- Tone pot vs. Volume pot<\/strong><\/a><\/li>
- Long shaft vs. Short shaft<\/strong><\/a><\/li>
- Audio vs. Linear Tapered pots<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- How to install a pot<\/strong><\/a>
- Remove the old solder<\/strong><\/a><\/li>
- Tin the lug and wire<\/strong><\/a><\/li>
- Soldering the wire<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
What is a potentiometer and how does it work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\nA potentiometer or \u201cpot\u201d, is a variable resistor that changes your tone or volume by increasing or decreasing resistance<\/a>. Adding a capacitor or \u201ccap\u201d to the pot turns it into a simple EQ. Turning the wiper adjusts the amount of resistance and, in turn, determines which frequencies are allowed to pass. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n![\"Potentiometer](\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2017\/09\/Potentiometer-Diagram-1024x719.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nTone pot vs. Volume pot<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
People often ask \u201cwhat\u2019s the difference between a tone pot and volume pot?\u201d The only difference between a tone pot and a volume pot is whether there is a capacitor attached. Since a potentiometer is a resistor, putting a cap between the pot and ground turns it into an EQ. Because we can vary the amount of resistance by turning the pot up or down, we can choose how much high-end frequency content gets rolled off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The values of the potentiometer and capacitor you use for your tone knob will determine which frequencies it will attenuate. Most guitars will typically use capacitors with 0.001 \u2013 0.1 microfarads. The other value to consider is the pot itself, which is usually written on the back. Before removing any existing pots, verify their value. This value will play a prominent role in the brightness of your tone and how the pot will interact with your pickups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A couple good rules of thumb to remember<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
- The higher the capacitance value is, the bassier<\/strong> your tone will be.<\/li>
- The higher the potentiometer resistance value, the more high end<\/strong> will pass through.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
There are certainly no rules against trying out different pots and experimenting with tone, but here are some guidelines that are useful in determining the best choice for upgrading or replacing your existing pots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Fender: <\/strong>250K<\/a><\/li>
- Gibson: <\/strong>300K<\/a><\/li>
- High Output or Bass: <\/strong>500K<\/a><\/li>
- Active Electronics:<\/strong> 25K<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Long shaft vs. Short shaft<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Be sure that you choose the correct shaft length when replacing your pots. If you need to mount the potentiometer to a thicker-topped guitar (Gibson Les Paul), you\u2019ll likely need a long shaft pot<\/a> for it to be securely mounted. Guitars with pots mounted to the pickguard or models with thinner tops will require short shaft pots<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also, take a quick look at your guitar knobs. If the inside of your knob has tiny teeth or spines, it will fit by being pushed onto a split shaft pot. If it doesn\u2019t, it likely has a set screw on the side of the knob and will be used with solid shaft pots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Audio vs. Linear tapered pots<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lastly, you\u2019ll want to determine whether an audio tapered or linear tapered pot will be right for you. In most cases, you\u2019ll want to choose audio tapered as it sounds more natural than a linear tapered pot. The reason is that a linear taper changes resistance evenly, and the human ear doesn\u2019t perceive sound this way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If your pot sounds like there are rapid or sudden spikes in your volume or tone, you likely hear the result of a linear pot. The audio tapered pot resolves this by using a logarithmic curve that sounds like a more steady increase or decrease in volume or tone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
How to install a pot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Once you\u2019ve decided on the pot that\u2019s best for you, it\u2019s time to heat your soldering iron and get it installed. Set your soldering iron to the temperature you\u2019re comfortable working with. Rosin core 60\/40 solder will typically melt at 370 degrees, but setting your iron to 600 degrees or so is ideal. You want the soldering iron to be hot enough to do the job quickly but not so hot that it burns up your components.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Remove the old solder<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re installing brand new components, you can likely skip this step. Once your soldering iron has had time to heat up, use some solder wick to remove any old solder from the lugs. Solder wick is braided copper wire that will soak up old solder. To use it, put your solder wick between the old solder and your iron. Once the solder begins to flow, the wick will soak it up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Removing](\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2017\/09\/Removing-Old-Solder-300x191.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRemoving old solder<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Tin the lug and wire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
PRO TIP: <\/strong>Alligator clips or a set of \u201chelping hands\u201d are a great way to hold components in place while you solder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before connecting the wires to the lugs, you\u2019ll want to tin both of them. To tin a wire, run your soldering iron and the solder down both sides of the exposed wire, leaving just enough solder to fill the gaps between the filaments. Next, tin the lug with just enough solder to cover the entire hole. If done correctly, the solder will be shiny and smooth. Tinning the lug and the wire reduces how long you have to hold your iron on the components and prevents heat damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Gibson: <\/strong>300K<\/a><\/li>
- The higher the potentiometer resistance value, the more high end<\/strong> will pass through.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Tin the lug and wire<\/strong><\/a><\/li>
- Long shaft vs. Short shaft<\/strong><\/a><\/li>
![\"Tinning](\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2017\/09\/Tinning-a-Lug.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Tinning](\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2017\/09\/Tinning-the-Wire.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Soldering](\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2017\/09\/Soldering-Wire-300x266.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n