Lefty Electronics?

[oldlefty]

First post here, looking for advice on what I need to know about lefty electronics and wiring.  I've been playing for er, ah, almost a half-century now and have dabbled over the years with "a soldering iron and the guts".  I have a Warmoth lefty tele body on the way to replace the black body on my 2000 American Standard, and I'm also toying with the idea of going the whole route with a lefty WGD body based upon the electronics of Jerry's Tiger.  Over a lifetime of guitars I have noticed the tone and volume controls of factory (including Fender and Ric) lefty guitars working "funny".  Nothing happens for 3/4 turn, then everything happens in the last 1/4.

What is different with the electronics when building a lefty guitar?  I know you can get lefty pots- and even some lefty pickups.  What's different with them?  How do you wire them (any different from normal)?  Anything else to keep in mind? I did a search in this category and didn't find much- if it's been covered already please point me there, or to any other resources.  Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[drewfx]

Did you see this recent thread?

http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=12920.0

For linear taper pots, you just wire to the opposite lugs, but for audio taper pots, you need reverse (i.e. left handed) tapers.

 

[Dan025]

reverse log pots will give you the correct roll off, just switch the left lug with the right lug and leave the center lug the same. or you can just turn the knob backwards, since on a strat or les paul the numbers will be labled backwards you might want to wire the knob righty to match.
lefty pickups are mostly for vintage staggered poles where the wrapped strings are heavily radiused for the fender 7-1/4" radius fret board and the "b" string pole is sunk for a better balance in output with a wrapped "g" string. but with the use of modern strings it makes the "g" string overbearing. there are some new custom staggers for unwrapped "g" strings that sink the pole for the "g" as well but a basic flat pole arrangement is a good compromise and will work righty or lefty and are better for a more modern/gibson like flatter fretboard in most cases.

using a righty vintage stagger in a lefty strung guitar or vise versa would make the a string week and the b string loud. its a small part of the hendrix sound and some righties use lefty p/ups to try to emulate him.

 

[BigBeard]

Building yourself a Jer replica, huh?  That's awesome, check mine out......

I'm a lefty also, I always use regular CTS pots, nothing special or left handed. 

When you need to know how to wire that Jer, let me know, I'll help you out.  Hopefully you are gonna go the TRS effects loop, Jerry had quite the concept that honestly works great, even without a buffer!!!  You'll love being able to dial down the volume and change the tone from the Mu-Tron III right at the guitar!!!!!!!

I don't know if Dimarzio still makes Super II's or not, I don't think they do..... Somebody else might be able to answer that.....

Good Luck and post tons of pics!!!  Oh and Welcome!!!!

 

[oldlefty]

Thanks guys, that helps.  I just opened up my lefty tele and the pots say "250k AUD 019064 CTS".  Can that tell me if they're lefty?  Is that a Fender number, or CTS?

Big Beard- thanks, I've already drooled at your maple WGD- very nice.  I'll be in touch when I start to get serious.  I'm thinking more "traditional"- cocobolla top, Tiger wiring, etc.

 

[Dan025]

Thanks guys, that helps.  I just opened up my lefty tele and the pots say "250k AUD 019064 CTS".  Can that tell me if they're lefty?  Is that a Fender number, or CTS?

Big Beard- thanks, I've already drooled at your maple WGD- very nice.  I'll be in touch when I start to get serious.  I'm thinking more "traditional"- cocobolla top, Tiger wiring, etc.

i would assume and you know what happens when you assume, but i feel confident that "AUD" means that it's normal audio taper and not reverse audio taper or reverse log. normal volume roll off could be achieved if you make the knod work righty. but it may confuse you and swells would be awkward or imposible. linear taper would give you halfway towards normal and reverse log would be the correct pot.

http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=KB2541S28-ND

i couldn't find the right ones from CTS but these are the brand i use ^ with some looking around you may find something cheaper.

 

[OzziePete]

I don't know if Dimarzio still makes Super II's or not, I don't think they do..... Somebody else might be able to answer that.....

Still listed on their website, so I presume they still make them. But they are a generation or two away from the original Super IIs, so may sound slightly different.

 

[JaySwear]

super 2s are still on their website, but they're difficult to find and you won't find them in many colors... seems like they recently stopped production or they're planning to. i don't know one way or the other, but i remember noticing that when i was shopping around for them a year or so ago

 

[BigBeard]

I don't know if Dimarzio still makes Super II's or not, I don't think they do..... Somebody else might be able to answer that.....

Still listed on their website, so I presume they still make them. But they are a generation or two away from the original Super IIs, so may sound slightly different.

Might either of you guys know the difference between a super 2 and a super 3?  I have a super 3 from the early '90's in the Jerrycaster?  I never researched the difference, I just used it because I had it.  It's a pretty hot pickup