Volume knob resistance on my AV 58 when doing volume swells

[Vintagebuff]

While doing volume swells using my pinky in the style of Roy Buchanan, after a few ups and downs, I start to feel quite a bit of resistance from the knob unlike my other two Telecasters. Is there an easy way to make it more loose and easy to turn?

 

[LutherBurger]

Contact cleaner can dissolve and wash away some of the pot's damping grease. Spray a quick shot into the bottom of the pot's shell and rotate the knob back and forth. Wrapping a paper towel around the pot as you spray and rotate will prevent a mess.

Repeat two or three times if necessary; stop when satisfactory looseness is achieved.

 

[Geo]

Well if you already haven't checked look at the clearance of the bottom of the knob to make sure part
of it isn't rubbing the control plate or part of the pot itself. If okay then could try a contact spray or spray
with lubricant. Beyond that or a different pot, open the current one and lift the ring a little to reduce the
contact tension.

 

[SixStringSlinger]

Well if you already haven't checked look at the clearance of the bottom of the knob to make sure part
of it isn't rubbing the control plate or part of the pot itself.
contact tension.

This. These days I place a pick on either side of the pot when installing a knob as a sort of minimum height gauge.

 

[Doctorx33]

Swap the pot with a Mojotone vintage taper 250k. They are very low turn torque which makes it perfect for controlled volume swells. I have them in all my guitars.

 

[Killing Floor]

Bigger knob. Bigger moment arm. Less effort for you.

 

[Weazel]

Bigger knob. Bigger moment arm. Less effort for you.

Just be sure to get a replacement knob in the same colour.

If you had a black knob, a replacement knob in white will make your tone lighter and vice versa.

 

[Boreas]

If none of the above have any effect, it could be the main shaft bushing is toast, or very dirty. You could try a tiny drop of TriFlow where the shaft meets the ferrule/bushing to see if it has any effect. But unless it is simply dirty, it will only be e temporary solution. Start saving up for a new pot. $10 and done. Just make sure you order the taper and torque you prefer for swells.

 

[LutherBurger]

This. These days I place a pick on either side of the pot when installing a knob as a sort of minimum height gauge.

I use a small piece of cardboard that I cut from a Raisin Bran box. It measures about 1"x2" and has a square notch in the middle of one of the long edges. I lay it on the control plate with the notch around the pot's mounting nut, drop the knob on, tighten the set screw, and then slide the cardboard out.

 

[Doctorx33]

There’s nothing wrong with the pot.

Some pots are high turn torque and some are low. Screwing around with cardboard and lubricants is a waste of time.

Mojo tone, bourns, and others have low turn torque and will be much better quality than what is in there now.