Tone Tips Live: Dialing in a Les Paul

[@stevesuv]

When you said that you EQ your amp to your neck pick up, you said the magic words. Then when you rolled back the tone on your treble pick up you so;lved 90 percent of balancing your pick ups. So many people set their amps to there bridge pick up and then hit the neck, and it is going to be muddy. Way to go. You explained the secret. Im also a pots and caps guy. The wiring harness makes all the difference.

[@07BSPtC]

As someone who has played for 20 years I just started doing this. Tone has improved a lot because of it.

[@joeurbanowski321]

Can I simply spin my humbucker around..? Or is there internal wiring involved..? Thanks..

[@PHeMoX]

A lot of guitars will also have two pickups that differ quite a lot in pretty much literal output. It's going to matter a lot what you do with that or have a better quality guitar with more balanced pickups. Not saying the most expensive guitars don't need these tweaks, because they do. But probably less so. It's incredibly useful to know how to tweak this properly indeed. Changed the whole guitar playing to me a lot.

[@davidrees1840]

@@joeurbanowski321 Installing the neck pickup with the screws twd the bridge doesn't change the sound; you can do 2 things: take the magnet out and flip it 180 degrees, or install a push-pull pot in either neck or bridge tone wired for phase switching. The p-p pot is what I have, and you get the nasal sound and can back off either the bridge or neck volume to decrease the nasalness.

[@shawnglass108]

It took me a long time to figure this out and it was monumental in getting the most and best tones from my Les Paul. This piece of knowledge and having my guitar switched to 50’s wiring with good 500k pots and PIO caps has made my Les Paul a tone monster. It was my favorite guitar before but it wasn’t nearly as versatile. Now I’m getting all of those vintage neck and middle tones I’ve been missing.

[@trickyrjb1]

..been playing 40 years and have been waiting for/needing/missing this video for the entire time. Definitely not boring! Cannot wait to implement these tips!

[@JeffMcErlain]

I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for letting me know. Hope it helps.

[@TheBazo007]

0⁰⁰

[@steveliberty]

I love 50's wiring. It provides 2 benefits that I really appreciate. 1 - when turning the volume knob down, you don't lose treble, and 2 - when turning the tone control down, you are reducing treble AND gain. Both are really useful and very pleasing to my ears.

[@slashtrio]

I just got the slash model LP standard. Which is basically the new 50s standard LP with some different pickups. I think these more recent 50s standards have the wiring that you’re talking about correct? “Orange drop capacitors”. Also I had a question about pickup covers. These slash pickups are basically alnico 2s uncovered. I prefer the look of nickel or chrome covers. If I add covers would it change the tone? I read somewhere that nickel really didn’t make any difference with respect to tone. Thanks

[@mikew9788]

The slash standards are incredible. I put a pickup cover on the neck pup Ala jimmy page.

[@musikus7092]

All my Les Pauls have 50s wiring and they lose treble by rolling down the volume knob.

[@brushstroke3733]

​@@musikus7092Treble bleed (as in "bleed through") circuits really help with that and are super inexpensive to make and install. I don't know why all guitar makers don't install them at the factory.

[@pascal006]

Nice video! I feel like a lot of people who don’t like Les Paul don’t set their amp FOR the Les Paul. If you crank the mids and bass to suit your strat, of course the Les Paul will sound muddy. I always played Les Paul and scooped the mids on my amps so I can get a great fender-like clean sound. When you hear Page or Kossof, It’s clear to me they set up their sound for their Les Paul, to get a bright, clear and tight sound!

[@aidantod33]

Jeff. Some of the best slow blues I have ever heard, if not the best, in this video. You are a Master. Respect. Great advice on the pots and 50”s wiring. I have been getting treble bleeds fitted to my LP’s. I am very glad you can teach me through the internet. I feel blessed. And, more importantly, you seem a top person, and while it will never happen, would love to buy you a beer man. Stay cool.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thank you so very much for sharing this with me. I can’t tell you how much it means to me. A beer 🍺 would be nice and thanks foe being here.

[@ix-Xafra]

Cheapest guitar mods: 1. Replace strings 2. Replace pots 3. Replace caps 4. Replace guitar player

[@JeffMcErlain]

lol!

[@ix-Xafra]

@@JeffMcErlain this was the 1st of your vids I watched. Maybe it'll encourage players to actually use their pots instead of pedals! I'm a Strat player and like a small amp cranked these days (I had a Super Reverb for 25 years) and wear out pots regularly. Thanks for your sharing and great playing!

[@jamesbrady8535]

What are caps ?

[@ix-Xafra]

@@jamesbrady8535 capacitors. Little things soldered on your tone pots

[@jamesbrady8535]

@@ix-Xafra Thanks,still no idea on what that is.

[@sdfswords]

Completely accurate and useful, the electronics, pots, caps, switches are so cheap but make a huge difference in tone and control of the sound. Fantastic!

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thanks!

[@Check-it-out]

Awesome performance at the opening 👍🏻👍🏻

[@mortbot]

OMG, what an explosion of tone and playing in that opening jam!!!

[@Win1forQuinn]

Excellent stuff, great playing, phrasing, and tone. I enjoy your videos on Truefire as well!

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thank you!!

[@DDWyss]

Thanks for the tip about setting up the amp to the neck pickup with some overdrive, and then adjusting the bridge pickup to sound good around those settings. After watching this video, I went and tried that with my Les Paul. I have an old-ish Peavy VT Classic amp, which is a very dark and muddy sounding amp; it even makes my Fenders sound quite dark. So with the Les Paul, it can have a lot of mud, pretty good sounding mud, but mud nonetheless. So when I put on some overdrive on the neck pickup and just tried to dial that in the best I could, turning the bass way down, the mids quite far down, and the treble cranked up pretty high, I got the neck pickup sounding really bright, snappy and well-defined. And I found that I could dial in the bridge pickup quite nicely and easily by rolling off the tone until it sounded sweet and without any harshness. But the biggest and best surprise, to me, was how awesome the clean neck tone was after I had done that! Somehow, using the overdrive had helped me find and unlock the perfect neck pickup clean tone! I never would have thought to set up the amp tone that way, using that method! What a difference! Thanks again for the suggestion!

[@bmluker1]

I just got in the mail a set of the VIPots. Installed them this morning and thought I did something wrong because the sound is unbelievably better. Cleaner and clearer is the words I would choose to describe.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Absolutely. Amazing the difference they made in my guitars as well.

[@antoniomonteiro1203]

I also have a PRS 594 and I use a lot the selector in the middle position, bridge at full vol and neck to adjust the bass. It works also very well in the coil tap situations (both or one of them). But I had a problem: the optimum neck vol would be between 9.3 and 9.6, which is to say, difficult to set and reproduce. I have replaced the vol pots with linear ones and now the neck volume can be easily found and reproduced between 6 and 9. For each pickup alone it doesn't make a big difference. You adjust the volume by ear and to me it is better as you have more rotation from 10 to get the same attenuation. So, it is less abrupt and more gradual.

[@antoniomonteiro1203]

Regarding the tone capacitors, there are no good or bad sounding capacitors! A good capacitor is one that may last 200 years before failing while a bad one may last only 100. A good capacitor of nominal value 47nF may present a measured value of 48nF while a bad one may present 43 or 51nF. The amount of highs roll off will be slightly different in any case but it doesn't mean worse and can be adjusted with a bit more or less tone pot. The influence on the tone with the tone pot at 10 is at its minimum. This doesn't mean it is the same as having the capacitor disconnected from the tone pot, as this one represents a load for the pickup.

[@musikus7092]

Correct. People that have no clue about electronics always talking about capacitors.

[@hunter8turkey1]

Thank you. I love the sound. I purchased some pots 50

[@ericschwartz9982]

Very sweet tone. Buttery sweet. Thanks.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thanks!

[@zakkwyldesdmf13]

One more thing about string action: You can't set every guitar to the same string heights because the radius dictates the string height: What I mean by that: I set my action, so I can bend my high e-string at least one whole step and then the rest of the strings accordingly. "Accordingly" means that I can apply the same "pressure" to every string. If I play 4 notes per string over every string, it should feel "the same" on every string, so I don't feel that I have to press a certain string harder or less hard. On guitars with a flatter neck (15" radius) I can set my strings very low. On guitars with a rounder neck (7.25" radius) I have to set my string action higher.

[@Jeehaaaaan]

Hi Jeff. This is amazing man! Been loving my les Paul even more since I saw your video

[@JeffMcErlain]

Awesome!

[@michaelbast8250]

Thank you Jeff this video has been quite informative. I have to go get me some 50s wiring for my early 70s Les PaulI. The dynamic range you were able to achieve is quite inspiring.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thanks and you are welcome!

[@WatchesnguitarsDK]

If you have a soldering iron, you can do it yourself without anything to "get" - not anything physical afterall 🙂

[@markstewart8171]

@@WatchesnguitarsDK i have a soldering iron, however i don't enjoy doing the soldering on my equipment. Rather a pro do it.

[@Dang...]

Jeff, your playing is so beautiful: very expressive, dynamic, soulful, creative, adventurous, and musical. Thanks for sharing your expertise.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thanks Dan. I really appreciate you commenting. Cheers!

[@EdwardD.RobertsJr]

Great playing. Great discussion. I do have a question, though: When it comes to the Tone pots, do you have a preference for audio taper pots or linear taper pots, and why? (With apologies, if I missed that during the discussion - it was quite late when I watched it.)

[@guitarist22lespaul90]

Hi Jeff,I always like your guitar lessons videos,I am big fan Gibson Les pauls,Please do more lessons with your Les Paul,I dont what is about Les paul but I just love them.I think it because Iam Ace Frehley From Kiss Fan,Mick Ralps From Bad company and Page and Clapton.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thanks and happy to play the LP. Thanks for checking out the video!

[@richardclark.]

Took me a minute to recognize because I was intent on the content. Nice plaque on the wall! Glad to see it.

[@scottbeck739]

Love Love your vids! DONT STOP..and you're NOT talking too much because I've learned a lot! Thanks. Oh, I got a 2016 Gibson limited les Paul classic, (limited amount to only certain retailers), and it's my baby!!

[@telecasterguitarslinger]

I’m late to the party but I absolutely love the 50’s wiring. At first I didn’t get it in thinking in the middle position wide open, I got this very out of phase sound i.e. Peter Green but by manipulating tone and volume it’s like a library of tones. Running through a DSL 40, it’s heaven sounds. Thanks for sharing this Jeff. 🌞

[@JeffMcErlain]

🤘🤘!

[@patricelecanu6150]

hello jeff !!! just subscribe to your channel !!! love the way that you explain it is so clear !! and of course your playing ability is huge ! thanks from france !!

[@SteveMavronis]

Very informative tone demonstrations. Thank you.

[@vincentswan6557]

This is great. More of these "how to dial in' videos would be awesome.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Ok! I’ll do more!

[@vincentswan6557]

@@JeffMcErlain After over 30 years playing Fenders and Acoustics I bought my first LesPaul 2 years ago.... I finally figured out how to approach getting it to sound decent after watching this video. You saved this guitar for me!. Thanks for that :)

[@JeffMcErlain]

Vincent Swan fantastic!

[@mikebingham7189]

I liked what you did. The playing while explaining was good, maybe......the best I've seen and I've seen a lot. I've done lots of mods to my LP. I've experimented with different magnets, different caps and pots. I've spent a leisurely 3 years experimenting with the guitar and the amp. What I like so far is 50's wiring, as good as sounding pots as one can find, 500-550, and .015uf cap in the neck and .022uf cap in the bridge BUT I'm thinking of trying .033uf cap in the bridge. I'm using Wolftone pickups, a Dr. Vintage in the neck and a Marshallhead in the bridge. I like to play loud, controlled, and I love the feel, the vibration, the tone and the beginning-middle of breakup and....the power. To me the amp, and the player to, may be the most important.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thank you very much, I really appreciate the comments. 🙏. You’ve also dig deeper than I have with the caps, very cool. Yes the amp is extremely important to have these subtleties come out. But as you said, it’s the player that matters most. I did notice I because a better player also once I dig into these things, or they fed each other.

[@shader26]

WOW…LOVE your playing in the intro. Amazing.

[@Burtronic]

If you don’t have a lot of money and want a full fat Les Paul get into an old early 2000 Les Paul classic, can be a great price and still have money left over to play with pickups, and you get an ABR bridge with a slim headstock and a nice ink stamp serial . As long as you don’t mind a thin neck (and they aren’t that thin, slim yes, thin no) you won’t find a better bargain. 2003 and earlier, you’re onto a winner if you like it and it clicks.

[@Kaisermb1]

I’ve been playing for a long time and only in recent years have I really worked on knowing my amp and guitar really well and not depend on pedals so much. Pedals are now just the seasoning.

[@JasonChannell]

Extra points for mentioning the DGT! Love mine and my Les Paul

[@JeffMcErlain]

Great guitars!

[@michaelpavone-p5i]

you are absolutely fanfrigging fantastic!!!! i WISH i had 3rd of your knowledge and talent. love what you do and listening to u play espeacially Page!!!

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thank you!!

[@lcvol73]

That is the best looking Les Paul I’ve ever seen!!!

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thanks!!!

[@guismth]

Not boring at all. Ty for doing this.

[@sparkyguitar0058]

It's not only volume control but pick pressure. Easy picking can also reduce gain tone. It's a combination of different things. I built my Paul with 50's wiring and .011 caps cause my main guitar is a Lace sensor Strat. I didn't want to change settings every time I would switch guitars. So tried to keep each in the same neighborhood. The Paul has 496/500 pups so in that sense not even in the neighborhood. So much louder that the volume controls both guitars has loads of work every time. And I always used my guitar controls; tone/ volume/ pups selector. On the Paul I use middle position and volumes to control sound

[@joeurbanowski321]

That’s some NA-STY playing my friend..!!! Whoooo… I’ll be breaking down some of those licks later today..!!👍🏼 Thanks Mister Jeff..! ❤️

[@JeffMcErlain]

🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@chickenlickin3820]

Just got my Dirty Lemon R9. Sliced my hand open on the case cup washer that screws in the neck heal support. Bit of a Burr on it. took the screw out and filed the cup washer. hopefully i can play tomorrow : ) here's hoping..

[@daniellaudman8580]

Add a russian .015 cap to neck pickup, lower neck pickup so its even with pickup surround then adjust neck pickup screws to arc of fretboard radius.

[@mikehickey6256]

Just think of how good that would sound with a strat. Lol, awesome tone. Looking into getting a Les Paul and got no clue as to getting a tone out it. Thanks for the help.

[@philhirst2434]

Superb Fluent Playing, and superb tone And, a superb Less Paul. What can I say?

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thank you!!

[@jamesmalamute7874]

You are Very Good, and I love all of your Demo, and TONE videos,What I wanna know is, how can you radio the FAA tower ,and get a clearance to take off while playin the Lester.

[@jsauce666]

Historic Makeover. Only the best. Kim knows his stuff. 😀

[@johnmirabile3535]

GREAT VIDEO! IN THE LAST MONTH OR SO I FIGURED SOMETHING OUT ...EACH INDIVIDUAL HAS A DIFFERENT TOUCH, I KINDA FIGURED OUT WHERE MY TOUCH TO WAS TOO LIGHT OR HEAVY,,,BEING A SINGER, WAY BEFORE I WAS A GUITAR PLAYER, IM A NOTORIOUS BENDER/SLIDER, BC BEING A BLUES/SOUL TYPE SINGER, THATS JUST ABOUT THE ONLY THING THAT CAME EASY-ISH LIKE VIBRATO I UNDERSTOOD AL THAT... SO LIKE WHEN IM SINGING MY BRAIN TELLS ME WHERE TO GO AND WHAT TO DO...HOWEVER, TOUCH IS ANOTHER OBSTACLE WHICH IS AN UNDER SPOKEN SUBJECT....NOBODY TOLDDDDDD MEEEEEE IT WAS GONNA BE SO TOUGH LOL....THIS IS AN AWESOME START FOR LP/CLAPTON/60S BLUES/ROCK TONE.....I NOTICED I HAD A TOUGHER TIME USING MY FINGERS TO INTICE BREAKUP OR GET A SOFTER TONE ALL IN ONE LICK! I THINK THATS WHEN THE MAGIC HAPPENS.....WHEN YOU FIND YOUR TONE/VOLUME/PEDALS, THEN YOU LEARN FINGER/PICK CONTROL....ALL THE GREATS KNEW HOW TO MANIPULATE THERE TONE WITHIN A RUN OR LICK....LIKE JEFF IS DOING....THEN WE CAN GO INTO ANOTHER STORY ABOUT CONTROLS ANOTHER DAY! BUT JEFF HAS THAT COVERED...LOL...GREAT VIDEO..

[@bbbro34]

Sweet. Nice breakdown. The other cool thing I like to do is set the bridge pick up for warm and soft on the rhythm and have the neck PU at full gain and if you're doing dynamic songs/tunes/whatever you don't even need to step on a stompbox, just hit the pick up switch and you just got louder and more overdriven and cuts through the mix making it great for leads; to your point about leveling them off tone wise, same thing but one is just louder and more overdriven. Just an endless array of tunes with a good NMV amp and a LP. I'm going through a LP Custom into a Plexi.

[@boogierandy7547]

Good video Jeff. Things you learn when you mature as a player.

[@jconstant]

Damn, Jeff! That was some tasty playing! I’ll be stealing a lot of those licks

[@JeffMcErlain]

Hey man! Good to see you!

[@jconstant]

@@JeffMcErlain Good to see you too! Looking forward to some more lessons and catching up soon!

[@黒人-m3w]

First. I love your channel and Love your playing. I make a lot of wiring harnesses for Les Pauls. I use CTS 550K Pots And I have a source for Old Russian Pio caps. And install Pickups and Do 50s wiring . I use a .22 in the bridge And a .15 in neck. The .15 in the neck Creates a little magic. I've never used the Vintage inspired potz. But I'm definitely going To have to check them Out. Great video. It absolutely astonishes me how many players Just put everything on 10 and dont use their Vol and tone pots To get get different sounds. When I give customers Their Guitars back I do a little demo For them , And most of the players Dont even have the Faintest idea of how Many tones are at your Fingertips with just the Volume and tone Controls. Joey from Phily ❤

[@5150show]

Outstanding thank you 🙏

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thank you!

[@Chasetenny]

Great Video. I about gave up on my lespaul

[@GigsandGuitars]

Hi Jeff, loved this this episode on your Les Paul tones......great channel too 👍😊

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thanks!

[@GlenLaForceMusic]

Just subscribed to the channel! Great tone! Inspiring for sure. Great tips and tricks

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thank you!! Welcome!

[@johanndaart7326]

21:39 - matching treble for neck and bridge pickup. Do you remember the vid where Joe Bonamassa talks about it? I've seen vids with him describing woman tone, but not this thing about "add more treble for the neck" and then "roll off bridge tone"...

[@JC-11111]

Man I sure hear a whole bunch of Duane Allman in this. Lovin it! 😎👍🎸 Edit: I forget they were playing other peoples songs. So maybe BB King? I'd have to listen again.

[@crunch_amp9282]

Gibson audio taper patrometers make a huge difference most other guitars aren't so touched sensitive with tone and volume at all CTS pots are good too

[@WatchesnguitarsDK]

You are one helluva player!

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thank you very much!!

[@jrmakawoody]

Jeff you ALWAYS have such good quality content! Great stuff! I am looking forward to the strat tone vid. Thanks Keith from five watt world for the recommendation.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thank you ! I really appreciate that and you being here.

[@goswo]

What you do is really inspiring :-)

[@JeffMcErlain]

🙏🏻

[@analogblues9606]

I enjoyed the video Jeff, thanks!

[@william7108]

I believe that you want to have that type of volume configuration for just about any kind of music because you want it to clean up just like you're showing here and Excel when you're cranking it weather metal or country rock blues Etc I think it's important to have that not stark contrast but to have it to dial like you're saying to your ear without any drastic drops in sound particularly and volume

[@WickBeavers]

Dang man, That's my old PRS!

[@JeffMcErlain]

🤘

[@黒人-m3w]

Gibson uses .22 microfarad capasitors in the Bridge and the Neck. As far as the reproduction Lux Bumblebee capacitors they use.

[@jimmyjams1974]

Fantastic video!

[@brucerivers9744]

That might be the greatest guitar player I’ve ever heard!!!

[@JeffMcErlain]

Well thank you very much!

[@robrippen]

That's a beautiful Les Paul. Not just the flame. I've always had a strat which I love. Always wanted a Les Paul & always a 50s style. Finally got a 58 R8 came with flame though being designated a plain top. Sounds amazing... learning how to get the most from it which is why I'm here. Theres so much versatility with this guitar. I'm not a Les Paul snob. I love other guitars but this Les Paul is the best guitar I've ever had. Did you change the pots on the custom shop that your playing here? Wasn't certain but seems u were including this guitar but I'd hate to go change mine out if it wasn't gonna make an improvement. Great video!

[@sidewaysrain7609]

BRAVO! As you know, every single Les Paul sounds a bit different than the next. Some only in subtle ways and some in a gargantuan. There are many reasons for this. One should experiment and tweak thier own LP at performance volume. Sometimes a little goes a long way. Rolling back treb will enhance mids, of course midd will always punch through a mix without increasing your volume. -Peace

[@JeffMcErlain]

🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@JC-11111]

That's why I'm glad the LP-style guitar I'm looking at has a PRS-style tuning key arrangement. Hopefully no tuning stability issues. I guess IL find out soon enough lol. I think it's in the 10lb range somehow. It's mahogany with a 17.5mm maple cap. I don't ever plan on selling it so resale value means zip to me.

[@katylied8]

Great stuff Jeff sounding really good.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Ah thanks man!!!

[@michaelwilliams6824]

I know you are a Strat guy but damn you made me and that Les Paul cry!

[@JeffMcErlain]

Well thank you! I do love les Pauls too. And 335s and SG’s and…

[@ahall3823]

There are advantages and disadvantages to 50s wiring. And it only makes a (real-world) difference if you're the kind of person that rides the volume and/or tone knobs. The advantage of 50s wiring is that you will lose volume when you turn the tone down. With Modern wiring, the reverse is true. You will lose tone as you turn the volume down. I made a modification to my Les Paul Special so that I've got push/pull pots that switch between 50s and modern wiring. Best of both worlds. I mostly leave it on 50s wiring though.

[@mattwestcott1663]

VIP pots were the secret ingredient to make me quit lusting for vintage reissues and just love my 08 standard. If I ever bought a reissue burst I'd end up doing all the same upgrades I did to my 08. If the wood is good, upgrade the hardware and electronics! Who am I kidding. I still wanna get an R8 and send it to Historic Makeovers. One day... one day. But I'll still keep my '08 for half stepped down hard rock!!

[@JeffMcErlain]

Lol. Yes the makeovers is a bit posh. But I love it and it ended my LP lust (for now). Did it make the gtr sounds appreciably better, I can’t really say. But I can say the pots and pickup upgrades did.

[@mattwestcott1663]

@@JeffMcErlain I definitely wouldn't be able to say for myself, but it seems like an icing on the cake sort of thing as far as their finishing to me, may not make a huge sonic difference but the mojo factor of that kind of accuracy... look out! Did you go for the full meal deal with your R9? Brazilian board upgrade and the like? That's a beautiful Lester man!

[@JeffMcErlain]

Matt Westcott ha! Well yeah, the vibe and look is spot on. I have had the great opportunity to play a good number of old LPs and makeovers are the closest I’ve seen. Yup braz board.

[@woutere]

@@JeffMcErlain What pickups do you use?

[@mattwestcott1663]

@@JeffMcErlain That's awesome man. Some serious plank envy goin' on here. Playing wise, I'm wondering if you've ever touched on any of the double stops like you see Joe Bonamassa use, particulary on the bass strings. They seem like inversions and get used a lot in turn arounds. I've heard him in videos described as something akin to a dropped tuned power chord and he throws them all over the place in his instagram clips. It's kind of difficult for me to describe them, but a good example would be what Page does around the 50 second mark of I Can't Quit You Babe. They're easy enough to play but I can't understand the context in such a way that I can use them seamlessly in my own playing. If that makes any bit of sense and you have touched on it, where would one go to look? Really appreciate your responding, by the way!!

[@corvanderveen9944]

Epic, a Legend in tone. Thnx mate.

[@onenotesolo256]

Amazing playing, tone and explanations as always, Jeff. Would you mind sharing your Ox settings? I struggle to get a great edge-of-breakup recorded tone with it. Using a few guitars Including an LP and 594, and a Traditional Clean, so the light, just-on overdrive will come from pedals. Thanks and warm regards

[@sbadali1]

Hi Jeff - great video; thanks. I made the following mods to my Epi LP (~20 years old and Made in Korea): pick-ups swapped out for Seymour Duncan Seth Lover PAFs, pots/caps swapped out for Emerson CTS pots (500k) with Bumblebee caps and 50s wiring, new Switchcraft 3-way toggle switch, and swapped out the bridge/tailpiece for a Faber kit. These mods were done in parts over the course of ~10 months or so. The tonal (and sustain) difference is huge vs. the stock version; but I would say that the tone is generally too bright. Sometimes I feel that I'm not getting enough mileage out of my pedalboard or Fender Princeton Reverb (12"). Sorry for the cheesy adjectives, but sometimes it feels too "bright" and "quacky" when I turn on my boosts/OD pedals (I'd be happy to share my signal chain if that helps). We share similar tastes in music and I am just wondering what your insights are on how I might be able to darken it up a bit. I'd rather spend some time and talk to pros in order to figure out what I have and how I can optimally dial it in ... before it start taking it apart :-) Thanks again.

[@petergunderson7153]

Not sure how much you mess with the tone knobs but I have to turn them almost completely off to get the right fat tone on my '97 Epi Les Paul burst.

[@afxtwinreverb]

Try 250k pots

[@johnladdsmusic]

Excellent tips man...thank you!

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thanks and you are welcome!

[@davidschlageter5962]

So much more sound than the strat 🏆

[@78tag]

Boring??? We wouldn't be here if we didn't want to hear what you have to say. Anything you want to share is our bonus. Speaking of "older" wiring - I am still trying to figure out my 345 stereo, w/varitone. Doug & Pat pretty well squared me around on the actual wiring but using it is another world.

[@spidgeb3292]

My experience with Les Pauls is that you need to do a fret job out of the box. The medium-jumbo (or whatever they're called) frets are very high. It takes more than a setup to make a new LP guitar playable, in my experience. All these little things (quality of tuners, pickup switch, pots) make the Les Paul a lot less playable out of the box. But nothing sounds like a Les Paul, so that's the trade-off. It's not the best value, and it's not the easiest guitar to own, but....damn.Nothing else sounds like it. Whatever that "x factor" is about a Les Paul, it's real and they charge for it. Oh, I also put Classic '57 Pickups in My Les Pauls, my PRS guitars, my Ernie Ball Music Man (Men?) etc. They never sound as good in a non-Les Paul. Definitely something about the Les Paul that hasn't been fully replicated by other guitar makers.

[@mcpappysgolden]

I bought a Tribute LP a couple of years ago. It had terrible tuning stability, which turned out to be too few wraps on the pegs. It also fretted out terribly with bends in the upper registers. I had it professionally set up (not re-fretted or anything dramatic like that). It plays like a dream now, and I love it. I would recommend the same path to anyone who wants a relatively affordable LP.

[@stevelamb6720]

When your video started I was moderately interested. The tone explanation didn't really help. Then you got into some more lively blues playing...WOW! Do more of that!!! By the way 50s wiring has the capacitor connected to the output tag whilst modern wiring connects it to the input tag this alters the amount of signal travelling through the capacitor differently. In 50s wiring the capacitor carries less signal to ground in the high frequency range when the volume is low but in modern it carries the same amount all the way. The effect being the character of the signal is richer in low volumes with the 50s wiring. Think of the capacitor as favouring the shorting of high frequency signals to ground and therefore suppressing them.

[@willdenham]

I have a Custom. It's true about the weight.

[@racetherapy]

Great playing

[@zakkwyldesdmf13]

And in terms of string gauges: Yes, they sound different BUT I believe you can easily make up for that with the EQ. Go ask yourself if you can tell just by listening (not watching) to one's playing which string gauges he/she uses; or if he/she uses lighter or heavier strings. I'm sure, no one can. Exception: really hard and "in tune" rhythm playing. That can only be accomplished by using heavy string gauges. ...and it's d'Addario (soft d and bent together) and not D Addario (like you would spell a D).

[@TheBdriver]

Do you have any videos or lessons on learning how to play without a pick ?

[@guitarist22lespaul90]

Hi Jeff, I forgot to ask you yesterday,who are your Favorite Guitar Players that plays Gibson Les pauls? and who are your influences to.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Long list. For the LP Clapton and Page. My all time favorite if that’s possible is Jeff Beck. I love all stuff so from Lighting Hopkins to Alan Holdsworth really.

[@JC-11111]

@@JeffMcErlain I feel like Jeff Beck might be my dad's next favorite behind Skydog. He listened to him a lot when I was growing up. I haven't really listened to Jeff much since I've gotten into playing guitar this year. I'm sure I need to. I could easily go in the other room and ask him because he's actually here right now lol.

[@curtisnappisr3374]

6

[@67er_matze97]

great video !! really makes me think if I should take all the money that I have NOT earned due to this crazy covid situation and spend it on a decent Les Paul !! ?? :)

[@JeffMcErlain]

I hear you. I’ve had this gtr for a long time. It’s been a terrible time for most everyone. I’ve found doing these videos has actually helped me not think about this mess. My best to you.

[@67er_matze97]

@@JeffMcErlain Thanks Jeff ! Your guitar is in the best hands it can possibly be ! And your videos help us musicians to make the best out of the situation and learn about tone and music. Thanks for the inspiration and all the best, Matthias

[@JeffMcErlain]

67er_Matze thank you Matthias.

[@heinzblues7405]

Wonderful Video.. I like that Tone..🙂

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thank you!

[@michaelstevens972]

Agreed about them covers! They look awesome on my Les Paul. I just em on. Wow! So much nicer. I love my Pes Paul. I am a beginner but I played every single day 3 or 4 hrs so I'm moving up the levels quicker and I am learning more & more each day. Because I am a stickler for being a perfectionist and doin things a certain way. And learning about my guitar 🎸. Wiring and tones. Push pull. Pick ups. Machine heads. I've been busy with it. And thanks for saying that about the importance of the wood on a guitar because it makes a huge difference as it ages the resins in the wood harden and almost records the tones Inside the very fabric of it. So... yes it's very much an important factor. Right? Right. Keep the Information and tips coming.

[@brushstroke3733]

Did you cover setting pickup height? Did I miss it?

[@maxsalasr]

I hope this isnt boring he says... me like gimmemooooorrreeee

[@mike5177]

Wow that playing is real!

[@JeffMcErlain]

🙏🏻

[@vampolascott36]

All LP's are not created equal and your's sounds a lot like my Wildwood Spec. '50s Standard. That guitar actually calls to me to be played.

[@Bigsbeee]

Jeff's LP - Fret board is gorgeous, looks Brazilian even ? Did you order it from Gibson with very light Relic Jeff ? Is it Murphy job ? Looks too subtle ..stunning man .. GREAT video too ;-)

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thanks! It’s an Historic Makeover and the board is Brazilian yes. Good eye!

[@MikeMckenz]

Really got a lot from the video, thanks Jeff. I know you said you play with a medium action but I wondered if you'd be willing to measure it please? I know you're busy so no problem if not. I have a 594 and I just can't seem to get the action dialed in so would be keen to use your specs as a starter!

[@JeffMcErlain]

From what I can tell 3/64ths of an inch. A tad above a millimeter on the 12th fret on the low E

[@MikeMckenz]

@@JeffMcErlain thank you so much for taking the time to do that Jeff, really appreciate it!

[@luigicannizzo2669]

Very Special Nice. .. Great Work's on Guitar Istructional ... ☺😊😀/💙💙💙/👍👌👏

[@dahliafiend]

I need to dial up my bank account first!

[@wesleyalan9179]

I'll play with the volume and tone constantly, the WHOLE time I'm playing,lol

[@jimamsden]

What about split coils to thin up a Les Paul for more flexibility?

[@vkelly1975]

I got a set of Gibson custom buckers rewired to 4 wires and put in sg with coil split and sounds great,so versatile there usually 2 wires as it came out of an R9.

[@Phantasm70]

What year is that Paul

[@loumat62]

Super!!! What pick do you use please? Thank you