Has anybody done a treble bleed mod on a Les Paul style axe?

felim · 15-04-2009 07:36AM #1

My guitar's volume controls are practically useless for cleaning up my amp. It just gets way too muddy when you turn down. I've heard of treble bleed mods on the volume pot, one in particular that involves a single cap on the pot. That one sounds like something I might be able to manage.

Anyone have any experience with this? If so, where did you get your parts from...ordering online is kinda out because I'd really only need the single cap.

Any other info on it would be appreciated, diagrams..pics...instruction for dummies like moi

Some one also mentioned changing to 50's style wiring might help, any ideas what that's about?

Seziertisch · 15-04-2009 02:12PM

A treble bleed is usually a cap and a resistor in wired parallel. Getting a good quality cap really makes a difference to the tone. I would suggest contacting
Dirk at singlecoil.com and see what he says. Different capacitors give different sonic results, and Dirk has experimented with all of them in various situations so is well qualified to make suggestions. While you are at it you could get yourself a couple of decent tone caps to make the price of postage worthwhile.

boycey · 15-04-2009 06:10PM

Here's two good sites....

a good priced one...
http://www.specialtyguitars.com/kits/lespaul.html

more expensive but great reputation...

http://www.rsguitarworks.net/rsstore/index.php?osCsid=3riqi5gjrrhibeagg7js4hgoa7

They should have everything you need.

felim · 16-04-2009 07:11AM

Thanks guys.

Paolo_M · 16-04-2009 12:08PM

I'd drop into Maplin first and pick a few different values nice and cheap. They sell lucky bags with loads of different values for about a fiver.
You'll need to do some experimenting with cap values, there's no one size fits all value.
Go to low in value and you'll get a shrill, ear piercing tone as you drop volume, go too low and it will be just like rolling of the bass.
Once you find the right value you could order in a quality cap on-line, the stores the lads mentioned seem spot on, I've also used http://www.allparts.uk.com/

The cap goes between the pick-up lug and centre lug of the pot. The highs basically get bypassed to the output. When turned up fully there's nothing to bypass and you get the normal tone.

The cap controls the break frequency. A series resistor can control the amount it breaks so it's less pronounced and this could be useful if you find the right value but just want to reduce the effect slightly.

felim · 16-04-2009 01:44PM

Paolo_M wrote: »

I'd drop into Maplin first and pick a few different values nice and cheap. They sell lucky bags with loads of different values for about a fiver.
You'll need to do some experimenting with cap values, there's no one size fits all value.
Go to low in value and you'll get a shrill, ear piercing tone as you drop volume, go too low and it will be just like rolling of the bass.
Once you find the right value you could order in a quality cap on-line, the stores the lads mentioned seem spot on, I've also used http://www.allparts.uk.com/

The cap goes between the pick-up lug and centre lug of the pot. The highs basically get bypassed to the output. When turned up fully there's nothing to bypass and you get the normal tone.

The cap controls the break frequency. A series resistor can control the amount it breaks so it's less pronounced and this could be useful if you find the right value but just want to reduce the effect slightly.

Cheers Paolo. I was just looking on the Seymour Duncan site and they recommend a .002 capacitor....I presume this means .002uF??

rcaz · 16-04-2009 02:57PM

felim wrote: »

Some one also mentioned changing to 50's style wiring might help, any ideas what that's about?

Cloth-covered wires?

Paolo_M · 16-04-2009 03:10PM

felim wrote: »

Cheers Paolo. I was just looking on the Seymour Duncan site and they recommend a .002 capacitor....I presume this means .002uF??

Yep, it's pretty much standard when the range is not given with a cap value that you can assume it's uF.

Cloth-covered wires?

Possibly different pot values, they tended to be higher back in the day.
Maybe install some ground loops. :pac:
Could be a bunch of things really.

Has anybody done a treble bleed mod on a Les Paul style axe?

Comments