Need help with my treble-bleed

[moog1000]

Hi Guys,

I decided to install a treble-bleed on my telecaster which is loaded with stacked single-colis - I used a 0.001 cap across the volume pot. What I'm finding is that yes, the high-end is retained as I turn down the vol pot, but the signal actually ends up being more 'treble-heavy' than the original unaffected signal.

So basically is there anything I can do to try and keep the treble range at a consistent level as I turn down the vol pot?

Cheers

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Need help with my treble-bleed

Yes. Remove the treble bleed cap and instead attach your tone control to the middle terminal of the volume pot and see if you like the way the volume and tone control works better. This will also help retain highs when the volume is reduced, without a bleed cap. If you're not satisfied with that, then try this link http://www.fralinpickups.com/images/phazrev.jpg for a resistor/cap bleed network. Adding a resistor will smooth out the treble.

 

[Fresh_Start]

Re: Need help with my treble-bleed

An alternative that works better for me is putting a resistor in series with the capacitor (instead of in parallel). What that does is block part of the highs passing through the resistor.

Please keep in mind that everyone's guitar, pickups, ears, amps, opinions, etc. are different

Here's Kinman's take on this: http://www.kinman.com/html/toneWorkshop/perfectGuitar.htm#volumePots

and here's a thread that starts out basic and gets pretty esoteric on treble bleeds:

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=21315

Chip

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Need help with my treble-bleed

Another option is to use a no load tone pot that disconnects itself when the tone is on "10". I use those sometimes too and that will help retain highs when the volume is reduced because some highs are always leaking through the tone pot and going to ground even when the tone pot is on "10". You just have to experiment with differant methods until you find the one that works for you in your particular guitar. Personally, I never use treble bleed caps on my guitars. I prefer a no load tone pot and/or connecting the tone control to the middle terminal of the volume control or to the hot terminal of the output jack, which is usually fed by the middle terminal of the volume pot and does the same thing. That's called the 50's Mod. Lew

 

[moog1000]

Re: Need help with my treble-bleed

Thanks for your help people!

 

[Kent S.]

Re: Need help with my treble-bleed

One small add in, if the current effect of the cap is to much, then reduce the value of the cap ... try a 500pF, 560pF to 470pF or even smaller. Avoid putting a resistor in parallel with the cap, as it screws up the taper of the volume control, if your tele has linear pots, then don't do it period (R and C in parallel). There of course is nothing stopping you from using the '50's mod with a treble bypass as well if you wanted to. The tele with the 1meg pots and 1,000pF cap across the volume was one of the worst sounding things to ever come down the pike in my opinion.