Removing tone pot = WOW!

[cayle_6]

i just finished wiring the kill switch to replace the tone pot and.....


WOW! what a change in tone. it's clearer, and more defined. every note is heard even under high gain. as soon as i finished wiring it, i can't stop playing the thing. the kill switch is also fun to make new sounds. :knockedou

Here's my newly wired RG, with my brother's PRS SE Standard. Bridge pickup is a tone zone, neck is stock, but soon to be replaced by a custom wound pickup.

 

[Hellion]

Re: Removing tone pot = WOW!

I did that with my Dean Z, just bypassed the tone control for the bridge pickup completely. You're right, the difference was amazing. My bass player told me it sounded like the amp was ready to blow up (Invader in the bridge position). I liked it, anyway.

 

[dr. ad]

Re: Removing tone pot = WOW!

nice one!

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: Removing tone pot = WOW!

I used to disconnect the tone control(s) on all my guitars, did that for probably 20 years or more. Now i seem to have re-ignited my interests in Stratocasters, i've been experimenting with tone controls, and i've finally found what works best for me....master volume, and master tone, but..... i have modified the tone control to become 'no load' (i.e. tone pot is disconnected) at the '10' position. I believe the Fender No Load pots have a detent, so there is actually a 'click' to go from 'tone knob on full' to the 'tone pot disconnected' position. By converting a regular tone pot, there is no 'click' position, the transition from 'tone pot on full treble' to 'tone pot disconnected' is smooth...basically, '10' is no tone pot in circuit, '9' and below is 'tone pot working as normal'. This works great, as without a tone pot connected, the sound will be a little brighter and there is either a little more gain or the illusion of a little more gain.....it's subtle, but it's there, and makes a logical extension when rotating the tone knob.

Of course i'm talking about a Strat, where there are plenty of holes on the pickguard....in your case, you don't have room unless you were to drill another hole. The no-load tone pot might be something to keep in mind for sometime further down the track, as not having a tone control can be great but also there may come times when you wish you did have one.

Would i be correct in assuming that the kill switch is more for 'effects' than silencing the guitar between songs? (I ask this because for silencing the guitar between songs, it's just a matter of slamming the volume control down to 'zero').

 

[cayle_6]

Re: Removing tone pot = WOW!

Would i be correct in assuming that the kill switch is more for 'effects' than silencing the guitar between songs? (I ask this because for silencing the guitar between songs, it's just a matter of slamming the volume control down to 'zero').

it's basically for effects purposes, but using it as a silencer in between songs is not a bad idea at all. i never thought about that actually.

 

[metlking]

Re: Removing tone pot = WOW!

My Les Pauls have the tone pot disconnected on the bridge......I hear the difference.

 

[H8Red442]

Re: Removing tone pot = WOW!

Great thread. i just spent the day gutting my guitars (given all the bells and whistles Supreme BC Rich models have) and wiring them for no tone and just volume. Great results. Very happy.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Removing tone pot = WOW!

I leave my tone knob on 0 most of the time. Y'all are crazy.

 

[KoreanGuitarMan]

Re: Removing tone pot = WOW!

I've had the same experience going from craptastic stock pots to good quality ones. I'm sure the difference is seemingly massive switching to no load when you previously had cheap pots in the signal path.

 

[Atomic Chameleon]

Re: Removing tone pot = WOW!

I can't really tell the difference. If a guitar has a tone pot(s), I set them to max and don't ever touch them. Most of my guitars have only a volume knob though.

 

[cayle_6]

Re: Removing tone pot = WOW!

I can't really tell the difference. If a guitar has a tone pot(s), I set them to max and don't ever touch them. Most of my guitars have only a volume knob though.

this is the same with me. i max out the tone and i don't change it. i think i haven't used my tone knob for more than 5 months now. thus, the choice to remove it and replace it with a kill switch.

the kill switch is fun! i get a tremolo effect and i love using it with lots of feedback.

 

[NevermindUs]

Re: Removing tone pot = WOW!

I used to disconnect the tone control(s) on all my guitars, did that for probably 20 years or more. Now i seem to have re-ignited my interests in Stratocasters, i've been experimenting with tone controls, and i've finally found what works best for me....master volume, and master tone, but..... i have modified the tone control to become 'no load' (i.e. tone pot is disconnected) at the '10' position. I believe the Fender No Load pots have a detent, so there is actually a 'click' to go from 'tone knob on full' to the 'tone pot disconnected' position. By converting a regular tone pot, there is no 'click' position, the transition from 'tone pot on full treble' to 'tone pot disconnected' is smooth...basically, '10' is no tone pot in circuit, '9' and below is 'tone pot working as normal'. This works great, as without a tone pot connected, the sound will be a little brighter and there is either a little more gain or the illusion of a little more gain.....it's subtle, but it's there, and makes a logical extension when rotating the tone knob.

Of course i'm talking about a Strat, where there are plenty of holes on the pickguard....in your case, you don't have room unless you were to drill another hole. The no-load tone pot might be something to keep in mind for sometime further down the track, as not having a tone control can be great but also there may come times when you wish you did have one.

Would i be correct in assuming that the kill switch is more for 'effects' than silencing the guitar between songs? (I ask this because for silencing the guitar between songs, it's just a matter of slamming the volume control down to 'zero').

how do you do that?

 

[trevorus]

Re: Removing tone pot = WOW!

I actually hooked my bridge pickups on my strats to the tone pot. That always sounded better to me.

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: Removing tone pot = WOW!

how do you do that?

How to modify a tone pot to have a 'No Load' effect on full ? .......


....by our own StratDeluxer......

http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/pots.htm

 

[Petrovsk Mizinski]

Re: Removing tone pot = WOW!

Removed the tonepot from my Ibanez last week, was impressed with the increase in clarity.
I'm a high gain guy so I definitely know what you mean about hearing all those notes now that the tone pot is gone.

 

[TattooedCarrot]

Re: Removing tone pot = WOW!

I leave my tone knob on 0 most of the time. Y'all are crazy.

My wife wishes I would leave my volume pot on 0

 

[korovamilkdud]

Re: Removing tone pot = WOW!

I was amazed at the difference removing the Tone knob from my neck pup made.

 

[tc]

Re: Removing tone pot = WOW!

Nice pair of guits...simple finishes, pure rock n roll.

About the tone knob it really depends I guess. On a setup like yours I see the advantage, but on a SSS Strat with a vintage styled single at the bridge the tone knob wired to it is your best friend. Of course no loads are best of both worlds!

tc

 

[philthis]

Re: Removing tone pot = WOW!

I used to disconnect the tone control(s) on all my guitars, did that for probably 20 years or more. Now i seem to have re-ignited my interests in Stratocasters, i've been experimenting with tone controls, and i've finally found what works best for me....master volume, and master tone, but..... i have modified the tone control to become 'no load' (i.e. tone pot is disconnected) at the '10' position. I believe the Fender No Load pots have a detent, so there is actually a 'click' to go from 'tone knob on full' to the 'tone pot disconnected' position. By converting a regular tone pot, there is no 'click' position, the transition from 'tone pot on full treble' to 'tone pot disconnected' is smooth...basically, '10' is no tone pot in circuit, '9' and below is 'tone pot working as normal'. This works great, as without a tone pot connected, the sound will be a little brighter and there is either a little more gain or the illusion of a little more gain.....it's subtle, but it's there, and makes a logical extension when rotating the tone knob.

Of course i'm talking about a Strat, where there are plenty of holes on the pickguard....in your case, you don't have room unless you were to drill another hole. The no-load tone pot might be something to keep in mind for sometime further down the track, as not having a tone control can be great but also there may come times when you wish you did have one.

Would i be correct in assuming that the kill switch is more for 'effects' than silencing the guitar between songs? (I ask this because for silencing the guitar between songs, it's just a matter of slamming the volume control down to 'zero').

very cool info-thnx for the heads up:bigok:

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: Removing tone pot = WOW!

Nice pair of guits...simple finishes, pure rock n roll.

About the tone knob it really depends I guess. On a setup like yours I see the advantage, but on a SSS Strat with a vintage styled single at the bridge the tone knob wired to it is your best friend. Of course no loads are best of both worlds!

tc

My strat is wired with no tone control on the middle pickup. This gives me that crisp, raw sound in position three and brightens up notch positions two and four.