8/10/2019 CF Diagram Les Paul Standard

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Wiring Diagram

Les Paul Standard

Acme Guitar Works, Inc. - All Rights Reserved

Acme Guitar Works

Vintage WiringModern Wiring

Switch De

ACME

500K

CT

S

0602

ACME 5

00K

CTS

0602

ACME 5

00KCTS

0602

ACME

500K

CTS

0602

ACME

500K

CTS

0602

ACME 5

00K

CTS

0602

ACME 5

00KCTS

0602

ACME

500K

CTS

0602

Bare Wire(Twist Together With Black Wire)

Neck Pickup GroundNeck Pickup Hot

Bridge Pickup GroundBridge Pickup Hot

White From SwitchGreen From Switch

Red From Switch

Black From Switch

.022F

ACME GW

.022F

ACMEGW

Neck Volume

Bridge Volume

Neck Tone

Bridge Tone

.022FAC

MEGW

.022F ACMEGW

Neck Pickup GroundNeck Pickup Hot

Bridge Pickup GroundBridge Pickup Hot

White From SwitchGreen From Switch

Red From Switch

Black From Switch

Bridge (String) GroundBridge (String) Ground

Neck Volume

Bridge Volume

Neck Tone

Bridge Tone

Wiring Styles

This diagram shows both "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.

There's no real consensus on this issue, and no wrong or right.

In fact, calling the vintage wiring "vintage" may be a bit of a

misnomer, because there seem to be Les Pauls from the '50s

that came wired one way, and Les Pauls from the '50s that

came wired the other, so it appears that Gibson wasn't consis-

tent. If you want to read more about this, then have a look at

some of the forum sites and catch up. We've seen photos of

four 1958 Les Paul control cavities, with original wiring, that

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 andcons, here's a little more info about each:

Modern Wiring

Pro- Because the tone controls receive their signal from the

inputs of the volume controls, they're effectively connected

directly to the pickups. 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 paralle

across the volume pots' input and output lugs. These are pretty

effective, but there seems to be some modest tonal compro

mise associated with them, depending on who you ask, so they

may not be a perfect fix. Having said that, the majority of

people who try them find them to be an improvement. We've

included a couple with this kit, so you can try them if you'd like

and form your own opinion. If you choose to install them then

you'll use one on each volume control.

Vintage Wiring

Pro- When you roll the volume control down, 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).

The bottom line is, there are compromises with either wiring

style. You'll have to choose which compromises you're more

willing to live with.