3 potted Nashville

[Picklesswonder]

I recently purchased a Fender Nashville Deluxe Tele with the new noiseless pickups. It has been modified by the previous owner. It has a 5 way switch, no push/pull pot. Instead there are 2 volume and 1 tone pot. Upon testing the pickups I noticed that when I tap a screwdriver to test the pickups all the positions in the 5 way are normal and I get great tones when using this volume knob. When I use the other volume knob I get no noise when testing with a screwdriver on any of the pickups. Not sure about the tones on the noiseless side. Any ideas on what this guy has done and why?

 

[pipthepilot]

There's not really enough information to properly diagnose, it's definitely confusing to have two volume pots.

What would make more sense is if the previous owner has tried to wired it like a Strat with two tone pots but one of them is now shorting to ground which would make it a 2nd vol control.

Can you take some pictures of the wiring?

 

[Picklesswonder]

That’s what I thought too but one control being noiseless and the other not is what’s tripping me up. I’ll take a picture soon as I get a chance. Prob in an hour or so

 

[RodeoTex]

I wonder if the previous owner was starting to do a Brent Mason conversion.
From my understanding his has the normal 3 way switch and the middle knob brings in the middle pickup regardless what position the switch was in.

 

[Picklesswonder]

Here’s my first pick. What’s with the battery and the circuit board?

 

[Picklesswonder]

Wires are super tight

 

[Picklesswonder]

I think this guy spent some serious coin modding this.

 

[Picklesswonder]

There's not really enough information to properly diagnose, it's definitely confusing to have two volume pots.

What would make more sense is if the previous owner has tried to wired it like a Strat with two tone pots but one of them is now shorting to ground which would make it a 2nd vol control.

Can you take some pictures of the wiring?

Picks are up. Pretty impressive wiring as far as I can tell.

 

[AAT65]

I think the second pot is the tone control and the third one is some sort of boost, I would guess (hence the battery).

 

[Picklesswonder]

The one with the circuit board is the one that seems to be noiseless volume and the middle one is tone. ???

 

[Picklesswonder]

I think the second pot is the tone control and the third one is some sort of boost, I would guess (hence the battery).

That makes sense. It definitely has a higher output

 

[Picklesswonder]

Do the noiseless pickups volume pots come standard with a circuit board and battery?

 

[AAT65]

No, most noiseless pickups don’t need a battery or any additional circuitry. (They are typically some sort of humbucker arrangement, although the second coil is used just for noise cancellation and not for the guitar signal.) Active pickups - which will need a preamp and battery - are low-noise but not what is normally called “noiseless”.

 

[Picklesswonder]

Interesting. I’ve heard of active pickups but I wonder if this active pot is used to mimic a hotter Humbucker? My regular pot delivers classic tone. I can go from nice dreamy Clapton tones to knoefler tones quite nicely. It also works well for Nugent level tone. Perhaps I should try playing some sort of metal with the other volume pot in control. I think I’ll grab a pick tonight and see how it gallups. Lol

 

[Picklesswonder]

No, most noiseless pickups don’t need a battery or any additional circuitry. (They are typically some sort of humbucker arrangement, although the second coil is used just for noise cancellation and not for the guitar signal.) Active pickups - which will need a preamp and battery - are low-noise but not what is normally called “noiseless”.

Thank you so much. For all your help. I’ll post again tomorrow and let you know how I made out.

 

[Picklesswonder]

The pot with the circuit board def had more gain. It pushed the fender noiseless pickups harder for sure. I eventually found a wide range of tones using this pot as well. It will take some time to figure out some blended tones. It’s alit of knobs in a small area but very cool. I think I’ve found a steal of a deal and I think this guitar will never see another owner until I pass. Thank you so much.