Solderless Pre-Wired Guitar wiring harness | Full 50s Les Paul kit | Right Handed

£104.99

Order times
I usually make harnesses to order, due to the variety of spec options that could be chosen across the whole range. The current turnaround time for a harness orders is around 5-7 working days depending on quantity of orders in at the time and your order will be updated accordingly when it is dispatched. This turnaround time doesn't include the transit time. Thanks for your patience whilst I get your harness made!

Description
For such a simple configuration, I must admit that the Les Paul harness has been the model I've researched and refined the most in my time making harnesses. I wanted to be respectful of the traditional aspects of the guitar that so many people love, bringing the best out of the iconic Gibson design. After offering a variety of specs over the years, I've now settled on 50s style wiring as standard, with high quality components and a few spec choices which I hope to help the install process that little bit easier. This listing is for the Solderless version, meaning you could in theory install this pre-wired harness into your guitar without the need of a soldering iron! The solderless connector blocks will work with individual pickup wires, or with traditional 2 conductor braided pickup wire. for the latter, you simply need to prepare the wire for the connector by separating some of the outer braiding, twist and form it's own wire so to speak for installation into the connector. 
This solderless les paul harness currently only comes supplied as a complete kit, meaning you will receive the switch, jack and pots section complete. It is also available as either short shaft or long shaft pot versions.

Troubled by a dark sounding neck pickup? Not totally un-common with Gibson type guitars, and although the standard spec harness will I'm sure help the pickup breathe, I now also with the choice of .01uF value cap in the neck position instead to help clear up a darker sounding neck pickup.

Installing
I have intended for my wiring harnesses to be as simple as possible to install to your Les Paul, as well as writing in depth fitting guides, how-to instructions documenting the step by step process as well as a simple to follow wiring diagram.
The parts I use, in particular the pots, are CTS branded pots which are imperial measurements. If you're fitting this harness to a far east built variant for example such as a Epiphone or similar, then you may have to widen the holes in the body to accommodate for these imperial measurement pots. 
For reference, the CTS pots I use in this harness have a shaft diameter of 9.52mm.
You may also require new control knobs to fit the CTS pot 'split shaft' spline diameter of 5.95mm.
If you do require US spec control knobs, we do carry a selection of popular options in stock and they can be viewed in the hardware & plastic hardware categories on the store.

The mounting/packaging board I ship my harnesses out on, were taken from measurements of a USA build Gibson Les Paul. The centre to centre measurements between components are - 
Centre of neck volume pot and neck tone pot - 63mm
Centre of neck volume pot and bridge volume pot - 50mm
Centre of neck tone pot and bridge tone pot - 50mm
Centre of bridge volume pot and bridge tone pot - 61mm

What types of pickup wires will fit into the connector blocks?
The RS Pro connector blocks will fit ANY pickup wire type, so if you have traditional single coils with cloth covered push-back style individual hot/ground wires, simply push back the cloth covering to expose around 5/6mm of central core wire and insert it into the connector. Tighten up, and push the cloth covering back down.
If you have thinner, plastic insulated/coated wires, you will need some wire strippers so you can trim back the coating to expose around 5mm of central core wire. Very often these plastic coated wires are stranded wire, so if this is the same for yours, then simply twist the wire so it forms a nice tight portion, then insert that into the relevant connector block and tighten. 
If your pickups are vintage/traditional style 2 conductor 'braided' wire, then these will also fit the connector blocks, you just need to prepare them to do so. First step is to push back some of the outer metal braiding. Then using some needle nose pliers or a small screwdriver, separate some of the braiding so you can twist and form a off-shoot of wire. This will be your ground, so with that twist of wire pop that into the connector block and tighten. Then your central core wire is the 'hot' signal wire and goes into the relevant connector block via the same methods as prior, exposing around 5mm of core to ensure a nice firm seat in the connector. For much more detailed information on all of this, please check out the guide HERE
As always, if you have ANY questions or concerns about whether your pickup wires will be suitable, please just drop me a message or call and I'll be happy to help guide. I have tested these connectors with all varieties of pickup wires and they worked great so happily will advise on how to correctly install with you :)

Long or Short, which do I need?
The question I probably get asked most is, "Will I need long or short shaft pots?". Well Gibson are of course known for lots of transitional changes to specs from the golden era right up to modern day. I have compiled a list of Gibson models which use either Short or Long shaft pots on the individual pot listing HERE But, if you're still not sure, the simplest answer is that ALL types of Gibson or Epiphone Les Paul will fit a long shaft pot, as you can adjust the two supplied nuts to suit the height in the body. All Epiphone Les Paul's with exception of the Elitist model use short shaft pots. Also, feel free to send me a photo of the inside of the control cavity or a photo of the pot itself, hopefully I can help identify it for you.


Parts used

- CTS '450' Series +/-10% Tolerance - 500k split shaft short & 550k long shaft
- .022uF 'Yellow Mustard' type tone capacitor  (If you'd prefer a different value capacitor, do please get in touch and I'd be more than happy to help, but as standard all of my kits come with .022uF value)
- Now also with the choice of .01uF value cap in the neck position to help clear up a darker sounding neck pickup.
- 20AWG Tinned copper ground
- Soldered using Rapid 22SWG lead-free solder
- Switchcraft Short Frame 3 way toggle switch
- Pure Tone multi contact jack socket (nickel as standard)
- Gavitt 22AWG braided & cloth covered wire
- RSPro solderless connections

Do you make custom harnesses?

I'm afraid I do not offer a custom harness service. Only kits developed, tested and listed on my website are the available kits. So no custom schematics etc. If you happen to be local to my office, then I do carry out custom work in house, but in regards to shipped out pre-wired harnesses I do not offer custom kits. I am however happy to use different pot values or cap values within reason if you have a specific requirement that differs to the specs listed above. If this is relevant to yourself then please get in touch to discuss further to ensure the request is possible. 

Order times
I usually make harnesses to order, due to the variety of spec options that could be chosen across the whole range. The current turnaround time for a harness orders is around 5-7 working days depending on quantity of orders in at the time and your order will be updated accordingly when it is dispatched. This turnaround time doesn't include the transit time. Thanks for your patience whilst I get your harness made!

Description
For such a simple configuration, I must admit that the Les Paul harness has been the model I've researched and refined the most in my time making harnesses. I wanted to be respectful of the traditional aspects of the guitar that so many people love, bringing the best out of the iconic Gibson design. After offering a variety of specs over the years, I've now settled on 50s style wiring as standard, with high quality components and a few spec choices which I hope to help the install process that little bit easier. This listing is for the Solderless version, meaning you could in theory install this pre-wired harness into your guitar without the need of a soldering iron! The solderless connector blocks will work with individual pickup wires, or with traditional 2 conductor braided pickup wire. for the latter, you simply need to prepare the wire for the connector by separating some of the outer braiding, twist and form it's own wire so to speak for installation into the connector. 
This solderless les paul harness currently only comes supplied as a complete kit, meaning you will receive the switch, jack and pots section complete. It is also available as either short shaft or long shaft pot versions.

Troubled by a dark sounding neck pickup? Not totally un-common with Gibson type guitars, and although the standard spec harness will I'm sure help the pickup breathe, I now also with the choice of .01uF value cap in the neck position instead to help clear up a darker sounding neck pickup.

Installing
I have intended for my wiring harnesses to be as simple as possible to install to your Les Paul, as well as writing in depth fitting guides, how-to instructions documenting the step by step process as well as a simple to follow wiring diagram.
The parts I use, in particular the pots, are CTS branded pots which are imperial measurements. If you're fitting this harness to a far east built variant for example such as a Epiphone or similar, then you may have to widen the holes in the body to accommodate for these imperial measurement pots. 
For reference, the CTS pots I use in this harness have a shaft diameter of 9.52mm.
You may also require new control knobs to fit the CTS pot 'split shaft' spline diameter of 5.95mm.
If you do require US spec control knobs, we do carry a selection of popular options in stock and they can be viewed in the hardware & plastic hardware categories on the store.

The mounting/packaging board I ship my harnesses out on, were taken from measurements of a USA build Gibson Les Paul. The centre to centre measurements between components are - 
Centre of neck volume pot and neck tone pot - 63mm
Centre of neck volume pot and bridge volume pot - 50mm
Centre of neck tone pot and bridge tone pot - 50mm
Centre of bridge volume pot and bridge tone pot - 61mm

What types of pickup wires will fit into the connector blocks?
The RS Pro connector blocks will fit ANY pickup wire type, so if you have traditional single coils with cloth covered push-back style individual hot/ground wires, simply push back the cloth covering to expose around 5/6mm of central core wire and insert it into the connector. Tighten up, and push the cloth covering back down.
If you have thinner, plastic insulated/coated wires, you will need some wire strippers so you can trim back the coating to expose around 5mm of central core wire. Very often these plastic coated wires are stranded wire, so if this is the same for yours, then simply twist the wire so it forms a nice tight portion, then insert that into the relevant connector block and tighten. 
If your pickups are vintage/traditional style 2 conductor 'braided' wire, then these will also fit the connector blocks, you just need to prepare them to do so. First step is to push back some of the outer metal braiding. Then using some needle nose pliers or a small screwdriver, separate some of the braiding so you can twist and form a off-shoot of wire. This will be your ground, so with that twist of wire pop that into the connector block and tighten. Then your central core wire is the 'hot' signal wire and goes into the relevant connector block via the same methods as prior, exposing around 5mm of core to ensure a nice firm seat in the connector. For much more detailed information on all of this, please check out the guide HERE
As always, if you have ANY questions or concerns about whether your pickup wires will be suitable, please just drop me a message or call and I'll be happy to help guide. I have tested these connectors with all varieties of pickup wires and they worked great so happily will advise on how to correctly install with you :)

Long or Short, which do I need?
The question I probably get asked most is, "Will I need long or short shaft pots?". Well Gibson are of course known for lots of transitional changes to specs from the golden era right up to modern day. I have compiled a list of Gibson models which use either Short or Long shaft pots on the individual pot listing HERE But, if you're still not sure, the simplest answer is that ALL types of Gibson or Epiphone Les Paul will fit a long shaft pot, as you can adjust the two supplied nuts to suit the height in the body. All Epiphone Les Paul's with exception of the Elitist model use short shaft pots. Also, feel free to send me a photo of the inside of the control cavity or a photo of the pot itself, hopefully I can help identify it for you.


Parts used

- CTS '450' Series +/-10% Tolerance - 500k split shaft short & 550k long shaft
- .022uF 'Yellow Mustard' type tone capacitor  (If you'd prefer a different value capacitor, do please get in touch and I'd be more than happy to help, but as standard all of my kits come with .022uF value)
- Now also with the choice of .01uF value cap in the neck position to help clear up a darker sounding neck pickup.
- 20AWG Tinned copper ground
- Soldered using Rapid 22SWG lead-free solder
- Switchcraft Short Frame 3 way toggle switch
- Pure Tone multi contact jack socket (nickel as standard)
- Gavitt 22AWG braided & cloth covered wire
- RSPro solderless connections

I'm afraid I do not offer a custom harness service. Only kits developed, tested and listed on my website are the available kits. So no custom schematics etc. If you happen to be local to my office, then I do carry out custom work in house, but in regards to shipped out pre-wired harnesses I do not offer custom kits. I am however happy to use different pot values or cap values within reason if you have a specific requirement that differs to the specs listed above. If this is relevant to yourself then please get in touch to discuss further to ensure the request is possible.