reversing polarity on potmeters

[Baby Evil]

A lefty asks me to reverse the polarity on the pots on his Tele. Do I need other potmeters, or do I change the wires?

thanks,

Jan

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: reversing polarity on potmeters

What does "reversing the polarity on the pots" mean?

If the question is about an out of phase tele lead pickup, just reverse the white (or yellow) and black, and don't forget to do the same on the baseplate of the pickup as well. I generally install a third wire in order to ground the baseplate. Hate reversing the wires on the baseplate (because if not doe right - if heated too much - the pickup might begin to squeel).

B

 

[Baby Evil]

Re: reversing polarity on potmeters

I mean when you turn the volume to ten physically, the volume drops instead of rises.

thanks,

Jan

 

[Pete Galati]

Re: reversing polarity on potmeters

I've heard that there're reverse taper pots, so that the taper sound normal through the sweep when you wire pots backwards. I guess that a pot would rotate the opposite direction to turn the volume down on a lefty guitar, right?

But I've never seen a reverse taper pot for sale.

Here's a wiring diagram for a lefthand American Standard Tele:

http://www.fender.com/support/diagrams/pdf_temp1/telecaster/0108422B/SD0108422BPg2.pdf

And here's a wiring diagram for a righthand American Standard Tele:

http://www.fender.com/support/diagrams/pdf_temp1/telecaster/0108400_02A/SD0108400_02APg2.pdf

If you check the parts lists, they both use the same part number pot, so it's not a reverse taper, they're just hooked up backwards. The only other difference I spot between those diagrams is that the LH diagram grounds the tone cap on the tone pot for some reason, while the RH diagram grounds the tone cap at the volume pot... which shouldn't make a difference in the sound.

Pete

 

[ErikH]

Re: reversing polarity on potmeters

Just swap the hookups on the two outside lugs of the volume pot. Done.

 

[FAC]

Re: reversing polarity on potmeters

Just swap the hookups on the two outside lugs of the volume pot. Done.

I have a left handed les paul that has "left handed pots" (they "turn the other way"). I just opened it up and the hookups on the outer lugs do appear to be swapped. But, since I did not purchase and install these pots, I can't really tell you if they are different in some way...but the outer lugs are swapped, for sure, versus "normal" wiring diagrams.

 

[ErikH]

Re: reversing polarity on potmeters

By swapping the wires you're just changing which end of the trace hits ground and which one is hot. They're analog pots so they work this way. Linear pots might behave a bit differently but I doubt it.

 

[MikeS]

Re: reversing polarity on potmeters

Don't you have that backwards, Erik? Linears are swappable, yet swapping the lugs on an audio taper screws up the taper.

 

[ErikH]

Re: reversing polarity on potmeters

My ears tell me it works fine with analog. I've reversed enough to know, both with guitars and DIY pedals I've worked on. I haven't wired linears in reverse so I can't say for sure on them.

 

[MikeS]

Re: reversing polarity on potmeters

Fair enough. I believe you, but it just doesn't make sense inside my noggin. Though, sometimes 2+2=4 doesn't make complete sense in my noggin, either. I've never attempted to swap the outside lugs on a pot before.