What's wrong with my wiring?

[roadtonever]

I have a Vintage brand cheesy Les Paul Goldtop replica.
In middle position the bridge PU tone control affects the neck PU and vice versa. Volume controls and other positions work as expected.

Just checking if someone knows off hand what's causing the unexpected behavior before I solder a resistors to the outer lugs of the volume pots to simulate a preferred position of the tone pot.


BTW this seems like a cool forum, I'm looking forward to hang around here.

[newey]

RTN-

Hello and Welcome!

I'm no LP guy, don't own one, although I'm not prejudiced, I may have one someday. But I don't think there's anything wrong with your LP. In the center position, both tone controls interact since both are in circuit at the same time.

There may be ways to change this, at least partially, but I'll let the LP gang weigh in.

before I solder a resistors to the outer lugs of the volume pots to simulate a preferred position of the tone pot.

I think this will simply have the effect of knocking back the output, depending on the value of the resistor.

[ashcatlt]

I agree that it's probably normal tone control interaction. In the center position you've basically got 2 x Master Tone. If the tones come before the volumes, I think you can get some isolation by turning down the volumes, but then you have to turn down your volumes.

A resistor from ground to either of the other lugs on the volume pot will act very much like a tone control turned down. It will also interact like a tone control turned down.

[roadtonever]

I've added resistors of preferred values to where the hot and ground pickup leads meet the pot. Middle position loses a bit of treble but still usable. Getting great sounds now without being bothered by turning tone knobs and looking forward to next rehearsal!

I also read(from Bill Lawrence forum where some members find his humbuckers too bright) that you could add a cap in the same fashion. Maybe one could get rid of the tone pots entirely and use the extra space for switches and variaible inductor/s....

Still any comments or best practices about adding preset resistance and capacitance to a Les Paul type circuits highly appreciated.

[newey]

RTN-

Still any comments or best practices about adding preset resistance and capacitance to a Les Paul type circuits highly appreciated.

Ashcatlt is the one to ask about doing away with pots altogether. Not exactly an "LP type circuit" on his Rickenbacker, but the same principles would apply:

What to do with a Rickenbacker (reprise)

[roadtonever]

Still want to keep my volumes for occasional swells and the like. Ashcatlt's multi rotary wiring is really cool tho!

[newey]

Ash's design is modular, so if you want to keep your volume pots (I would, too), the tone portions can be extracted.

Using caps to sort-of "hardwire" a tone setting is something we've discussed quite a bit. Of course, since it's an LP we're discussing, there's also Gibby's Varitone circuit, using an inductor- which would look "Gibsonish" on there, if appearances matter.

You might find this of interest:

Wolf's Passive Tone Control (once again)

And this:

ChrisK's pickup coil response tuning

Unfortunately, ChrisK's graphs have gone "poof" off into cyberspace.

These are just a few examples, there's plenty more about. If you "zero in" on what you want, more specific help can be had.

[ashcatlt]

It occurs to me now that smaller volume pots would have much the same effect as the parallel resistance you've got there.