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Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: doombass on April 20, 2009, 12:13:45 PM

Title: Les Paul Standard Bass question (wiring).
Post by: doombass on April 20, 2009, 12:13:45 PM
Last week this one landed on my doorstep:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/doombass/Gibson/LP_Standard4.jpg)

Great bass but I have a question to Hr Hornung, Mr Fertig or anyone who owns or have played one. On my specimen the vol controls act as master volumes when the toggle is in center position. Is it factory correct? I thought that type of stupid wiring was exclusive on the EB-3. I found the schematics PDF at gibson.com but it was was blank although schematics of the LP guitar from early 70's show the same stupid wiring. I'm going to switch the wire connections on both pots tonight (so that the pup signal is grounded not the output jack signal) but thought I'd ask anyway since the toggle is wrong also. Downwards (treble) engage neck pup only and upwards (Rhythm) is bridge pup only. Either it's been tampered with or is  installed upside down (if possible?). May or may not be a Gibson staff screw up.
Title: Re: Les Paul Standard Bass question (wiring).
Post by: Basvarken on April 20, 2009, 12:42:49 PM
But other than that it is a beautiful bass. I dig the honey burst curved top.
Congrats Daniel!


Title: Re: Les Paul Standard Bass question (wiring).
Post by: Barklessdog on April 20, 2009, 12:56:32 PM
Quote
On my specimen the vol controls act as master volumes when the toggle is in center position. Is it factory correct?


I dont recall mine working that way, but can check over the weekend (I dont have my basses at work like the Germans do!)
Title: Re: Les Paul Standard Bass question (wiring).
Post by: doombass on April 20, 2009, 02:26:38 PM
Rob: Thanks. I prefer the Honey Burst when it's the pale version like this one. I think I've only seen one more as pale as this. Otherwise I like the Vintage Burst as well. I've been gasing for one of these many years and thought I'd be fine with the Double Cut. The neck is a bit beefier on the Standard and that's what I like about it in comparison. Soundwise it is similar but the Standard has more of everything it seems and in this case I don't mind having more. Price was fair and the colour was nice so I BIN'd it. Downside would be that the bound body is not as confy for the right arm when picking but I'm used to the Triumph and wear my basses low enough.

John: I have rewired it now but it would still be interesting to know how yours work. I could not see any evidence of a rewire (the wire just barely reached the outer lug of the treble vol pot) and the toggle and control cover screws had a distinct snappy sound when loosening which might suggest they have'nt been off the bass since leaving the factory. Why would anyone want to not be able to adjust pup volumes individually? Beats me.
Title: Re: Les Paul Standard Bass question (wiring).
Post by: Chris P. on April 20, 2009, 10:17:39 PM
Yep, very beautiful finish!
Title: Re: Les Paul Standard Bass question (wiring).
Post by: Freuds_Cat on April 20, 2009, 10:30:57 PM

(I dont have my basses at work like the Germans do!)

 :mrgreen:

Great looking bass btw
Title: Re: Les Paul Standard Bass question (wiring).
Post by: uwe on April 21, 2009, 12:21:07 AM
I'm pretty sure mine works in that master control way you don't like. Will check once I'm in the office. With my beloved basses.
Title: Re: Les Paul Standard Bass question (wiring).
Post by: Barklessdog on April 21, 2009, 04:37:05 AM
Maybe take a few pics on the rewire?

Mine must be the same and I agree with you, thats just idiotic.


Looks great Daniel. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy mine.

I love mine and really has become my favorite non trem passive bass. I definitely favor it over my non reverse Tbird & FenderBird. The Lp has the nice tone of a Tbird, but with more in your face punch that it stands out in the mix, where a tbird tends to blend in, to me. Also I enjoy the neck, cutaway, Toggle and is probably, for me, my fastest playing bass. Setting up the bass is vital with this bass. Quality on mine is fantastic.

The odd body shape takes some getting use to. I dont like the sharp binding either.

Funny but my Lakland Decade comes closest to the tone of the LP.


Daniel you should post more pictures of yours. I love the color.


Fine, I will post mine!

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/Fenderbird/MY%20BASSES/kimapaul.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/Fenderbird/MY%20BASSES/birdseye.jpg)

A bit of brilliant German engineering
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/Fenderbird/MY%20BASSES/moneyshot.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/Fenderbird/MY%20BASSES/neckview.jpg)

I think these are probably one of the most dismissed basses, by bass players, but is probably one of the best basses for rock on the market, in my opinion.



Title: Re: Les Paul Standard Bass question (wiring).
Post by: Freuds_Cat on April 21, 2009, 04:42:21 AM
Great photo's John, and a gorgeous looking bass.
Title: Re: Les Paul Standard Bass question (wiring).
Post by: uwe on April 21, 2009, 05:04:33 AM
Yup, mine works like that too. Though volume of the neck pup really only starts to noticeably fade once you are at 5 with the control (and all sound is killed around 9) of the bridge pup and vice versa, with the range before 5 enabling quite some tone coloring. There are two reasons why someone would prefer this over a wiring enabling totally separate volume control, albeit none of them especially relevant for bass (maybe they just copied the wiring of the guitars where it makes more sense):

- you can do violin type fade/fade out effects with both pups while only using one vol control (it bothers me how you cannot do that on a Ric for instance),
- you can use one vol control to kill the sound of both pups.

Uwe

PS: Congrats, Daniel, on a very nice and good bass, you've described the differences to a Doublecut/Money well (but forgot that the latter is double octave!), the Standards are more forceful/assertive.  And I see that the sun shines in Scandinavia even this time of year!
Title: Re: Les Paul Standard Bass question (wiring).
Post by: Barklessdog on April 21, 2009, 08:48:04 AM
Great photo's John, and a gorgeous looking bass.

Thanks.


All we need is Uwe to post some flame top cherry burst pics, then a rare carved top black beauty
Title: Re: Les Paul Standard Bass question (wiring).
Post by: Barklessdog on April 21, 2009, 08:50:27 AM
Someone at Talkbass owns this Dark Star Paul

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/Fenderbird/374mg2888lr5.jpg)

I never was a big fan of cross pollenating brands
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/Fenderbird/364mg2891jc9.jpg)
Title: Re: Les Paul Standard Bass question (wiring).
Post by: exiledarchangel on April 21, 2009, 09:16:31 AM
That bass looks cool, but overcrowded.
Title: Re: Les Paul Standard Bass question (wiring).
Post by: uwe on April 21, 2009, 10:25:51 AM
Butt-ugly the Dark Star pups on that Paula. One might have been tolerable, but two is way too much.
Title: Re: Les Paul Standard Bass question (wiring).
Post by: exiledarchangel on April 21, 2009, 11:51:10 AM
I think it would look much more cooler with 3 minihums than with two big pickups like DS.
Title: Re: Les Paul Standard Bass question (wiring).
Post by: doombass on April 21, 2009, 03:21:36 PM
Thanks for letting me know that it had stock wiring guys. I agree John that somehow setup seems vital. I've tweaked the trussrod a few times and also had a stint with ze German technology (ABM? bridge). Now it plays fantastic and is going on band practice tomorrow. I'll take some pics of the wiring tomorrow as well John. I guess there really is a point to some people to wire like this as Uwe open mindedly described it. Not to me though. Sometimes it's nice to simply roll off the treble volume a notch or two.

We've had sunny wheather almost every day the past couple of weeks. These pics are the sellers (Italian) though, not mine. I have yet to take some for myself.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/doombass/Gibson/LP_Standard2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/doombass/Gibson/LP_Standard1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/doombass/Gibson/LP_Standard6.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/doombass/Gibson/LP_Standard12.jpg)
Title: Re: Les Paul Standard Bass question (wiring).
Post by: doombass on April 21, 2009, 03:24:12 PM
Someone at Talkbass owns this Dark Star Paul

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/Fenderbird/374mg2888lr5.jpg)


Up for sale? Listed as brand new. ;D

http://cgi.ebay.com/Gibson-Les-Paul-Standard-Bass-Honey-Burst-Brand-New_W0QQitemZ330323855826 (http://cgi.ebay.com/Gibson-Les-Paul-Standard-Bass-Honey-Burst-Brand-New_W0QQitemZ330323855826)
Title: Re: Les Paul Standard Bass question (wiring).
Post by: Dave W on April 21, 2009, 05:35:41 PM
Up for sale? Listed as brand new. ;D


Wonder if it really is a brand new Gibson and the seller just copped the pic off Talkbass.

Bad move.
Title: Re: Les Paul Standard Bass question (wiring).
Post by: Freuds_Cat on April 21, 2009, 06:03:16 PM
I love the sound of the DarkStars that I've heard and I love the look and feel of LP basses but somehow to me they are a bad match asthetically. Be interesyed to hear what this combination sounds like.
Title: Re: Les Paul Standard Bass question (wiring).
Post by: Chris P. on April 21, 2009, 10:49:26 PM
Yep, that bass needs three Darkstars!
Title: Re: Les Paul Standard Bass question (wiring).
Post by: Freuds_Cat on April 21, 2009, 11:17:40 PM
Says the man with fifteen 9v batteries in his Buzzard ;)
Title: Re: Les Paul Standard Bass question (wiring).
Post by: uwe on April 22, 2009, 01:53:46 AM
That definitely is a really untypical, but beautiful fin. Kind of faded lemon/honey.
Title: Re: Les Paul Standard Bass question (wiring).
Post by: Chris P. on April 22, 2009, 02:04:47 AM
Mine's passive and no LEDs! So no 9V batteries:)

Uwe, do you know more about why Gibson used Warwick bridges for a while?
Title: Re: Les Paul Standard Bass question (wiring).
Post by: ramone57 on April 22, 2009, 04:28:24 AM
very nice looking bass, congrats!
Title: Re: Les Paul Standard Bass question (wiring).
Post by: Barklessdog on April 22, 2009, 04:37:12 AM
Thanks for letting me know that it had stock wiring guys. I agree John that somehow setup seems vital. I've tweaked the trussrod a few times and also had a stint with ze German technology (ABM? bridge). Now it plays fantastic and is going on band practice tomorrow. I'll take some pics of the wiring tomorrow as well John. I guess there really is a point to some people to wire like this as Uwe open mindedly described it. Not to me though. Sometimes it's nice to simply roll off the treble volume a notch or two.

We've had sunny wheather almost every day the past couple of weeks. These pics are the sellers (Italian) though, not mine. I have yet to take some for myself.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/doombass/Gibson/LP_Standard2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/doombass/Gibson/LP_Standard1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/doombass/Gibson/LP_Standard6.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/doombass/Gibson/LP_Standard12.jpg)


Wow, that really is amazing looking. Vey nice light finish on it, so creamy & smooth. Love the light grain on it. There is something about just simple wood that appeals more to me than the Tiger, Curly burled cancerous looking woods that seem to be the rage now.

Congrats on the bass. Funny how much the set up means for this bass, its day & night.
Title: Re: Les Paul Standard Bass question (wiring).
Post by: doombass on April 22, 2009, 01:50:10 PM
Nowadays I'm quite fed up with flame maple tops. Here's the pic you asked for John:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/doombass/Gibson/LP_vol_mod.jpg)

I simply switched places of the pup leads and its respective output wires, the red and white. In my case I also switched places of the red and white wire, so the toggle works in the right manner now. Since I don't use the tone controls that much I did'nt bother to fix them (yes they are wired like the vol controls). Maybe another day.