Idiot's guide to Pots and Caps etc

[Angus]

Hi all,
I've read a lot on the forum about replacing various electronic bits (pots and caps) to presumably improve the sound of a Les Paul. I don't know anything about electronics, but if there is a marked effect on the sound, by using better grade components than Gibson used, then I'm interested.

I have a '79 Standard, what sort of difference would I hear by changing first the caps, and secondly the pots?

And what I would I ideally be changing them for?

Sorry if this seems like a stupid question, but most of the threads that deal with these issues assume more of a background knowledge than I have.

Thanks.

 

[Beerdog80]

well, look at it from this angle. Guitar companies want to keep their costs down while maximizing profits.

So, they cut corners where they can...the electronics are the main areas. If you race cars, are you going to fill up with bio-friendly gas? Hell no your not! Your gonna get that high quality racing fuel...even though the bio crap will make the engine run, the racing fuel will make that puppy bark.

Think of the electronics in your guitar the same way. Replacing the crap stock ceramic capacitor is a good place to start. Next up, pots. Again, stock is generally the cheapest they can get. I like to play with my tone and volume controls and I've yet to encounter a stock guitar that came with decent pots. Quality pots will give you a smoother roll-off value instead of acting like an off/off switch.


What will it sound like? Some members say it's like taking the blanket off your amp/pups. And thats a pretty good comparison. Clarity and bite is all over your tone since the pups are not being held back by cheap electronics between them and the amp (assuming you have good pups to begin with)

So...is it worth changing them out? Damn right it is!!

 

[Angus]

What will it sound like? Some members say it's like taking the blanket off your amp/pups. And thats a pretty good comparison. Clarity and bite is all over your tone since the pups are not being held back by cheap electronics between them and the amp (assuming you have good pups to begin with)

So...is it worth changing them out? Damn right it is!!

Right, thanks for that.

So if I was to cautiously to start with the caps... has anybody produced a guide for replacing them? What would I do, see what's in there and obtain higher quality replacements from an electrical shop? Is there much work/skill involved?

 

[Beerdog80]

Right, thanks for that.

So if I was to cautiously to start with the caps... has anybody produced a guide for replacing them? What would I do, see what's in there and obtain higher quality replacements from an electrical shop? Is there much work/skill involved?

No man, skill level wise...if your just swapping caps, unsoldier the old one and soldier the new one in. Takes maybe 2 minutes and that can really improve your tone.

If your new at this, so a search on Youtube. Sure you can find a video that shows how it's done.

There are also several manuals for this so of thing. Do a quick search either on google or Amazon and you will find thousands of ideas.

 

[elmono]

No man, skill level wise...if your just swapping caps, unsoldier the old one and soldier the new one in. Takes maybe 2 minutes and that can really improve your tone.

If your new at this, so a search on Youtube. Sure you can find a video that shows how it's done.

There are also several manuals for this so of thing. Do a quick search either on google or Amazon and you will find thousands of ideas.

Hi, I'm totally new on this forum, I was wondering If you have a link on youtube or some other usefull manuals for replacing the caps and pots.
I'm having trouble finding them.

Thank you.

 

[notjustdrew]

Look in tone freaks at the wiring diagrams and the soldering video- plus there are alot of threads on there about different sort of caps.