Thinking of replacing "circuit board" controls on

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ScottA

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I'm thinking of replacing the circuit board controls on an '83 LS80 with an upgrade kit from RS guitarworks:

http://www.rsguitarworks.net/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=31&products_id=153

Anyone have any experience with this? I put one of these kits into my R9 a few weeks ago and it works pretty well. The full range of the tone knobs is usable, but honestly I don't know if it made a major difference in the tone.

Thanks,

Scott

band site: www.swampcoolermusic.com
 
ScottA said:
Anyone have any experience with this? I put one of these kits into my R9 a few weeks ago and it works pretty well. The full range of the tone knobs is usable, but honestly I don't know if it made a major difference in the tone.
Click to expand...
I don't have personal experience with ripping the circuit board out, but a few members did that, I think hoss was one of them (maybe you can find some posts from him about that). The LS320 doesn't come with a circuit board either, so it's up to you to experiment. ;)

If you only want a different sound from the tone knob at 0 (less dull, more like Brian May etc.), you can simply swap the capacitor with a lower value like 4.7nF, that's what I do to all my guitars.
 
Hi Scott - several guys have asked this. Personally, on a nice vintage Love rock like LS80 I would keep the thing stock. Is there something lacking in the tone do you feel, eg against the R9? I guess the change is reversible though, so try it by all means (my money is on ?no worthwhile diff.?) :-? .

Ian.
 
When Gibson owners talked about upgrading the stock pots on their Historic models to something more "useable", I wasn't sure what they meant because controls on my '84 Love Rock (with PC board) seemed so resonsive and the tone was terrific. I used to think, "But how can it get better than this?". It wasn't until I got an R9 myself that I saw what they meant - the stock ones are very unresponsive, limited and muddy (just what you'd expect on a $4000+ guitar, right? :wink: ). I'm definitely going to change those, but I'm hesitant to do it on the LR because, even though vintage wiring looks cooler than a PCB, I've got absolutely no complaints about the workings of the Tokai controls.

ScottA, hope you'll keep us updated.
 
Hi Guys - my '79 Les Paul LS80 Reborn does not have the board - is this correct or what - the caps and pots all have Japanese markings? If it aint original does anyone out there have a board they want to flog? Oh Gawd! :-?

Thanks,
Mike.
 
spikeymikey said:
Hi Guys - my '79 Les Paul LS80 Reborn does not have the board - is this correct or what - the caps and pots all have Japanese markings? If it aint original does anyone out there have a board they want to flog? Oh Gawd! :-?
Click to expand...
I think there's a picture of a Reborn control cavity without circuit board in either the '78 or '79 catalog on the main site, but I don't remember for which model.
 
Ta for that H-J, I guess its not a problem if it isnt totally original - it sounds great either way. I dont think these p-ups have any markings - the front does'ent for sure - no 'x' or whatever. Its a beautiful sounding unit though - really exceptional.
Thanks again,
Mike.
 
A 79 LS80 Reborn without the circuit board, in the Catalogues, really? Where?

Afaik, originally LS80 should have the board. 1978 catalogue does show the board. I see a photo of cavity without board in 1981 for Love rock (ie with discrete caps), but hard to read model id (& if it does say less than LS120 I?d be wary of wrong photo caption).

Anything?s possible where early Tokai are concerned, & certainly possible that Tokai made custom changes at customer requests (circuit board is an odd concept, so I guess some buyers may have wanted it removed), but I believe board is standard fitting on Reborn LS80.

Mike ? I wouldn?t worry about any effect on tone, but I guess plenty have guys have removed those boards, so you could probably buy one & replace it pretty easily if you wanted complete originality (seems to work fine as far as I see/hear). :-?

Ian.
 

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