Question on Les Paul Volume Controls

[Gary Simms]

Hello,

I recently purchased a new Les Paul Studio and noticed an odd behavior
between the 3 position selector switch and the volume knobs.

I'm new to electric guitar so I don't know if this is normal, but I don't
think so. When I have the selector set to rhythm, the rhythm volume works
and the dame for the other setting.

When I have the selection switch set to the middle position I expect to have
both knobs active so as to be able to blend the sound from the two pickups.

This is not the case. Sometimes they both work and sometimes only one, and
sometimes neither.

Nothing seems to be repeatable. This usually happens when I turn the volume
controls down to zero and then turn the switch and then turn the volume back
up.

I'd simply think it was a problem with this guitar, but a friend has a LP
standard (2003) and it does the same thing.

Ever heard of this?

Thanks!

Gary

[Steve Robinson]

"Gary Simms" <gsimms@one-eleven.net> wrote in message
news:bho6mf$1t78$1@news3.infoave.net...
>
> I recently purchased a new Les Paul Studio and noticed an odd behavior
> between the 3 position selector switch and the volume knobs.

Not odd - normal. On a Les Paul turning either volume knob to zero will give
overall zero output in the middle switch position. It's because the controls
are not isolated from each other which AFAIK would be impossible in a
passive/mono setup.

Steve.

[J.Street]

On Sun, 17 Aug 2003 10:22:06 -0500, "Gary Simms" <gsimms@one-eleven.net> wrote:

> Hello,
>
> I recently purchased a new Les Paul Studio and noticed an odd behavior
> between the 3 position selector switch and the volume knobs.
>
> I'm new to electric guitar so I don't know if this is normal, but I don't
> think so. When I have the selector set to rhythm, the rhythm volume works
> and the dame for the other setting.
>
> When I have the selection switch set to the middle position I expect to have
> both knobs active so as to be able to blend the sound from the two pickups.
>
> This is not the case. Sometimes they both work and sometimes only one, and
> sometimes neither.
>
> Nothing seems to be repeatable. This usually happens when I turn the volume
> controls down to zero and then turn the switch and then turn the volume back
> up.
>
> I'd simply think it was a problem with this guitar, but a friend has a LP
> standard (2003) and it does the same thing.
>
> Ever heard of this?
>

Normal wiring for a Gibson.
If you can read a schematic look here,

http://www.guitarelectronics.com/diagrams/universal/hh2.html

You want the pickup lead on the middle leg of the pot and output
going to the 3-way switch. The schematic shows you the wiring
the way you'll view it when you're looking at it.


--

J.Street

[NYC KID]

This should not happen.
Have the selector switch checked.

"Gary Simms" <gsimms@one-eleven.net> wrote in message
news:bho6mf$1t78$1@news3.infoave.net...
> Hello,
>
> I recently purchased a new Les Paul Studio and noticed an odd behavior
> between the 3 position selector switch and the volume knobs.
>
> I'm new to electric guitar so I don't know if this is normal, but I don't
> think so. When I have the selector set to rhythm, the rhythm volume works
> and the dame for the other setting.
>
> When I have the selection switch set to the middle position I expect to
have
> both knobs active so as to be able to blend the sound from the two
pickups.
>
> This is not the case. Sometimes they both work and sometimes only one, and
> sometimes neither.
>
> Nothing seems to be repeatable. This usually happens when I turn the
volume
> controls down to zero and then turn the switch and then turn the volume
back
> up.
>
> I'd simply think it was a problem with this guitar, but a friend has a LP
> standard (2003) and it does the same thing.
>
> Ever heard of this?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Gary
>
>

[PCollen]

"Gary Simms" <gsimms@one-eleven.net> wrote in message news:<bho6mf$1t78$1@news3.infoave.net>...
> Hello,
>
> I recently purchased a new Les Paul Studio and noticed an odd behavior
> between the 3 position selector switch and the volume knobs.
>
> I'm new to electric guitar so I don't know if this is normal, but I don't
> think so. When I have the selector set to rhythm, the rhythm volume works
> and the dame for the other setting.
>
> When I have the selection switch set to the middle position I expect to have
> both knobs active so as to be able to blend the sound from the two pickups.
>
> This is not the case. Sometimes they both work and sometimes only one, and
> sometimes neither.
>
> Nothing seems to be repeatable. This usually happens when I turn the volume
> controls down to zero and then turn the switch and then turn the volume back
> up.
>
> I'd simply think it was a problem with this guitar, but a friend has a LP
> standard (2003) and it does the same thing.
>
> Ever heard of this?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Gary

This is normal with stock LP's, 335's etc. When both pickups are
selected, the pickups and their respective volume controls are in
parallel and tend to interact with and shunt each other out when
rolled off.

[PCollen]

"NYC KID" <hmandel4@optonline.net> wrote in message news:<9nV%a.103067$_R5.38276232@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv.net>...
> This should not happen.
> Have the selector switch checked.

Actually, it is normal.....