Les Paul 50s Wiring vs Modern - What's the difference?

March 22, 2023 Mathew Goodall

What is the Best Les Paul Wiring?

Three Classic Les Paul® Wiring Options:

The Les Paul has remained relatively unchanged since humbuckers were added in 57'. From then till now, three simple wiring layouts have remained dominant for their ability to draw out a myriad of soul turning sounds.

We have laid out what we know about the 'Vintage 50's', 'Modern 60's' and '60's Plus / Treble bleed' wiring, to help you find the best Les Paul wiring setup.

Before we get started:

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Head straight to the bottom of the page.

There is a video.

You need to use your tone and volume controls...

With everything at 10, these will all sound exactly the same.

The magic happens when you start tweaking...

Set any dial to nine, or seven, or four, and the differences between the the wiring schematics start to shine

If you do not like using your tone and volume controls, it could be that you have a setup that does not suit your playing style.

What about the SG, Tele Deluxe, PRS etc...?

This guide applies to all of them.

If you have two humbuckers and an LP style set of tone and volume controls, with a 3 way switch, your wiring is likely setup with one of these three basic wiring types.

Why are the wiring diagrams not complete?

We are focusing on the differences between these diagrams to keep it simple

The Big Three Les Paul Wiring Diagrams

Les Paul 50s Wiring - Vintage Heaven
Perfect for rolling between your classic 'crunch' tone and soulful cleans using only your volume control.
The Vintage 50s Les Paul wiring is the 'Holy Grail' for many.
The technical difference:
Its all in the order of the tone and volume controls. Vintage 50s wiring places your tone controls, after your volume controls.
Vintage 50's Volume Control Wiring
Lug 1: Input from Pickup HOT
Lug 2: Output to switch + Tone Control Circuit
Lug 3: Soldered to Ground / Back of Pot
The ground wires, or outer braid of vintage style wires is soldered to the back of the pot.
The difference for you:
Vintage 50's wiring is the easiest way to roll between clean and crunch tones.
Setup your amp so it is at the edge of break up at around 7 on the volume control, with your tone controls at 10. Crank the volume control up to 10 to drive your amp through to overdrive, or back it down towards zero for your cleans. Bliss.
The catch - The tone controls will effect your volume levels, making your perfect tones harder to find in a live situation. Clarity at lower volume levels is easier to find than with a modern 60s wiring setup, but not as achievable as with the ever clear 60's Plus / treble bleed wiring.
Advantages
- Smooth treble roll off with volume control
- Easily roll between crunch and clean
Disadvantages
- Tone controls also effect volume levels
- Not as tweakable as '60's Plus' Wiring
See Diagram
Modern / 60s Les Paul Wiring
The standard wiring used in modern Les Pauls - but...
This type of wiring tends to cause huge amounts of treble roll off or 'muddy' tones when you roll back the volume control.
The technical difference
The modern 60's Les Paul wiring moves the tone control circuit in front of your volume controls.
Modern / 60s Volume Control Wiring:
Lug 1: Input from Pickup HOT + Tone Control Circuit
Lug 2: Output to switch
Lug 3: Soldered to Ground / Back of Pot
The ground wires, or outer braid of vintage style wires is soldered to the back of the pot.
The difference for you:
The modern 60's wiring separates out the effect that your tone and volume controls have on each other.... almost.
The catch - a new issue is created, where the resistance in the volume control, works in series with the capacitance of your cable, to create a big, inescapable tone sink. The result - wind back your volume and lose all of your highs / treble / clarity.
Advantages
- Tone controls will not effect volume levels
Disadvantages
- Abrupt treble roll off with volume control
- Sharp drop in volume levels at top end of volume control
See Diagram
'Obsidian® 60's Plus' Wiring - Clear at any volume
Crystal Clear at any volume
This is the ultimate wiring for those that need clarity at any volume, whilst retaining functional tone controls for knocking back highs where required.
The technical difference:
The Obsidian 60's Plus wiring is like the modern 60s wiring, but it includes a treble bleed mod. on each volume control.
60s Plus Volume Control Wiring
Lug 1: Input from Pickup HOT + Tone Control Circuit + Treble Bleed
Lug 2: Output to switch + Treble Bleed
Lug 3: Soldered to Ground / Back of Pot
The ground wires, or outer braid of vintage style wires is soldered to the back of the pot.
The difference for you
This setup offers the greatest clarity at lower volumes, and the is most versatile of the three classic Les Paul wiring options. The volume controls are also have the smoothest taper from 1 - 10, and the tone controls will not reduce your overall volume.
The catch - It is not as simple to smoothly roll between clean and crunch as the vintage 50's wiring.
Advantages
- Retains clarity at lower volumes
- Smoother volume control taper
- Tone controls will not effect volume levels
Disadvantages
- Not as simple to use as Vintage 50s Wiring
See Diagram

So... What is the BEST Les Paul wiring?

The best Les Paul wiring harness is the one that helps you find the tone you want...

Choose...

Vintage 50's for...

Smoothly rolling between clean and dirt tones with volume control

With the bonus of two functional tone controls for additional treble roll off.

Obsidian 60's Plus for...

For clarity at any volume

and very useable independent tone controls for treble roll off

Modern 60's for...

For rolling from crisp tones at louder volumes to deep warm tones at lower volumes using only the volume controls

Or... Choose different wiring for each pickup

You can choose a different wiring type for each of your pickups

e.g 50s wiring for the bridge pickup and modern 60s 'Obsidian' wiring for the neck pickup

The best part about Les Paul wiring - Each pickup gets its own suite of tone and volume controls, so you can choose a different wiring setup for each side.

Get easy access to the two best options

A shameless plug...

The Obsidian® MKII Wiring...

The Obsidian® MKII wiring for Les Paul® is built with switchable 50s & 60s wiring so you can experiment and find a combo you love without having to do any soldering at all.

Buy Here