Epiphone Riviera potentiometer values and such

[keenast]

Hi guys,

 

I've switched out the stock neck humbucker (Riviera, Peerless MIKorea 1995) with a Harmonic Design Z-90. They suggest using 500k volume and tone pots together with a 0.2 tone cap.

I didn't bother (so far) to replace the stock pots and don't know the values of them. So what kind of pots do come stock with Riviera like mine?

So far the Z-90 sounds great, but it does sound like the tone's already rolled down a bit - I'm missing a bit the highs. Compared to the stock humbucker the guitar came with it sounds less clinical, more organic if that makes sense and less 'shrill'. But, maybe too much 'less shrill'. Could it be that the stock tone pot does that - in case it's not a 500k?

 

Your input is appreciated, thanks Karl

[keenast]

Now where did all the experts go.......? Is my question too stupid to deserve an answer or is really nobody out there knowing it? Come on, give me a hand guys!

[GAS Panic!]

Well I'm nowhere near an expert on any of this stuff, but I've found this link useful in the past: http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/

 

However I have no idea what stock Epi pots would be, but as far as I can tell from that website most of the humbucker diagrams use 500k pots, so if I was having a guess that'd be it.

 

Here's hoping the experts return to give you some real help...

[carverman]

You didn't mention if you checked the value of the cap, which may infact be a .047uf

rather than a .02uf in your Riviera. I completely rewired my '91/95 Emperor IIs (MIK)

by Samick, and found that they used the asian mini-pots. These were "500k" types

but varied considerably by about 10% undervalue..423K to 474K.

 

The cap was a green square .047 . The value on these was imprinted as "473K" or 47000pf.

 

If your replacement pickups were designed to work with .02 caps, then you would need to

replace the stock tone caps with some .022uf Sprague orange drops..available at most guitar

stores or online guitar supply places.

[scantron]

Definitely replace the wiring with some new USA 500k pots, Switchcraft 3-way switch, & Switchcraft output jack. The stock Epi wiring (cheap Asian-made 500k mini-pots & ceramic caps) is pretty bad and tone-sucking. I'd suggest getting some Sprague "Orange Drop" tone caps (I use a .22 in the bridge and a .47 in the neck). There are plenty of caps out there, I'm just recommending what I've used and had great results with.

The F-holes on Korean Rivieras are a little thin, so you'll have to wrangle with the new pots a bit getting them in there. Also, the holes are a tiny bit smaller from the Asian-sized pots so you'll have to enlarge them a hair.

I feel it's worth the modding, your guitar will sound a ton better!

[keenast]

Thanks everybody for chiming in!

 

Karl