Losing highs when turning down volume..even just a bit.

kingsxman

kingsxman

New member
I gigged for the first time with my 2 new Duncan 59's last night. I had a big problem with losing high end when I would roll my volume off on the guitar. I wired the pickups using the standard Humbucker wiring (option #1) on the Duncan schematic page. (2 volume, 2 tone). I used .022 ufd caps. I also replaced the pots on the guitar at the time I put the pickups in. I'm thinking that the 500k pots I bought for the volume (Fender 500k) are a potential issue also as the volume doesnt seem to adjust properly. (i.e. big drop in volume when I turn volume pot down just a bit). I cant believe Fender would sell linear taper pots for replacment pots rather than audio taper..but you never know.

Anyway, any suggestions for keeping the highs? Any cap suggestions?
 
Re: Losing highs when turning down volume..even just a bit.

kingsxman said:
I gigged for the first time with my 2 new Duncan 59's last night. I had a big problem with losing high end when I would roll my volume off on the guitar. I wired the pickups using the standard Humbucker wiring (option #1) on the Duncan schematic page. (2 volume, 2 tone). I used .022 ufd caps. I also replaced the pots on the guitar at the time I put the pickups in. I'm thinking that the 500k pots I bought for the volume (Fender 500k) are a potential issue also as the volume doesnt seem to adjust properly. (i.e. big drop in volume when I turn volume pot down just a bit). I cant believe Fender would sell linear taper pots for replacment pots rather than audio taper..but you never know.

Anyway, any suggestions for keeping the highs? Any cap suggestions?
Click to expand...

I Like using the treble bleed mod,but alot of people also like Lew's 50's wiring mod..Why not try the 50's mod first...All you have to do is flip flop like 2 wires...Do a search for the drawing...
 
Re: Losing highs when turning down volume..even just a bit.

The 50's mod works, I done it to all my guitars!
 
Re: Losing highs when turning down volume..even just a bit.

The 50's mod is easy to do too. In a master volume/master tone guitar or in a Les Paul type guitar, all you do is unsolder your tone control from terminal #1 on your volume pot and resolder your tone control to the middle terminal of the volume control....or to the output jack if you have a single tone control (that's how Hamer does it). Works like a charm. Lew
 
Re: Losing highs when turning down volume..even just a bit.

Lew, so I have the output from the pot (to the jack) AND the tone control on the middle terminal of the volume pot? So I only use 2 of the 3 terminals? (other just hangs?)

Also, do you recommend any particular tone caps to use? (I see you've got some good info on pickups on your website. I'm looking for something with slighly more fatness and growl than the 59N).
 
Last edited:
Re: Losing highs when turning down volume..even just a bit.

I'm afraid that confused me even more. So, for a Les Paul...I have both the connection to the tone control AND the connection to the switch going from the middle wiper on the volume pot? (Sorry I'm being so dense on this..)

By the way, I was in Denver a few weeks ago and stopped up to Wildwood guitars in your neck of the woods. Great place. Lots of nice Hamers. I see you've got a Monaco. Thats on my wish list.
 
Last edited:
Re: Losing highs when turning down volume..even just a bit.

THanks Franken. That sums it up perfectly. I found another drawing that says the same thing. I'm gonna give that a try tonight when I get a chance and see how it works. After I get some new darn pots. I think the Fender pots I bought may NOT be audio taper.

Nope, sorry....not Ty. FYI, some interesting Kingsx news though. Latest I read on thier new album is that it is SO good that they're actually shopping it for major label release. If you've heard thier last 3 or so...this is a very good thing. They describe this one as a cross between Gretchen and Dogman. For a Kingsx fan..thats about as good as it gets!
 
Re: Losing highs when turning down volume..even just a bit.

kingsxman said:
I think the Fender pots I bought may NOT be audio taper.
Click to expand...

Just for the record, an audio-taper pot rolls off the volume much faster than a linear. An audio taper on "5" will have rolled about 90% of the volume, while a linear would only roll off about half. Maybe you do have audio's, and would prefer linear's.
 
Last edited:
Re: Losing highs when turning down volume..even just a bit.

kingsxman said:
THanks Franken. That sums it up perfectly. I found another drawing that says the same thing. I'm gonna give that a try tonight when I get a chance and see how it works. After I get some new darn pots. I think the Fender pots I bought may NOT be audio taper.

Nope, sorry....not Ty. FYI, some interesting Kingsx news though. Latest I read on thier new album is that it is SO good that they're actually shopping it for major label release. If you've heard thier last 3 or so...this is a very good thing. They describe this one as a cross between Gretchen and Dogman. For a Kingsx fan..thats about as good as it gets!
Click to expand...

:cool3:
:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top