Guitar Volume Pot Question

**jorgemg1984** · 04-25-2013, 06:57 AM

Hi!

So I like to use my guitar's volume pot on 9 or something around that, just a really small cut from 10. It makes my sound more acoustic and takes a lot of the sharp attack away. When I use a pedalboard I put the pot on 10 and use the volume pedal to make a small cut - but when I play direct to amp it actually makes my sound hard to dial because sometimes I need to reduce volume to comp and when I got back to my initial volume I never end up in the same place.

So is there any sort of push pull pot that could achieve this - I would find the sweet spot I wanted on the pot and then I would have some sort of way to make that my maximum value by pulling the pot.

Anyone knows if this is possible?

Thanks!!

**Tom Karol** · 04-25-2013, 07:18 AM

Wow Jorge - I have the same problem! I wish I could have some sort of programmable rhythm/lead switch on my single-pickup jazz box. I hate fiddling with the volume knob while I'm playing, and I never seem to hit the right spot on the first try when I do.

**3625** · 04-25-2013, 08:03 AM

Let me know if you find one - I had this idea about 2 years ago, came up with zilch.

**SamBooka** · 04-25-2013, 08:48 AM

What guitar are you putting it in?
In principle it is easy to do but I am not sure it would be great on a pickgard mounted pot.

Let me know what you have an I will give you some suggestions.

**erman archtop guitars** · 04-25-2013, 09:04 AM

Here is T+V pot mounted on pickguard. Very usefull thing. Guitar Volume Pot Question-19122010-003-jpg

www.glasbila-erman.com

**jorgemg1984** · 04-25-2013, 09:14 AM

Originally Posted by Tom Karol

Wow Jorge - I have the same problem! I wish I could have some sort of programmable rhythm/lead switch on my single-pickup jazz box. I hate fiddling with the volume knob while I'm playing, and I never seem to hit the right spot on the first try when I do.

Glad to know I am not the only one Tom! In my case I know that if there's a way to have the pot fixed at 9 I can manage my volumes perfectly... I am positive I will find a solution and will share it when I have it

**jorgemg1984** · 04-25-2013, 09:15 AM

Originally Posted by 3625

Let me know if you find one - I had this idea about 2 years ago, came up with zilch.

I will!

**jorgemg1984** · 04-25-2013, 09:19 AM

Originally Posted by SamBooka

What guitar are you putting it in?
In principle it is easy to do but I am not sure it would be great on a pickgard mounted pot.

Let me know what you have an I will give you some suggestions.

Hi Sam - no pickguard mounted pots, I don't even use pickguards!! I want to do it on my 3 electrics - a Guild X-500 with two BK Stormy Monday PAFs, a cheap 335 Cort Source with two BK The Mule and a Godin Kingpin with one BK Half-Note.

I am using these electronics on all (don't know the exact value on each)

https://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk...5d25fad0d42171

https://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk...5d25fad0d42171

I would be forever greateful if you were able to find a solution Sam... thanks!!

**jorgemg1984** · 04-25-2013, 09:21 AM

Originally Posted by erman archtop guitars

Here is T+V pot mounted on pickguard. Very usefull thing. Guitar Volume Pot Question-19122010-003-jpg

www.glasbila-erman.com

Thanks but I don't use pickguards, don't need them and don't like the looks. Would that pot be able to solve the specific problem I am asking about?

**Hoji** · 04-25-2013, 10:28 AM

This all based on my limited understanding....
With the volume pot on 9, you're just reducing the resistance to ground by a small amount. So if it's a 250k pot, on 9 it's something like 240K. (Just making these up but you get the idea). I know there's a mod where you can add a resistor across the in/out lugs of a volume pot to lower the resistance. (make a 500k pot into a 250k, etc. see Project Guitar :: Tweeking pot's and 3 very common treble bleed modifications). I think the idea is that your basically short out the signal directly to ground, but the resistor is preventing the signal from completely grounding, causing the darkening/ mellowing effect. Anyway, perhaps a properly valued resistor connecting the hot signal to ground would cause the desired effect. With a push-pull switch, I imagine you could turn this extra resistor on and off as needed. Just an idea.

**Hoji** · 04-25-2013, 10:43 AM

Now you got me thinking. Instead of a push-pull pot, where you always risk accidentally turning the know while pushing or pulling, how about something like this mini switch:
Guitar Volume Pot Question-001-7079-000-jpg

Guitar Volume Pot Question-001-7079-000-jpg

This could be mounted under the pickguard, with the black plastic tip just barely visible.

Then, just wire it so that when ON, it bypasses and keeps your volume at whatever your pot would normally be, and when OFF it introduces an extra resistor giving a volume/brightness boost. Or vise-versa, depending on what you want to do with it.

Taking this a step further, instead of (or in addition to) the resistor, you could use a small capacitor, which would give you an on/off treble bleed prevention or tone-switch depending on how it's wired.

I might experiment with this next time I have my electronics junk out...

**jorgemg1984** · 04-25-2013, 11:51 AM

Hoji, first of all thanks!! I have very limited knowledge on this things but it's more than just a lower pot value... I don't think a 250k pot instead of a 500k pot would prevent me from using the volume on 9 honestly..

A push pull pot would be better for me because I don't use pickguards and would avoid estra drilling on the guitras. Push pulls are very practical!! I don't care about treble bleed.. my guitars sound perfect wth the volume on 9, I just want the option of having that as my maximum value with the pot engaged!!

**Insufferable_Rhythm** · 04-25-2013, 12:36 PM

Here's one way:

Guitar Volume Pot Question-switch-png

Will require measurements from potentiometer at "sweet spot" with pickup not selected/disconnected. R1 resistor value will be (near to) measured resistance from "hot" lug to wiper.

R2 is parallel to potentiometer resistance "hot" lug to ground. Calculate proper R2 resistor value to achieve measured resistance from wiper to ground.

This will be exact. Roughly and more simply, ignore R2 and associated switching scheme.

**SamBooka** · 04-25-2013, 12:56 PM

Not sure of the reason for R1? In your circuit you always have a resistor in the circuit and that will change the original tone of the guitar.

If you measure the pot at the sweet spot you can then calculate the value of R2. (actually I would try a mini pot.. I don't know where your sweet spot is but here is a 2m pot 2M Ohm - Miniature Pot (Horizontal), 1/2 Watt )

**Insufferable_Rhythm** · 04-25-2013, 01:07 PM

Originally Posted by SamBooka

Not sure of the reason for R1? In your circuit you always have a resistor in the circuit and that will change the original tone of the guitar.

R1 provides the series resistance which is very likely the major cause of what jorgemg1984 is hearing.

I do not always have a resistor in the circuit; in the state opposite the depicted, R1 is shorted and R2 "floats," having no effect.

**SamBooka** · 04-25-2013, 01:15 PM

yeah.. see the floating now.. sorry

**jorgemg1984** · 04-25-2013, 02:33 PM

Thanks so much for your replies. I will discuss them with my tech!

A friend also suggested a trimpot - would that be viable? He said I could set the trimpot to the value I wanted (say 9) and use the pot to vary between 0 and the value desired.

**Insufferable_Rhythm** · 04-26-2013, 09:07 AM

You can place a trimpot (rheostat) in series with your pickup's "hot" lead and tweak it until it sounds right. I thought the idea, though, was to have the setting be switchable?

**Solo Flight** · 04-26-2013, 09:22 AM

I'm no electrician, but is there any reason why they can't make a pot that gently clicks into place at certain intervals, like from 1-10, so you could return to the same spot without constantly adjusting but that would also allow you to set between the intervals if you wanted? Seems like it would be a hot seller.

**jorgemg1984** · 04-26-2013, 09:33 AM

I don't need them to be switchable on a specific gig - what I need is 1) when I go trough amps I want to find that sweet spot and make that my "10" 2) when I go to a PA i need the full pot because for some reason I like it on 10 trough PAs.

Do you think the trimpot would help me have this solution?

Thanks for all the help!

**jorgemg1984** · 04-26-2013, 09:33 AM

Originally Posted by Solo Flight

I'm no electrician, but is there any reason why they can't make a pot that gently clicks into place at certain intervals, like from 1-10, so you could return to the same spot without constantly adjusting but that would also allow you to set between the intervals if you wanted? Seems like it would be a hot seller.

I agree...

**3625** · 04-26-2013, 09:41 AM

Would this work? If you had a two-pickup axe (x-500?) and you were cool with disengaging the bridge pickup - just wire up both volume pots to the neck pickup and use the pickup selector to go between the two. You get two preset volumes that way, say 9 for soloing and 6 for comping. I'll consider doing it for my L4...

**GuyBoden** · 04-26-2013, 09:42 AM

I use a passive pedal for the dropping the volume, I use a Burford Pedal, but there are plenty less expensive similar type pedals on Ebay. They're very simply to use, just set the volume and then click the foot-switch whenever you want to reduce your volume:

The Leech - Passive Volume Control

I'd say that the Power Supply is only needed for the LED, these are so easy to make yourself.

**jorgemg1984** · 04-26-2013, 09:46 AM

Originally Posted by 3625

Would this work? If you had a two-pickup axe (x-500?) and you were cool with disengaging the bridge pickup - just wire up both volume pots to the neck pickup and use the pickup selector to go between the two. You get two preset volumes that way, say 9 for soloing and 6 for comping. I'll consider doing it for my L4...

That sounds like a good idea BUT 1) on my Kingpin I only have one pickup 2) on my Cort I use both pickups

But in other cases it might actually work well!