Symptoms of bad pots

[Stevenmc]

Hey, could bad pots make your guitar sound tinny/sharp hard on the ears? I can hear the chords fine but its almost like i have way to much treble but no matter what adjustment i make its still hard on the ears. Also, when i am turned away from the amp and about 15 feet from it i still get crazy, what i think is feedback, if my hand is on the strings its OK but as soon as I take my hand of the strings it starts to squeel.

Any thoughts?!!

Thx

 

[mwalluk]

Re: Symptoms of bad pots

What amp are you using? Did you try the same guitar with a different amp? Or a different guitar with your same amp?

 

[Stevenmc]

Re: Symptoms of bad pots

Yes i have tried everything and have narrowed it down to my guitar. I was having issues with buzzing/fuzz which was being caused by a bad switch but now i have such a tinny sound that it hurts the ears and the amp is not turned up that high. So now i'm wondering if it could be bad pots but the only symptoms i find online of bad pots is scratching when turning them...is there any other symptoms of bad pots that you know of? My issue started when i changed my pickups so i put my originals back in thinking it was the new pickups causing the problems but even with the originals back in the problem is still there, its got to be a wiring issue or bad pots i'm guessing!

 

[dvadneau]

Re: Symptoms of bad pots

Try connecting one pickup to the output jack directly. That'll tell you if it's something in your guitar. If that sounds fine, then just connect one pickup to the pot and connect that directly to the output jack. And keep adding back into the circuit until you find the issue.

Check your ground connections too. Make sure your pickup plate is connected to the bridge and to the back of the pot and to the output jack. Use a multimeter with a continuity tester, connect one lead to the output jack ground, and you should get a beep everywhere else there's supposed to be a ground connection.

 

[Stevenmc]

Re: Symptoms of bad pots

So do you think a wiring issue could cause the tinny/sharpness i get while i play?

 

[dvadneau]

Re: Symptoms of bad pots

It's very possible. Also, check the pickups to see that they're wired correctly. If you've got 4-conductor, accidentally connecting them in parallel or split would definitely cause the effect you are describing.

Taking the pickup straight to the output jack will really help. If you get the same noise, then it's possible you've got the pickup wired incorrectly.

I know this is an odd one, but I had a guitar sound really bad once and I blamed the pickups, only to discover that the neck was to blame. Or rather, I was. I was playing with string height and adjusted the neck relief a little and the strings were hitting the frets all the time. It was just enough that it made the tone awful. I tested for buzzing beforehand, but didn't strum hard, which is when the strings would touch.

That might be way off base, but I thought I'd mention it if you can't find any other culprits.

 

[Stevenmc]

Re: Symptoms of bad pots

yeah i've checked string height and intonation, alls good. I think i will try putting the pickup directly to the jack, if that eliminates it i will get all new pots and wiring instead of trying to trace the problem.
I'm gonna print off the wiring diagram and look it over tonight to make sure its wired correctly, it sucks i havent really played guitar in over a month cause i've been trying to figure this issue out...i wish i would of never decided to change my pickups!

 

[IanBallard]

Re: Symptoms of bad pots

"Symptoms of bad pots"

A bad headache and the desire to get your money back!

 

[Dr.K]

Re: Symptoms of bad pots

"Symptoms of bad pots"

A bad headache and the desire to get your money back!

+ A really sore throat because it was so harsh.