Push/pull volume knobs to bypass Tone?

[ehdwuld]

Thanks

 

[sumitagarwal]

You guys will probably find this really silly, but I was trying to figure out how to make more space in my EMG Explorer for more advanced wiring, specifically the options we're talking about in this thread.

So I thought: why not use little CR2032 button batteries instead of 9V? Started stacking 3 of them, and realized I could stack 6 with just an additional centimeter of space. As you can see, it's a janky brown-neck hack, but it works!!

18V mod in a much smaller space than 9V. Definitely sounds better! More dynamics and headroom (basically, less limiting).

Most surprising part: on my Fractal FM3 I'm able to clip the input even when I have the 18 dB input pad on!

 

[ToneFiddler]

You guys will probably find this really silly, but I was trying to figure out how to make more space in my EMG Explorer for more advanced wiring, specifically the options we're talking about in this thread.

So I thought: why not use little CR2032 button batteries instead of 9V? Started stacking 3 of them, and realized I could stack 6 with just an additional centimeter of space. As you can see, it's a janky brown-neck hack, but it works!!

18V mod in a much smaller space than 9V. Definitely sounds better! More dynamics and headroom (basically, less limiting).

Most surprising part: on my Fractal FM3 I'm able to clip the input even when I have the 18 dB input pad on!

wow this is great!
i actually settled on the X-Series for the explorer because of the lack of space for the dual 9V-Blocks, but this is a great idea i never though of!

What about 1 Volume, dual Tone? Make things way more easy!

 

[sumitagarwal]

wow this is great!
i actually settled on the X-Series for the explorer because of the lack of space for the dual 9V-Blocks, but this is a great idea i never though of!

What about 1 Volume, dual Tone? Make things way more easy!

Thanks! I couldn't find any examples of other people doing this even though it seemed relatively obvious, so I figured there must be some reason it doesn't work, but it does.

1 vol 2 tone seems good too, but I actually need independent volume more than independent tone for how I play.

 

[sumitagarwal]

Hey, I had another idea on this: what about a tone blend pot with a center detent? My thinking is that at center both pickups would have tone at full, and rotating either way would roll the tone down on only one pickup.

I don't fully understand the signal path but I think with both pickups on that would act like a master tone?

 

[freefrog]

Hey, I had another idea on this: what about a tone blend pot with a center detent? My thinking is that at center both pickups would have tone at full, and rotating either way would roll the tone down on only one pickup.

I don't fully understand the signal path but I think with both pickups on that would act like a master tone?

It's doable with a TBX control whose pots would remain separate. I'll share a schematic later if time permits.

EDIT - Below is the idea. Red wire goes to the hot wire of one pickup. Green wire goes to the hot wire of the other pickup (choose if you want to connect it according to the "modern wiring" or "50s wiring" principle by selecting the proper lug on the volume pot of each pickup).
No electrical connection must be created between the two pots. But the whole metal housing must be connected to ground... Adjust cap values to taste and choose which pot value you want for each pickup: pot B is a 250k no-load, pot A is a 1M. These value can be modified if needed thx to the old recipe of resistors parallel to track(s):
http://www.geofex.com/article_folders/potsecrets/potscret.htm

FWIW. HTH.

 

[Artie]

I think the S-1 isn't more common because it is expensive, and uses a proprietary Strat knob . . .

Just an FYI: They do make a Tele version that takes a set-screw knob. I like these better.

https://guitarelectronics.com/fender-500k-s-1-switching-volume-tone-control-solid-shaft/

 

[sumitagarwal]

It's doable with a TBX control whose pots would remain separate. I'll share a schematic later if time permits.

EDIT - Below is the idea. Red wire goes to the hot wire of one pickup. Green wire goes to the hot wire of the other pickup (choose if you want to connect it according to the "modern wiring" or "50s wiring" principle by selecting the proper lug on the volume pot of each pickup).
No electrical connection must be created between the two pots. But the whole metal housing must be connected to ground... Adjust cap values to taste and choose which pot value you want for each pickup: pot B is a 250k no-load, pot A is a 1M. These value can be modified if needed thx to the old recipe of resistors parallel to track(s):
http://www.geofex.com/article_folders/potsecrets/potscret.htm

FWIW. HTH.

Hey, this is awesome! So basically when at the center position both pickups will have their tone at "10", and then rotating in either direction will individually roll them down so one can have a pre-set tone setting while the other is at full, for quick switching? And when the pickup switch is at the middle position does this continue to work as a individual pickup tone adjustment (other pickup at full), or does it work as a master tone?

At least theoretically seems useful and intuitive, surprised I haven't seen it yet elsewhere.

 

[freefrog]

Hey, this is awesome! So basically when at the center position both pickups will have their tone at "10", and then rotating in either direction will individually roll them down so one can have a pre-set tone setting while the other is at full, for quick switching?

Yes.

And when the pickup switch is at the middle position does this continue to work as a individual pickup tone adjustment (other pickup at full), or does it work as a master tone?

In a guitar with 2 tone pots, lowering both controls gives a twice higher capacitive load (twice 22 nF = 44nF). Obviously, this doubling effect can't happen with the TBX as I've wired it in the pic above. BUT it's still a "master tone" in mid position since putting the control @ 0 on one of the two sides still affects both pickups in this case...

At least theoretically seems useful and intuitive, surprised I haven't seen it yet elsewhere.

One can do many things with a TBX but as a matter of fact, the potentialities of this control are most often ignored by the Internet...

 

[GuitarDoc]

I don't fully understand the signal path but I think with both pickups on that would act like a master tone?

It won't act as a "master tone" because (at least how Freefrog has shown it wired) it really only affects one pup at a time, (except for the capacitance on both pups in the center position) turning clockwise from center detent affects tone on "one" pup but doesn't affect the "other", turning it counterclockwise affects the "other" pup but not the "one" pup.

 

[sumitagarwal]

It won't act as a "master tone" because (at least how Freefrog has shown it wired) it really only affects one pup at a time, (except for the capacitance on both pups in the center position) turning clockwise from center detent affects tone on "one" pup but doesn't affect the "other", turning it counterclockwise affects the "other" pup but not the "one" pup.

Ah, got it.

Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, even if it's a little less conventional. It's where the interesting dual-pickup sounds happen on a Les Paul...

 

[GuitarDoc]

Yeah, the LP can be a bit weird with both pups on because of the 2 vol, 2 tone design. It's hard to nail that tone you want. That TBS-type tone control may actually be a good thing.

Try it out and let us know how you like it.