Essential mods fo LS-85 F

[Outsider]

Hello!

I sold my Tele yesterday and now I'm ready to go test a second hand LS-85 F from 2005.

If it's as good as the new ones I've tested in shops I'll probably buy it. Of course I want to make it as good as possible, so what are the essential modifications for this guitar? The faber kit? Electronics? I want to get the coil-splits on both pickups so I need to change the stock ones to something with four conductor wire. Any suggestions for good clean and semi-distorted sounds?

Thanks!

 

[ACY]

Hi!
CTS 500klog in the Vol. Positions! (work nicer as the stock pots)

59 wiring

better caps (Mallory, Orange Drops.......)

Braided wire wiring (Vol.Pots zu switch, switch to jack)

Alu STP

Faber Kit

Haeussel Pickups (also used by Juha Ruokangas, Finland)

Then you?ll get a Les Paul equal in quality to some good "R?s"!

good on ya, "ACY"

 

[Outsider]

Thanks ACY!

Where can I order aluminium tailpiece and Faber Kit in Europe? How about electronics, is there some webshops that sell parts? Can you describe in detail what kind of benefits I get from each upgrade? What's the most important? It would be most helpful for me to decide where to begin. Thanks.

I'm really looking forward to get my hands on a new project!

 

[ACY]

Hi!
The really most important is the guitar itself! :wink:

To me, the most important point after the guitar is the pickups! If the pickups are not right, the whole guitar can?t show its whole power and sounds.

The rest is finetuning, to move the guitar a bit further on. That depends on wanted direction!

for example: If you?re using a bridge with brass saddles, the guitar will become very mellow, and it is loosing a part of its "bite" that also could be wanted! (I love a guitar that can sound smooth, and in the next moment it bites your balls off! :lol: :lol: :lol: )

So where do you wonna go?

cheers, "ACY"

 

[humongous]

The nuts too! :wink: Not sure with machineheads tho, mine works fine.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Outsider!

Try one of the titan tailpieces. They are a bit costly, but you'll never return it. Gives beautiful sustain and very good highs.

Ask togps in this forum. He has faber-kit, alu-TP, titan-TP.
Cheers. Rupert

 

[Outsider]

Bought the Love Rock. It was really dirty and the seller hadn't changed the strings since last summer. :roll:

Took it home, cleaned the fretboard and the body, put a new set of D'addario 011's on it and played it through my Crate V30 combo. I'm impressed. I visited a shop today that had a second hand VOS Gibson 58 Les Paul reissue that was nothing spectacular considering it costs over four times the price of my new Love Rock.

I stringed it wrap-around style and I think the string-angle is quite good even though I have the STP flat against the body. I need to get to know the guitar first, before I start to upgrade any parts. The pickpus are probably the first thing I change, they seemed a little weak. I'll check the STP options later on.

Thanks for the great tips and opinions. I'll post pictures later... Great guitar! :lol:

 

[Outsider]

Any opinions about replacement pickups? I kind of like the original MKII's, I think they are ok, I just want something with 4-conductor wires so I can get split-coil sounds. I was told that you need a little hotter pups if you're going to have coil-splits, otherwise they sound too weak split. Is this true?

Here's my list of the candidates (neck first):

Dimarzio Air Classic & Air Norton
Dimarzio Paf Joe & Virtual Paf

Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pros both positions

Gibson 490r & 490t

What do you think? A bit out of my price range are Jason Lollar Imperials and Lindy Fralin Humbuckers. ACY recommended Haeussels but I don't know where to get them and how much they cost.

Please make your suggestions. I want nice transparent clean sound from the neck pickup and a strong vintage-type overdriven sound from the bridge pup. If it's possible to have something with chrome or nickel covers, that would be a plus.

 

[settebello]

Hi Outsider,
look here
http://www.haeussel.com/
or have a Look on these. Growl Dogs Handwounded 135 Euro/Set
http://www.leosounds.de/index_de.html

Volker

 

[Anonymous]

Here you've got the list my neighbour

If not neighbour but almost, I live in Vasa

http://www.multi.fi/~nproject/thursday_burst/

 

[togps]

Any opinions about replacement pickups? I

Contact forum member Acy. He is the man.
BTW, congrats! Enjoy your Tokai baby.

 

[ACY]

Hi!
Here?s a comparison of three Haeussel Pickups vers. stock pickups! All pickups placed in Tokais!

stock (neck ....... bridge)
http://www.acys-lounge.de/soundfiles/agl_sf_tokai_comp_stock_01.mp3

the ?62 (62 neck ..... 62 bridge)
http://www.acys-lounge.de/soundfiles/agl_sf_tokai_comp_62_01.mp3

classic (classic neck ........ classic bridge)
http://www.acys-lounge.de/soundfiles/agl_sf_tokai_comp_class_01.mp3

angus (Vin Neck ............... Angus bridge)
http://www.acys-lounge.de/soundfiles/agl_sf_tokai_comp_angus_01.mp3

good on ya, "ACY"

www.acys-lounge.de

 

[Outsider]

Thanks!

I thought I had already too many choices... now the Haeussels and Leosounds. Haeussels are a bit expensive for me, I try to keep the cost reasonable. The Leosounds don't have the coil-split option... too bad, I'd had definately ordered a set of those. I got a pair of Dimarzio Air Classics for a test, I'll put those on tomorrow and see what I think. I got one week return policy, so no harm done if I don't like them. I know Dimarzio isn't that cool brand, but they were quite affordable, so if they get the job done, fine.

Hey Eresseraca! Quite a project! I got to read your essay more carefully, it seemed very interesting. Kivaa ett? t??ll? on suomalaisia. Eller talar du h?llre svenska?

My first band rehersals with a new guitars behind, the LS performed well and made some new friends. Can't wait to get the coil-split thing going...

 

[MASTER VOLUME]

Hi, i would give Michael at Leosounds an email and tell him what your after, i'm sure he'll be able to make something to your specs. He's made a coil tapped pickup for a telecaster for some one on this forum before.

 

[Outsider]

And of course thanks again for all the good views and opinions and links and stuff. This is a nice forum with lots of helpful people. :lol:

 

[ACY]

...........with lots of helpful people....................

Sure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What ya think! We?re playing the same babes! :wink:

good on ya, "ACY"

 

[leadguitar_323]

Hi outsider, i've just ordered a set of these high order pickups,i don't have them yet but he is very easy to talk to and they are very well priced.....hope this helps...Mick


http://www.highorderpickups.com/

 

[Outsider]

I got the Dimarzio Air Classics and the push-pull coilsplit-switch soldered, I'm really proud I made it myself, I'm not that experienced solderer.

The sound is good for now. Quite articulate and crispy clean sounds and balanced overdrives from both pickups. They were quite cheap, did I mention that I'm downsizing my gear? It's nice to pick up something affordable that also delivers. But thanks for all the good hints about small pickup-manufacturers, when I stop getting poorer and start getting richer I definately order something cool and boutique.

The coilsplitting is a great option, I really recommend it to everyone, makes the guitar a lot more versatile. Can't wait for the band rehersals on friday.

Been playing Led Zeppelin and The Black Crowes all day. Great!

 

[ACY]

So have fun and "rock"!

good on ya, "ACY"

 

[Outsider]

Here's a link to a photo of my Love Rock:

http://muusikoiden.net/dyn/users/21464.jpg

And another one for the bridge angle in my current set-up (I think it works fine for now):

http://muusikoiden.net/dyn/users/21465.jpg

And one more for my silly skate-pedal-board:

http://muusikoiden.net/dyn/users/21466.jpg

Rock on!