Make a no load pot?

[alex1fly]

Anybody modified an existing tone pot into a no load pot? There are some guides out there on forums and Youtube. Seems pretty simple... not reversible on the same pot, but pots are cheap. Basically break the contact on the last little bit of the wiper... some folks scratch it off, others add a barrier like nail polish...

Here's one tutorial video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBLp53iNCf4

[Hank-]

I have done that to my tone pots, it's simple but like doing it to only pots that read 450k or less where I was expecting 500k. I sometimes do it to scratchy sounding volume pots & use them for tone pots.

No load pot for use as a blender pot in strats are very useful too.

[Spaghetti Bolo]

I use a scalpel to cut out a notch.

[Clint 55]

That's what I always do with 250k pots for tones or blenders. I prefer it because there's no detent.

[Spaghetti Bolo]

That's what I always do with 250k pots for tones or blenders. I prefer it because there's no detent.

Horses for courses, I like the feel of the detent. I miss it on an unmodded tone pot.

[AdrianSD]

Anybody modified an existing tone pot into a no load pot? There are some guides out there on forums and Youtube. Seems pretty simple... not reversible on the same pot, but pots are cheap. Basically break the contact on the last little bit of the wiper... some folks scratch it off, others add a barrier like nail polish...

Here's one tutorial video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBLp53iNCf4

Yes, it works fine, use a needle or scalpel, or pretty much any sharp hard item you find in the kitchen. Make sure you have a multimeter handy so you can test the result before wiring the pot.

[alex1fly]

Just thought I'd circle back. I've done this on two guitars now with 250k pots, as per the video in the original post. It seems to have been successful when measuring with a multimeter (resistance goes up to 240ish and then to infinity when the knob is at 10), and there's a noticeable jump in treble when the knob goes from 9 to 10. It did require a teeny screwdriver to open up the pot tabs, and I wore a leather glove on the pot-holding hand to help with rogue screwdriver stabs. And getting the pot back together with the wiper in the proper place was a bit tricky. Anyways, seems like a cool little trick to save a little money and time waiting for shipping, and if I can do it then anyone can do it.