Problem with lefty pots, abrupt change (right handed log wired as left handed?)

[Bolo]

Hi,

on my lefty american Fender Telecaster '52 Reissue, I've noticed the pots don't really work well.
Turning them from maximum volume/tone, to minimum volume/tone, at first doesn't result in a significant change in volume/tone,
to a point where the change is really abrupt.

Another thread on this forum got me thinking.
I understand you can wire a linear pot to be used as a right or left handed turning knob (as we turn in different directions).
But can you do this with a logarithmic pot as well? I believe you can't.
Is it possible Fender uses right handed logarithmic pots, wired left handed?

[cc9cii]

If you have a multimeter you can measure & confirm. Is it a brand new guitar? If not someone else might have changed the pots? Alternatively buy a lefty pot and try out?

[otterhound]

Fender has been known to reverse wire righties for lefty guitars . They will never work properly/correctly this way . Replace them with proper lefty pots or get used to what you have . Since you are in Europe , I do not know of a source on the continent . In the USA , we have Guitar Parts Resource as well as others . If you find a problem with access , PM me and I will send a pair your way since I always have a supply on hand . Good luck .

[Rufus]

They are probably wired backwards... I had the same problem on a lefty MIM Tele. The tone pot had almost no effect until the last tiny bit of movement.

If I remember correctly, I removed the wire from one outside lug of the pot and moved it to the other outside lug of the pot and it worked as advertised.

It amazed me that a company with the size and reputation of Fender couldn't get that right... just another instance of them not giving a s#*t about left handed players.

SAD

[Mark Davis]

All my Fenders have done that except my CV's.

Its the difference between a linear and audio taper pot.

On a Gibson each number on the knob will give a different sound as you turn the knob up or down on the Fenders there is a huge area in the middle where it basicly doesnt do much of anything.

[otterhound]

Originally Posted by Rufus

They are probably wired backwards... I had the same problem on a lefty MIM Tele. The tone pot had almost no effect until the last tiny bit of movement.

If I remember correctly, I removed the wire from one outside lug of the pot and moved it to the other outside lug of the pot and it worked as advertised.

It amazed me that a company with the size and reputation of Fender couldn't get that right... just another instance of them not giving a s#*t about left handed players.

SAD

If you did that , it made them turn the wrong way even though they functioned properly . My '76 PBass pots work properly , they just turn the wrong direction .

[jefrs]

A type-A log pot cannot be wired up reversed, that's because it is a log pot, which is really the point of it. You can however get a reverse-log type-C pot, just that I've never seen one for guitar tone circuit C250k
example http://www.etronic-parts.com/product...-mm-shaft.html
here maybe - - -
http://nl.mouser.com/search/refine.a...&Ntt=184223688

[cc9cii]

Allparts sells one as well, linky here.

[David Collins]

I've yet to find a lefty guitar that actually uses lefty pots from the factory. At best they may put linear in both tone and volume, which though does okay for the volume doesn't really help much for the tone.

Yes, if you want left handed controls, you need to buy left handed pots. It's stupid that even companies like Fender and Gibson can't take care of this simple task when selling left handed guitars, but they don't. I have a lot of lefty customers, and keep a lot of lefty pots stocked just for this reason. Any brand new Left-handed guitar that comes in to my shop I count on needed a left handed electronics conversion to make it work right.

[Rufus]

Originally Posted by otterhound

If you did that , it made them turn the wrong way even though they functioned properly . My '76 PBass pots work properly , they just turn the wrong direction .

What IS the "Right way" on a left handed guitar?
Fender certainly doesn't seem to know!

As a lefty, I have gotten used to having to turn the knobs the "wrong way"...its not really a big deal. You get used to it and deal with it.
Counterclockwise vs. clockwise.

if you are lefthanded, your life is a series of compromises...I'd MUCH rather have to turn the knobs the "wrong way" and have them work, than turn them the "right way" and have them not work.

Seems like a no-brainer.

[Bolo]

Thanks guys!

I feel a bit disappointed by Fender, that they don't even use lefty pots,
but I'm glad I now know what's wrong.

Otterhound, thanks for the offer, but maybe I can order it myself from Guitar Parts Resource? I'll try that!

Does anyone know if the CTS pots have the same 'weight', the same feel when turning the knob, as a stock guitar pot?

[jefrs]

Fender use CTS pots, weight and feel the same.

Alpha 24mm are also good quality and are used on good far-eastern guitars. Alpha offer a bigger range of components than CTS and greater availability. The website I posted for Alpha is in Holland.

Personally a reversed/left-handed pot would confuse me because, like a screwdriver, I would expect a knob to turn in a certain direction, with either hand.

[Bolo]

Originally Posted by jefrs

Fender use CTS pots, weight and feel the same.

Alpha 24mm are also good quality and are used on good far-eastern guitars. Alpha offer a bigger range of components than CTS and greater availability. The website I posted for Alpha is in Holland.

Personally a reversed/left-handed pot would confuse me because, like a screwdriver, I would expect a knob to turn in a certain direction, with either hand.

Cool, thanks!