WCR Dark Bursts & RS Kit in my Les Paul Supreme!

[Macaroni]

I got a new 2005 Les Paul Supreme a couple of months ago and I really love it. But of course, I had to improve it, so I recently installed a set of WCR Dark Bursts and a pre-wired RS Kit with their new Super Pots. I got the kit with push/pull Tone pots to split each pickup for single coil tones. I used the screw bobbin on the neck pickup and the slug bobbin on the bridge pickp.

The bottom line... a huge improvement! I found the stock 490R & 498T pickups to be a bit too hot, and lacking in mid range detail and clarity - they were nice, but not excellent. The Dark Bursts are perfect for the chambered body of the LPS. They are a bit hotter than the Crossroads (typical PAF), but not as hot as the 490/498, which suits my tastes.

The single coil tones are great - very woody neck and snappy bridge - like having a Les Paul and a Telecaster in one guitar!

The bridge pickup has just the right amount of cut and clarity without being harsh or edgy. The neck pickup is smooth and round. The middle position is very nice and maintains its detail and tonal signature even when using OD, which is a nice characteristic.

These are fantastic pickups and I've decided to sell the Voodoo 59s in my other solid body Les Paul, and get a set of Goodwoods (coil tapped too).

[nsriley]

Very cool! RS kits are the best. I have to ask, what's the access to the the control like on the Supreme? From pics I've seen it looks like there is no rear cavity access.

-Peace
-Nate

[Macaroni]

You're right - there is no rear cavity to access the pots. The input jack hole is larger than usual to allow for removal of the pots, etc. Plus the chambers inside are such that there is enough room for the push/pull pots. You have to take the entire assembly of pots out through the jack hole and disconnect everything outside, and then re solder everything. So you need extra long wires for the pickups too. But it's big enough to put the entire pre-wired RS Kit in and then pop the pots up through their respective holes on top.

[DiazDude]

I have WCR DarkBursts & RS Kit in my R8 LP. Tommorrow I'm taking my Rossington SG in for the kit & WCR Goodwoods. AND my SRV Strat for the Kit & WCR SR's.:JAM :JAM

[Mr.Hanky]

I hear ya!!

I have and RS kit in all 2 LP's, WCR's in 1, Holmes in 1 and Lollars in 1.

[Mojoman]

I have that same setup in my Les Paul Standard Plus.
Large improvement to be sure.
RS and WCR are both great companies with great customer service.

[Yossi]

I just received a set of Darkburst/Goodwoods and my RS Kit shoud arive UPS tomorrow. These will go into my LP Classic.

Question: Do the WCR Pups fit without any routing needed?

Yossi

[Macaroni]

I didn't have to change anything for them to fit. However, the stock Gibson 498T has slightly wider spacing, so that cover wouldn't fit on the WCRs, which both have the same spacing.

[paintguy]

Hey, congrats Ron.

Glad you are digging the new setup.:)

Larry

[Macaroni]

Thanks Larry. I sold the ES-346 to help pay for it. ;)

[tjs]

Hey Macaroni, how do those Darkbursts sound with your D32?

[Macaroni]

Hey Macaroni, how do those Darkbursts sound with your D32?

Phenomenal! I've continued with my NOS tube experiments, and recently acquired two matched quads of Polam/Telam EL84s, which are the best I've ever heard. Plus I added a NOS Tesla E83CC, which is a terrific copy of a Telefunken ECC803S - WOW!!! The clarity and detail and power are shockingly good. And with the Dark Bursts, it went way over the top, tonally speaking. I'm continually amazed at how incremental changes in my rig keep raising the bar.

[BillyBardahl]

Macoroni, I just ordered the same setup for my 2001 Standard...Darkbursts from WCR, and the RS kit. I went ahead and got the complete pre-wired kit with the super pots and some extra braided wire "just in case":RoCkIn . The pickups won't ship to me until the WCR folks get back from Namm, so I will have to wait awhile. Can't wait to hear em!

[Yossi]

Right now I'm sitting on my WCRs and my RS Kit until the second week in Feb when I could make an appointment to have the work done and get a pro set-up at the same time.
It's sure tough waiting.

Yossi

[Macaroni]

The Dark Bursts, and I assume the other WCR pickups, have a rich, hi fi tone to them. You can hear and feel the quality. I can't wait to get a set of Goodwoods too! Waiting is always the hard part - waiting till they come, waiting till they're installed. I LOVE IT!

[DiazDude]

Tommorrow I'm taking my Rossington SG in for the kit & WCR Goodwoods. AND my SRV Strat for the Kit & WCR SR's.:JAM :JAM

I should have both guitars back by Tuesday, I'm GEEKED!!:dude :dude

[20forSeven]

What is a RS kit and where can I find them?

[Macaroni]

RS Guitar Works...

http://www.rsguitarworks.net/catalog/index.php?cPath=47&osCsid=64c002933621b170eac19f154a9ec392

[SouthernShred]

I've got the RS kit, but I sure want the Darkbursts or suitable WCR...I have Pearly Gates right now in my R8

[NatDeroxL7]

Here's to reviving this thread. How long did it take you to install the pups and RS kit. I have a supreme, and I am pretty handy and good at putting things together, but have not worked on a guitar before, especially one without a back plate. I am wondering how long it took you because I'd like to weigh the cost of bench time having it done professionally versus the pain in the arse and risk of doing it myself.

If I do go it alone, any installation tips specific to the supreme? Thanks!

-Nate

[Macaroni]

I've since changed the pickups again on my LSP and both times I had it done by a qualified tech. Basically, you have to extract the guts through the larger jack plate hole, and do all the wiring outside the box. Then carefully insert everything, and then, using long tools, get the pot shafts up through the holes again, secure them, and seal it up. The key is having the right tools to work around the limitations of the design.

[T. Caster]

Here's to reviving this thread. How long did it take you to install the pups and RS kit. I have a supreme, and I am pretty handy and good at putting things together, but have not worked on a guitar before, especially one without a back plate. I am wondering how long it took you because I'd like to weigh the cost of bench time having it done professionally versus the pain in the arse and risk of doing it myself.

If I do go it alone, any installation tips specific to the supreme? Thanks!

-Nate

I would imagine you would want to approach this in a similar way to a semi hollowbody, which would be to use string or rubber/plastic tubing, fishing them through the apprpriate openings in the top of the guitar, and out the jack cavity, then attaching to their respective components, and then pulling them back into place inside the guitar by the string or tubing.

Dan