Sharp volume drop off with new potentiometers

[Gtrjunior]

So I just decided to rewire my LP with some CTS 525K pots, hoping for more clarity. The installation went easily enough but why do my volume knobs only seem to work from 8-10? Anything below 8 has a sharp drop in volume to where it is essentially unusable... I used .22 caps wired 50's style

 

[Top-L]

Its the difference between audio/log taper pots(A) and linear taper pots(B). I prefer linear taper B pots for volume.

There are other kinds of tapers. What you are describing sounds like audio/logarithmic taper volume control.

 

[Gtrjunior]

So you’re saying I should grab a couple of liners taper pots and wire those in then?

 

[Gtrjunior]

Ok. Just ordered 2 linear taper pots.

 

[marcello252]

So I just decided to rewire my LP with some CTS 525K pots, hoping for more clarity. The installation went easily enough but why do my volume knobs only seem to work from 8-10? Anything below 8 has a sharp drop in volume to where it is essentially unusable... I used .22 caps wired 50's style

could you please give the exact code stamped on the pot?

 

[beaubrummels]

Just for reference, for anyone who needs it, CTS codes work like this:

https://www.ctscorp.com/wp-content/uploads/Series-450G-Data-Sheet-Rev-B.pdf

 

[Clint 55]

Yep, I prefer linear for volume. Linear is linear, audio turns down quicker. Audio can be useful for volume for show levels or if you use the distortion box all the time and it cleans up quicker. It's also good for tones if you want it to darken quicker. Basically you have to decide what works best for you for both volume and tone.

 

[Artie]

I used .22 caps wired 50's style

Is that a typo? Did you mean .022uf?

 

[Gtrjunior]

Is that a typo? Did you mean .022uf?

Ha! Yes….sorry.

 

[Gtrjunior]

could you please give the exact code stamped on the pot?

Here is the pic from the Amazon listing.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Yep, I prefer linear for volume. Linear is linear, audio turns down quicker. Audio can be useful for volume for show levels or if you use the distortion box all the time and it cleans up quicker. It's also good for tones if you want it to darken quicker. Basically you have to decide what works best for you for both volume and tone.

I’m going to install the linear when they arrive and I’m suspecting that I will like their behavior better.
I must have misunderstood a short article I read before I ordered. I thought that it said linear doesn’t exactly roll off in a “linear” way but clearly I misunderstood

 

[Clint 55]

I must have misunderstood a short article I read before I ordered. I thought that it said linear doesn’t exactly roll off in a “linear” way.

I've come across that. They try to trick you with that notion.

 

[Chistopher]

Linear rolls off volume in a linear manner but your ears do not perceive volume in a linear manner. It's like how two speakers is not twice as loud even though it is twice the energy.

 

[Chistopher]

Also worth looking into vintage taper (30% volume at 5) if you feel like tinkering, it is halfway between audio (10%) and linear (50%)

 

[jeremy]

ive been using those vintage taper cts pots from mojotone and i really like em

 

[Clint 55]

Linear rolls off volume in a linear manner but your ears do not perceive volume in a linear manner. It's like how two speakers is not twice as loud even though it is twice the energy.

Yeah but I don't think that phenomenon is so severe that you need a pot that goes from 10 to a whisper on 7.

 

[ErikH]

When I've come across this with log pots it was usually the pot being the problem, not the taper. I use log for volume and do not experience this. It's a smooth roll-off.

Don't overheat the casing or it'll mess up the track. Scuff up the tabs and the back of the pot to get solid solder connections and better solder flow. It'll make it easier to get in there and get out with minimal heat up of the casing.

If I don't need a lot of ground points, I'll run a small wire from the ground tab of the volume pot to the back of the pot (no bending of the tab), a wire from that tab to the output jack ground, and attach the bridge ground to the output jack ground. One solder point on the back of the pot. The pickup ground can attach to the pot's ground tab easily as well.

 

[Chistopher]

Yeah but I don't think that phenomenon is so severe that you need a pot that goes from 10 to a whisper on 7.

Psht...

You know I was thinking about this phenomenon and realized something. An analog volume pot works they way sound works, 10% volume will be half as loud. So take a guitar and set the volume knob to 7 and it's 70% as loud as it was on 10.

Seems on paper to work perfectly, but in terms of a band mix, 70% volume takes you from cutting through to being inaudible. Which is great if you want to use your volume as an effect or you play alone. Not as great if you use it to actually control your volume in a band mix.

 

[marcello252]

WIth my experience I think Christopher is right, anyway, refering to CTS docs I can't understand the code stamped the OP posted, it seems odd

 

[Top-L]

Psht...

You know I was thinking about this phenomenon and realized something. An analog volume pot works they way sound works, 10% volume will be half as loud. So take a guitar and set the volume knob to 7 and it's 70% as loud as it was on 10.

Seems on paper to work perfectly, but in terms of a band mix, 70% volume takes you from cutting through to being inaudible. Which is great if you want to use your volume as an effect or you play alone. Not as great if you use it to actually control your volume in a band mix.

If you play with any gain, dropping the volume too much makes it sound really weak. Its not changing the volume, but how much saturation you are getting.

I believe this is why I dislike audio taper for volume pot. Proabaly why most "metal" and "shred" guitars use a linear pot for volume.