Gitarcanum Posted November 15, 2011 Posted November 15, 2011 Hi all, I bought a 1992 Les Paul Studio Lite M-III (or M3) recently on eBay. It's a great LP, unusual in pickup configuration and color. For those who don't know: M-III has a H-S-H pickup configuration, 496R at the neck, NSX at the middle and 500T at the bridge, there is a Strat-style 5-way switch and a micro switch to split the coils. http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/m-iii-0510-2011/ Unfortunately, the previous owner replaced the bridge pickup with a SD Invader (it's okay for shredding, but not my cup of tea), so I bought the original Gibson 500T and replaced it. But the it's just the start of the story: he also messed up the whole wiring totally, changing the pickup configuration. Gibson support helped me (thanks for the great support!) with the original wiring/schematic and I could reconnect the wiring properly. However, I also noticed some another issues: 1. The 5 way switch has a constant contact problem in the middle position that I was unable to solve with contact spray. It's not a big deal though, I have a replacement switch. 2. There is a more difficult problem: the original circuit has a 5H inductor coil connected to a capacitor, functions as a low-pass LC filter for a special "enhanced tone" in for the neck pickup in the 4th position of the switch. That inductor coil is missing in my guitar, probably the previous owner just throw it away. I tried to attach a picture but it says "Error No file was selected for upload". (I don't understand, what's the problem, it was a JPG, 164 kB. It also doesn't allow me to upload my profile image). So I tried to insert it from my Flickr, but it also doesnt allow me to do it. I hope maybe the Big Brother let me post at least the link to the image... So, the question is: is there anybody here who can help me to get the original inductor coil somewhere or any similar replacement part? Thank you.
Angellus Posted November 15, 2011 Posted November 15, 2011 Hi all, I bought a 1992 Les Paul Studio Lite M-III (or M3) recently on eBay. It's a great LP, unusual in pickup configuration and color. For those who don't know: M-III has a H-S-H pickup configuration, 496R at the neck, NSX at the middle and 500T at the bridge, there is a Strat-style 5-way switch and a micro switch to split the coils. http://www.gibson.co...-iii-0510-2011/ Unfortunately, the previous owner replaced the bridge pickup with a SD Invader (it's okay for shredding, but not my cup of tea), so I bought the original Gibson 500T and replaced it. But the it's just the start of the story: he also messed up the whole wiring totally, changing the pickup configuration. Gibson support helped me (thanks for the great support!) with the original wiring/schematic and I could reconnect the wiring properly. However, I also noticed some another issues: 1. The 5 way switch has a constant contact problem in the middle position that I was unable to solve with contact spray. It's not a big deal though, I have a replacement switch. 2. There is a more difficult problem: the original circuit has a 5H inductor coil connected to a capacitor, functions as a low-pass LC filter for a special "enhanced tone" in for the neck pickup in the 4th position of the switch. That inductor coil is missing in my guitar, probably the previous owner just throw it away. I tried to attach a picture but it says "Error No file was selected for upload". (I don't understand, what's the problem, it was a JPG, 164 kB. It also doesn't allow me to upload my profile image). So I tried to insert it from my Flickr, but it also doesnt allow me to do it. I hope maybe the Big Brother let me post at least the link to the image... http://www.flickr.co...ivan/6347086143 So, the question is: is there anybody here who can help me to get the original inductor coil somewhere or any similar replacement part? Thank you. below extracted from another forum "For guitar use, an inductor of about 1Hy to about 2.5Hy is a range to use. Gibson seems to like using 1.8Hy and I agree with them when it comes to medium humbuckers such as they manufacture. For single coils, P90's, hot humbuckers, etc... your results will vary. I've got some Q-Filter inductors that are about 1.5Hy and about 2Hy and you can tell the difference. So, value matters. Speaking of Q-Filter - those are great since they're bi-wound and totally hum-free. " on the schematics does it state what value the inductor should be? common place to find inductors is in wah wah pedals, (I.E the Fasel inductor used on Cry Babies) or your local eletronic component store such as Radioshack in the US or Maplin in the UK. you must know the value. Judging from the picture you sent across it appears that the inductor is a 6 pin with only the middle pins connected. again the wiring schematic should help you confirm all this. one thing to bear in mind is that inductors can be noisy so make sure you correctly shield the cavity BEFORE you wire everything up to save you pulling it all out again. good luck and post back your results
Gitarcanum Posted November 15, 2011 Author Posted November 15, 2011 below extracted from another forum"For guitar use, an inductor of about 1Hy to about 2.5Hy is a range to use. Gibson seems to like using 1.8Hy and I agree with them when it comes to medium humbuckers such as they manufacture. For single coils, P90's, hot humbuckers, etc... your results will vary. I've got some Q-Filter inductors that are about 1.5Hy and about 2Hy and you can tell the difference. So, value matters.Speaking of Q-Filter - those are great since they're bi-wound and totally hum-free. "on the schematics does it state what value the inductor should be?common place to find inductors is in wah wah pedals, (I.E the Fasel inductor used on Cry Babies) or your local eletronic component store such as Radioshack in the US or Maplin in the UK. you must know the value.Judging from the picture you sent across it appears that the inductor is a 6 pin with only the middle pins connected. again the wiring schematic should help you confirm all this.one thing to bear in mind is that inductors can be noisy so make sure you correctly shield the cavity BEFORE you wire everything up to save you pulling it all out again.good luck and post back your results Thank you.The sent schematic is an old scanned one, so I'm not sure that the inductor is 5H or .5H. You know, I use to write the zero, too, that helps to clearly see if there is a decimal point there or just a dirt on the paper. :) Based on the mentioned information 0.5H seems more likely to me.I'm not an expert in audio circuits, so I'm not sure what the 6 pin inductor means...Again, I tried to attach the wiring I got from Gibson support, but the forum doesn't allow me to do it. :(So, here are the links for the schematic and the wiring I got from Gibson. https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B2MoQ_emiNMvZmMzNWFlODYtMGJlYy00ZGViLWI4OWUtYWMxOTIxMmIyMTU3 https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B2MoQ_emiNMvM2I1ZTNiYWUtNjE1Ny00YTgyLTllOTQtNzk4NTE3ZTgxZGFm
Angellus Posted November 16, 2011 Posted November 16, 2011 Thank you.The sent schematic is an old scanned one, so I'm not sure that the inductor is 5H or .5H. You know, I use to write the zero, too, that helps to clearly see if there is a decimal point there or just a dirt on the paper. :) Based on the mentioned information 0.5H seems more likely to me.I'm not an expert in audio circuits, so I'm not sure what the 6 pin inductor means...Again, I tried to attach the wiring I got from Gibson support, but the forum doesn't allow me to do it. :(So, here are the links for the schematic and the wiring I got from Gibson. https://docs.google....WMxOTIxMmIyMTU3 https://docs.google....zk4NTE3ZTgxZGFm ah yes it is 0.5H and a 6 pin. thats a tricky job. first thing is to find a 0.5 inductor then get your capacitor and take it from there.
Gitarcanum Posted November 16, 2011 Author Posted November 16, 2011 ah yes it is 0.5H and a 6 pin. thats a tricky job. first thing is to find a 0.5 inductor then get your capacitor and take it from there. Well, I'm not sure if it's ok or not, I ordered a Dunlop 500mH Inductor Wah ECB156 and a capacitor. I have no experience with audio circuits, I mean, I can do the soldering, but I don't really know how it works.
Angellus Posted November 16, 2011 Posted November 16, 2011 Well, I'm not sure if it's ok or not, I ordered a Dunlop 500mH Inductor Wah ECB156 and a capacitor. I have no experience with audio circuits, I mean, I can do the soldering, but I don't really know how it works. ok thats the wah inductor with 2 pin TBH the wiring spec will not match that inductor. However unless you find a very similiar inductor you will have a hard time getting it exactly as shown. wire it up and see how it goes. you will not damage anything by trial and error so it will either work or not
Gitarcanum Posted November 21, 2011 Author Posted November 21, 2011 ok thats the wah inductor with 2 pin TBH the wiring spec will not match that inductor. However unless you find a very similiar inductor you will have a hard time getting it exactly as shown. wire it up and see how it goes. you will not damage anything by trial and error so it will either work or not Mission complete. The Dunlop inductor works fine, I think. Of course, the real proof would be to compare it with a factory LP M-III, but as far as I can hear it, the sound is as it should be. 5 way switch is replaced, too. I also applied a conductive shielding paint on the control cavity and shielding foil on the plastic cover. However, I can hear an unexpected buzz, that muted when I touch any metal parts of the guitar. I'm not sure, is it a problem of the grounding of the guitar or the grounding of the amp. I can't hear the buzz when I play using my battery powered Boss Micro BR recorder, so it probably comes from the amp or because of the bad grounding of the wall power outlets?
Angellus Posted November 23, 2011 Posted November 23, 2011 Mission complete. The Dunlop inductor works fine, I think. Of course, the real proof would be to compare it with a factory LP M-III, but as far as I can hear it, the sound is as it should be. 5 way switch is replaced, too. I also applied a conductive shielding paint on the control cavity and shielding foil on the plastic cover. However, I can hear an unexpected buzz, that muted when I touch any metal parts of the guitar. I'm not sure, is it a problem of the grounding of the guitar or the grounding of the amp. I can't hear the buzz when I play using my battery powered Boss Micro BR recorder, so it probably comes from the amp or because of the bad grounding of the wall power outlets? Fantastic!!!!! great news, normally if it goes away when you touch metal parts on the guitar then its a guitar earthing issue. go over to a friends and plug it into their amp. if the issue follows you then we are confirmed that its the guitar. Check the earth that goes to the stopbar and make sure its not broken. then make sure all the backs of the pots are joined together in series for earthing and if the inductor has metal casing then earth it too
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