What exactly does 50's wiring refer to?

[skydog]

Title says it all

[Kuz]

"Wiring Style

We offer "vintage" and "modern" wiring styles. The difference is in how the tone controls are wired. The vintage wiring corrects what some people feel to be a flaw in the later wiring, namely that the guitar loses treble as the volume controls are rolled down.

 

Here's the deal - there's no real consensus on this issue, and no wrong or right. In fact, calling the vintage wiring "vintage" is a bit of a misnomer, because there are apparently Les Pauls from the '50s that came wired one way, and Les Pauls from the '50s that came wired the other, so Gibson seems to have been inconsistent (this wiring is also often called '50s wiring or '57 wiring, depending on the source). If you want to read about this ad nauseam, then go over to the Les Paul Forum (www.lespaulforum.com) and catch up. We saw one post on that site with links to photos of four 1958 Les Paul control cavities, with original wiring, and all four had the modern wiring. Again, there is no wrong or right, only opinion, so don't get caught up in other people's opinions too much, use your own judgment. Both styles have pros and cons, here's a little more info about each:

 

 

 

Modern Wiring (above)

Pro - Because the tone controls receive their signal from the input of the volume pot, they are effectively connected directly to the pickup. Consequently, the volume pots' positions have no effect on the operation of the tone controls, which operate completely independently of the volume controls.

Con - The tone changes as you roll down the volume pot - there is some treble roll-off in addition to the volume roll-off. This doesn't bother some people at all, while it drives others crazy. In any case it can be compensated for by installing a volume kit, which is a resistor and capacitor wired in parallel across the volume pot's input and output lugs. These are pretty effective, but there is some modest tonal compromise associated with them, they're not a perfect fix. Still, the majority of people who try them find them to be an improvement. You can choose these as an option below and we'll wire them into the circuit for you.

 

Hope it helps!

 

Vintage Wiring (above)

Pro - When you roll off the volume control, you don't have a corresponding treble roll-off, the tone stays consistent.

Con - The tone and volume controls are interactive, because the tone controls receive their signal from the output of the volume pots (rather than the inputs). Because the position of the volume pot affects the tone control, the tone control's effect is inconsistent. As an example, if you like the tone control set at 5 with the volume all the way up, then this may change as soon as you roll the volume pot down some.

 

Bottom line, there are compromises with either wiring style. You'll have to choose which compromises you're more willing to live with."

 

HERE'S the link with the diagrams. Hope it helps.

 

http://www.acmeguitarworks.com/Les_Paul_As...c_P1776C185.cfm

[bolero]

hey, thx for the explanation Kuz!!

 

I tried both & preferred the vintage, but had no idea exactly "why" I liked it better...that clears some of it up

[smurph1]

I like the tone to stay the same when i turn the volume down, so I guess that puts me in the vintage wiring camp..