Share This Thread Replacing a Volume Pot Travis McNeely (776) Building/Repair Forum 2/18/2007 10:34:41 PM · 45 Views [Respond to this Message] I've always had trouble with the volume pot on my favorite guitar and I have finaly made up my mind to replace it. I have in my posession a pot for an old amplifier that I've used for parts to repaire other amps in the past. This pot works just fine. Can I simply sodder this pot into my guitar with no worries? Is there an issue with the application for which the pot is intended? Is there a differance between any volume pot and a guitars pot?

Responses  [ Pages: 1 · 2 ]

• Respond to this Re: Replacing a Volume Pot 2/19/2007 7:01:43 AM Randy Combs (4943) wrote: Most guitars use 250k - 500k ohm 1/2 watt pots. If it is in this range it should be ok

• Respond to this Re: Replacing a Volume Pot 2/19/2007 12:36:17 PM Nick Pinder (1032) wrote: The only thing you have to watch out for is that you use a log pot rather than a linear pot - that way you'll get an even response. Linear pots will make the response all at one end of the travel. All the best, Nick

• Respond to this Re: Replacing a Volume Pot 8/15/2007 10:00:06 PM Jack Schaeffer (2024) wrote: Nick you've got that backwards, an audio taper pot is not linear and will give you and uneven responce. In other words at 1/2 volume a 500k linear taper pot will be 250k with an audio taper it will be way off.

• Respond to this Re: Replacing a Volume Pot 8/16/2007 7:44:28 AM Nick Pinder (1032) wrote: I stand corrected! The point I'm trying to make is that our auditory response is non-linear so a log pot tends to reflect this.

• Respond to this Re: Replacing a Volume Pot 2/19/2007 8:22:43 AM Andy Wood (5104) wrote: With the pot fully on, you won't notice any difference at all with any pot you use. The only thing you may find is the volume change is not very uniform if it is not in the range suggested above. If you are happy with it, it is fine and won't cause any problems.

• Respond to this Re: Replacing a Volume Pot 2/19/2007 4:13:58 PM David Mackie (10592) wrote: If it has a higher resistance value than the original pot you may notice some extra treble. It may even get kinda shrill sounding depending on your pickups' design.

• Respond to this Re: Replacing a Volume Pot 2/19/2007 10:01:09 PM John Freed (22) wrote: this is only a $2-3 item, why fart with it? get a brand new pot that is EXACT replacement. Your time and labor to do job are more valuable then the part so it makes no sense to put in a old part. Also, one post below was off. A log pot means logarithmetic, or, non-linear. Also called audio taper. A linear pot is what you want and it gives a fixed vloume (ohms) change per degree of rotation. Eg. the 50% ohm value will be dead in the middle of rotation. A log does not do that. It resistance vs. degree rotation curve grows "logarithmically", hence a log pot.

• Respond to this Re: Replacing a Volume Pot 2/19/2007 10:08:35 PM Alan Roberts (10000) wrote: No, he's right in wanting a "log" or audio taper pot. It sounds more natural as you increase or decrease the volume. Peace, Alan

• Respond to this Re: Replacing a Volume Pot 2/19/2007 10:12:38 PM John Freed (22) wrote: thats not what is most production guitars out there, he can do it if he likes, but he may not like it.

• Respond to this Re: Replacing a Volume Pot 2/19/2007 10:44:51 PM Shad Tele (2460) wrote: A linear pot is more intuitive as to what you'd expect a volume knob (or any kind of knob) to do. Changes volume evenly with the turn. However, a log pot is probably more useful specifically for guitar playing, albeit a little strange to get used to at first - especially for volume roll-ons and roll-offs. A little turn and you're wailing away, a little turn the other way and you're quiet again. Much more convenient for stage use.

• Respond to this Re: Replacing a Volume Pot 2/20/2007 12:01:55 AM Travis McNeely (776) wrote: most of the time i only use volume as a quick mute anyway. the thing is, when ever i do so much as to a tiny adjustment, i get a loud crackle and sometimes the sound goes out all together. I inspected the workmanship inside and it seems to be very well soddered, so I'm 100% sure its the pot.

• Respond to this Re: Replacing a Volume Pot 2/20/2007 12:02:59 AM Shad Tele (2460) wrote: You want a log pot, then ;] And everyone's right - they're cheap, just buy a new one!

• Respond to this Re: Replacing a Volume Pot 2/20/2007 12:11:44 AM Travis McNeely (776) wrote: gotcha! thanks!

• Respond to this Re: Replacing a Volume Pot 2/20/2007 8:16:11 AM Chester Horton (10270) wrote: Travis Quick fix... maybe. Take the control unit or pot in question loose from your guitar. You don't have to disconnect it. Pull it out of the cavity. Then put some clean rags under it between it and the finish. Get yourself a can of contact cleaner(can be gotten from autoparts store or Radio shack) Get the quick drying kind. Now just spray it down inside the pot through any holes you can find while turning the control back and forth. Spray down along the shaft and anyplace you can get some to go inside the pot. Usually this will take care of the problems you have mentioned for quite a while. You eventually will have to replace the pot but this can buy you some time and trouble for now and get your guit up to speed quick. Let me know if this helps. This is courtesy of Dan Erliwine's book on How to make you electric guitar play like new.

• Respond to this Re: Replacing a Volume Pot 8/15/2007 10:05:44 PM Jack Schaeffer (2024) wrote: You could spray it with pot cleaner.

• Respond to this Re: Replacing a Volume Pot 2/20/2007 2:11:11 PM Alan Roberts (10000) wrote: Shad, your descriptions of "audio" and "linear" are backwards. With a linear pot, when you turn up the volume it will sound wide open by the time you get to 3-4, with audio it's a more even increase,not mathmatically, but audibly. Check the pots in your guitars and see if they have an "A" or an "L" suffix on them. Here's a quote from the Gibson website: "Pots are available in various ohm ratings; 25K, 250K, 300K, 500K and 1 meg ohm pots are the most common in guitar wiring. They're available in linear taper, which works at a 1:1 ratio, or in audio taper, which has a special logarithmic ratio. Guitars usually use audio taper, because our ears don't hear changes in volume in a linear fashion as you might expect. As the volume increases, a greater change in signal is required to perceive a smooth transition. Using a guitar's control knob settings as an example, the actual change in volume between 2 and 3 is much less than the change between 7 and 8". Peace, Alan

• Respond to this Re: Replacing a Volume Pot 8/15/2007 11:16:25 AM Mac McCoy (532) wrote: I'm bringing this out of the history to ask a question. Its stated that Gibson normally uses the log pots. Does Fender use the linear pots? My strat is what I'm used to and my Heritage apparently had the log pot. This is definitely taking some getting used to, as I can't seem to get that quiet rythm backing volume without a lot of adjustment.

• Respond to this Re: Replacing a Volume Pot 8/15/2007 2:25:30 PM Alan Roberts (10000) wrote: All the major guitar companies use audio taper pots. Occasionally some guitar makers will use a linear pot for the tone control(s), but it's rare. You should be able to identify which type and value you have by visually inspecting them. Most pots have that information stamped or printed on them for just that purpose; identification. Audio pots will have an "A" or sometimes "LOG" written on them, and linears will have an "L". These letters will usually be found paired with the numeric value of the pot (250K, 500K, etc) which is the resistance. Don't confuse these numbers with the source code, which will be a much longer number that identifies the maker and the date of manufacture. If you're having trouble getting good tone at low volume, you might want to consider having a treble bleed circuit installed. It's a simple mod that will sometimes solve the problem. There are lots of sites on the web with information on identifying pots, source codes, values, etc. And also on wiring schematics for typical guitars and the suggested values of the components. You can even find mods,, such as a treble bleed, on many sites dedicated to guitar wiring and modification. A few of my favorites are the Seymour Duncan, DiMarzio and EMG web sites, although there are many, many more. Peace, Alan

• Respond to this Re: Replacing a Volume Pot 2/19/2007 11:56:04 PM Travis McNeely (776) wrote: that DOES make sense...haha!

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