Metal plate in control cavity

[siggy14]

So people have mentioned if I wanted to remove a little and I mean little weight I should remove it from my 79 custom.

But just curious why gibson started using them? Was it just easier to put the electronics on?

[chrisuk]

The electronics can be assembled without the guitar so it's cheaper, quicker and a less skilled job.

[Tudorp]

The Gibson LP I am restoring, I am considering not putting my plate back in it. I am using it just to hold the pots as a template while I do all the wiring and soldering. then remove them complete with the new caps and all from the plate and install them into the cavity without the plate..

[guitarfish]

Some people claim a huge difference in tone without the plate, but I've never tried it. Also, IIRC, the plate requires long shafts, but without it you can use short shaft pots. I assume the long shafts would still work with some adjustments.

[Tudorp]

Originally Posted by guitarfish

Some people claim a huge difference in tone without the plate, but I've never tried it. Also, IIRC, the plate requires long shafts, but without it you can use short shaft pots. I assume the long shafts would still work with some adjustments.

I dont see how the tone would be effected unless it was a grounding issue, but all my pots are grounded together, and just as the plate would be. I am wiring it 50's style.

Yes, the long shafts will work just add an adjusting nut to the stem. I have all the original pots for mine, but replacing them with CTS 500k 10% premium pots, and PIO caps. I still might use the plate, or not. Undecided about it really.

[guitarfish]

Originally Posted by Tudorp

I dont see how the tone would be effected unless it was a grounding issue, but all my pots are grounded together, and just as the plate would be. I am wiring it 50's style.

Yes, the long shafts will work just add an adjusting nut to the stem. I have all the original pots for mine, but replacing them with CTS 500k 10% premium pots, and PIO caps. I still might use the plate, or not. Undecided about it really.

Someone here was raving about the difference once they removed the plate. I was curious, but not enough to try it. I think the effect was because the plate is such a larger chunk of ground vs. the 50s wiring across the pots. Something to do with resistance or something. IDK, I just play the darn thing.

[Tudorp]

Originally Posted by guitarfish

Someone here was raving about the difference once they removed the plate. I was curious, but not enough to try it. I think the effect was because the plate is such a larger chunk of ground vs. the 50s wiring across the pots. Something to do with resistance or something. IDK, I just play the darn thing.

lol <shrug> Sounds like BS to me. Might be one of those "Look, I have a huge discovery" type of dudes, lol..

[chrisuk]

I am pretty confident (having rewired my gibby in the last couple of weeks) you still have to have long pots. You need to rewire the switch and jack as well (or have horrible joined telephone wire in the control cavity).

It's easy enough to do though.

[Tudorp]

Think so.. I think the Gibby uses long pots, and the Epi uses the short pots is because the thickness of the top is thicker on the Gibbys.. That, and the plate both, but the thickness of the tops are the biggest contributing thing.