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Custom Shop harness quality??

Morgan24

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Nov 1, 2020
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138
Just bought a set of Throbak KZ-115 with a 4 magnets. Should I change the volume and tone pots, and the "fake" bumblebees? I even heard that you have to buy new vintage braid wire, because Gibson Custom Shop has been using the wrong braided wire for years now? I'ts a 2018 M2M 59'. Would these changes make a difference?
 

Arnold M.

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Mar 29, 2018
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I don't know about a sonic difference, but I changed the "fake" bumblebees on principle alone.
 
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latestarter

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Nov 9, 2009
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4,173
Just bought a set of Throbak KZ-115 with a 4 magnets. Should I change the volume and tone pots, and the "fake" bumblebees? I even heard that you have to buy new vintage braid wire, because Gibson Custom Shop has been using the wrong braided wire for years now? I'ts a 2018 M2M 59'. Would these changes make a difference?
If you are a critical listener, you'll note there is nothing in it to be gained if the pots resistance is similar and everything is turned up full. The cap won't change the tone as such either - it's just is to move frequency to ground and any cap pretty much will do. My vintage SG has an old Orange drop...still sounds normal. I changed my older R9's pots because they felt hideous and had inconsistent readings (380K for one!). Taper is key for me too - I use volume and tone often and I like a freer, looser vibe. Liek the pots of old.

Those factors might be the best to justify a change, rather than tone. YMMV.
 

C-4

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Jan 5, 2005
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1,776
I had a M2M 2018 R9 and a 2019 60th Anny R9. After playing both, I immediately sold the 2018 R9.

The 2019 60th had it all over the earlier version, and the wiring was different as well.
 

axeman565758

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Jan 23, 2007
Messages
1,204
I have an '18 R7 Goldtop M2M and a '20 60th Anniv R0.
I changed the harness on the Goldtop. I've been using RS Guitarworks products for 20 years. I got new pots/caps, in their Vintage Prewired kit. It made a noticeable difference.
With the R0, I'm actually quite happy with the stock pots/caps, so for now, I'm leaving them in there. We''ll see how they hold up.
 

guitarbob123

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Jan 2, 2009
Messages
214
Just bought a set of Throbak KZ-115 with a 4 magnets. Should I change the volume and tone pots, and the "fake" bumblebees? I even heard that you have to buy new vintage braid wire, because Gibson Custom Shop has been using the wrong braided wire for years now? I'ts a 2018 M2M 59'. Would these changes make a difference?

If you care about the 'wrong' braided wire simply because it isn't the exact same type of wire on the originals then you're kind of wasting your time with any production Gibson as it'll never be an exact replica, just as any exact replica will never be an original. (i.e. you're arguably down a rabbit hole that can never result in success without buying an untouched burst)

If it's for tone purposes then sure, the MSSC ones are meant to be great but they're pretty hard to find now afaik, RS Guitarworks have a great rep, as do Throbak themselves, ReWind, JonesyBlues, CreamTone.
Searching around the forums will turn up plenty of options!

As mentioned earlier, if you're playing with the controls on full most of the time then you're not going to notice a difference.

I'm happy with the controls in my 2020 R0 for sure, but I can feel the difference hopping across to other guitars so they'll change when I get around to it.
 
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jdm66

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Oct 23, 2019
Messages
11
If you care about the 'wrong' braided wire simply because it isn't the exact same type of wire on the originals then you're kind of wasting your time with any production Gibson as it'll never be an exact replica, just as any exact replica will never be an original. (i.e. you're arguably down a rabbit hole that can never result in success without buying an untouched burst)

If it's for tone purposes then sure, the MSSC ones are meant to be great but they're pretty hard to find now afaik, RS Guitarworks have a great rep, as do Throbak themselves, ReWind, JonesyBlues, CreamTone.
Searching around the forums will turn up plenty of options!

As mentioned earlier, if you're playing with the controls on full most of the time then you're not going to notice a difference.

I'm happy with the controls in my 2020 R0 for sure, but I can feel the difference hopping across to other guitars so they'll change when I get around to it.
Creamtone does NOT have a good reputation theses days! He continued to take peoples money and never shipped out the orders.
 

guitarbob123

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Joined
Jan 2, 2009
Messages
214
Creamtone does NOT have a good reputation theses days! He continued to take peoples money and never shipped out the orders.
Ok I wasn't aware of that issue, just going on previous recommendations, thanks for the heads up with that one!
 

Tommy Tourbus

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Joined
Jan 1, 2005
Messages
871
I think 2019 and later you're OK not swapping out the pots and caps. 2019 was when they started using the Luxe bumblebees which is what I was using to replace the fake bees with in 2018 and earlier models. I believe in 2019 they also upgraded the pots or just started using the proper values.
 

TM1

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Joined
Jun 27, 2003
Messages
8,349
The pots and caps in my 2021 R-9 Murphy Lab work really nice. They used the Lux Bees that I’ve used for years and the pots function like old pots I have. I do have about 10 of the VIP pots which are Exactly like the original Centralsbs used in the Fifties. I may swap them out at some point. I’m trying to decide on what set of pickups to install. I have a couple sets of Throbak’s, some late Sixties T-Tops, a set of Wizz and a set of Monty’s.
 

BJB63

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Joined
Feb 25, 2015
Messages
104
Do not buy a thing from creamtone and do not bother with Lonnie. Dude is not honest will not ship and will refuse to refund you once he ships you the incorrect part after 2 months of no response.
 

Morgan24

Active member
Joined
Nov 1, 2020
Messages
138
Ended up bying four CTS BVT Burst taper 10% 550k pot. Vintage 2-Strand braided shield wire. MOD electronics oil caps .022 uF. For my new Throbak KZ 115 A4😁
 

El Gringo

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Joined
Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
If you are a critical listener, you'll note there is nothing in it to be gained if the pots resistance is similar and everything is turned up full. The cap won't change the tone as such either - it's just is to move frequency to ground and any cap pretty much will do. My vintage SG has an old Orange drop...still sounds normal. I changed my older R9's pots because they felt hideous and had inconsistent readings (380K for one!). Taper is key for me too - I use volume and tone often and I like a freer, looser vibe. Liek the pots of old.

Those factors might be the best to justify a change, rather than tone. YMMV.
I would also add that starting in 2019 when Gibson Custom began using Paper in oil caps that was great versus the Mylar caps from pre 2019 which I still have in most of my R series guitars , which work just fine as well . What I notice with the 2019 and forward caps are to me they are more brighter .
 

El Gringo

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Joined
Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
Do not buy a thing from creamtone and do not bother with Lonnie. Dude is not honest will not ship and will refuse to refund you once he ships you the incorrect part after 2 months of no response.
wow ! Major bummer which sucks !
 

67SLP

Member
Joined
Apr 21, 2017
Messages
118
I always replace them with my own. If you decide to keep them stock , at least test all the pots with a DMM to see what value they are... sometimes that 500K pot is really 300K.
 
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