So i have a gretch electromatic and i put some mosrite pickups in it...dont ask me why seemed like a good idea, anyway what pots, caps should i have on my tone and volume....does every pot get a cap...what are the tonal differences....seem to get a lot of different answers that contradict one another....can any1 explain it in rookie terms to me...
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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »
Pot values and caps
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Joined: Dec 30, 2013 Posts: 245 
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Posted on Feb 22 2014 03:36 PM
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Joined: Jun 14, 2012 Posts: 462 Ohio! 
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Posted on Mar 01 2014 01:30 PM
making it simple the higher the potentiometer value, the brighter the tone. With capacitors the higher the value, the more bass you hear as you back off the tone control. I've seen both 250 and 500K pots in vintage Mosrite guitars over the years, caps usually seem to be .050uf. Stewmac has a great article on their website called Understanding Guitar Wiring in their Free Information section. You might want to check that out. www.stewmac.com |
Joined: Sep 24, 2011 Posts: 1424 Wellington, NZ 
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Posted on Mar 01 2014 03:10 PM
On a guitar: A pot in series with a cap = a tone control Normally a volume control doesn't have any cap between it and the pickup(s) or between it and the cable jack - but a small value capacitance (between about 100pF and about 1nF) bypassing the pot input to pot wiper is a 'bright cap' on a volume control (which stops the signal going 'dull' as you wind the volume back) —He who dies with the most tubes... wins |
Joined: Jul 24, 2012 Posts: 2762 Finknabad, Squinkistan 
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Posted on Dec 06 2014 12:45 PM
My new Teisco build plays and looks great but the complicated 'binary tree' + 1 pickup selection leaves me wanting for better (probably simpler) options to yeild more satisfying sounds. I am considering rewiring it to a simple on/off array with each p'up having its own switch. The Jag-type slider switches are already installed on the guard. Thanks! — |
Joined: Mar 14, 2006 Posts: 2778 Atlanta, GA 
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Posted on Dec 06 2014 06:35 PM
The 1.0 Megs would most likely brighten up the sound. There are also 2 Megs running around and you might try those. The smaller pots would probably do fine. I can't remember what tone pots are in my guitars, probably either .1's or .05's. I've never changed any of them. Jeff Senn is the Teisco guru, hopefully he can chime in with a more founded directive. Ed —Traditional........speak softly and play through a big blonde amp. Did I mention that I still like big blonde amps? |
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Joined: Mar 14, 2006 Posts: 2778 Atlanta, GA
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Posted on Dec 06 2014 06:37 PM
Tone caps.............not tone pots. Those are 500K and 1megs. Geez, eddie.......get some real glasses. ed —Traditional........speak softly and play through a big blonde amp. Did I mention that I still like big blonde amps? |
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Joined: Jul 24, 2012 Posts: 2762 Finknabad, Squinkistan
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Posted on Dec 06 2014 09:45 PM
I switched up to some 500 K ohm pots I had around, some improvement noticed. I have to rewire again as the V & T controls are not working right and the middle (Strat) p'up is out of phase from the other two Teiscos. Working off a SD diagram for 3 single coils with on/on SPDT switches, V & T. I am using DPDTs already installed: daisy-chaining both top & bottom eyelets as in diagram I am running a single bare wire between all 6 top & another through all 6 bottom. Does this screw up the wiring? Should I use only one side of the DPDTs, as though they were SPDTs? — |
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Joined: Mar 14, 2006 Posts: 2778 Atlanta, GA
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Posted on Dec 07 2014 04:00 PM
Try turning the out of phase middle pickup around backwards. If that doesn't work, try turning it around and swapping the pickup's lead wires. ed —Traditional........speak softly and play through a big blonde amp. Did I mention that I still like big blonde amps? |
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Joined: Jul 24, 2012 Posts: 2762 Finknabad, Squinkistan
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Posted on Dec 07 2014 08:42 PM
Yes, that's what I will do next – swapping the leads. I am really curious about the effect of my running a line (like a buss) between all the upper eyelets of the DPDT switches, and one through the lower – an elegant soldering solution, but is it electronically sound? — |
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Joined: Jul 24, 2012 Posts: 2762 Finknabad, Squinkistan
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Posted on Dec 08 2014 11:42 PM
As I mentioned elsewhere, I reversed the polarity on the Strat p'up in the middle to match the two Teiscos @ B & N. They have 3 leads – a bare sheild, white and red. Red must be negative/ground and white hot, because the Strat p'up reversed plays in phase with them. This must explain the non-functioning Volume pot. Next I will go back and reverse the polarity of all 3 p'ups and maybe the V control will work. I have a .427 mF cap on the 500 K ohm Tone pot. Is that a good value? — |
Joined: Sep 06, 2012 Posts: 1300 Lawrenceville , GA 
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Posted on Dec 09 2014 05:21 AM
Jo, I just got some p90's for a project guitar and they are bare wire ground, red ground and white is hot. So that may be the same as yours. |
Joined: Jul 31, 2012 Posts: 4053 Nashville, TN.
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Posted on Dec 09 2014 09:03 AM
JObeast, your phase (in or out) should not affect the functionality of the volume pot. I'd suspect another wiring problem there. "Teisco p'ups have their own sound – not a clear as the Strat (which sounds really strong and hi-fi in comparison) but musical and hip in their own way. Better than the GFS Surf90 and Lipstick I installed on my Gold Teisco." To clarify from an informational aspect: the actual Teisco company made about 5 different kinds of pickups. They all sound a little different than each other. Some sound very Tele-like, some do not. The pickups you used in your project are not an actual Teisco product. They are most likely made by Kawai. The pickups you used are known for a slightly muted, not so punchy sound. This is probably why you are/were seeking more clarity. Cheers, http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic |
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Joined: Jul 24, 2012 Posts: 2762 Finknabad, Squinkistan
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Posted on Dec 09 2014 10:15 AM
Jeff, |
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