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I have a 76 Les Paul Deluxe. The tone has always been a bit murky for my tastes. Also, it feeds back terribly at high volumes. I've read some suggestions about replacing the pots to improve a muddy sound. Would this help feedback as well?

'76. That would've been made in the old Kalamazoo factory. I think Gibson made the move to Nashville right after that...'78? I had a nice '77 Deluxe like yours. Is yours a maple neck?

You need to test your pots and see if they are 300K. If they are change them to 500K.

Feedback is almost always your nickel covers resonating. You could have the pickups wax potted to kill the microphonics.

If you do all that and still don't like the tone I'd go for a set of Antiquity or Custom Shop LP Deluxe pickups or maybe something totally differant like some hot or custom P90's.

Lew

I have a '76 Deluxe as well. Mine was made in Nashville, and yours likely was, as well. The original pots in mine all measured around 350K. A switch to 500K will brighten the guitar up a little bit. I can't guarantee that it will get rid of the quot;murk,quot; though. This could be attributable to your cable, amp settings, the condition of your tubes, yadda yadda yadda. FWIW, I had mine routed for full-size humbuckers, and the Seth Lovers I have in it are great with my amps.

As Lew said, the microphonic feedback you're experiencing has nothing to do with the pots. Those mini humbuckers are very prone to do that. The minis in my Lester squealed like crazy.

I thought '77 was Gibson's last year in Kalamazoo. Anyone know for sure?

According to this site, production was split between Kalamazoo and Nashville from '74 on until Kalamazoo closes in '84.

from : localhost/www.gibson-guitar.com/history2.html

Thanks for all the feedback guys. The guitar has always had a muddy sound no matter what amp I've played through, the I play Fender amps pretty exclusively (I don't know if that has anything to do with it as well.) Originally I didn't want to change the pup because I wanted to keep it stock. However, I don't see myself ever selling it so I guess it doesn't matter. The Gibson site says the 76 Deluxes were made in Nashville for what it's worth.

I'd suggest switching the pots to 500K, then routing it out for a full size HB and drop in a JB/bridge and a 59/neck.

I don't think I want to hack the guitar up for full size humbuckers. I've got another electric with real double coils so I'd like to not f--- with the body. I might consider it if I knew someone I trusted to do that kind of job.

I wouldn't route it out either, regardless of what year LP it is, so many people have done that only later to sell them and the guitars aren't worth much then.

I would put in 500k pots. I find that anything other than 500ks with buckers (particlarly in Mahogany) sounds muddy. Outside of that maybe try some seymours? A vintage neck and Seymourized or custom bridge. Of course there is always the antiquity series to keep it vintage sounding.

My dad's LP deluxe (69) never squealed that much.

Luke

Maybe the thing just doesn't like Fender Amps. New amp is on my list of upcoming purchases. I am thinking more and more about getting Seymour pickups for it.

would an aluminum tail piece clean up the muddiness? anybody chime in and correct me...

I have a Deluxe just like that, '76 Tobacco Sunburst. I put a kit from RS Guitarworks, the 50's Standard kit and it's much better now.

Oh also my stock pots were 300k pots and the ceramic cap sucked also.

Okay folks I'm going to reveal my monumental ignorance. I didn't know what pots where until I joined this forum and I still only have the most rudimentary understanding. If I were to buy them, what exactly should I buy? I looked at Lew's site and saw a couple options but they might as well been written in Aramaic. I see Randy you mentioned RS guitarworks kit. What's their website so I can check it out. It seems like replacing pots is straight forward. Am I right. I don't have great tech skills but my dad does. So if it's just some sodering and other simple stuff I can do it. Do the tone knobs have pots as well? I told you I was ignorant. If so should I replace them as well? Also is there a book I should pick up that would spell a lot of these tech things out for me?

Usagi, Pot is slang for potentiometer. A pot is a variable resistor. When it is turned up to ten it is getting the least resistance when it is turned down it gets the most. But yes to answer your question you will need to replace them as well. CTS pots and orange drops will do amazing things for your guitar and you might want to try that before new pups.

Luke

usagi:

Lew mentioned P-90's as one alternative; the Soapbar version should fit into the factory rout in your guitar. Try out a guitar that has a pair of them and see how you like them. If you decide to go that route be sure to get a pair that includes a RWRP pup; that way when you select both pickups the combination will be humcancelling.

You might also look into the replacement Firebird mini-humbuckers out there.

--Good luck!

Steve Ahola

P.S. I just got a PRS SE Soapbar II which makes my Faded Cherry LP Junior Special look like chopped liver...

Okay I found CTS pots at Warmoth. Are they the same for volume and tone controls? What are orange drops and where might I find some? Thanks for all the comments guys. I like the idea of improving the guitar's tone for $20 instead of $200.

Okay are drops also known as capacitors? (Sorry for my ignorance again). If so should I try the .022 or the .001uf. I mostly play heavy metal type stuff.

I can help you out with the 500K CTS pots and also with .02 Orange Drop caps.

PM me if you're interested.


Originally Posted by BlueGuitarusagi:

Lew mentioned P-90's as one alternative; the Soapbar version should fit into the factory rout in your guitar. Try out a guitar that has a pair of them and see how you like them. If you decide to go that route be sure to get a pair that includes a RWRP pup; that way when you select both pickups the combination will be humcancelling.

You might also look into the replacement Firebird mini-humbuckers out there.

--Good luck!

Steve Ahola

P.S. I just got a PRS SE Soapbar II which makes my Faded Cherry LP Junior Special look like chopped liver...

Hi Steve! How you doin' buddy? Good to see you here.

Guys, if you don't know who Steve Ahola is you should. Steve's runs the Ampage forum that my brother Bruce Collins posts alot on.

Ampage is the best amp forum on the web, IMO.

Lew