Upgrading my Studio

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I have a 2001 Les Paul Studio Plus. Basically the same as this picture:

 

I like how it plays, but never loved the sound. It was always a bit muddy to me. I've been on the fence about giving up and selling it to buy an ES-335 or upgrading the electronics and pickups to clean up the mud.

 

I was thinking of changing the pickups to SD '59's and installing the RS Guitar Works modern kit and adding a Toneworks aluminum tailpiece.

 

Any thoughts or experience with these upgrades to clean up and brighten the sound a bit?

[Sgt.]

I have a 2001 Les Paul Studio Plus. Basically the same as this picture:

 

I like how it plays, but never loved the sound. It was always a bit muddy to me. I've been on the fence about giving up and selling it to buy an ES-335 or upgrading the electronics and pickups to clean up the mud.

 

I was thinking of changing the pickups to SD '59's and installing the RS Guitar Works modern kit and adding a Toneworks aluminum tailpiece.

 

Any thoughts or experience with these upgrades to clean up and brighten the sound a bit?

 

These are nice guitars! The entry level Gibsons do cheap on the electronics. Electronics upgrades are a good investment. I've got a 2011 Studio and the breakin period is maddening; tuning instability ie. wearing in the nut, getting the action comfortable and adjusting the pickups so they're not so hot. I'm liking my guitar and am soon going to upgrade the electronics, mainly replacing the stock ceramic disc capacitors with a prewired harness. Look at the specs of more expensive les pauls, I think the traditional uses orange drops and the higher end standards use bees. The studio uses 2cent ceramic discs to save money.

[Rabs]

Have you tried simply moving the pickups up and down? That could be the most simple solution if that's the issue.

 

Caps used in Standards and the higher end also vary from model to model..

 

 

Try the simple stuff first then maybe if you still don't get results try some new caps or even pots...

[BigKahune]

Have you tried simply moving the pickups up and down? .... Try the simple stuff first then maybe if you still don't get results try some new caps or even pots...

 

+1

[btoth76]

Hello!

 

I completely agree with Rabs too. First set it up properly. Then, - if You are still not satisfied - change the ceramic caps to PIOs. Do not throw out money on things You might not even need.

 

Cheers... Bence

[btoth76]

...I think the traditional uses orange drops and the higher end standards use bees. The studio uses 2cent ceramic discs to save money.

 

Hello Sgt!

 

Traditionals and Studios have ceramic caps both. Bumblebees are reserved for Historics only. But those are fakes - ceramic capacitors dressed up as vintage PIOs (for 130 bucks - Thank You!).

 

Cheers... Bence

[deeman]

Hello Sgt!

 

Traditionals and Studios have ceramic caps both. Bumblebees are reserved for Historics only. But those are fakes - ceramic capacitors dressed up as vintage PIOs (for 130 bucks - Thank You!).

 

Cheers... Bence

 

So I have an '06 studio, I like the way it sounds but would it be advisable to have someone change out the capacitors? I don't even know what they are but i of course want the best possible sound i can get.

[Rabs]

So I have an '06 studio, I like the way it sounds but would it be advisable to have someone change out the capacitors? I don't even know what they are but i of course want the best possible sound i can get.

If you like the way its sounds then leave it as is.. :) You never quite know whats going to happen when you mess with the caps and stuff.. The caps go between the Tone and Volume pots (mostly).. Some say they help give you a fuller brighter sound.. Some say they don't really have that much effect.

 

Its another one of those personal preference things.. Theres no right or wrong.

[Bryan Sutherland]

So I have an '06 studio, I like the way it sounds but would it be advisable to have someone change out the capacitors? I don't even know what they are but i of course want the best possible sound i can get.

 

If you like the way it sounds, why change it? If you feel there is something missing from the tone you are getting, then maybe some new caps or pots might be in order. Just my $.02

[pippy]

I'm going to further recommend Rabs' advice.

 

If the pup-height thing doesn't work then a cap-swap will probably clean up the sound.

 

Try to track down a pair of genuine PIO caps. They are regularly advertised on the 'bay.

 

P.

[Eracer_Team]

The entry level Gibsons do cheap on the electronics.

 

Uhh NO.

The Epiphone's use (mostly) cheap Chinese electronics.

 

I have a 2001 Desert Burst almost identical to this one. They use standard Gibson pots and the 490/498 pickups that are found on the LP Customs.

 

so miss information Sgt.

 

 

 

I found my LP sounded a bit gritty (to my ears) with the 490/498 combo.

I bought the Seymour Duncan Joe Bonamassa Magellan pickups and I purchased the RS Guitar Works 50's wiring and grey tiger pio cap wiring.

 

First I love the sound of the SD Joe Bonamassa pickups, but you will see posts by me about concerns on the RS pots.

I noticed that I had a fairly slow but gradual increase in volume on the pots, until about 8; then from 8-10 there was quite the jump in volume and pretty much 'seemed' not to be a whole lot of change from 8-10.

This has something to do with the tapper of the pot.

 

but the RS pots are 539k and 545k (old Gibson pots were around 500k but they (Gibson) been opting for 300k volume pots for a long time)

I attributed the spike in volume above 8 as a jump past 500k to the max of the pot.

But considering I use the 4-8 range in the volume pots I find this isn't a 'bad thing' anymore

 

I took the guitar to a trusted store where the gang where interested in the JB Magellan pickups.

The comment about the pots was: "we think its the 50's wiring and it is no different than the LP Historic on the hanger in the store"

Comment from the guys about the pickups: "Smooth sounding"

 

Wish I had recordings but alas I don't, but a member here "Gary Moore Tribute" has a nice Standard 08 DB with Joe Bonamassa pickups in it (and full Bonamassa treatment (aka nylon E,B,G saddles and mixed knobs, and top wrapped strings))

He did a recording and posted the JB pickups

Wish I knew where that post was.

[Sgt.]

Have you tried simply moving the pickups up and down? That could be the most simple solution if that's the issue.

 

Caps used in Standards and the higher end also vary from model to model..

 

 

Try the simple stuff first then maybe if you still don't get results try some new caps or even pots...

 

yes, i had to lower my bb pro's from factory setting because they were too hot for my liking. how you set them is up to your preference. you could lower the neck to flush with the plastic, raise the treble side on the bridge and lower the bass side ... how i do mine i'm not tellin'. you know what else i'm wary about adjusting pole pieces on the bb pros because they're wax potted. i did adjust pole pieces on some Ibanez med. ceramic mag. potted pu's and noticed a little wax coming off the screws ... i don't know if that affects the pickup at all, shouldn't ... pickups come un-potted as well. but i don't know if raising or lower pole pieces to balance the output of each string made little or any difference. I would theorize that the advantage to adjustable pole pieces is to be able to balance the output of each string so that bass's not to powerful and trebles not so weak.

 

BTW: that's a nice lookin' studio with the flame top. giver' some love!

[surfpup]

... upgrading the electronics and pickups to clean up the mud.

 

I was thinking of changing the pickups to SD '59's and installing the RS Guitar Works modern kit and adding a Toneworks aluminum tailpiece.

 

Any thoughts or experience with these upgrades to clean up and brighten the sound a bit?

 

500k pots will help the "mud". I like to install paper in oil caps too - but they probably make less difference than good quality 500k pots. (I've use the RS vintage kits a few times with excellent results). I'm also a fan of the aluminum tailpieces. (I did a thread on it a while back with sound clips if you wanna search for it). FInally, the stock tune-o-matics leave something to be desired. TonePros (or Callaham if you have the $) are improvements.

 

I'd skip the SD 59s. They are fine pickups but no finer than the pups in there now. I believe they have less output too - may be good or bad depending on what you are looking for.