Volume issue

[djevans]

Why does my volume only work at about 8 and above. Anything below that is off?

[djevans]

i just put this together and I have other issues too, see 4-way switch problems, but the volume is one of them.

[PineBomb]

Sounds normal to me. Teles usually come stock with audio pots, which have a logarithmic taper to them. Are you new to Teles, because other guitars like Gibsons might have linear pots where the change is more discernable throughout the entire sweep of the volume knob.

[djevans]

Originally Posted by PineBomb

Sounds normal to me. Teles usually come stock with audio pots, which have a logarithmic taper to them. Are you new to Teles, because other guitars like Gibsons might have linear pots where the change is more discernable throughout the entire sweep of the volume knob.

Totally new to teles - How'd you know.
Have two hollow bodies (Gretsch and Casino) and some acoustics.
Bought a pawn shop tele and have had nothing but fun tearing it apart and putting in new pots, pups, nut, bridge mods, paint, nitro, neck bolts, etc.
Would have been lost except for this forum. I can't tell you how much fun I've had though!!! It has been awesome. I can't wait to finish this one because I've already started another in my mind...

[telex76]

Thats not normal to any of my Teles.
You either got a bad pot to start with, or you got it too hot while wiring it up.

[The String King]

What pots are in it out of interest? Brand and value.

[djevans]

Originally Posted by The String King

What pots are in it out of interest? Brand and value.

From GFS website:
Full Sized 500K Audio Pot Alpha - about $3 each. (should I have purchased something different?)

This is how I wired them - I think this is called Fez-Parka/50s mod


I also have been reading about linear pots - They have a slower taper, maybe this is what I need. What do you think?

Also Just an FYI - I have worked out the other schematic wiring issues with my 4-way switch.

[Wrong-Note Rod]

bad pot.

or as stated above, got burnt during wiring.

[djevans]

Originally Posted by Wrong-Note Rod

bad pot.

or as stated above, got burnt during wiring.

What should i expect from a good pot - vol all the way up and down the taper?

Also, if I'm gong to be changing pots can anyone tell me if these two schematics are electrically identical or if different how they will change the sound.

[Wrong-Note Rod]

yup, pretty much, an even decrease-increase of volume all the way up or down

[djevans]

Originally Posted by Wrong-Note Rod

yup, pretty much, an even decrease-increase of volume all the way up or down

Yeah - mine def does not do that.

[djevans]

Originally Posted by Wrong-Note Rod

bad pot.

or as stated above, got burnt during wiring.

Any recs on what pots (brand) to buy?

[waparker4]

I have alpha 250k pots from gfs and they are fine.

[aikiguy]

You might have better luck with a 250K pot when using single coil pickups. If you are using humbuckers a 500K pot is generally better for them.

It sounds like you might also have a bad pot. Does it suddenly go dead?

What were you trying to achieve with the 500k pots?

Guy
:-)

[djevans]

Originally Posted by aikiguy

You might have better luck with a 250K pot when using single coil pickups. If you are using humbuckers a 500K pot is generally better for them.

It sounds like you might also have a bad pot. Does it suddenly go dead?

What were you trying to achieve with the 500k pots?

Guy
:-)

I was trying to maintain the clear top end - no mud - I figured I could always turn the tone down if it was too ice-pick-like....