Does anyone disconnect their tone pots?

DeadandBuried

DeadandBuried

New member
So I had the tone pot disconnected from the bridge position on my Les Paul studio, so the pickup now goes straight to the volume, I noticed a brighter tone and a clearer sound, anyone else do this with any of their guitars? I never really use the tone pot esp on LP guitars so thought why not get rid of it, it did make a difference!
 
Re: Does anyone disconnect their tone pots?

Convert the Tone to another Volume, if it's a 2-knob, 2+ pickup guitar.

Actually I do use my Tone knob quite a bit, as well as the Volume. Can't beat the dynamics of it IMO.

But if you don't use them, I'd consider converting them to other functions, even if it's just a push-pull, or an EMG Afterburner (maybe 2 in series? Maybe one for the bridge set to one setting and one for the neck set to what works best for that?) Maybe even a 5 or 6-way rotary that gives you all the various series/parallel/phase/split to either coil options? Couple of Varitones. Rocket launchers, kill switches, maybe rig up a remote switch for your amp channels?

Then there's other onboard circuitry options like treble/bass cut and the like.
 
Re: Does anyone disconnect their tone pots?

Something I'd be interested in trying is running each coil to its own volume pot. If only I had a guitar with 4 knobs and 2 hums.

Getting them all to the switch and keeping them separated would be a trainwreck, though.

Maybe 4 knobs and a 5-way Super Switch....
 
Re: Does anyone disconnect their tone pots?

Yep, I have them clipped on my gibsons and the cheaper guitars i just took them out entirely and went with the 1 knob setup
 
Re: Does anyone disconnect their tone pots?

95% of the time.

My only guitar that actually has tone controls hooked up is my LPC('74/20th Anniv),but I really don't use them on that,either,mainly don't wanna lose the pots...
 
Re: Does anyone disconnect their tone pots?

I often prefer separate volumes when I have two pickups and only two pots.
 
Re: Does anyone disconnect their tone pots?

DrNewcenstein said:
Convert the Tone to another Volume, if it's a 2-knob, 2+ pickup guitar.

Actually I do use my Tone knob quite a bit, as well as the Volume. Can't beat the dynamics of it IMO.

But if you don't use them, I'd consider converting them to other functions, even if it's just a push-pull, or an EMG Afterburner (maybe 2 in series? Maybe one for the bridge set to one setting and one for the neck set to what works best for that?) Maybe even a 5 or 6-way rotary that gives you all the various series/parallel/phase/split to either coil options? Couple of Varitones. Rocket launchers, kill switches, maybe rig up a remote switch for your amp channels?

Then there's other onboard circuitry options like treble/bass cut and the like.
Click to expand...

I used to turn the tone pot down instead of my volume at gigs between songs, so whenever we started a new song I've been playing with the tone knob on zero without realising. So the less I have to touch on stage the better! Its only with Les Paul type guitars cos all 4 knobs are identical looking. Also I never really use the neck pickup either so I could just as easily take that out and just have one pickup in the guitar straight to the volume pot!
 
Re: Does anyone disconnect their tone pots?

Yes!!! I hate friggin tone pots!!! I've done away with them in almost every guitar I own! I'm not saying that there's no place for them, some people use them constantly! Others like to have the neck tone on a Strat turned down to about 7 & have their bridge tone turned all the way up? Myself, personally, I never really touch them once I plug in so I figured if I'm not going to be using them they should probably just go? I mostly own Fenders & other guarded guitars, so normally I'll put the stock guard away & just build my own without them or I'll put something in there place? A kill or tap switch, something like that? There are tons of possibilities if you really want to go nuts but I typically like to keep things as simple as possible?

I will say this though, I absolutely love the P.T.B. system in my G&L Legacy! I can plug into almost any amp & E.Q. my tone without touching the amp, its a very nice feature if you have to use someone else's rig. I wish more guitar manufacturers would give you control over the bass as well as the tone!!!
 
Re: Does anyone disconnect their tone pots?

On my Les Paul I disconnect the tone pot on the Bridge pickup- I still prefer a tone pot on the neck pickup. I really don't need the bridge volume as I always run it at full bore, it's only the neck where I need the volume and tone
 
Re: Does anyone disconnect their tone pots?

This thread is loaded with humbuckers.

Only the middle single coil pickup on all my Strats is tone pot free.
 
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