Author Topic: Tone knob question (Read 4035 times)

ilÿti · « **on:** April 08, 2008, 08:54:29 PM »

When I turn down the tone knob on my lp, the volume seems to go down a lot aswell, especially on the bridge pickup. This is probably normal, but I'm wondering if there's a way to wire it so that the tone knob affects the volume of the guitar less, or not at all.
Could it be down to capacitor value? I got .047uf because I thought it was the "standard" (so it appears on the BKP wiring diagrams).

Thanks in advance.

ilÿti · « **Reply #1 on:** April 10, 2008, 11:13:41 PM »

I guess it can't be done then. Oh well.

Will · « **Reply #2 on:** April 11, 2008, 12:18:12 AM »

I am no pro, but I am sure this has been covered before, it depends on which lug of the pot you solder too I believe.
Also worth searching this forum for the vintage / modern wiring differences, there was a long thread somewhere

ilÿti · « **Reply #3 on:** April 11, 2008, 03:18:26 AM »

Thanks. Yeah I read that thread. It's really not what I'm asking about.

If my understanding is right, the consensus of the thread is that if you wire it "modern" it can get a bit muddy sounding especially when you turn the volume down and wiring it "vintage" help retain the treble.

I'm wired in modern and my problem is kinda the opposite. :lol: I wanna turn the tone down while retaining volume.

greg · « **Reply #4 on:** April 12, 2008, 11:18:59 PM »

turning a tone knob shouldn't change a volume that much. check again everything with a diagram for you guitar or go to your local guitar tech.
if you are from london i can help you.

Fikealox · « **Reply #5 on:** April 12, 2008, 11:51:31 PM »

Just a few questions to get a better handle on the fault (because I think there probably is one, like Greg said), and my thoughts on a likely cause...

Does your LP have one tone knob or two?
If two, do they both have the same effect on volume?
If only one affects volume, does it do it to both pickups?
Does the tone pot in question actually affect tone?

Try measuring the resistance across the capacitor, because if the capacitor has shorted internally (which is quite unusual), or it has a short across it, that would explain your fault...

ilÿti · « **Reply #6 on:** April 12, 2008, 11:55:21 PM »

Quote from: greg

turning a tone knob shouldn't change a volume that much. check again everything with a diagram for you guitar or go to your local guitar tech.
if you are from london i can help you.

Hmm okay. Everything is wired right. It was done in the shop and it looks exactly the same on the inside as before the pickup/pot swap.
Don't live in london or even Britain, but thanks for the offer.

Anyway, it's not a huge problem, I guess I can live with it.

ilÿti · « **Reply #7 on:** April 13, 2008, 12:02:02 AM »

Quote from: Fikealox

Just a few questions to get a better handle on the fault (because I think there probably is one, like Greg said), and my thoughts on a likely cause...

Does your LP have one tone knob or two?
If two, do they both have the same effect on volume?
If only one affects volume, does it do it to both pickups?
Does the tone pot in question actually affect tone?

Try measuring the resistance across the capacitor, because if the capacitor has shorted internally (which is quite unusual), or it has a short across it, that would explain your fault...

Thanks for the responce.

1) two
2) yes, seemingly, it's just more apparent on the bridge
3) nope, with standard LP wiring each tone pot works with each pickup
4) yes. I think it actually affects tone the way it's suposed to, it just happens to drop the volume aswell

I don't think I have anything to measure resistance... but I supose I could put the old caps back in and see.

Twinfan · « **Reply #8 on:** April 13, 2008, 12:07:07 AM »

Remember than by rolling off treble using the tone control, it'll sound quieter to your ears. That's perfectly normal :)

ilÿti · « **Reply #9 on:** April 13, 2008, 12:16:28 AM »

Quote from: Twinfan

Remember than by rolling off treble using the tone control, it'll sound quieter to your ears. That's perfectly normal :)

That's probably just it!

It wasn't like that with the stock pickups though, and I've seen people do it it without the drop in volume (and gain) sounding nearly as dramatic. Like the beginning of this video:
http://stream.carvin.com/CT6M/CARVIN-CT6-GW.wmv

Twinfan · « **Reply #10 on:** April 13, 2008, 12:26:10 AM »

There's probably compression/limiting on the video ;)

Plus the old pickups probably didn't have as much treble/clarity, so the effect is less. It also explains why you notice it more on the bridge pickup.

ilÿti · « **Reply #11 on:** April 13, 2008, 12:29:46 AM »

Yes, probably. And I hate using compression so that's out of the question. Maybe buy a better volume pedal for these things.

So as I said in the first post, it's probably normal but I was wondering if there was a modification that would fix it. I guess there isn't.

Oh and the stock bridge was a 498T. Treble was about all it had. :P

Philly Q · « **Reply #12 on:** April 13, 2008, 12:54:51 AM »

If you try a lower value capacitor, you'll get a less dramatic treble roll-off and therefore (probably) less of a perceived drop in volume.

0.022 is pretty much standard for tone caps on most newer guitars. I find 0.047 a bit much, but I tried a 0.033 on a Tele recently and quite liked it.