what heighth pot shafts?
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2016, and already needs new pots? That's odd, have you tried a shot of deoxit in them? My 2013 LP has the same circuit board and its still all good.

I guess I'm one of the few that actually likes the circuit board, keeps it nice and tidy in there.
 
Surprised me too CrazyNutz. Turn the volume all the way down and it's passing a little signal. Turn it up to 0.5 or so and it is off, no signal.
 
guitup too":b2pqiozi said:
Awesome Paul. I just ordered that kit. Still digging the BFG modded JCA 22 Custom btw.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
:thumbsup: Wire it up 50’s style too to help with the high end loss.
 
CrazyNutz":27xjj6oq said:
guitup too":27xjj6oq said:
I have a 2016 Gibson Les Paul Studio 50's Tribute T that needs new pots and caps. This LP has the circuit board from the factory. I would like to replace with quality parts of same values since I like the way it sounds and the way the controls interact. Don't want to pay extra for hype and/or snake oil. Where to buy, and what heighth pot shafts?
Click to expand...

2016, and already needs new pots? That's odd, have you tried a shot of deoxit in them? My 2013 LP has the same circuit board and its still all good.

I guess I'm one of the few that actually likes the circuit board, keeps it nice and tidy in there.
Click to expand...
I recently got a 2013 Standard and fully expected to have to swap pickups which would likely involve changing to pots to 500k (I think it has 500k tone pots but 300k volume). But this guitar sounds so good I don't really feel the need to replace anything. I still rarely use the pull-pot functions but the coil split is cool to have.
 
I recently rewired a 2012 Les Paul Standard I acquired. I wound up throwing in a set of Duncan Alnico II Pros because the burstbuckers sounded like garbage to me and the AIIPs are my favorite pickup for les pauls, followed by 57 classics. I used some NOS Gibson ceramic top 300k linear tapers for volume that I got on ebay (old red/blue packaging), I wound up desoldering and reusing the tone pots from the Gibson circuit board. I also used orange drops, .022 uf is my preference even though most places I see recommend .047 for humbuckers.

For what it is worth, I believe my 2012 with circuit board had 4 matching pots. All 4 pots had the same markings on them. I would check yours too...
 
GOHOINC":28ewlo3p said:
For what it is worth, I believe my 2012 with circuit board had 4 matching pots. All 4 pots had the same markings on them. I would check yours too...
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Mine not only don't match, the lug spacing is different so you can't swap a volume for a tone. And of course, the tone pots are really easy to turn and feel great...but the volume pots are stiffer. :doh:
 
LP Freak":1o9y4v5h said:
I’ve bought tons from this guy. He has exactly what you need at a good price.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 2303975512
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That looks like quality stuff at a good price. One stop shopping!!
For anyone replacing pickups or pots on the Gibson's with the circuit board, I always recommend they replace everything. Unplug the pickups, 3 way and output jack, remove everything and put it away for later in case you want to put the guitar back to stock later.
Rewire it 50's style with 500k pots and orange drops and you're good to go!
 
fusedbrain":2d66sydi said:
For anyone replacing pickups or pots on the Gibson's with the circuit board, I always recommend they replace everything. Unplug the pickups, 3 way and output jack, remove everything and put it away for later in case you want to put the guitar back to stock later.
Rewire it 50's style with 500k pots and orange drops and you're good to go!
Click to expand...

That is what I would like to do with my LP but I lack the skills, and patience, to do it! Not sure I would trust the tech at Guitar Center and really don't want to ship my LP. Anyone around the Cleveland, Ohio area with skills?
 
You will still need to get the ground wire that loops around the pots still though. The best thing to do is to make a template out of cardboard to pre-wire the pots with the grounding wire attached. This way you can drop it right in the cavity and everything will fit perfect
 
If you like it the way it is, why change? Purely curious.
 
The pots are crapping out or I wouldn't mess with it.

iplayloudly":w3a7u4t5 said:
If you like it the way it is, why change? Purely curious.
Click to expand...
 
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