Tone acting like a volume

[samdjr74]

Hi All,

I have a custom made explorer running two SD humbuckers wired like a les paul. The problem is the tone on the bridge pick up is acting like another volume but I don't have the same problem in the neck postion. The 2 way is a right angle switcraft and the pots are gibson long shaft. Any idea what the problem might be?

Thanks,

Sam

[weezerboy]

have you checked to see if there are any lose wires / wires crossing inside?

[samdjr74]

yep, 2 times and I even rewired it. Same problem with a different schematic so the issue must be the hardware but where do I start?

[weezerboy]

i'd say replace the pots, they aren't exactly expensive

but don't quote me on that

[PxP]

Did you check the capacitor connected to the pot?

[Scott Rosenberger]

it sounds to me like the capacitor value may be wrong. Make absolutely sure they are the same for the bridge and neck tone pots

[Saber]

Like PxP suggests, if the capacitor is defective (short), it would cause your problem. Try switching the bridge and neck capacitors. If the problem follows the capacitor, then there's probably something wrong with it. Otherwise, switch the two tone pots and so on...

[ansil]

what is the actually value stamped on the capacitor.. or printed on there.. for gutiars.. if it is too high then it will act like a volume control and or a gain control instead of a tone. even when the capacitor is functioning normally.

also if you want ot see the freq roll off you can use this online calculator to show you the drop of points

http://www.muzique.com/schem/filter.htm

theres alot of usful stuff on this site you should definately check it out.

personally iuse a 1meg and a 1mfd cap but i like the gain control effect that it does..

[samdjr74]

Hi All,

Here's what I've done:

Replaced both the volume and ton pots on that humbucker with brand new ones

Replaced both caps with brand new ones, both .47

Rewired the guitar completely.

No change but here's my thought, the neck pick-up is a SD pearly gates model while the bridge is a SD dimebucker. The bridge is much hotter then the neck, could it be that I require a different value cap for the bridge because it is so much hotter?

Thanks,

Sam

[PxP]

No change but here's my thought, the neck pick-up is a SD pearly gates model while the bridge is a SD dimebucker. The bridge is much hotter then the neck, could it be that I require a different value cap for the bridge because it is so much hotter?

Nah, the characteristics of the tone control depends solely on the values of the cap and the pot. It should sound the same for all pickups.

Has it ever worked before?

[samdjr74]

It worked before some what ok when I was running through a 5-way rotary switch but the tone rolloff was never great. I decided to change out to a LP 3-way for ease of use. I've even changed the 3-way to see if that makes a difference but it doesn't

[PxP]

Weird.

If you could sketch a wiring diagram for us, it would be helpful.

[samdjr74]

Here's the current one I'm using looks like

http://guitarelectronics.zoovy.com/product/WDUHH3T2202

[PxP]

Looks ok.

Try a smaller cap (like you suggested earlier). If the pickup sound has more bass and less treble, a smaller cap might work.

Try 0.33 or even 0.1.

[samdjr74]

Would it be ok to mix cap values between the 2 pick-ups?

[PxP]

Would it be ok to mix cap values between the 2 pick-ups?

Sure, go ahead and experiment!