I just received my Pre-wired Vintage Upgrade from RS Guitarworks and thought that it might be worthwhile to review it since so many people wind up switching out their pots, caps, etc.
Initially I was very skeptical. I purchased one of their sets about a year ago and found the pots to be no better (or worse) than the normal CTS pots that I always use. Their specially designed "modern" caps that I purchased were nice, but didn't give me that warm and fuzzy feeling inside. Also, the wiring diagram that they supplied I found to be less than adequate. Nonetheless, I managed to ruin a pot with the good old soldering iron and also found myself wanting to purchase some new caps as well. So..................................
I purchased a prewired vintage set from them, curious as to see if their newly "tweaked" volume pots were any better. I also wanted to try out their vintage caps, which are supposed to be THE caps for that woody vintage tone.
I received the package yesterday, exactly one week after ordering it from their website. They are based in Kentucky.
I was immediately impressed with the pre-wired template. Very clean soldering, perfectly put together on a hard plastic template that I am sure will come in handy for future wiring jobs. :D I fired up the old iron and proceeded to install. It was a piece of cake. Simply dropped the prewired kit in there, soldered the leads from the prewired toggle switch (which I also ordered!!) and BKP's, and soldered the jack. At just under 10 minutes, it felt like the quickest electronic overhaul of a guitar ever!!
Now for the important part, the tone.
Simply put, the difference is stunning. The volume pots have the smoothest roll-off I have encountered. One problem I always had with the old pots is that there was a bad treble and volume drop off around 5-6 on the volume knob. No more. Very even and clean change in volume all the way down to 1. And, the volume cleans up beautifully with no drop in treble. They truly are Superpots.
The tone pots are basic CTS audio taper pots as far as I know, no complaints there. They do the job.
The capacitors are .015 and .022 paper and oil caps specially designed by RS and Jensen. I debated between these and the re-issue/aged bumblebee caps, but decided on the Jensen's. I was not dissapointed!
These caps really do nail that woody tone. Very vintage, noticeably smoother than the modern caps. Now I can actually use my tone and volume knobs!
Frankly, my LP has never sounded better. With the Stormy Monday/Riff Raff combo and the RS overhaul, there are some incredible tones in my guitar. I couldn't stop playing. The RS kit has really opened up the tone, very airy and woody without a doubt. It does the job in giving you that great Les Paul tone. I took the guitar down to Thomann today to try it out on a few valve amps. It was pure bliss!! It was sooooo easy to sit there and waste a few hours in the day away playing the blues on a plethora of amps that are well out of my price range. :D
In my opinion, it was money well spent. At about 150 US dollars (shipping and VAT included), I am a happy camper!
