View Full Version : Gibson SG Classic With P90's
To anyone who has one of these....how do you like the pots that come with this guitar and have you changed them out with good results?
The stock P90's are a bit low-fi for my tastes and I plan on changing them out. But I'm not sure if the pots may be part of the problem as well and if I should just redo the whole electronic package.
Your thoughts?
MCG
cowboytim
12-20-2011, 02:16 PM
I always change mine.....That's the school of thought I'm from. Call Jim at WCR or Billy at R&S Guitarworks and they will tell you exactly why the pots and caps they have are better.......and it sooo cheap to do! I don't understand why anyone would not do it.
Really call them they love to educate folks. Changed my tone at ALL settings!
bluefish
12-20-2011, 02:21 PM
Gibson's pickups can be a little inconsistent in my experience..but when they are good they are as good as any to my ears.
I'm playing a stock SG Classic here in this clip if it's any help to you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCnMO0tJLiA
justonwo
12-20-2011, 03:41 PM
It's been several years since I owned my SG Classic, but do I remember correctly that the volume pots are 300 k?
Custom50
12-20-2011, 06:06 PM
mine is all original. in fact, i put a p-90 out of a 70s LP special in it briefly and then put the original one right back.
GCDEF
12-21-2011, 06:39 AM
Mine is stock and I wouldn't change a thing.
Thanks for the replies everyone.
I've had this guitar for a few years now. Off and on I have toyed with the idea of selling it, but I always come back around. However the stock pickups are just leaving me wanting. My tastes in single coils tends to lean towards higher output styles and these may be too weak for me. I actually have a set of Duncan P90's in an SE that I like better. I'm looking to get more body and fidelity from a P90.
MCG
VA_siCkBoy
12-21-2011, 07:55 AM
Mine is stock and I wouldn't change a thing.
:agreeTotally!
Dr. Tweedbucket
12-21-2011, 08:07 AM
Mine is stock and I wouldn't change a thing.
yep +1 :mmm Mine through a Hiwatt is Live at Leeds in my living room, and that's just fine with me.
rockonomics
12-21-2011, 11:45 AM
The only time I'd change pots on a P90 guitar is if something other than 500K pots are installed. Don't believe the snake oil salesmen who will try to tell you their 500K pots are better than other 500K pots. They're full of fecal matter.
Pots is pots and caps is caps. End of story. Just get CTS or Alpha brand just cuz they have a proven track record of reliability.
cowboytim
12-21-2011, 11:59 AM
The only time I'd change pots on a P90 guitar is if something other than 500K pots are installed. Don't believe the snake oil salesmen who will try to tell you their 500K pots are better than other 500K pots. They're full of fecal matter.
Pots is pots and caps is caps. End of story. Just get CTS or Alpha brand just cuz they have a proven track record of reliability.
Ignorance is still Ignorance.....apples are apples oranges are still oranges.
Beer is Beer right?
fuzz_factor
12-21-2011, 12:53 PM
Mine is stock and I like it pretty well. I've thought about changing out the pots to 500k, but honestly - the SG Classic is the most volume and tone pot responsive guitar that I own.
Dime the bridge volume, roll back the neck volume a little and you have three very usable, distinct tones.
saltydogg
12-21-2011, 12:58 PM
Didn't touch the pots and caps but, dropped a set of Fralin stock P90's in mine. Nice.
Mine is stock and I wouldn't change a thing.
i had one of these for a while and really liked it. it was stock and i remember thinking that it was perfect as-is.
mainsale
12-21-2011, 01:49 PM
I've owned a couple of them and ended up changing out the pots, caps and wiring to 500k CTS pots, 50's wiring and Hoveland Tonecaps. It brightened it up a little with more P90 snap. Here's my Pete Townsend Signature with the same mods.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b61/Mainsale/TownsandSG.jpg
cowboytim
12-21-2011, 02:13 PM
NICE!!!
Seems like everyone likes the pots. Must be the stock pickups I need to change.
MCG
tnt365
12-21-2011, 02:32 PM
I like the Gibson 300K pots in my SG Classic P90 better then the aftermarket CTS 500K pots in my Les Paul Standard. The CTS pots have horrible volume drop off spikes from 10-9, 9-8, 8-7, etc. with tone changes (thinner/loss of lows, but no loss in highs) happening in correlation with volume changes. I don't know why this is. The CTS are wired 50's wiring BTW, the Gibson pots are wired stock (IDK what Gibson does stock, haven't looked under the hood).
cowboytim
12-21-2011, 03:26 PM
I like the Gibson 300K pots in my SG Classic P90 better then the aftermarket CTS 500K pots in my Les Paul Standard. The CTS pots have horrible volume drop off spikes from 10-9, 9-8, 8-7, etc. with tone changes (thinner/loss of lows, but no loss in highs) happening in correlation with volume changes. I don't know why this is. The CTS are wired 50's wiring BTW, the Gibson pots are wired stock (IDK what Gibson does stock, haven't looked under the hood).
Exactly 300K pots have the same amount of adjustment just in a 500K pot. Just different spectrums of adjustment.
300Ks you like because although they are narrower in spectrum they have finer adjustment. With finer mids & lows. They are plenty bright already to your ears.
tnt365
12-21-2011, 03:46 PM
Exactly 300K pots have the same amount of adjustment just in a 500K pot. Just different spectrums of adjustment.
300Ks you like because although they are narrower in spectrum they have finer adjustment. With finer mids & lows. They are plenty bright already to your ears.
I will probably put the 300K Gibson pots back in the standard for the volume pots at least.
rockonomics
12-21-2011, 04:29 PM
Ignorance is still Ignorance.....apples are apples oranges are still oranges.
Beer is Beer right?
You load the most expensive pots/caps and some cheap pots/caps in identical guitars with identical pups and I guarantee there ain't a swingin' dick here that could hear the difference, either listening to or playing the guitars. Cap value, yes. Cap type, no. Your orange drops won't sound or even feel any different than the elcheapo green chicklets caps you get at Rat Shack.
In your case, you're 100% correct. Ignorance is indeed ignorance.
Changed my classic to 500k's with 50's wiring. I like it a lot better than stock.
corn husk bag
12-21-2011, 05:58 PM
I've owned a couple of them and ended up changing out the pots, caps and wiring to 500k CTS pots, 50's wiring and Hoveland Tonecaps. It brightened it up a little with more P90 snap. Here's my Pete Townsend Signature with the same mods.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b61/Mainsale/TownsandSG.jpg
The wood on that one is just fabulous!
Kind Regards,
Steve
cowboytim
12-21-2011, 06:21 PM
You load the most expensive pots/caps and some cheap pots/caps in identical guitars with identical pups and I guarantee there ain't a swingin' dick here that could hear the difference, either listening to or playing the guitars. Cap value, yes. Cap type, no. Your orange drops won't sound or even feel any different than the elcheapo green chicklets caps you get at Rat Shack.
In your case, you're 100% correct. Ignorance is indeed ignorance.
That's F#%k'n funny man.......I agree with you on the Nitro Lacquer for sure.
Rat Shack!!:rotflmaoGreen Chicklets are you sure your not an accountant for Gibson!
Polynitro
12-21-2011, 07:34 PM
Id first try 500K pots, then if that doesnt work throw in a set of Lollar overwound p90s.
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