Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Tech => Topic started by: Afghan Dave on November 20, 2010, 09:24:57 PM

Title: Total Pot values?
Post by: Afghan Dave on November 20, 2010, 09:24:57 PM

Mmm... I've been wondering this for ages and would appreciate the wisdom of the board.

Assuming I have a guitar with 2 or 3 pots in total  - 1 vol + 1 or 2 tones...

I want to replace the volume pot with a 1meg for more top end...

Do I also have to replace the tone controls with 1meg pots as well to open up the circuit?

 :? :?

Title: Re: Total Pot values?
Post by: Afghan Dave on November 23, 2010, 07:23:57 PM

Thank you for the overwhelmingly helpful responses to this polite enquiry....

F**k it maybe I should just ask "how can I make my guitar go Djent Djent"   :roll:

Things ain't what they used to be round these parts....

Title: Re: Total Pot values?
Post by: AndyR on November 23, 2010, 07:27:26 PM

I reckon you could Briwax that and...

Oh sorry, wrong thread :lol:

Title: Re: Total Pot values?
Post by: AndyR on November 23, 2010, 07:29:23 PM

Seriously, I ain't got a clue... never crossed my mind that maybe one should match the volumes and tones.

Thinking about it, probably there's no "should" about it... but I still don't know

Title: Re: Total Pot values?
Post by: Afghan Dave on November 23, 2010, 08:12:57 PM

Thanks... it's a tricky one eh?

Title: Re: Total Pot values?
Post by: Transcend on November 23, 2010, 08:41:01 PM

I think the volume alone will open it up enough.

Unsure about the tone though as i always remove them from my guitars

I believe Jonathan would be the best for this

Title: Re: Total Pot values?
Post by: Philly Q on November 23, 2010, 08:46:32 PM

Sorry Dave, I've never really been clear how different pot values interact - I mean obviously the total resistance of the circuit is different, but what effect that has on the tone I have no idea. 

I remember at one point DiMarzio would recommend a 500k volume and 250k tone, then later they switched to 250k volume and 1meg tone... I have a general impression that the value of the volume is more crucial than the value of the tone, but not sure why that should be the case (if indeed it is).

Of course the real answer is "EXPERIMENT!"

....but......... (you'll be unsurprised to hear) I really can't be bothered.

Title: Re: Total Pot values?
Post by: 1reeper on November 23, 2010, 09:26:51 PM

The way your pots are wired (series/parallel) also matter to the your pots affect your sound, but each value is relatively separate.  The higher the value of a volume, the brighter your sound will be at full volume.  The tone is similar.  The volume has a more subtle effect on your tone rather than the tone pot.

Title: Re: Total Pot values?
Post by: HTH AMPS on November 23, 2010, 10:19:59 PM

as I understand it, the tone circuit is just an RC low-pass filter, so the value of the pot and cap just affect the corner frequency that the tone rolls off at.

http://www.muzique.com/schem/filter.htm