Custom replacement gibson pcb's

[SvdH]

Just wanted to inform here if anyone with one of the recent pcb'd gibson les paul's would be interested in a replacement pcb wired 50's style? Me and a mate of mine are able to source and fabricate them but before we start making these we'd like to know your thoughts on this.

Advantages would be that it would look cleaner, would be well shielded and it will be made in a way that the capacitors would be interchangeable without any soldering (might you ever want to replace these). There would also be no soldering required to replace the current pcb with the new one, plug and play.

Parts: 500k volume/tone pots (comparable to CTS at least, not decided on the brand yet), Sprague orange drops capacitors (these are easily upgradeable)

Price of these would be somewhere between 60-80 dollars, all ready made.

So, what do you guys 'n girls think about this? Any bumps in the road? Thought this might be a nice project

 

[WolfeMacleod]

So, what do you guys 'n girls think about this? Any bumps in the road? Thought this might be a nice project

Better make sure it isn't patented first...

 

[SvdH]

Looks like it isn't, and it won't be a copy. The routing will be somewhat different from the stock gibson.

How about switchable between modern and 50's?

 

[gfullick]

I'd be interested. That way I could return the LP back to standard if I ever wanted to sell it (not likely). Switchable would be a great idea.

 

[SvdH]

Thanks for the interest! We've settled with switching between 50's, modern, 50's with independant volume control and modern with independent volume control. They will indeed be drop in. I expect the first ones will be ready in a few weeks. I'll keep things updated!

 

[Hector Arcadius]

(Subscribed)



You got our full attention now!

 

[alexl]

Good work, well done.

Sounds like you're doing exactly what Gibson have failed to do. Switching between wiring styles and changing caps would be a great feature.

I butchered my own PCB to run Russian PIO caps in the 50s style - quite easy really. There's a picture of it on another thread on MLP. It made a big improvement to the way the guitar operates.

As it happens I'll soon be changing to old school, soldered pots from Bareknuckle, only because I want to introduce series/parallel and phase reversal switching via push pull tone pots. Bit of a shame in some ways as the Bournes pots on the PCB are excellent.

 

[Sinster]

I'm in the process of tweaking my PCb where I can do quick disconnect for my caps. So you can plug and play.

 

[SvdH]

Arise my little thread, arise!

Seriously now, we've finished them! Got 25 of 'm in the first batch. Here's the site, have a look for yourself! Fifties Modern Switch

 

[HOT-BRIT]

Sounds like a great idea

 

[Hector Arcadius]

Ok, here are the questions:

1. can we order certain capacitors (for example: Vitamin Q) to be pre-installed on our kit?

2. same question about pots (like RS Superpots).

3. If not, how easy / difficult would it be for ourselves to do the mod? Tools / experience required?

4. Are there any other configurations on the horizon? Like a kit with push-pull pots for coil-splitting?


Very interesting product there guys.

 

[SvdH]

Thanks man!

1, It would of course be possible to order some other caps with them, but i guess i'd be cheaper for you get the caps from ebay and install those yourselves. It really is just a matter of pressing down on 2 switches and taking the cap out. Takes me about 20-30 seconds to do per cap. And i don't have many capacitors in stock here, so i'd have to order them too.

2, The pots are solderd to the PCB on 3 pins connected to the 3 little holes on the pots. All you need to do to replace them is desolder them from the pins and resolder the new pots on there. If the Superpot has the 3 little holes on it, it's most likely compatible.

3, Soldering iron and a desoldering pump. Just make sure to not overheat the pots when soldering/desoldering them.

4, That might well be! We want to see how this goes first. So i can't promise anything yet

 

[Hector Arcadius]

BTW, we have the exact same Gibby. So, did you replace your PCB with the new one (obviously, I guess...). Any tonal differences between the two of them (when the 2nd one is in the modern-wiring phase)? For example, in roll-off capabilities of the pots. What did you think of the '50s wiring mode (positive / negative remarks)?


Apologies for the question-bombarding, but I really like the idea behind your product. and it's a matter of time before I upgrade the electronics in the Studio, so...

 

[santellan]

Nice Job and Video. Here's our version which will be released in 10 days. Hopefully between our two products we can give most users what they want.

Les Paul Toneshaper

 

[SvdH]

BTW, we have the exact same Gibby. So, did you replace your PCB with the new one (obviously, I guess...). Any tonal differences between the two of them (when the 2nd one is in the modern-wiring phase)? For example, in roll-off capabilities of the pots. What did you think of the '50s wiring mode (positive / negative remarks)?


Apologies for the question-bombarding, but I really like the idea behind your product. and it's a matter of time before I upgrade the electronics in the Studio, so...

No problemo! I've replaced the PCB in my Studio indeed. The differences to the Gibson pots are that the pots on the new PCB turn smoother and roll off more quickly. I really like that on the volume pot (cleans up nice and fast when rolling off), took me a few days to get used to on the tone pot. The action is in the zone around the 5 to 0 mark on the tone. But you get just as accurate on it after a little while. Does make it easy to get the tone pot wah-wah sound

The 50's wiring makes it a tad brighter, and it feels like it doesn't mud up as fast when backing off the volume/tone. Some like 50's, some like modern. I prefer the 50's myself...feels like i got some more control over my sound. But you should just experiment with it to see what you like best.

@santellan Thanks mate! Got a nice product there yourselves. Got any pics 'n stuff of it?

 

[santellan]

Here's some pictures of the board partially built. It should be finished by the end of this week.

 

[santellan]

Here's the final picture and product information. Les Paul Toneshaper. Hope you like it.

 

[Hector Arcadius]

I think that new product deserves a new thread on it's own, but...


What about pricing?

 

[SvdH]

Seems like a nice product indeed. I'm just wondering how thick the manual is going to be (just kidding) Make a new thread about it, we'll discuss it further in there.

Further updates on our Fifties/Modern pcb:
- We're going to include molex connectors with wires already pressed into them for use in non-pcb equipped guitars. So now you can convert any les paul by soldering the included molex connectors to your pickupleads! So it's not limited to just the newer pcb-equipped guitars.
-Were doing a 10% off during introduction! The molex connectors are not here yet, so shipping will commence when they arrive. Could be a few weeks. We already take orders but official sale will start when they arrive. I'll make a topic when it starts, and i'll have to get that vendor account going

 

[santellan]

Here's the link for the pricing info ToneShaper for Les Paul