Jimmy Page Mod Complete

[RMosack]

I can finally say that my '94 Std. has the JP wiring mod (with a set of nickel SD '59s). It took a while to get done (mostly due to using the wrong diagram). Thanks to Gibson Customer Service and a the help of a few people on this board (Robert Sherman, Deaf Eddie et al), it's now done. It helps to: a) use the right diagram; and b) use the right wire color code!

Now that it's done, I love it. There's a whole bunch of neat new tones, but the traditional 3 settings are still there - but IMO better due to the '59s. I got together with some friends to play last week, and the new selections came in handy. The single coil sounds aren't Strat-like or Tele-like, but they come in handy for playing cleaner rhythm parts. The series single coil tone is real cool because it yields a cutting sound, but with humbucker volume. The jury is still out on the out of phase sounds, but it's only been a few days!

 

[sunburst]

hey hey hey please answer this.. where do you get the push pull knobs and is the cavity deep enough for them???

 

[RickN]

push-pull

hey hey hey please answer this.. where do you get the push pull knobs and is the cavity deep enough for them???

I wire my guitars with a phase switch and use the same push-pull pot that Gibson used on the JP model.

It so happens that it's the same push-pull pot that you can buy in a DiMarzio package at most well-stocked music emporiums. The difference is that Gibson uses a threaded brass bushing to secure the pot in the hole instead of just a nut. The pot has a very thin shaft/bushing and would flop around in the hole. Gibson's brass bushing brings it to the proper diameter.

Whether it's deep enough depends on the LP. In my '79 Standard, I had to get out the Dremel and create a recess around the location where I installed the pot. Ditto for my 30th Anniversary Gold Top. My R8 required no modification, and neither did my PRS McCarty (my McCarty is a first-year and didn't come with the now-standard push-pull).

I'm not sure if Gibson still has any stock left of the JP model push-pulls. I bought a handful a few years ago so I'd have them on-hand as I accumulate instruments.

It would be interesting to find out if there's enough interest to have a machine shop make up a box of these bushings to make them available to us'ns here on The Forum (and NO ONE ELSE! ) I'd offer up one of my bushings to use as the pattern. Then we could just drop down to our local music-mart and buy the DiMarzio pots rather than pay the rather elevated price of the same piece from Gibson....

Any interest??????spin

 

[Robert Sherman]

Good deal RM!

When I was on my quest for 500k dpdt push/pulls last year Gibson had none as the JP LP is out of production. They gave me several suggestions for suppliers, including Stew Mac. The Stew Mac pots work fine and seemto be from my observations the same as the pots Gibson was using. On the current production LPs with the steel plate in the control cavity, the plate needs to be removed and some wood does need to be removed from the cavity to provide clearance for the 3/8" bushings on the import 500k dpdt pots. I didn't bother with bushings, but used the original washers plus the smaller washers on the top of the guitar, along with some larger washers inside the guitar to stabilize the pots. I've not had a problem with the pots coming loose or wobbling to date.

 

[RMosack]

The local tech. purchased the push-pulls, but I think they came from Allparts and are probably manufactured by CTS. Because they're short-shaft, a little internal routing is required, but it's not a big deal. Basically, the carved top of a Les Paul is a little too thick (especially by the neck pickup controls) for such push-pull pots.

An interesting development:
I remember last week that I saw something on the web about new LONG-SHAFT 500K PUSH-PULL POTS. It was either an email from a parts house or maybe a Harmony Central announcement - not sure! The important thing is, when available, this will eliminate the worst part of the JP (and others) mod on a Les Paul!

 

[Dave Paetow]

CTS makes a long shaft push pull, but it is purely an on/off switch with 2 lugs, wouldn't work for phase, but would work to coil tap, though.

 

[Robert Sherman]

I've used those for coil taps and they are awesome. They dont do a darn thing for the JP wiring though. I may take my JP conversion to the Detroit show and see how it sounds through one of the 18 watters.

 

[led zep fan]

GuitarElectronics.com has tons of long shaft push pull pots.

 

[Robert Sherman]

The trick is to get long shaft dpdt push pulls. Last time I checked no one was producing them and I've come up empty over the last two years looking for them.

If you find a source I'd be more than interested.

 

[rufes]

would be nice if you can share all that diagrams etc... with the rest of us.

:term

Another thing for the moderators: Please be so kind to add an "h" on "asta la vista..." above. It should read "hasta la vista..."

 

[Robert Sherman]

I have the Gibby schematic for the JP wiring, email me at Robert@failedgrace.com and I'll email you a copy.

 

[rufes]

I have the Gibby schematic for the JP wiring, email me at Robert@failedgrace.com and I'll email you a copy.

Thanks a lot Robert! :yay

 

[Robert Sherman]

You have mail.