Guitar Wiring?

[bugbear]

I happen to know we have a couple of luthiers in the forum...

I have an old guitar, and the control pots are a bit noisy and scratchy, so I thought I'd replace them.

I mean, pots have 3 connections, this'll be easy. Quick soldering job...

Well, in terms of a logical wiring diagram that may be so, but the ACTUAL wiring looks rather odd, with massive soldering to the cases of the pots as well as the connectors.

So - can anyone suggest a forum, or book where I could learn more about guitar wiring practice, at least enough to replace the pots?

BugBear

 

[Racers]

Hi, BB

The soldering to the cases is for screening to stop it picking up noise, hums etc, lots of old TV have the same thing done to them.
Just copy what they have done.

Pete

 

[Anonymous]

Hi, BB

The soldering to the cases is for screening to stop it picking up noise, hums etc, lots of old TV have the same thing done to them.
Just copy what they have done.

Pete

What he said

 

[dunbarhamlin]

Yup.
On the book/DVD front, Stewmac offers a goodly selection (many of which may of course be available for less over here) http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics ... onics.html
For a forum with a good archive (though an absolutely barking posting policy - no prices or commercial urls) try mimf.org (mimf.something anyway - I can't be bothered with it)
Steve

 

[bugbear]

Oh gawd - it turns out the earthing (etc) is the least of my worries.

After a few minutes of googling, I've found that the guitar nuts have made the simple selection of pots + capacitors for the control circuits of guitars FAR more complex than we've ever made edge tool sharpening!

BugBear

Gibson ES335-S standard Firebrand, Zebra humbuckers, 70-028 300k volume pots, 70-035 100k tone pots, .02uF 100V capacitors.

 

[dunbarhamlin]

Hah! Yep - they'll even argue over nut materials - which can only affect open string tone.
Though I haven't, I'd be wholly unsurprised to see a discussion of the relative tonal merits of black and gold pearl for fingerboard inlays.
Problem is most oiks with a plug in don't understand how to alter tone with their picking style, and so want to buy tone honing guides to do it for them - buy FX, buy new pics, to pickups, new pots, new leads, new cabs... before they learn to hone their tone freehand.
Sound familiar?
Tis all fun

 

[kityuser]

no no no you`ve got this all wrong.........

surely who cares, crank up the gain, square off the edges, harmonics ahoy..........
just get the beefiest /highest output rare metal /pickups you can find......


ok maybe my taste isn't to everybodies liking.....
taxis........

8)

Steve
ps if you aint hurt`in it aint loud enough

 

[Digit]

A trick we used to use years ago was to flood the pots with lighter fuel to wash the bits of carbon out of the tracks.

Roy.

 

[Racers]

Hi, BB

Have you tried contact cleaner? might just save you replacing them all.

We used to do a trick where you put a large screwdriver on the back of the pot and whacked it, it did seem to work in most cases others it killed.

Pete

 

[bugbear]

I want to proceed fairly carefully; it appears "proper" guitar pots are a little pricy:

http://www.axiomatic-music.co.uk/acatal ... -kits.html

BugBear

 

[Digit]

They don't appear to be different to any other trim pot to me. Just a bloody site more expensive!

Roy.

 

[Night Train]

I always used bog standard off the shelf pots. Just make sure that you get the right ones. They should be marked up with the resistence eg 100k and a 'lin' or 'log' to show linear or logarithmic pots. Sometimes you may come across a reverse log pot just to be awkward.

 

[Digit]

Sometimes you may not be able to get 500K pots and be offered 470k, they will do the job.

Roy.

 

[Woody Alan]

If you are up for a challenge it is sometimes possible to unbend the lugs that hold the pot case together. Once open give the track a good wipe with an isopropyl cleaner, and buff up the end of the arm that does the wiping, may have one or two or three fingers.
Gently increase the "set" or tension in the wiper to press more firmly on the track, only a tiny amount more as they have probably lost their set over time. If they are wirewound pots (unlikely if noisy) then a good cleanup with a wipe.

Alan

 

[Ironballs]

A good blast of compressed air is another method that often works with noisy pots.

I'd also recommend the Stewmac site for free maintenance info, as you've got a Gibson then the guys over at Mylespaulforum.com will be happy to help.

I'm not looking forward to doing the electronics on mine and will be relying heavily on Melvyn Hiscock's Build Your Own Electric Guitar book

 

[ByronBlack]

if you want to replace the pots, www.axesrus.co.uk are a good supplier, and have good prices. I've used them for all my wiring needs.

 

[Philly]

Yes, another vote for Axesrus.co.uk - excellent prices, quick service.
No affiliation, just a very satisfied repeat customer. Just don't tell the Wife....
Philly

 

[bugbear]

Yes, another vote for Axesrus.co.uk - excellent prices, quick service.
No affiliation, just a very satisfied repeat customer. Just don't tell the Wife....
Philly

That looks most helpful - thanks.

BugBear