2019-2021 LP Standard 50s muddy neck pickup. Please help

[Jesse Johnson]

Long time player. Gigging musician. I can hold my own with a soldering iron. Please help, does anyone have exp in doing the "50's Wiring Mod" specifically on a newer LP? I know it opens up your pups and acts as a treble bleed. Thanks.

 

[Grenville]

I rewired the neck pickup coils to parallel instead of in-series, slightly less volume and a lot clearer. You need to have 4-conductor wiring on your pickup though.

 

[rich85]

The Burstbucker 1 can be very muddy and overall lousy sometimes. Could be the sound of the guitar or the pickup.

Best option is to get a Seymour Jazz and the problem will go away.

Or just swap an Alnico 5 magnet into the Burstbucker.

The Jazz would go great with the Burstbucker 2 Bridge though.

 

[Andrew1225]

I’m assuming that pickup height and pole pieces have already been adjusted?

Maybe EQ your amp with the Neck pup in mind and tone down on the bridge if it becomes too shrill.

Or like others mentioned, change to a lower wind neck.

 

[ErictheRed]

1. Make sure that you have '50s wiring (an extremely simple change with a soldering iron, unless you have a PCB? I'm not sure what's in the newest Standards, so maybe you can post a picture of your control cavity).
2. Read this thread: https://www.mylespaul.com/threads/how-to-properly-set-the-pole-piece-height-on-humbuckers.450051/.

 

[Jesse Johnson]

I have a new Les Paul. So non-pcb wiring. Just not 50s wiring.

 

[ErictheRed]

Just do this then:

By the way, you don't have to change the connection of the capacitor at the Tone pot, they are electrically equivalent. Only where the capacitor is connected to the Volume pot.

 

[Jesse Johnson]

I’m not sure what that thing in the middle. Is

 

[Jesse Johnson]

Just do this then:

By the way, you don't have to change the connection of the capacitor at the Tone pot, they are electrically equivalent. Only where the capacitor is connected to the Volume pot.

 

[ErictheRed]

The orange tubular thingie in your guitar is equivalent to the green disc thingie in the diagram, does that help? Unsolder where it currently connects to the volume pot and instead solder that terminal to the central lug on the volume pot, that's it.

 

[Jesse Johnson]

The orange tubular thingie in your guitar is equivalent to the green disc thingie in the diagram, does that help? Unsolder where it currently connects to the volume pot and instead solder that terminal to the central lug on the volume pot, that's it.

Got it!! Thank you!

 

[cooljuk]

Did you set up your amp, rig, pickup height and pole piece adjustments to get a good bridge pickup sound, and are now trying to balance the neck pickup to that?

If so, you’ll have a much harder time than if you do it the other way around (set up a rig / guitar for good neck pickup sound, first, then adjust bridge pickup to balance).

 

[Jesse Johnson]

Here is where i am at thanks to you all. I did the 50s wiring and ordered some .15mf and .22 mf Bumblebee caps. Lowered the pickups and adjusted the pole pieces. It sounds so much better. And maybe I am crazy but the more I play the, the more resonant its getting. I think I want an aluminum tailpiece. Thoughts?

 

[Dazza]

Here is where i am at thanks to you all. I did the 50s wiring and ordered some .15mf and .22 mf Bumblebee caps. Lowered the pickups and adjusted the pole pieces. It sounds so much better. And maybe I am crazy but the more I play the, the more resonant its getting. I think I want an aluminum tailpiece. Thoughts?

Swapping hardware such as stoptail studs, stoptail, bridge posts, thumbwheels etc between brass, steel or aluminium can certainly influence a guitars tone. They can also make no perceptible difference. I know this from personal trials with multiple Les Pauls, Historic and USA. This is down to sympathetic resonance between the natural wood and hardware, and every guitar is different. Despite others' recommendations you really don't know what result you'll get until you do it. It's a lot of fun experimenting though.

Daz

 

[Rocco Crocco]

Doesn't 50s wiring only really change anything as you reduce the volume? At full volume, 50s and modern wiring both sound the same, all things being equal?

 

[Dazza]

Doesn't 50s wiring only really change anything as you reduce the volume? At full volume, 50s and modern wiring both sound the same, all things being equal?

Your pretty well correct. There's generations of players who leave all guitar knobs on 10 and change 'tones' via their feet switching between channels, presets or pedals. So 50's wiring is of no benefit to them. However for those who like the 'old school' technique of actively using their knobs ( they're adjustable for a reason ) then 50's style wiring allows more flexibility and tonal range from the guitar. Volume and tone knobs are more interactive.

Daz

 

[Jesse Johnson]

Your pretty well correct. There's generations of players who leave all guitar knobs on 10 and change 'tones' via their feet switching between channels, presets or pedals. So 50's wiring is of no benefit to them. However for those who like the 'old school' technique of actively using their knobs ( they're adjustable for a reason ) then 50's style wiring allows more flexibility and tonal range from the guitar. Volume and tone knobs are more interactive.

Daz

Because the signal does not pass through the tone first, there is a bit more clarity when at normal volume. The absolute magic is in actively using the knobs. I also found on this wonderful forum how to adjust pole pieces. I am taking 2 drive pedals off of my board. I am absolutely loving the 50s wiring. Thanks to everyone who suggested it.

 

[Andrew1225]

Doesn't 50s wiring only really change anything as you reduce the volume? At full volume, 50s and modern wiring both sound the same, all things being equal?

I disagree, after having a Casino and 330 rewired to
50’s wiring with the stock parts, it sounded clearer at the same settings.

 

[Jesse Johnson]

I disagree, after having a Casino and 330 rewired to
50’s wiring with the stock parts, it sounded clearer at the same settings.

Exactly. My Les Paul is more articulate. Almost a tad thinner and brighter. To my ears. And it sits so nice in a live band mix.

 

[Andrew1225]

Exactly. My Les Paul is more articulate. Almost a tad thinner and brighter. To my ears. And it sits so nice in a live band mix.

I think “mid scooped” is the best way to
describe it.

Because some of the low end/lower mids are attenuated a bit, it sounds a bit thinner.