Tell Me About Jimmy Page Les Paul Wiring... Is It All That?

[67Mopar]

I'm thinking about putting a Jimmy Page kit into my '96 LP Custom. Should I do it, or leave it as-is? The pickups are Wolfetone Marshallhead MK II w/un-oriented A5 magnets.

 

[MarshallDog]

Well, from what I have read, his was the 50's style wiring and over the years I have heard people say it sounded really bright to them but maybe it was their PUP's and/or guitar. If it was me, I would leave it.

 

[roycaster]

I’d vote no. I’ve watched too many bands standing around waiting between songs while the guitar player fiddles with knobs and switches…

 

[Dogs of Doom]

Well, from what I have read, his was the 50's style wiring and over the years I have heard people say it sounded really bright to them but maybe it was their PUP's and/or guitar. If it was me, I would leave it.

when people refer to the Jimmy Page wiring, they are talking about his custom wiring w/ 4 push/pull pot's, that do coil split, phase, series/parallel.

https://gunstreetwiringshop.com/theguitarblog/2015/9/1/the-jimmy-page-wiring-explained

 

[MarshallDog]

when people refer to the Jimmy Page wiring, they are talking about his custom wiring w/ 4 push/pull pot's, that do coil split, phase, series/parallel.

https://gunstreetwiringshop.com/theguitarblog/2015/9/1/the-jimmy-page-wiring-explained

I see...I thought it was the 50's style wiring.

 

[JohnH]

I think its a scheme that JP had on one of his guitars, post LZ. It gets you single-coil, out of phase and series sounds. You need four conductors plus ground coming from each pickup.

I love wiring schemes and working out their puzzles, so Ive figured out versions of this scheme for others on Guitarnuts, and also built some variants myself into my '91 LP Studio.

But here's the thing: Series sounds get muddy sounding, out of phase is usually thin, and humbuckers cut to singles are no-way as sparkly as a proper alnico single on a Strat. Plus push-pull pots get annoying IMO. The only one of these tones that I use regularly is neck cut to single, and neck single to bridge humbucker is a useful quick rythym/lead transition on the toggle. If you want to try just neck single, find the two joined wires from the neck pickup and connect them to ground with an alligator clip.

Love that guitar BTW! Its like the better, cleaner looking 'Old Black' that Neil Young chooses not to have!

 

[Dogs of Doom]

I see...I thought it was the 50's style wiring.

if you do a search, you'll find both, so it's easy to think one way or the other, although, many people refer to the '50s wiring as just that.

In this video, Gibson is picking up his #1 to make their tribute model. He discusses things unique to it. Starting around 1:10, he talks about electronics:

 

[67Mopar]

I figure since it's got 4 conductor wiring, I might take advantage of the JP features. I don't want that crazy toggle switch with 20 positions... just the push/pull features.

 

[67Mopar]

Love that guitar BTW! Its like the better, cleaner looking 'Old Black' that Neil Young chooses not to have!

Thanks! I installed/reinstalled the Bigsby 5 times! Definitely sounds better with the Bigsby.

 

[GIBSON67]

Beautiful guitar!

 

[pedecamp]

I'm thinking about putting a Jimmy Page kit into my '96 LP Custom. Should I do it, or leave it as-is? The pickups are Wolfetone Marshallhead MK II w/un-oriented A5 magnets.

That's a beautiful guitar! Hey as long as you enjoy tinkering go for it and mod it, whats good is you can always put it back if you don't like. I recently wired one of my LPs with 50's wiring and decided I hated it in 2 minutes and put it back to modern wiring which in my opinion sounded best and normal.

 

[MarshallDog]

if you do a search, you'll find both, so it's easy to think one way or the other, although, many people refer to the '50s wiring as just that.

In this video, Gibson is picking up his #1 to make their tribute model. He discusses things unique to it. Starting around 1:10, he talks about electronics:

Yeah, thats what I though...thought I was losing whats left of my mind LOL!

 

[Mitchell Pearrow]

I used to think most LP’s where dark and on the verge of being muddy, but then I got hold of a couple that just sang there hearts out, and I stopped stereotyping them all together, you may still find a muddy one but the others that sing really sing well! Cheers Mitch

 

[MarshallDog]

I've never had a dark muddy one either unless my amp settings where messed up or the tone knob was on 0 and I've owned about 20 of them over the years so far!!

 

[ampmadscientist]

 

[67Mopar]

That's a beautiful guitar! Hey as long as you enjoy tinkering go for it and mod it, whats good is you can always put it back if you don't like. I recently wired one of my LPs with 50's wiring and decided I hated it in 2 minutes and put it back to modern wiring which in my opinion sounded best and normal.

I don't know how I have it wired? Here it is with the stock pickups... I have it wired the same with the Wolftones. I removed the RS Treble Tamer pot, and installed a 500k volume pot at the bridge. Huge improvement!

 

[67Mopar]

I used to think most LP’s where dark and on the verge of being muddy, but then I got hold of a couple that just sang there hearts out, and I stopped stereotyping them all together, you may still find a muddy one but the others that sing really sing well! Cheers Mitch

The "pancake" body Paul's can be brutal on the high-end, especially the Custom. Thick maple cap, ebony board, maple neck, low power pickups, etc...

If you have a set of the 498T/490R pickups, try replacing the magnets with a set of un-oriented A5 magnets.

 

[pedecamp]

I don't know how I have it wired? Here it is with the stock pickups... I have it wired the same with the Wolftones. I removed the RS Treble Tamer pot, and installed a 500k volume pot at the bridge. Huge improvement!

I cant see the connections in your picture, do google images youll find lots of pictures, look up 50s wiring and modern wiring.

 

[chiliphil1]

I don't know how I have it wired? Here it is with the stock pickups... I have it wired the same with the Wolftones. I removed the RS Treble Tamer pot, and installed a 500k volume pot at the bridge. Huge improvement!

Man, I love that custom shop wiring. Sexy every time. Ever try bumblebee caps? I’ve heard they add some mojo but I’ve never been able to afford the things.

 

[67Mopar]

Man, I love that custom shop wiring. Sexy every time. Ever try bumblebee caps? I’ve heard they add some mojo but I’ve never been able to afford the things.

I had an old Standard with bees, but I never tried anything else. I favor the Sprague Black Beauties in a LP Custom, but I'm digging these Russian PIO's. I have a Sprague BB .015 that I've been meaning to place across the neck controls. I'm lazy...