Author Topic: What pots are in my LP classic? (Read 5416 times)

JonnyScaramanga · « **on:** March 25, 2007, 11:53:08 AM »

I know that many Les Paul classics are fitted with 300k pots as standard, but is it all of them?

I took the back off the guitar, hoping the pots would be usefully labelled, but no such luck. It's a Gibson Les Paul Classic Plus bought new in London in April 2000.

I'm fitting Mules, so I suppose I'll need 500k pots with those for best results.

Twinfan · « **Reply #1 on:** March 25, 2007, 12:21:26 PM »

I think Gibson fit whatever they have in stock at the time. I'd fit top spec 500k pots if I were you. That's what I'll be fitting to my LP with Mules and what I have in my SG with Riff Raffs.

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #2 on:** March 25, 2007, 12:27:58 PM »

pretty sure that my classic+ had 300k pots. defo put some 500k pots in there, 300k is too low and muddy (unless the pickups are VERY bright)

:twisted:

JonnyScaramanga · « **Reply #3 on:** March 25, 2007, 03:36:47 PM »

Is there an easy way I can find out what's in there? I don't want to waste £32 on new long-shaft pots if the ones in there will do. I've always found the existing controls on the guitar work really well.

Twinfan · « **Reply #4 on:** March 25, 2007, 03:43:32 PM »

They should say on them somewhere - maybe under the solder?

Philly Q · « **Reply #5 on:** March 25, 2007, 09:27:16 PM »

Quote from: JonnyScaramanga

I've always found the existing controls on the guitar work really well.

Keep 'em then. Just my opinion, but I don't see the point changing things just for the sake of it. You can always replace them later if the Mules sound muddy.

Twinfan · « **Reply #6 on:** March 25, 2007, 09:54:12 PM »

+1 to what Phil said :D

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #7 on:** March 25, 2007, 11:34:07 PM »

get a DMM (multimeter) and measure the resistence of the pots if you want to be sure.

:twisted:

JonnyScaramanga · « **Reply #8 on:** March 26, 2007, 10:16:41 AM »

I've had an email from Gibson which says that it has 300k volumes and 500k tones.

I'm a bit in two minds about it really... The current pots do work perfectly with the 500T and 496R, but those pickups couldn't really be more different from the Mules. I guess I'll whack 'em in there and see how they sound.

Philly Q · « **Reply #9 on:** March 26, 2007, 11:09:09 AM »

Theories about pot values seem to vary a lot, but I've read in some places that 500K pots are more "necessary" with higher-output pickups than lower-output ones.

On that basis, if the 300Ks work OK with the powerful 500T/496R combo, they should be OK with much more vintage-output Mules.

hunter · « **Reply #10 on:** March 26, 2007, 01:20:57 PM »

My understanding was that 250K pots in strats are used to compensate for overly bright single coils, but to keep treble content in HB guitars, it's better to use 500K pots.

I mean that's just what I heard, it doesn't mean that I actually understand why, so someone more capable should comment.

If that was true however, I would be wondering whether the mules might lose some of their clarity/crispness when used with 300K pots.

gingataff · « **Reply #11 on:** March 26, 2007, 02:02:20 PM »

I've read that Allan Holdsworth used (not sure if he still does) 250k pots with humbuckers, but I think his tone is mostly about midrange with less emphasis on bass and treble.

Philly Q · « **Reply #12 on:** March 26, 2007, 02:29:53 PM »

And I think it used to say on the Duncan website that Seymour's personal preference was 250K with humbuckers or single-coils.

I can't find it now though. It's probably somewhere in his 17 million FAQs.

Alex · « **Reply #13 on:** March 30, 2007, 05:44:22 PM »

I've read a couple of times, that 250Kohm can smoothen out the top end if desired. So it's probably a matter of taste. Imagine a trebly humbucker in a bolt-on superstrat. Maybe people would like to tame the top end.