Tokai LS80 upgrade and wiring help....

[rotpunkt]

Hi,

After my strat upgrade I'm planning on upgrading my Tokai les paul.

Its a LS80 MIJ bought just over three years ago. Its got Gotoh MkII pick ups at present (well as far as my internet searching has turned up) and I'm thinking about a Riff Raff/Mule upgrade. Looking for a 'traditional' LP sound (not metal...).

As I have some electrical issues (well a dodgy toggle switch) I was thinking I might as well go the whole hog again and do the pots/selector/wiring too. Well in for a penny.

So my queries are as follows:

1) Any other pick up combo to consider?
2) What wiring set-up/combo is best to go for
3) What do I need to order to get everything I need (and I mean everything!)
4) Is there an online resource (preferably with videos) available to show me how to do it all... :lol:
5) Failing 4) can anybody recommend someone decent in Scotland to do the upgrade (and do a set up and sort out the nut while they are at it...)

Thanks in advance,

[Telerocker]

RiffRaff/Mule will be an amazing combination, as will a Mule-set. About the wiring: there are experts that will chime, by example for fifties-wiring.

[Zaned]

Hi,

read my review on that exact pickup combo: https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=29247

Sounds to me like you have to take your guitar to a luthier anyway, so I'd most likely have him do the wiring anyway :) Order pots (all four) and caps from BKP at the same time you order the pickups, and have the luthier do the wiring if he's gonna do other work on it anyway. The pots and caps are not really cheap, but they are very good. Probably the only time you'll have to invest on pots and caps on that guitar.

EDIT: I have fifties wiring on my double-humbucker guitars. It's what I'd go for! Your luthier most likely knows it anyway. The good thing about it is that the sound doesn't really darken when you turn the volume down (I hate it when it does).

-Zaned

[rotpunkt]

Thanks Zaned, that linked review was pretty useful.

The reason I'd asked about wiring is that I'd come across discussion about the fifties while I was just generally reading the site, wasn't sure of the reasoning though; hence the ask!

Can anybody advise what I need to order (the 20 questions you get at check out is a little off putting...  :D ).

TBH I'd prefer to get a luthier do the work (esp as it needs the nut looked at) but where I live its a bit of guys who work in shops rather than bonefide luthiers (if you get my drift). Yeah they can do the job, but they put a little bit of superficial damage on my strat changing the wired guards so I'm not 100% happy about that route a second time. I'm happy to take 'ownership' of any damage I might do though...

[rotpunkt]

Well decided to go with a Mule set after all.

Thing is knowing what set up to order.

Going potted (and I'm about to go measure the bridge width).

Anybody know the leg length I should order?

Easy enough to wire 50's style with 4 cable? Not going to coil tap but Ben was recommending this.

Also Ben thinks that Tokais might have smaller dia based pots, anybody fitted new ones and needed to rout? Not prepared to take that step at present if it's required!