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Les Paul Traditional
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Pickups
Pickups Model
The Les Paul Traditional Plus Top is equipped with a pair of pickups from Gibson’s popular 57 Classic series. Its 57 Classic (neck) and 57 Classic Plus (bridge) accurately recreate the tone and performance of original PAF humbuckers with a few tonal enhancements that players appreciate. The standard ’57 Classic in the neck position is wound to a DC resistance toward the lower range of the original PAF pickups, for a warm, round, rich tone with plenty of definition and clarity. The 57 Classic Plus in the bridge position is wound toward the hotter end of the PAF spectrum to reflect vintage pickups whose coils were wound “until they were full”, for an open, clear, punchy vintage voice with plenty of snarl and aggression when you crank up your amp. The coils are wax potted to combat microphony and feedback squeal at high volumes so, while vintage voiced, they are suited to high-gain playing, too. The number of windings in the two coils in each pickup are also equally matched, an enhancement that provides a creamy, balanced performance that many players enjoy.
Magnet Material
Gibson’s 57 Classics use Alnico II bar magnets, just like many of the most prized original PAF humbuckers.
Tonal Characteristics
In the bridge (lead) position, the 57 Classic Plus offers a bright, cutting tones through clean amps and more midrange snarl and bite through overdriven amps, accurately capturing the versatility of an original PAF humbucker in the bridge position. In the neck position, the 57 Classics presents the optimum blend of warmth, depth, and clarity, a tone that is equally suited to blues, jazz, and sweeter, mellower pop and rock styles.
Electronics
Volume Controls
The Les Paul Traditional uses an independent Volume control for each pickup. These consist of quality 300k linear potentiometers for a smooth, natural roll-off.
Tone Controls
The guitar’s two independent Tone controls consist of quality 500k non-linear potentiometers, each with a .022mF tone capacitor for a broad, usable range from these controls.
Toggle Switch
The Les Paul Traditional features the classic three-way Switchcraft toggle switch with cream plastic tip.
Output Jack
The guitar features a 1-4" output jack made by Switchcraft, for years of trouble-free service.