LP Wiring Woes

[Wheeman]

Les Pauls are a pain in the rear-end to re-wire. The control cavity is cramped and to deep for quick soldering. My LP's (an Epiphone) stock knobs are a hair to small to fit the pots I purchased from Stew-Mac. It's been re-wired a couple times and I still haven't found something I like and can live with besides the stock, albeit, bland configuration.

I almost want to hack together a quick connect system between the pickup wires and the control cavity.

A little background, stock 2-wire neck pickup and a SH-4 in the bridge position. Currently, it has a master tone (Not enough control, :mad:), 2 volume pots (1 is a push/pull with out-of-phase control as the switch), and the last one is a sweeper between single coil and humbucker for the SH-4. I want to swap out the anemic neck pickup but haven't found a replacement yet.

Any tips, suggestions?

[Paul]

Les Pauls are a pain in the rear-end to re-wire. The control cavity is cramped and to deep for quick soldering. My LP's (an Epiphone) stock knobs are a hair to small to fit the pots I purchased from Stew-Mac. It's been re-wired a couple times and I still haven't found something I like and can live with besides the stock, albeit, bland configuration.

I almost want to hack together a quick connect system between the pickup wires and the control cavity.

A little background, stock 2-wire neck pickup and a SH-4 in the bridge position. Currently, it has a master tone (Not enough control, :mad:), 2 volume pots (1 is a push/pull with out-of-phase control as the switch), and the last one is a sweeper between single coil and humbucker for the SH-4. I want to swap out the anemic neck pickup but haven't found a replacement yet.

Any tips, suggestions?

Re-wire an ES-335, and report back.

You could solder "tails" onto the pots, and then use wire nuts to test different wiring schemes. When you find one to which you would like to commit......solder up the wires permanently and insulate with shrink tube.

You will have some shielded wire issues at first with that method, but once you button everything up you should be OK.

[greco]

Re-wire an ES-335, and report back. .

GOOD ONE !!!


(I've done about a dozen 335's)

Dave

[hollowbody]

Re-wire an ES-335, and report back.

Ugh. I want to replace the pickups, pots, jack and switch on my Dot, but maaaaaaaan, it's going to be such a pain in the ass!!!! :mad:

Why? WHY do semi-hollows have to sound soooooo good?!?!?!

[Wheeman]

You could solder "tails" onto the pots, and then use wire nuts to test different wiring schemes. When you find one to which you would like to commit......solder up the wires permanently and insulate with shrink tube.


So, wire-wrapping? Also, what is the recommended gauge for internal wiring?

Regarding re-wiring an ES-335: Isn't it on a harness? Pull the harness out, re-wire, manipulate back into place? Find me one and I'll do it.

[Paul]

Regarding re-wiring an ES-335: Isn't it on a harness? Pull the harness out, re-wire, manipulate back into place? Find me one and I'll do it.

Apply the same logic to your LP, except instead of working through f-holes and pick up routing, you can work in the nice access panel in the back.

Seriously, an LP is not that hard to work on electronically.

[bagpipe]

I'm a bit confused as to what suggestions you need? Suggestions for a new pick-up? new wiring scheme? a quick connect system?

If you're looking for wiring schemes, theres a great thread at the Les Paul forum with a ton of wiring schemes and info for Les Pauls (I dont know if you have to be registered there to see the thread):
http://www.lespaulforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=88796&highlight=library

The Seymour Duncan site is also really good for various wiring diagrams:
http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/


Les Pauls are a pain in the rear-end to re-wire. The control cavity is cramped and to deep for quick soldering. My LP's (an Epiphone) stock knobs are a hair to small to fit the pots I purchased from Stew-Mac. It's been re-wired a couple times and I still haven't found something I like and can live with besides the stock, albeit, bland configuration.

I almost want to hack together a quick connect system between the pickup wires and the control cavity.

A little background, stock 2-wire neck pickup and a SH-4 in the bridge position. Currently, it has a master tone (Not enough control, :mad:), 2 volume pots (1 is a push/pull with out-of-phase control as the switch), and the last one is a sweeper between single coil and humbucker for the SH-4. I want to swap out the anemic neck pickup but haven't found a replacement yet.

Any tips, suggestions?

[greco]

Also, what is the recommended gauge for internal wiring?

Regarding re-wiring an ES-335: Isn't it on a harness? Pull the harness out, re-wire, manipulate back into place? Find me one and I'll do it.

20 or 22 gauge is fine IMHO

They call it a wiring "harness" (re:335)...but it isn't as simple as you might think (for many reasons). Get a 335 style guitar...undo the input jack...let it fall inside the guitar....now put it back together..


Given your definition...the LP is a harness also...pull it all out, work on it, put it back...or leave the pots in the control cavity...and work on them....your choice.

Good luck with it.

Dave

[Wheeman]

I'm a bit confused as to what suggestions you need? Suggestions for a new pick-up? new wiring scheme? a quick connect system?

If you're looking for wiring schemes, theres a great thread at the Les Paul forum with a ton of wiring schemes and info for Les Pauls (I dont know if you have to be registered there to see the thread):
http://www.lespaulforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=88796&highlight=library

The Seymour Duncan site is also really good for various wiring diagrams:
http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/

Huzzah, something on topic. I don't have an ES-335, I'm not wiring an ES-335, I don't care how hard it is to wire an ES-335.

I'm open to ideas for a quick connect system, crimp-on, solder or otherwise, and any left-field ideas for wiring. The les paul forum requires registration to view that link, FYI.

Since this thread is half-way de-railed, heres a picture of a cat.
http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/funny-pictures-cat-cares-about-problems.jpg

Huzzah!

[Paul]

Huzzah, something on topic. I don't have an ES-335, I'm not wiring an ES-335, I don't care how hard it is to wire an ES-335.

I'm open to ideas for a quick connect system, crimp-on, solder or otherwise, and any left-field ideas for wiring. The les paul forum requires registration to view that link, FYI.


Actually, I gave you some ideas...you seem to have overlooked them. You suggested pulling out the wiring harness on a 335, I suggested that the same should be possible on an LP style guitar.

Perhaps part of your problem is soldering tools and skills. I find better success with a hot and quick touch when working on potentionmeters. Low watt irons take too long to get the potentiometer hot, in my experience.

With a quick disconnect system, I think the challenge will be maintaining the integrity of the shield in the wires. I don't have a solution for that off of the top of my head.

Here is a picture of me yawning::zzz::zzz::zzz:

[greco]

I have used terminal strips for a quick connect concept. They aren't the very best, but they will work. Get the smallest you can find and cut off 2 connections form the strip. You might also want to see what is available in the computer industry...my Epiphone LP uses some type of computer like plastic quick connect system.

Dave

[dwagar]

if you can't get on the LP Forum, I'm pretty sure this is the same wiring library on the MLP forum

http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/tonefreaks/558-wiring-library.html

I find LP's to be one of the easiest guitars to work on. It would be worse I guess if you are changing pots and have one with the plate in there.

If you really want to use a quick connect, maybe a flat 4 pole from the auto parts store (a 4 pole trailer connector) would work.

[bagpipe]

For a while there I was swapping between two different, wired pickguards on my Strat. I ended up using some crimped connectors to save me soldering every time. The crimps I used were something like the one on the far left in the picture below. The female one was more like a complete tube, which the male plugged into, and it shielded the connector from touching anything.
However, this is easier on a Strat as the design is more "modular" and the pickguard comes off in one piece. It'd be trickier on a Les Paul, although you could probably do something similar if you wanted to quickly switch out pickups to try different ones.

http://www.mpja.com/category/Connectors/Crimp_Terminals/_110_FEMALE_FAST-ON_18-22AWG_2294_TM.asp