Nitocris

Update I installed the replacement 500k CTS potentiometers into my LPC '68 reissue and using the '50s wiring the guitar now responds as i would expect a Les Paul should. Just as a FYI have a look at this article from Guitar.com ; https://guitar.com/guides/essential-guide/potentiometers/?fbclid=IwAR3Qczm3arPiFWpF6OQuaal--kcaRZ7qgYHHcdn-5PFL5oGN6dfSsOVjLt0 I am guessing the Gibson CTS historic 500k pots have a unique taper that Gibson requests from CTS. The pots in my 50th Anniversary '68 Les Paul Custom are stamp 430 - 71100 1818 The CTS 500k I ordered are stamped 450GT36k5O4B25 1835 I am curious as to how the Modern wiring would compare but for now I am much happier then the stock sound. I just roll back the volume to 7/8 and the high end rolls off to a rythm tone i am use to from a Les Paul. Nice chunky solid Classic Rock sound. Considering that is most of my influences and the fact that not everyone had a '50's Les Paul so through all those years of people repairing, modding, replacing electronics I am not surprised the Les Paul went through some radical tonal changes whether by design or not. Now Gibson strives to get that '50's sound and its like ouch I want a Les Paul not a Telecaster lol So before you change your pickups or your caps try swapping out your potentiometers first. You could be very pleasantly surprised with the change in sound.

Update I've installed some orange drop caps ( .22 - 715p - 200v ) in my 68 reissue custom. Sounds a bit better but still generally bright. I've ordered 4 CTS 500k AT which is matched with my 2 Knaggs. So crazy my 2 Knaggs share the same tonality as 2 of my Les Pauls.. For reasons unknown atm both my new Gibson Les Pauls share the exact same brightness even with the pickups swap. If that doesn't do it I'll try swapping the tail pieces for Tonepros. There must be a logical reason for these 2 new CS LPs to sound the same to one another yet so different the my other Les Pauls and similar style guitars

update - OK so since the pickup swaps I went back and redialed my amps. It sounds pretty kicking. So much so I'm going to re-wire my other LP's to 50's style and see how they end up sounding. FYI the Bare Knuckle Black Dog pick ups I dropped in my R9 really sound amazing. If your into late 60's - 88 classic rock to classic metal tones I would highly recommend the Black Dog picks. They are in your face full up and clean up very well. The SD Antiquity JB/Jazz set installed in my '68 reissue sound really good as well but the bridge pickup doesn't clean up as well as the black dog but good enough for RnR. I will update after I do the changes on my other Les Paul's. Its still early to say for sure but the tones I got today were pretty kicking

I own several Les Pauls and cannot figure out why my 2014 R9 and 50th 2018 '68 LP Custom are way too bright. Looking everywhere on the net for a answer. My other Les Pauls have 4 500K pots and have a flatter tone response. Also own 2 Knaggs ( SSS1 and a SS2 ) with 4 500K pots and they sound very similar. So why do new Les Pauls sound so insanely bright IMO. They are even brighter then my strats and teles. I have gone through quite a few sets of pickups now and the top end is way too much for my liking. Moving around the neck I can't stand the string sounds. What is that? 16-20khz its driving me crazy With as much reading I have done I can see there are a lot of players who love all that top end but its not for me. Its like static crackle. I like chunky tones not muddy, and certainly don't brittle. OK everything is subjective but come on. I can tone balance all my other guitars but these 2 newer Les Pauls yikes Definitely not a new wood vs old wood so lets not go there or turn down the treble or presence on the amp ( why? when all my other 20 guitars are fine ) , modern wiring vs 50s wiring? I am comparing all guitars on 10 so that shouldn't have a impact. There is only 2 things in my mind that could be causing the issue. Either the volume potentiometers used measure way above 500K or its being cause by the Capacitors somehow. There has to be a logical answer for the tonal range to be so extremely different and too have that much more top end. I ordered some RS 280K pots to use for volume to see if that helps but it would be odd considering all my other humbucker guitars use 4 500K pots Any ideas?