Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: blue on February 02, 2011, 12:06:07 PM

Title: gibson varitone
Post by: blue on February 02, 2011, 12:06:07 PM

hello folks

i read this morning on the internet somewhere that having a varitone in your guitar affects the tone, even when you're not actually using one of it's settings.  my 1970 Les Paul Custom has a varitone, so i'm wondering if this is true, and if so how much of a difference it actually makes.  anyone have any experience of this?

Title: Re: gibson varitone
Post by: WezV on February 02, 2011, 04:53:48 PM

if you want to be sure its not having having too much influence than you could disconnect it to see, then add add a switch (maybe replace a tone pot with a push/pull)  to bypass it if needed.   

obviously it will hurt value - but its not uncommon for varitones to be removed or replaced and i would consider a bypass mod the lesser of two evils

Title: Re: gibson varitone
Post by: HTH AMPS on February 02, 2011, 05:03:27 PM

as Wez says, a push/pull pot to bypass it (or a mini-switch) is the way to go.

here's how they did it on the Blues/Nighthawk...

http://www.blueshawk.info/circuit_diagram.htm

Title: Re: gibson varitone
Post by: blue on February 03, 2011, 12:52:30 PM

funny enough, i used to have a Blueshawk! i actually traded it in against this Les Paul :)
i can't remember if the bypass on the varitone made much difference, although i believe the modern one is different anyway.

i think i might try disconnecting it to see if it makes any difference, then i can reconnect it, leave it out of circuit, or put in a push/pull.

thanks guys