Newly installed 500k volume POT statics at 10.

[Rez]

Hi All,

So like the title says... I soldered / installed new electronics (500k volumes) (250 tones). The bridge volume POT seems to static and not work at all when I turn it to 9 or 10. I can roll it back to 9ish and it will then work. Also, if I have the bridge pickup on and hit the strings somewhat hard, it also has that static sound. I also put in a set of 59' humbuckers. Wondering if the bridge and neck pickup braided wires touch each other will this make a difference?

Oh, and it's in a semi hollow Epiphone Dot.

Thanks for any advice.

Steve

 

[karpathion]

Re: Newly installed 500k volume POT statics at 10.

Sounds like you burnt the pot. Turn it all the way up and test the resistance.

 

[Rez]

Re: Newly installed 500k volume POT statics at 10.

I was kinda thinking that myself. I didn't hold the iron that long on this pot. If anything I would've bet on the others. This one was nice and clean and neat when done.
v

 

[InbredJunk]

Re: Newly installed 500k volume POT statics at 10.

I had the same problem. I turned the pot slightly in the cavity and it went away. The only thing I could think of is that I had some bare wires touching.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Newly installed 500k volume POT statics at 10.

When that happened to me it was a bad ground and/or a loose pot either exacerbating the bad joint or touching a wire it wasn't supposed to when turned. Ensure the pot is tightened in place. Double check all your solder connections. Reflow the solder of any that seem intermittent.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Newly installed 500k volume POT statics at 10.

I would first assume a bad solder joint or a dirty pot. IME, bad joints are usually caused by the wire not being still as the solder cools. You should try not holding the wires with your shaky hands when you solder. Place wires in such a way that they hold position on their own (i.e. without solder), in physical contact with what they are being soldered to. Solder should not "bridge" two things together; it should simply make an already existent connection permanent.

Another thing that can cause less-than-ideal solder joints is if the two parts being joined are not heated up enough, or otherwise not properly prepared to receive the solder. For instance, if you melt the solder onto the tip first, and then "paint" it on, that's very bad practice.

So, I'd go back inside the guitar and re-do your solder joints, and also clean the pot with some tuner cleaner while you're at it. If it's still crappy after that, just replace the pot. It may just be a faulty pot, but it's easy and fast enough to try the cheap-ass solution first that it would make no sense not to.

 

[Rez]

Re: Newly installed 500k volume POT statics at 10.

The connections looked good, clean and neat. I also used a weight to hold the wires in position so it was already mechanically connected. The weird thing about this is that I can roll the knob up or down and it doesn't static at all. It's when I get to about 9 or 10 that it statics and cuts out. If I just touch the knob at that point it goes back on. I'm kinda wondering if it's wires touching or a bad pot to begin with. Of the 4 pots that I soldered, this one was the best looking one.

Does anyone know if it matters if the braided wires from the pickups touch each other? I have them seperated from what I can see... Keep in mind it's a semi hollow and I have to remove and reinstall through the F holes in front.

I'll end up pulling it out again and resoldering but wondering if those braided pickup wires will make a difference if touching something other than the pot that it's soldered to.