P.A.F. Pickups: How to Replace Pickups and Wiring Harness in a Les Paul Guitar

[@christophercortez7191]

I have the exact same guitar, mine is a 2007. SN G0 7221. A 1960s Les Paul Reissue with a plain top was my DREAM guitar that I never thought I could have because I didnt think that spec configuration existed. Im just really fond of plain tops and im really fond of 1960s Les Paul specs. When I saw it show up on Reverb my life changed forever.

[@robertbogdan7058]

Even an old dog like me who has done dozens of pickup swaps over the decades can learn a new trick or two. Thanks.👍

[@6xcchamber971]

I hold the pots as I am reinstalling the nobs. In the past the plastic nobs were very hard and while trying to reinstall them I actually shoved the pot apart. The little prongs that hold it together separated and I just reattached it. Excellent bunch of videos!!! B

[@DvnLesPaul]

A trick I'd like to add for new pickup leads installation. If you tie a small length of twine to the end of the old pickup lead after de-soldering and pull back out through the route, then tie the new pickup lead to the twine, you can pull it back down through the hole. Sometimes it gets a little crowded in there and it can be very difficult to just "poke" the new lead down there. (although you didn't seem to have any trouble at all!) Excellent tutorial though, thanks for taking the time to provide!

[@ThroBakChannel]

Starting with neck pickup helps the wires move through easier.

[@Mark70609]

DvnLesPaul I also use a wire to pull the leads through. I put it down to being safe and not sorry.

[@aellis66]

Loving this additional tip! - I might try heavy sail-canvas thread or fishing line, cause thats what i have lots of.

[@danwguitar8651]

Jon, I have to tell you that I was actually installing a set of ThroBaks one time, and I had pushed back the braided ground wire a distance that I though was far enough. Well, the bridge didn’t work and it took me half an hour, soldering and unsoldering that that pickup before I realized that a single, tiny, damn near invisible fiber from the braided ground was reaching all the way back to the hot wire and grounding it out. I thought I’d messed up the pot. I now push the braid back further lol. Your video had me cracking up remembering this story.

[@Deebz270]

Heatshrink?

[@Bob-Whiting]

I just did this on my Paul today, 50s style with black reflectors (cause the plastics are black) except I used the orange drops instead of bumble bees. Sounds and looks so much better, I love it! Thanks for the vid.

[@Andytransverse]

Orange drops are just as good .. slight difference in tone

[@leelaird5102]

Enjoyable vid! One thing that I’ve done over the years, is to tie a thin piece of thread/string to the already unsoldered leads for the old pickups, before pulling them out of the control cavity. Then as each of the old pickup leads are pulled just clear of the guitar top, snip the thread/string and use a small piece of tape to hold the end of the thread/string in the respective pickup cavity. Tie the previously taped end of the thread/string to the new pickup lead and pull the far end of the thread/string, pulling the new pickup lead into the control cavity. On extremely tight pathways, I’ve even soldered a thin wire to the old pickup’s hot lead (in place of the thread/string) before removing, and repeated the same steps, just making sure to solder this wire to the new pickup’s hot lead, before pulling into the control cavity. The soldered wire method is less susceptible to getting caught and breaking, even though it does require a little extra effort with your soldering iron. Hope this might come in handy! Cheers, Lee Laird

[@LPCustom3]

I've use a T-shirt to remove knobs for decades. Just wrap it under the knob and pull up. Stoptail: replace the short bushings with ones that are 1.22" in length and made out of Steel. More mass you have in the body, the more sustain and better tone you'll have. Almost every vintage Gibson LP I've been in(a hundred or so...) I've never encountered a "star washer" on the pots.

[@ChrisFreyer]

This was a super cool video to watch as I sit here building my own replica SG.. Thank you for your explanations.

[@leascaart]

Thank you for this thorough tutorial.

[@nandoholgado3050]

Hi all! I own a pair of KZ 115, with the 50s wiring that sounds so nice, I love them incredibly, but i'm having troubles with my neck pickup. It sounds a little bit too much muddy and wobbly even following the video where Jon, explain how to adjust the pickups height. So i'm thinking to install a treble bleed only on the neck pickup. What do you think, does it's sacrilege? hahaha

[@jeffreybranco5702]

Great video Sir keep them coming, it is nice to learn from a pro.

[@DSpeir-pi6tm]

Jerks the knob off 😂LMBO !!!! Sorry about Chief I couldn't resist . Thank you for the informative video 🙂

[@vincentpritchett1231]

You can salvage the strings by loosening enough to slide off the stop bar and changing out the pickups.

[@Andytransverse]

awesome very helpful... now I understand single conductor wiring

[@micajones1010]

A little background music to entertain us guitar freaks would set your tutorials above all others. Great job!

[@leeguitarmcr]

I'm yet to do this task on my LP. Is there a chance the cable could get damaged when soldering the Braid to the back of the pot? Is it likely the hot solder iron could burn through the braid into the outer core of the cable?

[@shakeyperspective3981]

Just curious as to why you didn't use the lock washers when mounting the pots??

[@dennisbuszko2099]

Great Video! very well done!

[@marcellesraman4560]

thank you..1988 gibson les paul custom.the rhythm toggle switch not clicking into place..do i need to replace?

[@ThroBakChannel]

You may need to replace the switch. However there is a pin that the toggle switch pivots on that can come loose or break. You may want to check that and see that is the problem. If so you may be able to replace or reposition the pin and hold it in place with a spot of solder.

[@davidking2835]

How hard would it be to do this to a les Paul modern? I think the wiring is more complicated. I’m not sure other than I don’t like the tone of the modern. Help?

[@algreen266]

Hi i was wondering if you can help me , i purchase a new harness assembled harness kit for my les paul.I also purchased 1 490 and 498 pick ups, unfortunately the 498 has 5 wires and the 490 has 1 wire wrapped with a neutral and i dont know where they should be soldered.can you help me.Thanks

[@dennissmith863]

Soldering on to the pot....it's so easy to burn out one when you leave the iron on too long. .what a pain these guys make it look so easy.....I do have the concept and it worked for me it's just not as neat. ..thanks Jon

[@livejts3301]

Was it Mark C whom showed you the towel trick? Good video thank you! I’m about to swap some vintage Gibsons.

[@ThroBakChannel]

Yep, Mark Chatfield was is our shop with Rob McNelley when they were in town touring with Bob Seger. I was installing a wiring harness in Rob’s guitar and could not remove a knob and Mark showed me the towel trick.

[@livejts3301]

@@ThroBakChannel Love it! I suspected Mark knowing the Vegas connection. Im a huge Godz first couple albums / Mark & Bob Hill fan. Thanks!

[@geraldbox2388]

Very well explained

[@Mark70609]

What is the taper of your pots? I find taper is important when using the tone pots. The 10% taper on the Gibson Historic pots works great as a tone control. The 10% pots can be somewhat touchy, extreme as volume control, some like the pots to have a 20% to 30% taper for the volume pot. Have you tried the 0.015uF tone control cap for neck position?

[@ThroBakChannel]

The taper is identical to the pots in my vintage 57 Les Paul Special. I think Historic pots are very good. The main down side to the pots in Gibson Historics is the pot value is usually below 500k which reduces treble response. Vintage Pots are usually above 500k like our pots are speced.

[@Mark70609]

ThroBak Guitar Lounge I bought my Gibson pots a while ago. The first question I ask is about the taper. The 10% works for Gibson tone controls but oddly enough not so good for Fender tone controls. I think it is good that people ask these kind of questions as we all learn and the products available to the consumer are better.

[@Novakane.Bull.]

What about pick ups with 2 wires how do you solder them in ???

[@clucht85]

Jon, great video. I would suggest though when guys swap pickups, to measure roughly the lead lengths of the guitars they own in case at some point they want to put them in another guitar. Say you put a set of pickups in an LP and later they want to move them to a 335, they’d have to splice the wire to make it long enough to reach. Adding wire usually isn’t a big deal, it just adds another potential failure point. I usually just tuck the excess in the pickup cavity. -Carl

[@RsqSqr]

I want to order one. I have Gibson Les Paul standard 60 Traditional , 2016. Which Short/Long Shaft should I order.? Please confirm. Also for 59 vintage tone which Paf would you recommend. As there are many variation of original 1959 LP in tone. Particular I am looking for the sound similar to "The Beast" which Bernie Marsden have. I know it's a long call. But I know you are a man of dedication. I have thought of ordering KZ115. Correct me or direct me in correct direction. Thankyou.

[@telecasterguitarslinger]

I’ve had my Les Paul wired to 50’s style and in the wide open middle position i get a very distinct nasally out of phase sound. By adjusting the volume slightly the out of phase sound goes away. Has the guitar been wired correctly ? I should mention also the guitar was originally 4 conductor circuit board wiring. Great video thanks much !!

[@ThroBakChannel]

One of the pickups either has a magnet flip or is wired out of phase.

[@telecasterguitarslinger]

ThroBak Guitar Lounge Thank you ! I’ll try using a compass to verify the magnetic poles. Cheers !!

[@Frapzoid]

I have a GO Les Paul too. Burstbucker 1 and Burstbucker 2 were the original pickups for the GO's. What year was your GO made?

[@michaelweiss9219]

I made the mistake of not covering the back of the guitar when I did some soldering, dropped a blob on the paint......

[@gabrielm.4554]

Just a little character!

[@kevgh3869]

Hi. Thanks for the video. If you have the Gibson quick connect with the four leads, can you still do this? I understand you won't get the pull pots with split coil etc. Can you just cut the connector off and solder the appropriate two wires? I have new Gibson with the pcb board. I want to replace it with one of the Throbak harnesses.

[@ThroBakChannel]

I do offer pickups the quick connect wiring for your guitar to keep the switching options. To use our vintage style harness you would need to know the wiring color code for the pickups and toggle switch. I would contact a qualified repairman and let him know what you need.

[@kevgh3869]

Ok thanks. I have the Throbak KZ-115 pick ups with the quick connect connector in my Les Paul now. I was thinking of switching the PCB board for a proper vintage harness. Any thoughts on this? Do you think it is worth doing this considering I will lose the switching options. I have another Les Paul with ER Customs in it that I will leave with the pcb board.

[@RsqSqr]

@@ThroBakChannel that's exactly a great option I was also looking for the same. Will the same pick in discussion ie KZ115 with A2 magnet, when coil split would sound thin? As it would be a low output pickup. This is what I presume. I am asking this because I too have a PCB, I like the switching option and I also like KZ115 in A2 magnets. And was hoping to order.

[@vincentgrippi9524]

Really like the guitar neck stand , been using a pool noodle when I change strings , tried my hand at soldering on a kit I just finished , everything from scratch and boy did I screw it up , got to be careful on some wiring diagrams you get on the internet , no such thing as no capacitor wiring apparently

[@212sean]

Jon, great video. My tip is to set up a fan to blow that toxic smoke away from your face. I was cringing watching it all swirl straight up into the camera and probably right into your lungs. I've seen vintage footage from the Fender factory where they have standing fans behind the girls soldering up amp chassis. That's how I do it now and it makes a difference.

[@ThroBakChannel]

Great tip. I actually use expensive Hepa/Carbon filter fume extractors at every soldering station. I didn’t use it for this video because of the noise. But normally it is on when there is any soldering to be done.

[@hashtagzema]

What if I have a quick connect in my '08 SG? They have 2 wire, but my 57 classic pickups I just got are 1 wire.

[@davehall9035]

i couldn't help notice that on the original setup the capacitors were soldered to the hot pickup lead and on the new setup they were soldered to the hot switch lead. is there not a differance? Thanks

[@ThroBakChannel]

Your noticing one of the differences between modern and 50’s wiring. The ThroBak replacement wiring is 50’s spec. which improves treble clarity over modern wiring.

[@dronepro7120]

Great Video! I will definitely check out your others.

[@Rogijimbex]

Nice presentation - thank you. Was looking for a 335 wiring harness on your website. Didn't come across one. Do you have them or am I just missing the boat?

[@ThroBakChannel]

There is a ES-335 option.

[@s.barreto8700]

Hi. What’s the difference between soldering one leg of the cap to the tone pot ground and linking the volume and the tone pots with the cap?

[@Richard_P_James]

Very useful video. Question: what are the correct heights for pickup rings? I had the bridge pickup ring replaced on my Les Paul Custom, but it seems higher than the original (which cracked). Are there some general guidelines? I'm having the pickups replaced soon, and it would be the perfect time to address the height of the pickup rings.

[@neilpincus4667]

Bridge tone pointer points towards the neck volume pot.

[@lastditch1718]

Hello, I am hoping you or anyone who knows.. could perhaps help me out? I have a guitar body made I think by Ibanez. I also have a strat style neck to fit to it. and I bought some tuners, KLuson style. I also bought 2 pdf pickups, from Seymour Duncan and Gibson. one is the antiquity gold neck pickup. the other is a PAF Zebra burst bucker for bridge position. I have a bridge attached to the body currently. Its a hardtail. And a neck plate and all other necessary hardware. But I don't have the electronics wiring kit. The guitar body currently is already routed for 2 hubuckers. But it only has on it, 2 knobs. And a toggle switch for switching between the pickups, as awell as a second switch in it which I'm not sure what it was originally made for. Basically, what wiring kit would you recommend me as I guess/think I can only have two potentiometers? I know I will need a new output jack. but I don't know which potentiometers to get for the pickups mentioned. or what capacitors components etc... I'm hoping to get al the right parts for the build and then my friend is going to put it all together for me. many thanks.

[@vladimirlopez7840]

Excellent tutorial.

[@cmjek4154]

done subscribe and thanks for the tutorial of pickup installation..

[@maxwellblakely7952]

Jon, what type of solder are you using?

[@wildbilljr3369]

it be cool if you lived here in denver, im making 2 guitars im just now getting into making them so far so good, iv already made one it came out ok? but there still some glitches here and there, but one of the ones i'm using hornbuckles but with a very different harness knobs it has the big fat knobs and big switch im just wondering if 2 pickups will work on it.

[@cdemike7517]

I love these videos, this channel and the work you all do! I was wondering you ever recommend cutting/sanding pickup rings on guitars with more curve to the tops, and if so if you had any tips on how.

[@ThroBakChannel]

Our M-69 rings are molded flat like vintage M-69 rings and they will easily mold top of a Historic Les Paul. However with a guitar like a Heritage H-150 that has more of a curved top I would trim the rings to match. Stew Mac I believe has a video showing how to trim mounting rings.

[@walterarresse6598]

What do you suggest for adapting a pick-up ring to the curvature of the top, for a '59 replica Epiphone LP?

[@NINEWALKING]

Is that Gavit wire I see on your pickups? I find it superior to stuff that Gibson uses. That extra layer of rayon isolation results in even lower capacitance resulting in less loss on high tones. Plus 50’s wiring on the new harness. Even if pickups would have been the same and pots (CTS) and caps were same new setup would sound better. If that was V1 ‘60 anniversary I would have gone with non reflectors knobs btw.

[@ThroBakChannel]

It is Gavitt wire.

[@NINEWALKING]

@@ThroBakChannel Thanks. I've recognized it 👌. Best stuff outhere. I use it when reviewing Les Paul's to. Sometimes it makes way in my amps as well. Funny how bad cabke in the guitar it self can kill sound. Seems that capacity before pots is very important but in situation where pots are not wide open wire behind it starts having even higher influence. It's all in the capacitance combined with the given resistance. Coil resistance plus pot resistance and capacitance of the cabke make nasty low pass filter. Bad cable makes it like a tone pot is at 6, although it's actually wide open. I find that a fact that Gavitt sticks with cotton and rayon layers and proper tinned strains makes for low capacitance and closest thing to vintage sound of yhe Les Paul. I wish Gibson would drop cotton only isolation cable and drop a 4 conductor plastic isolation coax from the pickup selector on the Gibson USA guitars and go back to 3 braided cables like Gid intended it to be. Though if they would do that and put unpotted pickups Made all guitars with directly screwed into the top ABR-1 bridge and used long tenon there would be to little difference between Gibson USA and Custom Shop guitars. Heavier two peace body might not be enough to justify the price premium.

[@jordanhibbs2719]

Where can I find those bumblebee conductors? I'd like to use those on some pot replacements

[@ThroBakChannel]

We only sell them as part of our wiring harness.

[@dpm9a189]

I took a flat shoe lace and slid it under the knobs and wiggled them off

[@bernhardnizynski4403]

Was there a problem with the original wiring and pots?

[@ThroBakChannel]

The values of the Gibson pots were well below the 500k+ spec. of vintage 50's pots. Also the Gibson Bumble Bee capacitors are repackaged Mylar film capacitors rather than the Vintage correct Luxe Paper in Oil Bumble Bee repro capacitors we use for the ThroBak Harness. A vintage correct spec. wiring harness with ThroBak vintage P.A.F. repros will make a huge tonal difference if your goal is vintage Les Paul tone.

[@pablo5124]

Hi, great video. How do we know the winner of the giveaway? Greetings

[@ThroBakChannel]

Winner posted on the ThroBak Blog on the ThroBak website.

[@pablo5124]

I now watched the whole video and i gotta say i learned a LOT from it, all i needed to. I rewired my guitar a few weeks ago and this was the video i was trying to find. Fortunately i fixed out everything that was wrong. Thanks!

[@Spartakis3]

what about a gibson Studio les paul > long shaft pots ?!

[@ThroBakChannel]

Long shaft pots for a LP Studio.

[@barneycartwright4107]

What type solder do you use?

[@2ToneInstallations]

Les Paul classic also long shaft

[@paulsguitarchannel1810]

Nice job 👍

[@tonyjones7365]

Thanks good job!

[@paolocavalli7]

awesome

[@johnnycanosoda]

Excellent how to video...thank you sir!

[@zolar55]

Nice vid

[@johnsherwood2072]

Cool video thank you

[@ZeitlanKozan]

Thanks Man.

[@sargentppeper]

Great video. Thanks :)

[@sargentppeper]

I forgot to ask, where can I purchase the needle nose pliers with the inside spring? Thanks again! :)

[@LPCustom3]

BTW, you may know this already.. I have the 2nd Guitar Center R-0 made (Sept. 2002) out of the original five. Great guitars! I did send mine to Kim @ Historic Makeovers for the RDS total makeover..these weren't "G-0's" until 2004. What year is this guitar Jon? Congrats!

[@ThroBakChannel]

Mine is a 2008. It’s really nice. The original pots are labeled 440k on the side. I wonder if these all had that value?

[@LPCustom3]

ThroBak Guitar Lounge Jon, hard to know unless you measure each pot. I'm sure there's a big difference and great improvement in tone using your pickups and your pots!

[@Mark70609]

LPCustom3 what did you think of the Makeover? What did you get done?

[@LPCustom3]

Mark70609 Hi! I had Kim@ Historic Makeovers do my guitar! Kim is probably the most knowledgable and does amazing work. He's actually done six of my guitars over the last 10 years!

[@Mark70609]

LPCustom3 wow that is impressive, I'm almost at the point whereI will get him to do my R0. I'm ironing out all the issues with it and getting it ready for his work. It is the cost of buying another Historic secondhand and that plays on my mind a bit. What do you think is the most compelling reason to get a makeover?

[@chriswebb383]

So you took the 50s wiring out to put 50s wiring in .......just different caps . I get the pickup change but not the pots .

[@ThroBakChannel]

The original harness in the guitar did not have the correct value pots or capacitors for a 50’s era Les Paul. Putting in the ThroBak 50’s spec harness improved the treble response of the guitar.

[@11calman]

I hope to change my Pick-ups in my old Les Paul,, When I win the ones in "Jon Gundry" pick-up give away the competition,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Gib

[@MrFrenchHarp]

WHY didnt you PLAY the guitar so all those who watched the whole 38 minute video have a little something to HEAR? Other than that.. great video. You didn't go into setting the pickup and pole magnet height adjustments here.. but that's all very subjective.

[@ThroBakChannel]

I have another video on pickup and pole height adjustment. Make sure to watch that also.

[@jamescarpenter4777]

Can you use a guitar string to ground the pots together?

[@TheChadPad]

Why didn't you play iiiit?? :c

[@klauscottonswab2322]

Chisel Tip! 👍

[@toddzino58]

So, you took out CTS pots and bumblebee caps and then put in CTS pots with bumblebee caps? Am I missing something? Was the factory harness (which would arguably be more valuable) damaged or something? If not, that was a waste of money.

[@ThroBakChannel]

Two details. First the value of the pots in this guitar were 420k, not the correct vintage value of 500k. Putting the correct value in improves the treble response. Second the the new capacitors are vintage correct paper in oil construction rather than the mylar film caps that were taken out. Many prefer paper in oil. So much so that Gibson started using them in 2019.

[@geometricalshapes4464]

10:22 Yo did anyone else catch that??

[@markhellwig1448]

Why are you using RESISTORS instead of CAPACITORS?

[@ThroBakChannel]

@@markhellwig1448 The capacitors are known as Bumble Bee capacitors which have a ringed color code similar to the ringed color code on axial, through hole resistors.