Installed new volume pot, Volume won't go to zero

[Lasik124]

Hey all,

Electronics noob over here. Just did my 2nd solder job. My guitar needed a new pot and decided to put a new Duncan in while at it.

Everything went smooth.

Only issue is my volume knob doesn't turn down. It gets quieter but no where close to zero.

Clearly I must've did something wrong? Would anyone know what solder joint to look at or re-do?

 

[GoldenVulture]

Re: Installed new volume pot, Volume won't go to zero

The earth end of your vol pot.
Edit: Ground.

 

[Lasik124]

Re: Installed new volume pot, Volume won't go to zero

The earth end of your vol pot.

Thanks, but again I'm very new.

I'm not familiar with the term earth end...haha

 

[vinnie1971]

Re: Installed new volume pot, Volume won't go to zero

Check the solder on the ground lug of the volume pot and make sure there is a good ground connection.
If your controls are mounted on a pickguard or in a shielded cavity, check you did not inadvertently bend lugs (so they accidentally touch the shielding)
My money would be in incorrect ground or a dry joint on the ground side.


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[vinnie1971]

Re: Installed new volume pot, Volume won't go to zero

There is also a very small chance you killed the pot but that would require low heat and holding the iron on it too long (because the flux wouldn't flow due to insufficient heat)


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[Mincer]

Re: Installed new volume pot, Volume won't go to zero

Yes, that 3rd lug of the volume knob needs to be grounded to the back of the pot, and the back of that pot needs to be grounded. My guess is that the lug isn't quite attached. If you have a spare pot, and you can't get the one in there to work, there could be a problem with the pot (I've seen it happen).

 

[Lasik124]

Re: Installed new volume pot, Volume won't go to zero

Hey guys

I re-did pretty much ever solder that was done to that pot.

Still no luck.

Any other advice? It's a brand new CTS pot

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Installed new volume pot, Volume won't go to zero

Is that pot grounded to the jack?

 

[Lasik124]

Re: Installed new volume pot, Volume won't go to zero

Is that pot grounded to the jack?

Yes it is, I checked that solder and it looked okay.

Its so strange that it all sounds fine. Just when I turn it down nothing really happens, it gets about 25 percent quieter but that' it

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Installed new volume pot, Volume won't go to zero

Yes it is, I checked that solder and it looked okay.

Its so strange that it all sounds fine. Just when I turn it down nothing really happens, it gets about 25 percent quieter but that' it

That sounds like a volume pot that isn't grounded. You need to check the actual connection for continuity, not just look at it. A solder connection can look fine and have no connection under the blob.

 

[Lasik124]

Re: Installed new volume pot, Volume won't go to zero

That sounds like a volume pot that isn't grounded. You need to check the actual connection for continuity, not just look at it. A solder connection can look fine and have no connection under the blob.

Okay!

I will put my focus on that grounding. I re-did it, but will re-do it again!

I appreciate your help

 

[Lasik124]

Re: Installed new volume pot, Volume won't go to zero

Just re-did the grounding 3 times in a row.

Each time trying to make it cleaner and nicer then the last. Each time no luck.

I'm stumped.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Installed new volume pot, Volume won't go to zero

Use a multimeter. Its the only way to really sort it out.

 

[GoldenVulture]

Re: Installed new volume pot, Volume won't go to zero

Can you put up a pic of the wiring ? It might help us spot a problem.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Installed new volume pot, Volume won't go to zero

Just re-did the grounding 3 times in a row.

Each time trying to make it cleaner and nicer then the last. Each time no luck.

I'm stumped.

If the way you did it caused the problem, doing it again the same way but nicer 3 times won't solve the problem. You'll need to do something different, ...like get a multi-meter and test each section of the wiring for continuity from the pot all the way to the ground lug of the jack.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Installed new volume pot, Volume won't go to zero

Yes, test the wiring with a meter...test the pot. Do you have another pot? Maybe that one is defective? It is still a good idea to post some pics so we can help you get it sorted out.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Installed new volume pot, Volume won't go to zero

The middle lug is the one determining resistance, as that is what 'moves' as you turned up/down. Between middle lug and the grounded lug you should have 0K resistance when the volume is all the way down.