Question re Pots

[DBCooper]

I just picked up my guitar today from the tech who installed new pups. Now, when the tone knob on the bridge pup is turned all up the way to 10, it sounds really bassy. If you roll it back to 8, the treble kicks in again. Does that mean I need a new pot or can it be something else? And what is a ballpark figure for replacing the pot (parts and labor)? Does one normally replace all 4 at the same time, or just the defective one? Thanks.

[b-squared]

If you could post a clear pic of the control cavity it would help.

What kind of guitar? What kind of pickups?

It sounds like it may have been wired incorrectly, or with the new pickups you're just now hearing that the pots are crap-ola.

A picture will tell 1000 words...

A good kit from RS will cost about $60 for everything (pots, caps); a local tech should charge about an hour's work for it. Maybe 20-30 bucks.

BB

[DBCooper]

Thanks BB. I am woefully ignorant about most things. But I am particularly ignorant when it comes to electronics/guitar tech stuff, so please bear with me. It's a late 70's LP Custom. I had 2 Skatterbrane pups installed. I'll attach a photo of the wiring.

[DBCooper]

Here's a photo of all 4 pots. The problem pot is the one in the lower right-hand corner. I don't know why the "R" and "W" are upside down. Could that have something to do with it?

[b-squared]

Double Post...

[b-squared]

Dude---your tech did that?

It looks like a 10 year-old did it. One thing I'd say right off--you need to get some new pots/caps in that rig. You've got great pickups; the electronics, IMHO, are robbing you blind in the tone dept. Those disk caps have GOT to go!!!

Here's a pro soldering job, done THIS weekend:



See that brown stuff on your pots? That's flux. It's applied before the solder, and eliminates oxygen/moisture in the joint. After the joint is applied, any excess should be wiped away. That stuff is corrosive over time...not good to leave in there.

My advice: either PM HolyGrail and get some good Vitamin Q caps, or go to rsguitarworks.net - Home and buy the entire kit. At a minimum I'd get some Superpots (volume only) and Tone pots from RS.

If you need a better tech, we might be able to find you one--where do you live?

That's my 2 cents.

BB

[DBCooper]

B-Squared, I'm in NJ. I have a bunch of questions. What is the "disk cap?" What does it do? And how can you tell by looking that it's "gotta go?" As to the flux, would the luthier have necessarily looked into the cavity to change the pickups? (Again, bear with me cause i have no clue). I mean, is it possible that he just missed it. Nah, forget that because he changed the jack too. What's the difference between a "cap" and a "pot" or are the words used interchangeably? Is it just the fact that he ignored the flux that makes it look like a shoddy job or are there other things that strike you. How can i clean off the flux? Just scrap it off? Lastly, and most imporantly, what am I looking for in terms of a package. Can you recommend one that is appropriate for this guitar ('78 LP Custom w/ Skatterbranes) or is there just one replacement package? Thanks.

[Weldaar]

One of the best techs in NJ is John from Hi Way Music in East Brunswick. Where do live? If you are close to me, I can help you out myself. I do all of my own work. I live in Monmouth Co.

[b-squared]

OK...no problems!

The disk caps (Capacitors) are those round yellow thingies. They make your tone knobs work. Disk caps are ceramic, I believe, and are more suited to amps and computer-ish circuits than a guitar. The standard is "Paper-in-Oil" caps, or PIO. That's what was originally in LPs, and during the 70's they switched to what was cheaper...REALLY cheaper. The "Vitamin-Q" caps are PIO, as are the caps offered by RS Guitarworks.

The pots are the round silver things. The volume tone knobs attach to a shaft that sticks out of the top of the guitar.

Yes, your tech HAD to open the guitar to install everything.

I'm sure if you started a thread asking for a tech location another NJ member would post. I think Bobbo is from there.

I recommend a kit from RS--it's about $60 for everything, and your tech can install in about an hour.

BB

[Weldaar]

DBCooper, email me, we'll talk.

[loneguitar]

That's a disgusting job, my Daughter can do better.....
There's your problem Bro. take it back and make hime do it right or ask for your money back, that is totally unprofessional

[DBCooper]

Thanks guys. Just so we're clear... Will the new wiring kit actually improve the TONE or will it just make it louder and give me more ability to adjust the treble/bass. I'm not trying to defend the luthier (who charged me alot and is fairly well known--he's not a GC or Sam Ashe backroom guy) but does a visually sloppy job amount to a tonal difference, or is it just a visually sloppy job? For example, the wires behind my TV are a tangled mess and full of dust. I could clean them up but it won't improve my picture. Thanks again.

[dwagar]

It sounds like a bad pot to me. I'd just get the one replaced if you're worried about the cost.

[b-squared]

Originally Posted by DBCooper

Thanks guys. Just so we're clear... Will the new wiring kit actually improve the TONE or will it just make it louder and give me more ability to adjust the treble/bass. I'm not trying to defend the luthier (who charged me alot and is fairly well known--he's not a GC or Sam Ashe backroom guy) but does a visually sloppy job amount to a tonal difference, or is it just a visually sloppy job? For example, the wires behind my TV are a tangled mess and full of dust. I could clean them up but it won't improve my picture. Thanks again.

I'll put it this way...you aren't getting tone right now.

I'd bet you dinner at McD's that with good quality caps and replaced volume pots you'll cry when you hear the difference.

**Get together with Weldaar!**

BB

[CARNAGE222]

Now I'm starting to wonder. I have a 2007 Studio. How good are the stock pots and caps in it? BTW, I'm just starting to learn about all of this, thanks to all the great info on these forums. Thanks!

b-squared, is that the RS kit in the pic you posted above?

[dwagar]

the stock pots and caps are just fine.

but you can upgrade them and start to tailor your tone to what YOU want it to be.

[b-squared]

Originally Posted by CARNAGE222

Now I'm starting to wonder. I have a 2007 Studio. How good are the stock pots and caps in it? BTW, I'm just starting to learn about all of this, thanks to all the great info on these forums. Thanks!

b-squared, is that the RS kit in the pic you posted above?

DWagar's point above is correct. The stock stuff is ok.

I switched my electronics out because they weren't performing for me. When I would roll the volume off, it didn't really do anything until I hit "2" or so, and it would shut off the pickup. There was no audible taper of the signal, more of an On-Off switch.

To answer your question: yes, the cavity shot is from my R9, and it has the RS Superpots (volume), their CTS tone pots, and Luxe Bumblebee repros.

...and it sounds great. Worth every penny, IMHO.

You can also get NOS (New, old-stock) caps from Holy Grail, one of the members here as well, should you so choose. Ask anyone, he's got some good stuff.

Before changing pickups, upgrading the electronics is probably the biggest tone-changer you can do for your guitar.

BB

[CARNAGE222]

Cool. Thanks for the info guys. I have some thinking to do now...

[inxs996]

Originally Posted by b-squared

Dude---your tech did that?

It looks like a 10 year-old did it. One thing I'd say right off--you need to get some new pots/caps in that rig. You've got great pickups; the electronics, IMHO, are robbing you blind in the tone dept. Those disk caps have GOT to go!!!

Here's a pro soldering job, done THIS weekend:



See that brown stuff on your pots? That's flux. It's applied before the solder, and eliminates oxygen/moisture in the joint. After the joint is applied, any excess should be wiped away. That stuff is corrosive over time...not good to leave in there.

My advice: either PM HolyGrail and get some good Vitamin Q caps, or go to rsguitarworks.net - Home and buy the entire kit. At a minimum I'd get some Superpots (volume only) and Tone pots from RS.

If you need a better tech, we might be able to find you one--where do you live?

That's my 2 cents.

BB

b-square,

i have a question are all cavities on the Les Paul series guitars the same size, i have a Epiphone Les Paul Custom, and it appears that the cavity in your photo is larger then the cavity on my Epiphone, appears to be more room around the pots,

also i notice that in some pics of other peoples cavities there appears to be a plate, for lack of better words that the pots seem to be attached to, this i don't have also, is this maybe something that is exclusive to Gibson Les Pauls..

and finally if you know, are all pots the same size diameter that is, i just ordered new pots from RS Guitars , super pots and also tone pots, just worried that they will fit now...

thank you

eric

[b-squared]

Howdy--great questions.

In my limited experience (a 3 LP owner) the cavities do change in size and shape. Some are smoother cuts than others; on my R9 you can see where the initial round routes were cut out. On my '76 LP Custom it's much more uniform.

My '76 LP Custom has the grounding plate in it. I believe it was added to save time on the assembly line; one ground wire to the plate, then everything else attached is grounded. The LP did not originally come with it, and modern guitars do not have it, as far as I know.

The RS pots that you ordered will fit just fine. Sometimes they JUST fit, but they will fit. If for some reason you got the wrong length shaft on the pot (it will be obvious when they are installed...too short and you won't see them poke through ), just call RS, explain, they'll send you the right ones. (You have to send the others back, or Paula will track you down...lol)

Hope that helps, Eric! BTW...great looking Epi there!

BB