To bee, or not to bee

[Slick Six]

That is the question.
I noticed the previous owner of my newly acquired guitar had done a few mods, based on the included historic pots and bumble bee caps included in the case. So I wasn't surprised to find 500k pots on the guitar, but I was surprised that it is now wired with no caps at all. What do you guys think, should I leave it, get some Luxe caps, or what? I have heard that the caps can affect tone, even with knob turned all the way up.

 

[mfolet]

He bypassed the tone pots completely. You just have volume.

 

[VictorB]

I use my tone pots quite a bit, so it would be a yes for me.

 

[Slick Six]

There used to be a dude here on the forums who made repros that were cheaper than the Luxes. Is he still around?

 

[freebyrd 69]

You would be missing out on half of your guitars tone by not having the tone pots! Get'm! IMO.

 

[Sct13]

U NEED TO BEEEEE!

I have some vintage Bee's......I also have some PIO's if you are interested....

 

[7gtop]

LZF and freebyrd nail "it"

Lots of beauty settings in those little caps .

I'm also "to bee"

 

[KenG]

You need caps and to put the tone controls into the circuit. The previous owner probably removed the Tcs to birghten the tone. I wouldn't pay the money Gibson wants for their modern bumblees. An equivalent to them would orange drops from srague or some poly caps from mallory.

 

[Jazzfinger]

Caps are a must for me. I wouldn't have use for a guitar without caps. Bees are great but V-caps are the best I've played.

 

[Adambomb]

Yea the tone pots are a must for me too. Not so much on the neck cause I always like a bright neck pup, but I use the bridge tone a bunch. I changed the fake Bee's and pots on my 13' R9 to RS Superpots and Luxe Bee's and really heard a difference. Better clarity, way smoother roll-off of the pots, and seemed to make the high smoother with this Vintage kit from RS.

 

[CRobbins]

Yes.
Contact Martin 6 string, or RS guitars...

 

[77custom]

Caps please! Yes make mine B's!!

 

[Jazzfinger]

I always use Allessandro pots. They ain't cheap but I think great pots and caps along with a pro wiring job is the biggest improvement to a new guitar.

 

[Slick Six]

Okay, I am going to source some originals if I can. Thanks guys.

 

[kracdown]

Yes.
Contact Martin 6 string, or RS guitars...

This.

 

[sikoniko]

Bee!

 

[Eric Duane]

You need caps. I agree with above, you're loosing so much tone right now.