Installing Hamer/CTS pots on my Les Paul Custom

[Hamer95USA]

Hey people,

I'm thinking of removing the EMG 85 active pickups on my '96 Gibson Les Paul Custom, install 4 Hamer/CTS pots with .01mfd caps in place of the stock electronics, and install a Dimarzio Bluesbucker & an Air Norton similiar to a Nash Les Paul. Has anyone tried this out yet? If so, how does it sound with your Les Paul guitar?

Guitar George

[DaveH]

Hey people,

I'm thinking of removing the EMG 85 active pickups on my '96 Gibson Les Paul Custom, install 4 Hamer/CTS pots with .01mfd caps in place of the stock electronics, and install a Dimarzio Bluesbucker & an Air Norton similiar to a Nash Les Paul. Has anyone tried this out yet? If so, how does it sound with your Les Paul guitar?

Guitar George

I'm generally not a fan of Dimarzio so I can't speak for the pup selection, but anything has to be an improvement over the actives. That said, I really like Hamer's pots and would put them in any guitar that I play a lot. They have a good taper that works.

[GaryT]

I agree. I don't mind Active as long as I can take them out with a switch to Passive. But I agree the Hamer linear CTS Pots are going to be an improvement.

The Cap will be to a matter of your liking. The Pups will be basically the same. I've used DiMarzio. And some I like some I don't. So with me they are a hit or miss. I played both and with your using, I don't mind the Air Norton for a bridge. I found the Bluesbucker to be to dark of me. But I play Clean more than anything. It may work great for OD tones or a EL-34/EL-84 Amp. Me I'm still using 6L6 on Clean settings with TS-808 for OD Tones. So that may make a difference also. I've prefered the Dimarzio original Hamer PAFs, the Anniversarys the came out with last year are great also for a slightly more aggressive PAF Tone. But by all means try out your set, may be killer?

Its all good Bro. And if not its no biigie to swap a pup once you have a great set of pot, swtich, and output jack in.

[Mike Lee]

You'll need long shaft pots for the Les Paul. All of the Hamer pots I've seen are medium shaft, with the cavities routed for them. Not sure if Hamer has a long shaft pot, but you might check with Kim Keller.

[Hamer95USA]

Hey people,

Thanks for the suggestions and advice. I recently got a Dimarzio Air Norton for my '95 Studio and I'm going to install to see if I like the sound of it as a bridge pickup. I find the L-500XL a bit much for what I want the guitar to sound like which is why I'm selling it. I'm going to contact Kim Keller at Hamer to see if they have a long shaft version of their CTS pots that will work with my Les Paul Custom.

Guitar George

[mirrorimij]

I can't recall a long shaft pot ever being used on a Hamer. It seems unlikely the factory would have them in stock.