Faux dual volumes (Attn: Artie!!!)

[JB_From_Hell]

I do a lot of rolling back the volume to get different gain levels, so I much prefer a master volume to each pickup having its own. However, a tone that I love on my Gibson is the middle (both humbuckers) with the neck pickup volume backed off slightly. It sounds like the bridge with a little more roundness.

I've been thinking of a way to emulate this in my PRS guitars, which are master volume, master push/pull coil split tone, 3 way blade.

My initial idea is adding a mini switch that puts a resistor in series with the neck pickup's hot. Whatever value is the same as my volume knob at like 9 or so. Something tells me that the tone I'm after has to do with having two volume knobs working together, and not just the neck output being a little less.

Any ideas? I'd prefer if it was on a separate switch so the normal middle position was still available, but I'm fine if it's a permanent middle setting, too.

 

[Artie]

Re: Faux dual volumes (Attn: Artie!!!)

You'd probably want a voltage divider, (2 resistors), rather than just one in series. That will emulate perfectly both the output drop and load of the 2nd pot. So, you'd want to measure from center lug to both ends , and write down both resistances. I can easily do the diagram after that. Another option would be to just put a small trim-pot on a switch so that you could tweak it to taste at any time. Again, fairly simple.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Faux dual volumes (Attn: Artie!!!)

"center lug to both ends."

Which ends are we speaking of?

 

[Artie]

Re: Faux dual volumes (Attn: Artie!!!)

When you get the volume pot to the exact place you want it, measure from the center lug to each outside lug of the pot. Make sure it has nothing connected to it when you do this. That way, you know the resistance above and below the wiper. Effectively, two resistors.



To be clear, the pot must be connected as normal. Tweak it. Then carefully disconnect it without moving it's shaft.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Faux dual volumes (Attn: Artie!!!)

Got it.

Have a set of real PRS pickups on the way, so I'll do this when I install them. Thanks again!

 

[Artie]

Re: Faux dual volumes (Attn: Artie!!!)

No prob. Let us know how it turns out.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Faux dual volumes (Attn: Artie!!!)

Absolutely. Expecting the new HFS/VB pickups later this week, so should have it done by about this time next week.

 

[singlecutarmy]

Re: Faux dual volumes (Attn: Artie!!!)

There's concentric pots that have two dials on one.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Faux dual volumes (Attn: Artie!!!)

There's concentric pots that have two dials on one.

I thought about that, but I really only want them out of balance in the middle. Otherwise, I’m rolling the volume up and down like crazy.

 

[Teleplayer]

Re: Faux dual volumes (Attn: Artie!!!)

The master volume wiring is different from Gibson wiring, because the selector switch connects the pickups directly in parrallel no matter where the volume control is set. It changes the resonance of the pickups in middle position and should result in brighter tones. On top of that is the PRS treble bleed cap and possibly brighter resonance of the guitar itself. Due to these things I suggest to try the pickups with the stock PRS wiring as a baseline test. Then you can confirm if shortcomings exist or not.