newer les paul's pot value question

[skydawg]

Is it true that gibson now uses 300k pots instead of 500k in their les paul standards?thanks

[frankencat]

Yes. 300k for vols and 500k for tones is whatI have found in my last couple of LPs.

[skydawg]

I've noticed my current les paul(a 2007 standard) seems to lack a little power and sustain compared to previous older les pauls that i've owned over the years.I'm sure the chambering has something to do with the sound,would changing the volume pots to 500k make a tonal difference?

[David Collins]

Yes, Gibson has been using 300k linear volume and 500k audio tone on pretty much every guitar made in the last 35 years. This comes up a few times a month, and if you search the forum you'll find many, many discussions on this.

Switching to 500k will brighten it up a bit, and many folks like to switch back to audio taper when they're doing it. If you're complaints are about things like "power and sustain" however, this would be barking up the wrong tree.

[skydawg]

Yes, Gibson has been using 300k linear volume and 500k audio tone on pretty much every guitar made in the last 35 years. This comes up a few times a month, and if you search the forum you'll find many, many discussions on this.

Switching to 500k will brighten it up a bit, and many folks like to switch back to audio taper when they're doing it. If you're complaints are about things like "power and sustain" however, this would be barking up the wrong tree.thank you sir...may i have another:)?wow the last 35 years you say?ok ,thanks

[levelfrets]

73' I think was when they started to use 300k linear for the volume. You would think though, that after 35 years they would know better. My guess is that it's a marketing scheme for the Custom Shop stuff. They use 500k in those so that people pick one up and compare to the standard USA stuff and notice a big difference in openness and musical qualities. They get fooled into thinking the Custom Shop stuff is that much better when in reality they can upgrade a couple of things(Such as 500KA vol)on the standards to be as good if not better than Custom Shop guitars.

[skydawg]

73' I think was when they started to use 300k linear for the volume. You would think though, that after 35 years they would know better. My guess is that it's a marketing scheme for the Custom Shop stuff. They use 500k in those so that people pick one up and compare to the standard USA stuff and notice a big difference in openness and musical qualities. They get fooled into thinking the Custom Shop stuff is that much better when in reality they can upgrade a couple of things(Such as 500KA vol)on the standards to be as good if not better than Custom Shop guitars.so you would say i would notice at least a slight difference in tone and power by upgrading the volume pots to 500k and is definitely worth doing then?

[RussB]

so you would say i would notice at least a slight difference in tone and power by upgrading the volume pots to 500k and is definitely worth doing then?


Yes

[David Collins]

Yes you'll notice a difference. Whether the difference is good or not is entirely subjective. I prefer the current stock pots personally.

[levelfrets]

I say try and see if you want to brighten it up a little. Keep in mind that everything else plays into the sound you are getting from the guitar too. Here's what I think has the most affect on your sound.

1) Pickups, Wood & Design - 40% of your sound
2) Hardware, Electronics, Nut, Frets, Etc. - 10% of your sound
3) The other 50% is the Player and the Amp

[dosmun]

I myself would say that the electronics play a lot bigger part than 10%. I am mainly speaking of pickups.
But as others have mentioned you need to try some different pots yourself and see if you like the difference.

[levelfrets]

Notice I said pickups were 40% and other electronics maybe 10%. That is certainly generic to put it that way I know but it is true if you think about it.

[jkranitz]

I suggest replacing the capacitors with some paper and oil caps and nix the stock ceramic stuff that gibson is using.

I put these Allparts Vitamin Q Caps .022 in my LP studio, it really opened it up more and made the stock volume and tone pots more dynamic. ;)


http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z129/jkranitz/WB%20PICKUPS/ep_4156-000.jpg