Les Paul P90 Harness

[Wailing]

Hi Folks

I have just acquired a 2016 Les Paul Tribute with P90’s ....Any recommendations for a upgrade for the harness?? Pot values..Linear or Taper...50s wiring or treble bleed

Kind regards Wailing

 

[Roxy13]

What I like might not be what you like though

Do some reading up on 50s wiring vs modern wiring and also modern wiring with treble bleed to help you decide which would be the most useful for your playing style. Also learn the difference between audio and linear tapaer pots.

I use 50s wiring and audio taper 500k pots on my P90 guitars. I also use 0.022uF pots on mine but some prefer a bit higher value cap like 0.033uF.

 

[Wailing]

Hi Roxy

Thanks for your thoughts. I have 50s wiring on my juniors, which works for me on single pickup guitars, but was hesitant as I don’t have much experience with two P90 set ups. I will now try your route.

I get confused re how the cap value changes the sound, how does the value affect the output ?

Cheers Wailing

 

[dc007]

I get confused re how the cap value changes the sound, how does the value affect the output ?

The .022 will allow more high end....I know some folks that like a .047 in their p90 equipped guitars. I still have the stock harness in my R6 and don't know the values of the caps but it suits me.

 

[Wailing]

Thanks 007

 

[Roxy13]

This video might be interesting for you as he tries some different cap values:

 

[Roxy13]

Don't be afraid to experiment either. Orange Drops are not expensive so you could pick up say 0.022uF, 0.033uF and 0.047uF and try all of them. It's really the best way to find out what works for you.

Over the years I have used different brands of pots and even pot values, different types of caps and cap values, 50s and modern wiring, to learn for myself.

 

[yamariv]

Op, as an avid P90 lover and a guy who rewires his guitars I'd recommend 500k Volume and 250k tones for your pots, all audio taper. go with 0.022uf caps of any kind you like and 50's style wiring. You won't be disappointed at all, the 50's wiring makes the vol and tones super interactive and you won't need a treble bleed. Don't go with a 500k tone pot, I've done it and 250k is much more usable.

Also, the higher number on the caps, the quicker the treble is going to be cut while you roll down your tone knob. If you want muddiness quicker, then .047uf will do it! Lol

 

[ARandall]

I go for 500k tone pots and find them much more usable than 250k.
Useable is all in the fingers of the player. And as you don't know the OP, it's best not to direct......merely report your experience.

 

[Wailing]

This is the end result of our discussions... sounds wonderfull

 

[yamariv]

This is the end result of our discussions... sounds wonderfull

View attachment 445688

Nice! Did you go with 250k tone pots? Nice soldering too

 

[Robert Parker]

This is the end result of our discussions... sounds wonderfull

View attachment 445688

Nicely done. Mine never look that clean.

I can't see, but if you haven't put in a treble bleed circuit and wish to try it, I found the Kinman mod to be really helpful. It's a .001 uf capacitor in series with a 130k resistor.

 

[Wailing]

Nicely done. Mine never look that clean.

I can't see, but if you haven't put in a treble bleed circuit and wish to try it, I found the Kinman mod to be really helpful. It's a .001 uf capacitor in series with a 130k resistor.

Im usually trying to get more treble out of my guitars, however this set up is just right for me. I have a treble bleed on my humbucker equipped Les Paul, and it works a treat... thanks for the link to the 'kinman' mod, I will look it up for future use