Page 127 - Guitar Classics Magazine - The Les Paul Bible 2019

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO VINTAGE LES PAUL TONE

’54 GIBSON LES PAUL POT TAPER AVERAGE

10 537k

9 490k

8 325.5k

7 179k

6 74.25k

5 47k

4 35.75k

3 23.75k

2 9k

1 1.25k

0k 100k 200k 300k 400k 500k 600k

drifted far away from their stated value. It’s safe to control’s usable range becomes limited with this in
assume this is true of many of the caps that have the circuit.
resided undisturbed in vintage Les Pauls for decades, Astron/Lafayette No 1 – the multimeter reveals
so if a capacitor no longer reads close to vintage spec that this cap has drifted from the stated 0.03uF up
0.022uF, it may not matter. In fact, it could actually to 0.084uF. Even so, the guitar retains brightness and
be beneficial. with the tone rolled back to halfway, note definition
While measuring pots is a valid exercise, capacitor is better than the Hyrel. However, the dynamics feel
choice is more subjective. Instead, we gather a small a bit compressed and with a slight loss of sparkle
selection of vintage and NOS capacitors and conduct combined with some graininess in the upper mids, we
some blind tests. The capacitors are wired to a rotary find that this capacitor obliges you to play harder to
switch and hooked up to our Collector’s Choice sound good.
model fitted with Monty’s PAF replicas. Astron/Lafayette No 2 – this has drifted even more
During testing, they are identified only by number and reads 0.23uF. Even so, the guitar sounds clear
and we make notes during the testing process. and feels like it has a slightly higher output. There is
a quacky wah quality, but the Q is less pronounced
IF THE CAP FITS than with the Hyrel. We also find the wah effect
Sprague Hyrel ‘Vitamin Q’ – this NOS cap is changes with playing dynamics – becoming more
supposedly a paper/oil type and since it’s only apparent as you play harder. With the tone fully
rated at 200 volts, it’s relatively small. We find up the guitar is chimey and smooth and when
moderate roll-off quite clear and vocal with a rolled back, low-string definition is retained because
wah-like narrow ‘Q’ and a hint of vintage quackiness. the very lowest frequencies are attenuated along with
Things start getting a bit muffled around 4.5 the treble.
and with the tone control rolled fully back, the Sprague bumblebee – this was advertised as an
lows get woofy. This is a nice-sounding capacitor NOS bumblebee and it appears to be a paper/oil
that measures bang-on 0.022uF, but the tone type. As expected, the value has drifted upwards – to

THE LES PAUL BIBLE 127