Heritage electronics... myth solved.

[Kuz]

OK, so I have spent a BUNCH of time investigating, comparing, uprgrading, and evaluting the wiring/pots/caps in my Heritage guitars.

 

Here is the final word (and possibly why so much confusion around the issue)

 

1. My Heritage guitars prior to 2008 have adequate, but much inferior components to what they use now.

Components prior to 2008 were unmarked pots that spin way to easy and some small yellow caps .022.

 

2. Greeny and my 535 p-90, both 2008 guitars, use higher quality CTS 500K tappered pots and (maybe even more important) a major upgrade to sprague .02 caps

 

3. I ripped out the pots & caps on my 2005 Yodder (150 quilt) and put in a RS wiring kit with CTS tapper pots and Grey Tiger (same as bumble bee) .022 caps. The grey tigers give a pronounced high mid response that I like. The original yellow Heritage caps have a high shrill which is much less pleasing.

 

This is the first guitar I changed to '50s wiring and leadless to say I have switched all four 150s to this wiring. I have seen some clips on you tube which I am not able to duplicate (distortion to clean roll off with no volume loss), reguardless you gain about 40-50% more control with your volume & tone pots. AND it is so easy to do- just two quick sodder joint changes.

 

4. So I compared Yodder (150 quilt, now with top of the line CTS 500 pots & grey tiger caps) to 2008 Greeny 150 (Heritage new stock CTS 500 pots & sprague caps). Both guitars are wired to '50s wiring.

Bottom line.... I think I really prefer the stock Heritage sprague caps to the RS guitar works grey tigers. I am going to call Ren and get 4 Sprague .02 caps from them to update my other two 150s.

 

FINAL WORD....

 

-If you have a Heritage prior to 2008 with the inferior "easy spin" generic pots & caps, your guitar would benefit from a $50 upgrade to CTS 500 pots and different caps

 

-If you have a new Heritage or a new one on order, you will appreciate the electronic upgrades that Heritage has made, and in my opinion, there is no need to change any of the elctronics

 

-All Heritage guitars of any vintage, with any components will improve greatly from a quick change to '50s wiring.

 

 

Hope this helps clear up some questions on the components Heritage use & used and where & if you need to upgrade.

 

Best,

 

John

[golferwave]

I agree John. The older Heritages that I've had used the WD pots which I believe are made in China. Maybe some of them in Mexico. The yellow caps are generally Mallory .022 - 400...which are pretty good but not the same as Sprague paper in oil .022 - 400 caps. All of my Heritages have been changed out to CTS 500K pots with the .022 - 400.. paper in oil caps and 50's wiring. Truly the vintage tone way to go. Try it, you'll like it!

[pegleg32]

A very interesting post guys, thank you.

[bolero]

funny, I have a '93 H150: I bought an RS wiring kit, & installed it for a while, it didn't sound nearly as good as the original parts so I ended up putting them back in

 

wiring in both cases was 50's spec

[tulk1]

John,

 

You pulled the wiring out of your semis? Holy crap dude! That is some obsession, uh dedication right there. Totally too intimidated to mess with the wiring in my 535 and Prospect. (I'd really like to mod the Prospect). But ... nope. So, whats the deal with the '50s wiring?

[Kuz]

John,

 

You pulled the wiring out of your semis? Holy crap dude! That is some obsession, uh dedication right there. Totally too intimidated to mess with the wiring in my 535 and Prospect. (I'd really like to mod the Prospect). But ... nope. So, whats the deal with the '50s wiring?

 

As a matter of total coincidence, the bridge vol pot on my Cust 555 broke so I ordered the RS guitarworks vintage kit. The harness is all connected & put together, including new pots, caps, toggle, and output jack.

 

But I DIDN'T do the 555, I had my luthier do it.

 

I did, however, do by myself...

--Yodder (complete new RS uprade with pots & caps)

--Greeny (already had the good new Heritage stock components so I just changed it over to 50s wiring)

--150 GT (bought to CTS Volume pots, left the old tone pots, and left the yellow caps in it until I get some sprague PIO caps from Heritage, changed it to 50s wiring)

--150GT Sean (just switched to 50s wiring, but will definitely do the same with as the 150 GT - new vol pots & sprague PIO caps)

[Twin]

I just received a crap load of NOS caps, resisters and a few transformers from what looks like the 50, 60's. Orange drop caps, Mallory caps and resisters that I can't tell the brand, am I to think this stuff is worth digging through and using in my equipment?

[ledzef]

Interesting post going on here. Had a few questions of my own. Anybody ever try the 1 meg cap from Stew-mac? Also has anybody put shielding in their cavity for playing out? I konw that neon signs are a pain for guitars when playing at bars/small clubs. With all the choices for upgrades in wiring/caps and such any good recomendations? I came across the WCR guitar website and thought they had some good product, Stew-Mac is like a luthiers one stop and shop place. Well just curious about input.

[Kuz]

I just received a crap load of NOS caps, resisters and a few transformers from what looks like the 50, 60's. Orange drop caps, Mallory caps and resisters that I can't tell the brand, am I to think this stuff is worth digging through and using in my equipment?

 

If you have any of the bumble bee caps or all black sprague caps in .022, I would be interested in purchasing some of them.

 

Again, I would only be interested in the paper in oil (PIO) caps (cylinder shaped) and .022.

 

Shoot some close up pics and either post them here or shoot me a private message.

[brentrocks]

i wonder what a .047 PIO cap would do compared to a .022 PIO cap?

 

make it warmer or brighter?

[yngwie308]

I would recommend Rick Norman 'Dr.Vintage' of Phoenix, who is somewhat of an expert when it comes to pots, controls and various wiring styles, he installed his Vintage Controls spec kit in my '52/'56 Les Paul Goldtop and the sound and taper is excellent.

I would recommend him over RS, even though they are great, Rick has the edge, and '50's wiring is the way to go!!

http://www.doctorvintage.com/drv1_controls.html

Also his pickups are incredible, keep your Wolfetones, Marshallheads, you name it WCR, Rick's pickups are the best and closest to a real PAF I have ever heard and his P90's are incredible, one day he will be famous wiith his pickups, but from small trees, mighty oaks grow..

http://www.doctorvintage.com/drv1_pickups.html

Plus he is a great guy to deal with and deserves your business.

Thanks

Dave