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Post subject: Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH Volume Question
Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2018 11:18 pm
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I just bought a lovely red Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH for my daughter as a Chanukah gift. One issue we have noticed concerns the volume knob. When rotated counterclockwise until it stops, the pickups are silent (as expected); however, when rotating the knob clockwise, it remains silent for about 30° until the volume comes on full blast and remains full blast for the remainder of the turn without any change in volume.

Is this likely to be expected behavior, a defect, or something else?


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Post subject: Re: Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH Volume Question
Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2018 2:19 am
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It's hard to tell via the internet, especially without knowing what your ears are accustomed to.
It's an economy priced guitar, so the components can have defects. (A hint on all pot problems: a little dose of contact cleaner followed by some gentle but vigorous 0-10-0 etc. rotating may help, and does no harm...)

And on the other hand, the volume pot is type B250K (= linear), so it's curve may sound to your ears as you describe.

Do you know how to measure a pot with a multimeter, that would tell if it's as it should?
Or do you have a chance to play the guitar in a music store, compared with another similar one?
How about a check up with the store you bought it from? Or if it's from a web shop, how about just exploiting the return policy (if it's the no-questions-asked type and you're inside the time frame) and getting another one?


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Post subject: Re: Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH Volume Question
Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2018 5:44 am
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jmattis wrote:
How about a check up with the store you bought it from? Or if it's from a web shop, how about just exploiting the return policy (if it's the no-questions-asked type and you're inside the time frame) and getting another one?
I agree. If you can turn the Volume knob that far without a change, there is something wrong. Return it (regardless of whether they ask questions or not).


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Post subject: Re: Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH Volume Question
Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2018 6:22 am
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Yes, returning it is a sensible option; however, there are a couple of wrinkles. For one, I got a good deal on it ($250 in new condition with full warranty). For another, the place I bought it is not an Authorized Service Center for Fender. What I ended up doing is taking it to the nearest ASC where they are currently working on it at no cost. Unfortunately, there appears to be another issue with the skunk stripe on the back of the neck coming away from the neck shaft somehow. So maybe returning it after all is the best solution.

The thing to try to figure out is whether the behavior of the volume knob is expected per the instrument's design or whether it is a true defect.


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Post subject: Re: Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH Volume Question
Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2018 5:36 am
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I had a Suzuki RM250 dirt bike when I was much younger. It was set up for racing (though I did not race with it). The throttle on that thing was either 'stop', or 'go'. You turn the throttle AT ALL, it was full throttle...you let it go, it was idle. That was done on purpose. I have never in my 52 years on this planet, met a volume knob that was either 'stop' or 'go'....just saying.

I've also never witnessed or heard of a truss plug (skunk stripe) separating from the neck; this is not a good thing at all. I have no idea what kind of advice I should give you...but had I bought this guitar, the seller would be getting it back one way or another. Sorry selowitch, for you have found yourself a lemon.


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Post subject: Re: Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH Volume Question
Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2018 6:27 am
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White Dog wrote:
Sorry selowitch, for you have found yourself a lemon.
Quite possibly so. The question is what to do now. Perhaps the store I got it from knew this batch of guitars were lemons and that is why they sold them (and are still selling them) for $100 off. I can't prove that, of course.

So I guess my best course of action is to try to get Fender to replace the instrument. I would rather not have them fix it and I imagine if I were Fender, I would conclude that replacing the instrument is more cost-effective than having their Authorized Service Center do a repair.


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Post subject: Re: Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH Volume Question
Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2018 10:19 am
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According to the tech I spoke to, Fender is directing him to fix the skunk stripe issue rather than replace the instrument and he will do that at no cost. Concerning the behavior of the volume knob, he says that is expected behavior on import models and he will charge me to put a new DiMarzio audio-taper pot in. I am willing to pay for that mod, albeit with a bit of grumbling.


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Post subject: Re: Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH Volume Question
Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2018 12:26 pm
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I have "Import" Squire, Harmony, and Epiphone guitars, and the volume pot does not behave that way on any of them. That's a ridiculous thing for him to say.


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Post subject: Re: Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH Volume Question
Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2018 1:05 pm
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White Dog wrote:
I have "Import" Squire, Harmony, and Epiphone guitars, and the volume pot does not behave that way on any of them. That's a ridiculous thing for him to say.
Well, maybe it is ridiculous and maybe it isn’t. He’s the expert and I have good reason to trust him. In any event, Fender authorized him to fix the skunk stripe; I don't think he even mentioned the volume pot to Fender because I think he felt that its current behavior is as expected in a new instrument. Maybe I perceived the original issue with the volume pot incorrectly. Who knows?


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