So I have replaced my stock volume pot (Strat) with a push pull pot. Unfortunately, I did not make a note of which terminal was which. If I lay the pot on the bench in front of me with the shaft up, I know that the tab to the left is the ground. I have found a diagram on line that says the middle tab is the input, and another that says the middle tab is the output. Which is correct?
Confused about volume pot wiring
- Thread starter 60sSoul
- Start date
Jacew
New member
Re: Confused about volume pot wiring
Are you talking about the push/pull switch terminals or the pot terminals? For the actual pot, ground-side would be right. You can use either the middle or left for the input, which way you want.
About the switch; it depends what kind of switch it is. Usually they are DPDT, with upper and middle terminals shorted with switch down and lower and middle shorted on switch up. If it's one of those CTS pot switches (or similar) with terminals vertically, I don't know.
Are you talking about the push/pull switch terminals or the pot terminals? For the actual pot, ground-side would be right. You can use either the middle or left for the input, which way you want.
About the switch; it depends what kind of switch it is. Usually they are DPDT, with upper and middle terminals shorted with switch down and lower and middle shorted on switch up. If it's one of those CTS pot switches (or similar) with terminals vertically, I don't know.
beaubrummels
Well-known member
Re: Confused about volume pot wiring
Rather than talk about 'input' and 'output', since guys even get these definitions mixed up, might be better to talk about what gets connected to it. Typically the middle lug is what gets connected to either the pickup selector switch or the jack. Typically the outside lugs are the ground and pickup connections.
Rather than talk about 'input' and 'output', since guys even get these definitions mixed up, might be better to talk about what gets connected to it. Typically the middle lug is what gets connected to either the pickup selector switch or the jack. Typically the outside lugs are the ground and pickup connections.
PicoRiveraTele
New member
Re: Confused about volume pot wiring
When the pot is mounted in a pick guard, and you have the whole pick guard flipped over so that you can see the wiring, the shaft is faced down.
So, assuming you still have the shaft face up, which is sort of backwards in a sense, the tab to the left would be ground, center is "out to jack" and right is "in from selector switch".
When the pot is mounted in a pick guard, and you have the whole pick guard flipped over so that you can see the wiring, the shaft is faced down.
So, assuming you still have the shaft face up, which is sort of backwards in a sense, the tab to the left would be ground, center is "out to jack" and right is "in from selector switch".
PicoRiveraTele
New member
Re: Confused about volume pot wiring
You might try wiring with everything already mounted in the pick guard. I say that because then you get the lengths of the wires just perfect.
You might try wiring with everything already mounted in the pick guard. I say that because then you get the lengths of the wires just perfect.
beaubrummels
Well-known member
Re: Confused about volume pot wiring
Yes, it does matter which is 'input' and which is 'output' and which is ground. If you wire it wrong, the volume may spin the wrong way to turn up/down, or something else. It's just confusing to use the terms 'input'/'output' because some guys call the jack the 'output jack' while others call it the 'input jack', so in discussion it ends up being clear as mud. On a Strat, the center lug is the last thing before going to the jack. The pickups/switch all connect to the other outside lug that is not ground. I agree with Pico - wire it on the guard flipped over. Having the works upside down is 'normally' how wiring is discussed, and you'll get all the wires the correct length.
Yes, it does matter which is 'input' and which is 'output' and which is ground. If you wire it wrong, the volume may spin the wrong way to turn up/down, or something else. It's just confusing to use the terms 'input'/'output' because some guys call the jack the 'output jack' while others call it the 'input jack', so in discussion it ends up being clear as mud. On a Strat, the center lug is the last thing before going to the jack. The pickups/switch all connect to the other outside lug that is not ground. I agree with Pico - wire it on the guard flipped over. Having the works upside down is 'normally' how wiring is discussed, and you'll get all the wires the correct length.
