re-wiring a guitar...what does that mean?

[samzadgan]

So, to start with, i have no idea about electronics, i don't know how to change pickups, pots...etc.

but i recently bought a gibson, and one thing i read about everywhere is people talking about re-wiring their guitar and getting much better results. To be honest, i don't really have any issues with my SG, it sounds fine to me...but i just wanted to get some education.

So, What does re-wiring mean? do you pull out all the electrics and re-do with different type of wire? or is it changing all the pots and switches?? And once you do it, what does it actually achieve? less noise, better tone, more clarity, increased output??

[ICBM]

So, to start with, i have no idea about electronics, i don't know how to change pickups, pots...etc.

but i recently bought a gibson, and one thing i read about everywhere is people talking about re-wiring their guitar and getting much better results. To be honest, i don't really have any issues with my SG, it sounds fine to me...but i just wanted to get some education.

So, What does re-wiring mean? do you pull out all the electrics and re-do with different type of wire? or is it changing all the pots and switches?? And once you do it, what does it actually achieve? less noise, better tone, more clarity, increased output??

It depends on the guitar. Replacing the pots, mostly - many brands (including Gibson) use OK ones, but you can noticeably improve the clarity of the tone and the sweep of the controls with better ones. In cheap guitars you definitely want to replace the pots, and you might want to replace the switch and jack too - for reliability rather than tone. If you're going this far it can be easier and possibly better to replace the wiring too - it doesn't significantly affect the tone unless there's miles of cheap thin shielded cable in there (which there can be in many far-east guitars), but it just "does a better job", really.

Changing the tone caps is a big can of worms probably. You'll often see it recommended and claims made for improved tone, and some people will spend a fortune on fancy vintage-style paper-in-oil caps or other expensive replacements. But having tested it thoroughly, and knowing how the circuit works, I can say that there is provably no difference between any cap types in a guitar circuit, assuming the values are the same. If you're changing the whole wiring loom and the cost difference involved in changing the caps as well is small, you might as well for no other reason than 'mojo' (the same as why we do so many things ) but it really doesn't improve the tone!

[paultheoneyoulove]

I agree with icbm on the caps. There is a reason to invest more in, for example, orange drops though - they're easier to work with because they're bigger. It also means they can get in the way in a crowded control cavity.

If you want to know how much perception can change tone, look up the Gibson bumblebee reissue capacitors. I think they're 70 quid, and... Well, look it up. They're still for sale, if you want to throw money away!

Other paper in oil (real ones) from mojo, for example, look nice. If you have a clear cavity plate, it is nice to see it.

[Sporky_McGuffin]

I agree with icbm on the caps. There is a reason to invest more in, for example, orange drops though - they're easier to work with because they're bigger.

Also they are a very jolly colour, and I find that comforting during the wiring process, which can often be a bit disheartening.

[paultheoneyoulove]

Also they are a very jolly colour, and I find that comforting during the wiring process, which can often be a bit disheartening.

Read my build thread for a sad story regarding a 4 way switch. You hit the nail on the head.

[underdog]

The cheaper the guitar the more benefit from changing the lot, pups, pots, jack, switch and wire. In cheap guitars it makes a huge difference in sound (less noise), useability (a volume pot that isn't just an on off switch etc) and reliability (epi selector switches die almost always).

At gibson level the pots changed may be worth while but wire is fine unless you want to wire it different for different options.

It's a decent way to kill an hour on rainy day though

[Ozric]

I had the impression the most common reasons for a gibson rewire was either to get rid of the pcb installation and replace for vintage spec (not to sure what that actually means tbh) or on P90 guitars to up the value of 350 pots that were used brighten the tone.

[paultheoneyoulove]

I had the impression the most common reasons for a gibson rewire was either to get rid of the pcb installation and replace for vintage spec (not to sure what that actually means tbh) or on P90 guitars to up the value of 350 pots that were used brighten the tone.

I'd love the pcb installation if I had a nice bunch of clearly labelled, great big lugs coming from it to offer different wiring schemes just by repositioning the 4 wires and replacing the switch. Instead, it makes changing the volume pots a right nightmare, sometimes they use some odd values...

The other thing pcb is good for is active circuits. In my musicman bass, there is a very neat and tidy pcb. Only problem is I don't know how to change the pickup, so it's a good thing I'm happy with the stock one.

As far as upgrading the wire goes, I actually use a mix of wires depending on what I have got. The easiest to use is the red and black, single core cheap stuff. It's not as good for the insulation though. I got some vintage spec cloth wire the other day, and I've given up. It's just difficult to strip, and generally difficult to use.

Axesrus do a happy medium which is a very tight cloth wound and is my favourite.

[TheGuitarWeasel]

Axesrus do a happy medium which is a very tight cloth wound and is my favourite.

Axesrus are a bit expensive on the wire front (and I usually love everything they do) and Allparts never have supplies ... that's why I bought £500 quids worth of multi-stranded cloth covered, push-back hookup wire in several colours from the states a few weeks ago. Also proper, Gibson style braid shielded single core with a proper cloth inner. The Allparts stuff has a plastic inner that is easy to melt when wiring up. If anybody needs some wire Ill happily consider selling on enough for projects ...

[Sporky_McGuffin]

If anybody needs some wire Ill happily consider selling on enough for projects ...

This concept is well aligned with my interests. A multipack of a metre or two of each colour would be very handy. I do like colour coding wiring.