Upgrades to an '07 Les Paul Studio

[HEAVENandHELL]

TGP gang,
I got a Les Paul Studio last year and, while I enjoy the guitar, there are some aspects that keep it from being a main guitar for me.

1. The pickups are hotter than most of my other guitars. I don't have a problem with this specifically, but this guitar gives nasty feedback (sounds like microphonic) at a lower volume than my other guitars. Are the pickups just bad? Is there anything I can do, short of replacing them, to fix this problem? If I do have to replace them, can I keep the pu covers on the guitar so the looks don't change?

2. The volume pots are incredibly non-linear. Should I just change them? If so, what to?

Thank you for any help offered.
Gregg

 

[Shugaboy]

I bought an 07 Studio and put in an RS guitar works electronics kit (making the volume pots linear) and different pickups. I dont like the stock pickups at all - very hot, no really good clean sound possible in my opinion.

 

[kselbee]

They sure are some hot pickups! But I rather like them... it's the weight of the guitar that kills it for me.... just really heavy.

 

[pickaguitar]

I put on grover tuners, RS premium vintage wiring kit, duncan alnico pro 2 and custom 5 pickups and a lightweight tailpiece.
It sound's pretty nice IMO.

 

[Shugaboy]

They sure are some hot pickups! But I rather like them... it's the weight of the guitar that kills it for me.... just really heavy.

I believe the 07's are 'weight relieved'

 

[Masa]

I believe the 07's are 'weight relieved'

Yes, they're, but some of them are still heavy.

 

[kselbee]

I believe the 07's are 'weight relieved'

My studio is a couple years old... didn't realize they're weight relieved now.... maybe I should check one out!

 

[HEAVENandHELL]

I was totally surprised but my '07 Studio weighs no more than my ibanez jem style guitars, maybe less!

 

[ARch]

That's crazy about the weight - I've got an '03 LP Studio that's around 11 or 12lbs.

I put an RS wiring kit on mine and it made a world of difference, but the pickups still drag it down a lot. I'm planning on replacing them soon with one of the thousand humbucker options this board informed me about.

 

[SW33THAND5]

the pickups are crazy hot. some low output pafs and new wiring will take a blanket off of that guitar and let it breathe.

 

[HEAVENandHELL]

So what is this "RS" wiring kit that's been mentioned so many times and where do I find one?
Thanks,
Gregg

 

[gkoelling]

So what is this "RS" wiring kit that's been mentioned so many times and where do I find one?
Thanks,
Gregg

Here:

http://www.rsguitarworks.net/cms/

 

[utterhack]

I believe the 07's are 'weight relieved'

They've been weight-relieved since the 80s. The 07s change the configuration of the weight relief routes from "swiss cheese" to "tone chambers."

They are light as hell, but don't quite feel like Pauls...

 

[HEAVENandHELL]

Thanks for the RS info. Now how about a dealer that I can buy a replacement pickguard from? :AOK

 

[HEAVENandHELL]

I'm also wondering if I purchase replacement pickups if I can still use the covers that came on the original pickups so as not to change the look of the guitar? Or are the covers a source of problems?

 

[ARch]

I'm also wondering if I purchase replacement pickups if I can still use the covers that came on the original pickups so as not to change the look of the guitar? Or are the covers a source of problems?

Covers shouldn't be part of the problem, but unless your new pups come with covers on them, you might be melting some wax to get the old ones off and then heating it up to get it on the new ones...

 

[BigDoug1053]

I always say do the cheapest possible modification FIRST - on cars and guitars and infernal computars.

I know this may seem obvious, but have you adjusted the height of the pickups? I would take them as low as they can go - and then see how nonlinear your pots are before you go rewiring and replacing pickups. They might just be be too darn close to the strings.

Of course, doing a pickup and wiring harness replacement has it's own rewards - and costs. You will likely spend at least $250 for pickups and wiring harness - more for boutique humbuckers. And you will not truly know how they sound until you have completely finished, re-strung and tweaked the pickup height.

Good luck in your quest.

 

[HEAVENandHELL]

I know this may seem obvious, but have you adjusted the height of the pickups? I would take them as low as they can go - and then see how nonlinear your pots are before you go rewiring and replacing pickups. They might just be be too darn close to the strings.

I'm actually not unhappy with the gain of the stock pickups, just the fact that they feedback, and not in a good way, before the pus on my other guitars. So if I'm all set up at a show and switch to the Les Paul for a while, suddenly I'm fighting feedback problems!

I think I need to replace the volume pots regardless as they are so non-linear that I can't stand to use them! I'll try making one change at a time so I can hear the difference.

 

[Troubleman]

Which are the "stock" pickups?
Burstbucker 2 & 3 ?
490R and 498T?

 

[HEAVENandHELL]

Which are the "stock" pickups?
Burstbucker 2 & 3 ?
490R and 498T?

I believe the 490R and 498T.