The Last Bass Outpost

Gear Discussion Forums => Guitars Etc. => Topic started by: Dave W on August 18, 2021, 09:08:17 PM

Title: Christie's offering Les Paul's Number One
Post by: Dave W on August 18, 2021, 09:08:17 PM

Les Paul's Number One Goes Up for Auction  (https://www.premierguitar.com/news/les-paul-number-one-auction)

Title: Re: Christie's offering Les Paul's Number One
Post by: Rob on August 19, 2021, 02:31:43 PM

Great release.
What were the coils in the switch pocket and between pickups for?

Title: Re: Christie's offering Les Paul's Number One
Post by: Dave W on August 19, 2021, 10:31:01 PM

Tom Doyle would know. I don't.

Title: Re: Christie's offering Les Paul's Number One
Post by: Grog on August 23, 2021, 06:24:05 AM

It will be interesting to see what it sell for……..

Title: Re: Christie's offering Les Paul's Number One
Post by: Granny Gremlin on August 23, 2021, 08:30:53 AM

Quote from: Rob on August 19, 2021, 02:31:43 PM

Great release.
What were the coils in the switch pocket and between pickups for?

The thing in the switch pocket is probably just the switch, all taped up to keep dirt out.  They were bigger back then.  The thing between the pups, I would guess, is a dummy coil for humbucking.  Anything tone control related should be smaller and located in that roomy control cavity to minimise noise/keep leads to pots/jack etc as short as possible.

Title: Re: Christie's offering Les Paul's Number One
Post by: Rob on August 24, 2021, 05:09:25 AM

Thanks Jake!
I thought the  center coil might be a dummy but no clue about the switch.

Title: Re: Christie's offering Les Paul's Number One
Post by: Basvarken on August 24, 2021, 07:54:16 AM

I suspect the big coil in the middle is the dummy coil for the bridge pickup. And the coil next to the switch is the dummy coil for the neck pickup.
No switch would need a coil, as far as I know.

Title: Re: Christie's offering Les Paul's Number One
Post by: Granny Gremlin on August 24, 2021, 09:08:26 AM

The "coils" being 2 diff sizes, and one being in the switch cavity vs between the pups, really makes me skeptical of that they are both dummy coils.  There is no need for separate dummy coils, and the best place for a shared coil is between the pickups.  I really think that's just a very large taped up switch.  Not even that much larger than a modern L style LP pup switch, just all taped up.

Title: Re: Christie's offering Les Paul's Number One
Post by: doombass on August 27, 2021, 01:43:46 AM

However it looks like a heavy gauge coil winding exposed where there's insulation tape missing.

(https://i.imgur.com/404wRWo.jpg)

Title: Re: Christie's offering Les Paul's Number One
Post by: Rob on August 28, 2021, 01:11:54 PM

Maybe les thought it would shield the cavity or something.