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Which Bumblebee Replica? Luxe vs Emerson

Kai Eun

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Aug 28, 2020
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I'm trying to get Bumblebee Cap replicas...
and came across two famous guitar parts sellers, Luxe and Emerson.

Though both look nice, Luxe is relatively more expensive... actually about the twice the price of Emerson PIO which is 19.99 dollars.

Can't find any detailed reviews on the Emerson Caps and how they compare to the original Bumblebees.

Any experience? What would you recommend? Luxe / Emerson / or Original Sprague?
 

El Gringo

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Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
I'm trying to get Bumblebee Cap replicas...
and came across two famous guitar parts sellers, Luxe and Emerson.

Though both look nice, Luxe is relatively more expensive... actually about the twice the price of Emerson PIO which is 19.99 dollars.

Can't find any detailed reviews on the Emerson Caps and how they compare to the original Bumblebees.

Any experience? What would you recommend? Luxe / Emerson / or Original Sprague?

Luxe would be my choice . Also ThroBak has really nice PIO Bumble bee caps and pots on there harness www.throbak.com I have them in some of my Les Paul's and they are really awesome . ( I believe they are Luxe )
 

duaneflowers

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Aug 13, 2013
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2,522
I picked up a hundred or two NOS Russian K40Y-9 .022uf/.015uf PIO caps about 10 years ago and find them every bit as good as original bees or luxe at a fraction of the cost. If I'm gonna splurge I like the Jensen copper foil caps... but otherwise the Russian caps are pretty much perfect and can still be had direct from Russia on the bay. :salude
 

renderit

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Jan 19, 2009
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10,951
I have tried many different PIO's.

Russians are nice.

I have a tendency towards the Luxe as they "look" correct.

I have a bunch of caps also from Emerson.

I would only caution though, if you are using them in something other than a Paul (like a 335) that you may need to bend them after soldering I have had a problem with many cheaper ones breaking easily.

The Luxes seem a bit sturdier.
 

El Gringo

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I have tried many different PIO's.

Russians are nice.

I have a tendency towards the Luxe as they "look" correct.

I have a bunch of caps also from Emerson.

I would only caution though, if you are using them in something other than a Paul (like a 335) that you may need to bend them after soldering I have had a problem with many cheaper ones breaking easily.

The Luxes seem a bit sturdier.

Good sir , what would you do ? I have a Les Paul Classic that I switched out the harness for 500k pots and PIO Bumble Bee caps along with the ThroBak 101 Plus pickups . You know I favor the ThroBak's . The problem now is the harshness of the tone of the instrument . Way back Gibson got ragged on for going cheap with switching to the 300k pots with the orange drop caps . I wonder if the reason besides the cost was the harshness associated with weight relieved Les Paul's and the 300k pots darkened and lessened the harshness ? This is my hunch/theory ? Where we all think of them one way and maybe there was an actual dare I say intelligent reason why they (Gibson) switched to the 300k pots . It's like I went from one extreme ( very dark and maybe even muffled like the proverbial wet blanket ) to overly bright where everything is heard and then some . On all of the R series guitars no problem what so ever , on the weight relieved Classic oh jeepers !
 

renderit

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Jan 19, 2009
Messages
10,951
That may be the area I would suggest the Wizz in.

The bog standard Wizz pickup has been less bright in some guitars that are too "forward".

Yet the tone is nice and more "woody".

The
Thrōbaks work very well (for me) in more though...

 

El Gringo

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That may be the area I would suggest the Wizz in.

The bog standard Wizz pickup has been less bright in some guitars that are too "forward".

Yet the tone is nice and more "woody".

The
Thrōbaks work very well (for me) in more though...


I was wondering more specifically about the switch from the 300 k to the 500 k if I made it overly bright and thus harsh due to the weight relief ? Now the tone is so harsh that it is unplayable . The pickups ( ThroBak's ) I love and work in all of my R series guitars and my childhood first LPC which is solid and non relieved . Its interesting how much I have learned ever since I was a kid and better informed now versus then , where today I wouldn't touch a weight relieved instrument if you gave it away for free . Live and learn right
 

duaneflowers

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Aug 13, 2013
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Its interesting how much I have learned ever since I was a kid and better informed now versus then , where today I wouldn't touch a weight relieved instrument if you gave it away for free . Live and learn right

s5HpG73.jpg
This particular weight relieved instrument is one of the finest sounding and playing fiddles I've yet to come across and runs rings around many of the reissues I've played. But, different strokes for different folks. :salude


s5HpG73.jpg
s5HpG73.jpg
 

EpiLP1985

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Aug 11, 2017
Messages
113
I picked up a hundred or two NOS Russian K40Y-9 .022uf/.015uf PIO caps about 10 years ago and find them every bit as good as original bees or luxe at a fraction of the cost. If I'm gonna splurge I like the Jensen copper foil caps... but otherwise the Russian caps are pretty much perfect and can still be had direct from Russia on the bay. :salude

I have a hunch that many people did just as you did and simply rebranded the plentiful Russian stock for resale. I'm not 100% sure, but all the Emerson caps are rebranded russian PIO. I've used the russian caps and love them.

Many folks on my amp building forum also use them in tube amplifiers as well, as the russian mil-spec was bananas.
 

El Gringo

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Apr 8, 2015
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Update , ThroBak is making me a wiring harness with 300k pots and PIO Bumble Bee caps for my Les Paul Classic . I will gladly report back my findings after the new harness is installed .
 

EpiLP1985

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Aug 11, 2017
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Update , ThroBak is making me a wiring harness with 300k pots and PIO Bumble Bee caps for my Les Paul Classic . I will gladly report back my findings after the new harness is installed .

I really, really struggle with the price of the Throbak harnesses. I understand that part of that cost is simply labor, but a good set of 4 pots and 2 quality PIO caps can be had for < $75. Much less.

That is not to say pre-wired harnesses are not a good deal. Frankly, I don't always want to put a harness together myself. I'm looking into the Jackson Electronic Luthier harnesses with the VIPots. Those can be had for <$100 with Vitamin Q caps.

I definitely don't want to come across as crapping on your post, though. The DIYer in me just cringes when the cost of a harness is > 150% of the parts.

EDIT: A quick Google Search yielded a set of 4 of The Art of Tone 5% tolerance 525k pots for $24 and 2 Sprague Vitamin Q's at 0.022 uf for $30. Those Art of Tone pots are of an outstanding quality and taper as well. I like the VIPots better, bu the Art of Tone ones are a close second for me.
 
Last edited:

Coachmoe

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Apr 23, 2002
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1,139
I really, really struggle with the price of the Throbak harnesses. I understand that part of that cost is simply labor, but a good set of 4 pots and 2 quality PIO caps can be had for < $75. Much less.

That is not to say pre-wired harnesses are not a good deal. Frankly, I don't always want to put a harness together myself. I'm looking into the Jackson Electronic Luthier harnesses with the VIPots. Those can be had for <$100 with Vitamin Q caps.

I definitely don't want to come across as crapping on your post, though. The DIYer in me just cringes when the cost of a harness is > 150% of the parts.

EDIT: A quick Google Search yielded a set of 4 of The Art of Tone 5% tolerance 525k pots for $24 and 2 Sprague Vitamin Q's at 0.022 uf for $30. Those Art of Tone pots are of an outstanding quality and taper as well. I like the VIPots better, bu the Art of Tone ones are a close second for me.
EpiLP1985,

I recently bought a 2021 50's Les Paul Goldtop and I did what you did. I gutted the electronics and installed TAOT pots and Mojotone Vitamin T caps. Also have a set of Rewind Pickups. Swapped out all the plastic for Historic spec stuff and it truly looks identical to an R7. This is my second set of TAOT pots and Vitamin T's. I agree with you that the TAOT pots are exceptionally good. However, I might have to try the Q's out on my next job.
 

Mars Hall

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Nov 26, 2008
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Recently, had to replace Luxe caps in my R7 due to cold solder joints on the leads. Replaced them new set of Luxe Bumblebee's without incident.
 
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