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Tell me about the Jimmy Page wiring? Is it worth it?

Ledvedder

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Nov 23, 2015
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My apologies for all the questions, but I'm a newbie when it comes to Les Pauls. I like the idea of the JP wiring. Out of phase and coil split options! Is it worth the upgrade? If so, what harnesses would you recommend.
 

tommersjay

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Jun 11, 2015
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I dont think its worth it. All the different tones arent really that usable, at least thats what I found. You could get some cool tones, but nothing really great. IMO just plug into the amp as is and play. You can spend a lot of time chasing tone rather than just playing.
 

oldsongs

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Jan 30, 2015
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a) he didn't have it during Zeppelin
b) lots of the switching options are pretty useless, some sound awful
c) don't waste your time on it
 

DanD

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Apr 8, 2007
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2,368
I have that set up in all my humbucker equipped Les Pauls solely because the models I wanted just happened to have it. I did not seek the JP wiring out and bought those guitars for other reasons. I find it useful in a very limited number of situations.

The tone stack bypass in my Standard is the most useful followed by the out of phase sound.

The tone stack bypass gives a slight volume boost which is good for instant lead sounds but is not part of the JP wiring. You'd need the PCB from a late model Standard and 4 conductor pickups to do this mod.

The split coil sounds are not the greatest and don't come close replacing a good Strat or Tele.

The out of phase sound is ok for a limited number of classic rock tunes but I tire of it rather quickly.

I generally only use the split coil with both pups on. I'll add half the bridge coil to add a little brightness to my neck or half the neck coil to warm up the bridge tone but really that's only useful in very limited situations.

For 99% of my playing I use my LPs as if they did not have the JP wiring.

As stated you'll waste a lot of time trying to find tones instead of just playing yer guitar.

There are plenty of tones available to you with the configuration you've got now.

Personally I'd stick with what you have. It has served many a guitarist well for 6 decades. :peace2
 
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Big Al

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Apr 24, 2002
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14,537
It sure is for me. I use lot's of varied tones for lots of applications. I have a small army of amps and guitars but I can't always bring a bunch to gigs act…, so the options I find available too me with the Page scheme is really handy.

Coil Splits. There are lots of reasons to choose a single coil tone, at least in my world. I like that tonality, and I find it can be very expressive in the neck pickup especially. You can combine a full humbucker with a single coil tone or two single coils for that Tele Twang Tone. The single coil is somewhat less robust sounding, meaning clearer with a little less volume which is why they are cool options. You can play rhythm with the single coil and switch to humbucker to solo on. Still the single coil mode lets you easily switch from the two most common pickup voices and that I find very useful.

Series/Parallel. I really like this option and much prefer it to the bypass option on some newer Les Pauls. Only works with both pickups engaged. With parallel you get the stock arrangement. With series you get the Brian May type which is thicker sounding, more powerful. Combined with single coils on one or both pickups for a sound as powerful as the humbucker but WIDE. This is a really great sound to have.

Phase. Being able to flip the phase in or out, again I find very useful and makes for noticeable tone shifts. Again this only works with both pickups on. You can combine Humbuckers, Single coils or a mix of each in or out of phase, in series or parallel!!!! When used with the guitars tone and volume knobs very, very compelling sounds can be achieved.

Basically you can choose full double coil humbucker or single coil for each pickup.

You can combine them in series or parallel.

You can choose to flip the phase for series or parallel combinations of two pickups.

Your guitar will not lose its stock tone and the tone and volume controls still offer their effect.

Works for me, it is simple to grasp once you do. Of course if you like one steady tone, with little or no variation go with that.
 

Ledvedder

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Nov 23, 2015
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30
I'm noticing that some places sell the kit with 2 push pulls, and others sell it with 4. What's the difference?
 

joptunes

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May 28, 2015
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My guess on the number of push-pulls is the one with 4 will let you split/phase each pickup separately, so for example you can split the neck pickup and leave the bridge in humbucker mode. Where the 2 push/pull is probably splitting both pickups at the same time and flipping phase on the other. I could be wrong that that's my guess.
 

Coda

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Aug 17, 2010
Messages
115
I owned a 96' JP LP (the first non signature model). I occasionally used the out-of-phase sound. I never used any of the other options. See if you can try one first ; find out if you like the sounds on offer.
 

Jackyrhode

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May 2, 2002
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640
I'm slowly backing into the JP setup. Had both pickups set for coil tap but after a two hour gig with my LP, never used the neck coil tap once. I switched it for a phase switch and I'm really happy with the result.
 

bilco

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Feb 23, 2014
Messages
74
I have four guitars with versions of JP's wiring; the first has four push-push switches (pickups out of phase, pickups in series, neck single coil, bridge single coil), all the rest have two switches (phase, both pickups single coil) because I was never using series and typically wanted either both humbuckers or both single coils...

Good luck!
 

Lenny

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Jul 23, 2002
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It kinda depends on what you play and how much distortion you use. I have a coil-split on the neck pup of one guitar and that's quite nice if you play clean. When distorted, it's not as obvious a difference. Out-of-phase is fun, nice trick to use on certain leads but can't be abused.

If you're after Jimmy's sound, a lot of it happens in the regular middle position with the volumes around 6-7 to get the honky not too distorted tone he used a lot. Then you can add some more of the bridge volume or flip to the bridge pup to get nastier leads or flip to the neck pup with lower volume to get the quiet tones. That's about 99% of the Jimmy sounds.

Also you need good electronic parts. At the end of the day, what I like most about a Strats is the 2nd and 4th positions, and you'll never get that unless you add a little pickup in the middle. It's probably best to enjoy the LP stock but maybe you can find that special trick that works for your music.
 

DanD

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... At the end of the day, what I like most about a Strats is the 2nd and 4th positions, and you'll never get that unless you add a little pickup in the middle. ...

So true! :salude

This is what I was hoping to get a semblance of with the JP switching but it's not in there. :dang

You may find tones you like with this switching arrangement but as has been said I'd try one out before going through the expense. :peace2
 

grimlyflick

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Oct 27, 2005
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My Sig T has coil taps and I spend most of my time in the middle position blending both pickups either tapped or untapped to get my tones, saves me having to take my Tele and Classic to every rehearsal and pickup gig too.

One of my go to tones is the selector in the middle, neck pickup tapped and blending in the bridge humbucker with the volume, although how effective this is depends on how much gain you're using.

I'm considering adding the out of phase option too.

Personally one of my all time favourite guitar performances is Zeppelin's live version of Since I've been Loving You, if you watch the DVD Jimmy is all over the knobs of his Les Paul throughout and the range of tones and dynamics of his playing is stunning. If however you spend most of your time in a high gain setting riffing on the bridge pickup I wouldn't think the change would be worth it.

:salude
 

Big Al

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Apr 24, 2002
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So true! :salude

This is what I was hoping to get a semblance of with the JP switching but it's not in there. :dang

You may find tones you like with this switching arrangement but as has been said I'd try one out before going through the expense. :peace2

I get pretty close with both pickups on (center), both pickups in single coil, in series out of phase.
 

DanD

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I get pretty close with both pickups on (center), both pickups in single coil, in series out of phase.

That's as close as I can get with the out of phase and both pups in single coil mode but the 'quack' attack is lacking. :dang
 

Big Al

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It is when you combine the pickups in single coil, out of phase, SERIES that sounds closer to the Strat.
It is the series/parallel option that I find most useful.
 

DanD

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My set ups lack the series/ parallel switch.:##

The Standard has the tone bypass while the other two have a kill switch.

I'll have to see if I can't convert the kill switch, which I never use, to a series/ parallel set up.

Definitely worth a shot if it'll get me closer to Strat land. :peace2
 

Big Al

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My set ups lack the series/ parallel switch.:##

The Standard has the tone bypass while the other two have a kill switch.

I'll have to see if I can't convert the kill switch, which I never use, to a series/ parallel set up.

Definitely worth a shot if it'll get me closer to Strat land. :peace2

Yup. I like it 'cause it is close, definitely worth having and way better than a stutter switch. Any of the combo positions, when you have both pickups activated will gain many mopre tones with the option of series connection. Works great with full humbucking, singlecoil, a mix and in or out of phase usable cool tones for the price of a switch.
 

DanD

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Does the pot/switch for series/parallel have more poles than the on/off pot switch currently in place?

I've got a Strat I'm in the middle of wiring up now with a 3 way switch and a blend knob for the wide open middle pickup. Basically 3 way Tele pickup switching with V-T-B knobs with the middle pup connected to the blend knob and output jack.

If it's simply a matter of moving a couple wires to the existing switch I may leave the Strat for now and do the LP while I have my soldering gear out.

Disregard. I looked at the scheme and adding series/parallel is total do over with all new 6 pole switch/pots. I'll finish the Strat and mull over the JP series/parallel mod. :peace2
 
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