Help needed on Short or Long Pots for 1990 Pre-historic 59 Reissue

[astonmartini]

Hey! My first post on here as I need some help determining what size pots to get for my 1990 Pre-Historic Tobacco Sunburst 59 Reissue Les Paul. Just about to order some new pickups (Throbak PG-102's) and now am thinking I'd like to improve my Pots and Caps. RS Guitarworks offers some nice options - and I'm looking at the Vintage Upgrade with CTS Pots and Luxe Bumblebees, but I can't figure out if I need SHORT or LONG shaft pots!!! Taking off the control plate on my paul, it's hard to tell as there is a metal plate which I can't remove. Therefore, I can't take any measurements!! They look like Short Shaft!

Any help here would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[Tim Plains]

Welcome. How about some pictures of the whole guitar?
As for the pots - why don't you try calling RS and ask them?

 

[astonmartini]

Yeah, you're right, I'll give RS a call... I just didn't see 'my' model of Les on their list so I thought I'd try here considering how many serious experts there are hanging out.

Here's a few pics, too!

 

[astonmartini]

Well, I called RS - SHORT Shafts!! Thanks for the (obvious, what the hell is wrong with me?) suggestion!

 

[Liam]

Never seen short shafts with the shielding plate before. I've got a feeling RS might be wrong, as that looks like a long shaft control cavity from where I'm sitting.

 

[Mike60]

Never seen short shafts with the shielding plate before. I've got a feeling RS might be wrong, as that looks like a long shaft control cavity from where I'm sitting.

+1...


...unless you get lucky and the cavity depth is deep enough,a '90 will not take short shafts especially if you try and use the mounting plate.
It PROBABLY will take long shafts without a mounting plate but you'll have to rewire everything.

I suggest you ask RS what will fit a '90 Standard or Classic as the build specs will be the same as your '90 reissue.

I think you'll end up with a long shaft kit with the mounting plate.

 

[astonmartini]

Thanks for the extra info - I'll give them a call again today and see what they've got to say.

 

[astonmartini]

Well, since it's too early to call RS, I made some measurements:

The Bridge Tone Pot is approx. 9/16" from the outside top edge of the backplate
The Mounting Plate is approx. 1 1/4" from the outside top edge of the backplate
The Body Thickness at the Bridge Tone Pot is approx. 2 7/16"

So, 2 7/16" (2.44) - 9/16" (.56) = 1.88 or 1 7/8"

I measure a long shafted pot at 1 5/8" long

Crap, I hope RS can figure this out!!

 

[SKATTERBRANE]

I know the answer. No need to figure anything out. ALL Les Pauls since about 1975 or 76 take long shaft pots EXCEPT the Historics and Custom Shop Les Pauls MADE like the Historics. ALL preHistoric reissues take the long shaft pots. And what is more those Les Pauls that use short shaft pots can use long shaft pots too, as long as you use an extra nut and washer to choke them up to length. You can never go wrong getting long shaft pots.

 

[SKATTERBRANE]

Even if you take the shielding plate off, you would still need long shaft pots. The plate is not what causes the need for long shaft pots, it is the routing.

 

[SKATTERBRANE]

I have put plenty of long shaft pots in Historics that use short shaft pots. What I like about choking up the length with an extra set of nuts and washers is I get to control EXACTLY how much of the shaft sticks out of the top.

While going through all that trouble, I would suggest to also get some braided wire and buss wire, and rewire it completely like vintage. Get rid of that plate and color coded wiring!

 

[astonmartini]

Thanks so much for the assist!! You guys know your stuff (just as I thought!)!