Author Topic: muddy sounding Les Paul custom 74 (Read 15653 times)

kluson · « **on:** December 16, 2007, 07:47:34 PM »

Hi I have a 74 Les Paul custom. Problem is it sounds a little muddy now. The pick ups are original and very tired.
The bridge is OK if a little too bassy and the neck is very bassy indeed , I find the guitar just a bit too warm. The covers are very worn and so I would like a couple of double blacks.
Would the mules suit?
cheers

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #1 on:** December 16, 2007, 08:37:07 PM »

Mules are perfect for a Les Paul - anything from blues, pop, classic rock and even a bit of lighter metal (Priest etc...)

What value are the pots in that guitar? - has it always sounded muddy?

:twisted:

kluson · « **Reply #2 on:** December 16, 2007, 08:49:14 PM »

The pots are original 500k CTS
cap values are .02
I may take out the complete loom and rewire with RS kit
I don't think it has always been muddy , I don't use it that much but I got it out the other day and after playing my R9 Historic with Dr V's PAF's it sounded really muddy , ( Hope it's OK to mention Dr V's)

hunter · « **Reply #3 on:** December 16, 2007, 09:19:28 PM »

Quote from: kluson

The pots are original 500k CTS
cap values are .02
I may take out the complete loom and rewire with RS kit
I don't think it has always been muddy , I don't use it that much but I got it out the other day and after playing my R9 Historic with Dr V's PAF's it sounded really muddy , ( Hope it's OK to mention Dr V's)

try to wire the tone to the out (middle pin) instead of the in (1st pin) of the vol pot. Makes a difference on muffly sounding les pauls!

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #4 on:** December 16, 2007, 10:41:29 PM »

Quote from: kluson

The pots are original 500k CTS
cap values are .02
I may take out the complete loom and rewire with RS kit
I don't think it has always been muddy , I don't use it that much but I got it out the other day and after playing my R9 Historic with Dr V's PAF's it sounded really muddy , ( Hope it's OK to mention Dr V's)

Dr.V's?, RS-Kit? - You've gotta be on the LPF ???

:twisted:

gwEm · « **Reply #5 on:** December 17, 2007, 12:29:11 AM »

if your paul is slightly dark sounding you might consider a brighter pickup like the riff raff.

tim sometimes mentions his dark sounding 70s les pauls on here, i suppose his advice would be very expert for this question.

Henk · « **Reply #6 on:** December 17, 2007, 10:55:06 AM »

I have a '78 Gibson custom, has 250k pots, my '73 SG has 250k pots, allmy other gibsons prior to the 90's have 250k pots. The only with 500k pots is my '76 custom but it does not have original pots, they are recently replaced because it also had 250k pots.

250k pots make a guitar sound muddy and dark, this was the custom sound back then, thats why the standard's were more popular.

The only thing i can think off if they really are 500k pots is that the lack of use corroded the electronics and adds extra resistance to the path, which i have encountered sometimes. If this is the case, fumbling with the pots and jack some time will improve the sound a bit. Restoring it to full potential will take either redoing the electronics or restauration by a good tech.

If this is true especially your bridge pickups will sound very thin and liveless, neck very muddy and bassy. What i would do is take it to a good tech an have it checked first.

One advise, DONT give up on your pickups! I once tossed an 80's PAF because it sounded so thin i thought it was broken, later i found out the volume pot for the bridge was broken....... :oops:

The unpotted mules i have in my '76 (with 500k pots) are exactly what im looking for as a PAF addict, they sound very transparent and balanced and offer the smoothest PAF tone i have ever heard.

I would personally upgrade the R9 with Mules and restore the '74 custom, burstbuckers sound like sh/t (sorry)!

EDIT: Ok ive read you replaced the burstbuckers allready, never mind the....

kluson · « **Reply #7 on:** December 17, 2007, 12:00:55 PM »

Hi Hank thanks for your info. I have no problem to do the work myself. My plan is to rem,ove the complete loom and rewire using CTS 500K audio tapers. I have a good supply of NOS caps. I plan to keep all the old stuff and replace with Mules. The old Pu's and wiring loom will be kept just in case I ever come to sell the guitar. The guitar is very worn ans as such I won't be affecting the value, plus I will still have the original loom.
In terms of Burstbuckers , They can sound great in some guitars but are very guitar specific.
I have a pair of antiquities in an old 72 Gold deluxe ( routed) which sound fantastic but in an R9 of mine they sound lousy, such is the way of the guitar.
I've ordered the Mules now and will start the restoration when they arrive.
Looking forward to that

Will · « **Reply #8 on:** December 17, 2007, 12:17:21 PM »

Please upload some pics :) sounds like its gooood!

kluson · « **Reply #9 on:** December 17, 2007, 03:52:02 PM »

hi
After a conversation with Tim,
I've gone for a set of crawlers. I'll report back how it sounds
Cheers
for the suggestions,
What would you like pics of the custom or the Gold top?,
here's the murphy R9

Will · « **Reply #10 on:** December 17, 2007, 04:30:13 PM »

The custom was my original request, but I'm happy to look at more if you would happen to put them up :roll:

ericsabbath · « **Reply #11 on:** December 17, 2007, 04:36:20 PM »

i'll pay $500 for your muddy '74 custom! :lol::lol::lol:

kluson · « **Reply #12 on:** December 17, 2007, 05:00:02 PM »

here's the gold top

here's a few more

machine_of_god · « **Reply #13 on:** December 17, 2007, 05:07:55 PM »

Umm, I don't think you have enough LP's... you need at least a dozen more WTF... :shock:

Jealousy :twisted:

kluson · « **Reply #14 on:** December 17, 2007, 05:13:46 PM »

there are more!
my wife always says you can't have enough shoes with me it's Les Pauls. I've been collecting them for a few years now.
I just can resist them...