Pots of my Orville

[Knarbens]

Yesterday I took a screwdriver and removed the backplate of my Orville to take a look inside. I don't know anything about guitarelectronics, so you guys have to tell me what you see - a mess right? Well, I removed the knobs, as I wanted to straighten the pointers (They were very crooked - see it on the pic ...). I just grabed the knob with my fingers and pulled it a little - it came of really easy . I think about replacing the stupid speed knobs (not a fan of those) with golden Gibson USA bell knobs. Woun't be a problem, right?




Here's my Orville after I put all knobs back on! Just reversed the TRC on this pic - thought it could be interessting ... The first is my Orville, the others guitars are out of photoshop, because I was bored!

[b-squared]

The electronics look fine--If it was mine I'd probably upgrade the caps to some good paper-in-oil, or as a minimum some Orange Drops.

MLP member Jonsey is the guy to PM regarding caps--they will make a difference.

If the pots don't taper like you want, save up a little $ and give RS Guitarworks a call...they make a great pot called the Superpot for volume; the combination of that and new caps made a dramatic difference in how my R9 sounded.

Nice guitar! Reversing the TRC was an interesting idea.

BB

[Knarbens]

I wrote RS Guitarworks a few days back and I got e-mail response. Here's the whole message I got back:

Hello Frank,
For an Orville I would suggest changing out the whole electronics harness to RS Guitarworks Online Store
You will have much better function and tone if you remove all the Japanese parts that came from the factory. This kit has parts that are much better than what is found on any new Gibson guitar.
Thanks
Roy

I heard a lot about these orange drops. Do I have to get these anyhow if I buy the RS guitarworks electronic kid or is there no need to do this?

[b-squared]

RS will send you everything you need. No need for the Orange Drops, they ship PIO caps with their kits.

It'll look something like this when you get done:



This MLP member Brettk7's Epiphone after we installed an RS kit. It sounds great--I'd put it up against any stock USA Standard in my local GC.

BB

[Knarbens]

Originally Posted by b-squared

It sounds great--I'd put it up against any stock USA Standard in my local GC.

Well, that's great! Thanx for your help b-squared

[doublecut]

You can change the pots and caps if you want but the pots in your Terada made K Orville are exactly the same high quality Japanese made pots that the most expensive (close to 3000 US dollars) G serial Orville by Gibsons had. A lot of the serial numbered Orvilles (not K Orvilles) made by Fujigen had smaller pots that were probably made in Korea and these might be good to replace.

[nathanmanansala]

the shafts on those asian pots might be too small for gibson knobs. if you're not changing the pots, you should buy metric knobs

something you could try before plunking some cash on parts is converting to 50s style wiring.

[Knarbens]

Originally Posted by nathanmanansala

the shafts on those asian pots might be too small for gibson knobs. if you're not changing the pots, you should buy metric knobs

I was told (I red), that Gibson USA knobs will fit these K-serial Orville pots not perfect, but they will! They're nearly about the same size? Someone know exactly?

[nathanmanansala]

my bad. "orville by gibson" guitars are supposed to have US made pickups and electronics. "orville" guitars have MIJ pickups and electronics. the pots look like they're labeled "japan". i could be wrong though.

[doublecut]

The Orville by Gibsons have Gibson pickups and the pots are Japanese made. The early Terada made Orvilles which are the K Orvilles from 1989-1993 have the same Japanese made pots as the Orville by Gibsons. The early Fujigen made serial numbered Orvilles which start from 1993 and end in 1998 also have Japanese made pots but around 1994 Fujigen started using small pots which are probably Korean.

There is nothing wrong with the Japanese made pots. They are high quality pots, full stop, and replacing them is not worthwhile unless they are the smaller pots from the later 1994-1998 serial numbered Orvilles which often had small pots and even the small pots are ok. The Japanese make pots as well as everything else they make.

[Knarbens]

Yeah, thank you doublecut!
The head of the bridge/tone poti is damaged (kind of crooked) and I can't get the knob on it again! So I think I have to replace at least that one!

[b-squared]

Do yourself a favor and get the RS Superpots. Believe me.

BB

[Knarbens]

Well, I really thinking about the RS thing! ... Propably a whole new kit or just the pots? I'll see ...

[joebonsai]

Hi Knarben
I agree with b-squared 1000%!!!! That RS stuff is excellent, maybe you need some new knobs and make the wholes a bit bigger, but that's no probelm. I've got a RS Vintage Upgrade kit in combination with Seymour Antiquities.....and that's it !!!!

[b-squared]

If you're going to get anything from them, get the kit and replace everything.

I like the 50's wiring setup, myself, and they include a wiring diagram that's easy to follow. If you have any questions, just call them and ask for Billy--he's the man. In fact, their website has a pic of him working on my R9:



He's a great dude--very knowledgeable, and a heck of a slide player.

BB

[nathanmanansala]

my RS kit got here middle of last week.

stupid me forgot to order the knobs too. i guess the stock pots and caps are staying on the edwards e-lp-98lts til i order the knobs from RS. i haven't really tried though. maybe the stock knobs fit the RS pot shafts.

i switched to CTS pots on the burny RR and the pot shafts wouldnt fit into the knobs without a bit of a pinch. even then they wont go all the way in.

so that'll be 2 sets of knobs for my next shipment.

[b-squared]

Standard Gibby knobs will fit on the RS pots...a few bucks at your local music store.

BB

[doublecut]

Pots pots pots. Change them if you want to. They won't give you a great new sound. I have CTS pots on my early 70s Gibson SG and the current pots Gibson are using on my Gibson 2006 LP Jnr and they do the same thing as the Japanese pots in my Orville which I'm not changing.

I have a 2005 Chinese Squier and those pots needed changing because they were a bit scratchy and weren't made that great but the large (not small) Orville pots are just fine and a much higher quality that's about the same as the CTS pots and my Orville pots are still going great after nearly 20 years and the same goes for my 1979 Greco Japanese made pots which are just fine and are still going great after nearly 30 years.

[markophonic]

I have an Orville Goldtop that I'm replacing the electronics. I'm waiting on an RS kit to arrive that is going in a 2008 LP standard faded and I'm taking the guts from it (which really aren't bad) and installing them in the Orville along with some Russian PIO caps.

[Knarbens]

Is this a K-serial Orville, markophonic? Looks like you have historic spec rings installed! Have you?

[markophonic]

Originally Posted by Knarbens

Is this a K-serial Orville, markophonic? Looks like you have historic spec rings installed! Have you?

Yes it is a K model.

Yes on the rings too. I didn't install them though... the previous owner did.

Fabulous Guitar!

[Knarbens]

Originally Posted by markophonic

Yes it is a K model.

Yes on the rings too. I didn't install them though... the previous owner did.

Fabulous Guitar!

Do you know the brand of them? Are these Gibson Historic Spec rings or Angel, Fatboy, ... From what I can tell by looking at the picture, the colour looks pretty nice to me!