You will have noticed that we do quite a few different models of pre wired kits all of which we build here. They all use the same CTS "CG" potentiometers, CRL or Switchcraft switches and sockets and Gavitt wire. They can all have the volume control upgraded to an RS Superpot which among other advantages does not require a treble bleed to maintain the higher tones as you roll down the volume. The difference is in the capacitors.
So which should I get? Sadly there is not a right answer to that. The CG Jupiter kits are the most affordable and will do everything that you need a tone circuit to do. The RS kits have POI caps which are more expensive, nice to have, work very well with the RS Superpot and are a premium kit. If you want great tone and vintage correctness under the hood then Luxe is the way to go. Hand made caps by a vintage obsessed company.
All with Jupiter Yellow Vintage Tone capacitors which are Aluminum Foil Mylar 1960's Style Build with a tolerance +/-10% typically much closer rated at 600 volts and with tinned copper leads. We like them because we ffind them to be superior to the common orange drop capacitors, they sound great 'nuf said.
Are of course only with the RS Superpot in the volume position but also are made with all new capacitors manufactured to RS specs, these hand-made 100v caps have a rich vintage tone, while still retaining open top-end clarity. Hand-wound on 50's-era machines, the new RS Vintage GuitarCaps use vintage-correct Kraft paper, solid military-spec construction and tinned 20AWG leads for easy soldering. There are a few kits made with Luxe Bumble Bees that RS used to offer but that we have maintained.
Are a small company in Los Angeles who make capacitors in the way that they were made back in the day. Identical in appearance and performance to original components each Fender style cap is hand wound on a 1932 Sprague Specialties Co. Winding Machine replica using exact vintage spec foil and paper film. They're hand soldered, triple hot vacuum impregnated with pure castor oil and pure beeswax and hand-wrapped. These parts are fresh from the time machine and authentic inside AND out.
Ceramic caps are genuine NOS 1960s USA made parts, tested to ensure they are within specs. The original logos are carefully removed from these caps and replaced with vintage correct markings. Includes historically accurate coated cloth sleeving, as pictured.
Gibson style caps are hand wound on an original Vintage Winding Machine using exact vintage spec aluminum foil and paper film. They're hand soldered, hand cast in oven-proof thermoplastic, hot vacuum impregnated with pure castor oil and hand-painted.
A special word about Luxe Bumble Bees. Luxe Radio are the only ones making them in the correct way inside and out with bakelite clamshell outers, spaghetti tube and made in the USA.
In addition to the above these are made the funky old school way, so they will leak voltage and play all kinds of other tricks on your digital multi meter, but rest assured, they've been tested every step of the way on dedicated capacitance bridges, and they will do just what they were made for when you wire them into your guitars. The weird things that play games with your multi meter are the same things that give Luxe caps their unique sound.
Just remember that they leak voltage, so these are only for guitars!
So there it is a brief explanation of the differences, all our kits are hand built usually in a couple of days and all are excellent.
