whynot
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switch
Jan 30, 2006 12:53:43 GMT -5
Post by whynot on Jan 30, 2006 12:53:43 GMT -5
i have been rebuilding a les paul Columbus couldn't have got this far without guitar nuts members need 1 bit of help i completely dismantled and rebuilt the pickup switch because no matter what position you had it on it had both pickups on now its selects- 1 or both but which pickup is rhythm and which is treble
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switch
Jan 30, 2006 14:10:50 GMT -5
Post by Mini-Strat_Maine on Jan 30, 2006 14:10:50 GMT -5
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whynot
Meter Reader 1st Class
Posts: 92
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switch
Jan 30, 2006 15:13:38 GMT -5
Post by whynot on Jan 30, 2006 15:13:38 GMT -5
im wireing the guitar up now and just want to know what way round i put the switch thanks for your help
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switch
Jan 30, 2006 15:40:15 GMT -5
Post by JohnH on Jan 30, 2006 15:40:15 GMT -5
The standrad for the Gibson-style 3-position switch is treble (= bridge) down, rythym (=neck) up. On the usual toggle switch used, this is also the same in terms of the connection tabs on the back, so treble gets connected to the lug nearest the lower edge of the guitar, rythym to the top, and common to the middle..
I also recently rewired an LP copy and had the same questions. I decided to follow these Gibson conventions for historical authenticity and so that others can test my guitar without being freaked by it (at least, not by that aspect of it), but they didn't seem logical to me!
Why are the neck controls the ones nearest to the bridge? Why select front and back pickups, with a switch that operates up and down? (OK, maybe I could rationalise that one - in terms of the up and down movement of a players hand)? If there were no existing references, I think I would have put the two volumes as the upper two knobs, front and back to match the pup layout.
Anyway, since I did it, I am now infected. You get used to anything and the Gibson layout now seems normal to me.
John
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whynot
Meter Reader 1st Class
Posts: 92
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switch
Jan 30, 2006 16:05:16 GMT -5
Post by whynot on Jan 30, 2006 16:05:16 GMT -5
have u ever heard of columbus guitars my m8 gave me this les paul copy in peaces then neck was snaped at the headstock was a mess the wireing was fried the pick up slector was shot i rebuilt it all and almost have got it back to normal
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switch
Jan 30, 2006 16:15:41 GMT -5
Post by JohnH on Jan 30, 2006 16:15:41 GMT -5
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switch
Jan 30, 2006 17:27:50 GMT -5
Post by 4real on Jan 30, 2006 17:27:50 GMT -5
I think Van Halen reversed the up down function of the selector on his guitars. I played a Les Paul for years but the controls are a little archaic and eventually turned to an active volume pedal. I think that the convention was that the "rhythm" (neck) pickup was secondary so the controls were further away. I would rather the vols were the two top and the tones below. On my Sustainer-Strat with an SG/Gibson selector on the lower horn, the switch moves almost from side to side (so, slightly down and back towards the bridge, selects the "lead" pickup) which makes good intuitive sense and is less prone to knocking out of position. But idealy I'd have a master volume like a Strat's within easy reach. Fender's Starcaster did this with the 4 control gibson layout and a closer 5th master volume. You could rig up a master volume, 2 pickup volumes and a master tone, a master tone and volume and use the other two for rotary switches though which is a cool option for heavy mods. Strangely enough with my 'paul which I modified in the 70's brass era...I put two 3 way mini toggles between the controls to turn off various coils in the humbuckers. It's strange how the Les Paul inspires conservatism isn't it...see a Les Paul with a Floyd and people almost gag!! Here's a pic of my guitar being sustainer-ized... pete
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switch
Jan 30, 2006 17:55:06 GMT -5
Post by UnklMickey on Jan 30, 2006 17:55:06 GMT -5
...But idealy I'd have a master volume like a Strat's within easy reach.... Pete, there's something known as "too much of a good thing". IMHO, fender did just that with the strat volume location. it really gets in the way, especially if you rest the heel of your hand on the strings next to the bridge.
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switch
Jan 31, 2006 1:09:10 GMT -5
Post by 4real on Jan 31, 2006 1:09:10 GMT -5
Well..yes that is a common complaint but it rarely happens to me. I got to do a lot of string damping or my sustainer would go bezerk! Never-the-less...in a les Paul with that carved top and the strings elevated above knob height, hitting a master volume control would be the least of your problems! But less is more and five knobs on any guitar is too many.
One good thing about the 'Paul that I used to really appreciate when I played in bands and sang was that you could turn down the neck pickup and effectively turn off the guitar...especially neat for those moments of waving to the crowd (but more likely pointing someone out to the bouncer at my old gigs)...pete
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