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Post subject: Strat volume control issue
Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 11:26 am
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I just replaced the volume pot on my MIJ strat. It works fine with one small problem. What should be the zero or volume off position is loudest. The full off - no volume position is around number 1 or so on the volume control knob. I can gradually turn up from there fine. I did replace using a Fender 250K potentiometer, at least thats what I ordered. These can be used for both volume and tone correct?

Any suggestions on what could be wrong and how to correct?

Thanks


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Post subject: Re: Strat volume control issue
Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 11:43 am
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mpdsal wrote:
I just replaced the volume pot on my MIJ strat. It works fine with one small problem. What should be the zero or volume off position is loudest. The full off - no volume position is around number 1 or so on the volume control knob. I can gradually turn up from there fine. I did replace using a Fender 250K potentiometer, at least thats what I ordered. These can be used for both volume and tone correct?

Any suggestions on what could be wrong and how to correct?

Thanks


Welcome.

Show us some pictures of your wiring job and we'll take it from there.

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Post subject: Re: Strat volume control issue
Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 3:29 pm
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mpdsal wrote:
What should be the zero or volume off position is loudest. The full off - no volume position is around number 1 or so on the volume control knob. I can gradually turn up from there fine.


I don't understand what you are complaining about. Zero volume on the control knob is "1", maximum volume is "10".

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Post subject: Re: Strat volume control issue
Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 5:26 pm
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Bill,

My bad. My volume contol knob goes to 11.

Well whatever the number is, when the knob is in the position that should kill the volume its loud. When I turn up slightly from that position the volume goes off then as I turn up from there it gradually gets louder as it should. So for example position 1 is 10 now and 2 is off. I'm estimating as I have the knob off but I think you know what I am saying essentially. I am going to post a picture of the install soon.


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Post subject: Re: Strat volume control issue
Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 6:31 pm
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So what you're saying is that your volume control works as expected, and reduces the volume to zero just before it's at it's furthest anti clockwise position? But that when when you do reach the end of the pot's travel down, you suddenly have full volume?

That has to be a duff pot. Some sort of unintended bridging or contamination on the resistor track.

One of the pots on my Toronado had the same problem in reverse. It increased the volume all the way up to just before it's maximum clockwise position. Then when it got right to the end of it's travel up, the volume cut out. A squirt of contact cleaner sorted it straight away. Try that before you change the pot again.

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Last edited by adey on Fri Sep 23, 2011 11:48 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Strat volume control issue
Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 7:39 pm
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[quote="adey"]So what you're saying is that your volume control works as expected, and reduces the voulme to zero just before it's at it's furthest anti clockwise position? But that when when you do reach the end of the pot's travel down, you suddenly have full volume?

Adey,

Exactly! That's an apt description. I will try the contact cleaner and let you know.

Mark


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Post subject: Re: Strat volume control issue
Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 9:31 pm
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mpdsal wrote:
Bill,

My bad. My volume contol knob goes to 11.

Well whatever the number is, when the knob is in the position that should kill the volume its loud. When I turn up slightly from that position the volume goes off then as I turn up from there it gradually gets louder as it should. So for example position 1 is 10 now and 2 is off. I'm estimating as I have the knob off but I think you know what I am saying essentially. I am going to post a picture of the install soon.


Yes, please post photos. I have no idea what you are talking about. All stock Strat knobs go from 1 to 10. The likelyhood of a brand new pot being defective is pretty slim. Unless maybe you fried the pot while soldering the ground wires to it. I have never had a brand new pot be faulty.

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Post subject: Re: Strat volume control issue
Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 5:31 pm
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Here's a couple of photos as requested. It looks like a sloppy solder job I admit but it works and sounds great except for the issue noted in my post. Note: I did use some electrical tape to cover some exposed wire. I only replaced the volume pot, not the tones, as you can tell. Thanks for looking.

http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq195/mpdsal/DSC01542.jpg
http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq195/mpdsal/DSC01541.jpg


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Post subject: Re: Strat volume control issue
Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 5:35 pm
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mpdsal wrote:
Here's a couple of photos as requested. It looks like a sloppy solder job I admit but it works and sounds great except for the issue noted in my post. Note: I did use some electrical tape to cover some exposed wire. I only replaced the volume pot, not the tones, as you can tell. Thanks for looking.

http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq195/mpdsal/DSC01542.jpg
http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq195/mpdsal/DSC01541.jpg


Well, plain and simple, it appears that you've really heated that pot to the point of burning it out. If not, the terminal which should be grounded to the casing doesn't look like it is making a solid connection due to the cold solder joint.

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Post subject: Re: Strat volume control issue
Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 6:06 pm
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I gotta agree with Martian. That is the worst solder job I have ever seen. I suggest you buy a new pot and then take it to a guitar tech to have it installed. You need to practice soldering on something else before you touch a guitar again.

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Post subject: Re: Strat volume control issue
Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 7:32 pm
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Tough crowd.. but they're right of course.

Well done on having a go, but that is terrible.. :shock: :? :roll: :wink:

When you take it to a Tech (or anyone who can solder), they will immediately ask "who the hell did this?". Deny everything and claim it was like that when you bought it.. :lol:

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Post subject: Re: Strat volume control issue
Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2011 7:27 am
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adey wrote:
Tough crowd.. but they're right of course.

Well done on having a go, but that is terrible.. :shock: :? :roll: :wink:

When you take it to a Tech (or anyone who can solder), they will immediately ask "who the hell did this?". Deny everything and claim it was like that when you bought it.. :lol:


Actually, I can pretty much guarantee they know either you or "a friend" did it as odds are, you wouldn't have bought the instrument if it didn't work properly in the first place. Yet, they aren't going to emphasize the mess and embarrass you for there's money to be made not only now but hopefully in the future from you and your referrals.

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Post subject: Re: Strat volume control issue
Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2011 8:16 am
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Not ashamed to admit I did it. Nothing ventured nothing gained right? It's not like I performed a liver transplant. It's a piece of wood with some electronics in it. Nobody died and it can be rectified quite easily. I thought I would give it a go. I learned that soldering can be an art in and of itself. Now if this was a vintage instrument I probably wouldn't have attempted it. I'll take it in now. In fact I will tell them that I sent it to one of you guys and this is what I got! :D

One more question. I did buy two pots just in case. Did you notice on the pot I installed that you can see the bottom of the dial pole is exposed whereas on the tone pots, which are original, it is not exposed. The replacement is a CTS pot although I have seen some CTS pots that don't have that exposed piece. Have you guys seen pots like this in your instruments? Does it matter?

PS is there a way to test if a pot is good other than installing it and finding out by playing it?

I do appreciate your assistance with this matter. Hopefully I won't be back soon. :wink:

M


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Post subject: Re: Strat volume control issue
Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2011 10:41 am
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mpdsal wrote:
In fact I will tell them that I sent it to one of you guys and this is what I got!


LMFAO!

That's how civil-service employees of the federal government manage to get promoted year after year after year despite hosing up every assignment they ever put their dick-beaters on.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Strat volume control issue
Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2011 3:10 pm
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mpdsal wrote:
One more question. I did buy two pots just in case. Did you notice on the pot I installed that you can see the bottom of the dial pole is exposed whereas on the tone pots, which are original, it is not exposed. The replacement is a CTS pot although I have seen some CTS pots that don't have that exposed piece. Have you guys seen pots like this in your instruments? Does it matter?


Totally irrelevant. CTS sells both kinds. I think one is supposed to be "vintage" style or something, but I forget which. Doesn't matter anyway.

mpdsal wrote:
PS is there a way to test if a pot is good other than installing it and finding out by playing it?


Sure. Take a digital voltmeter and set it to read ohms on the 500K or 1M scale which ever it has. Touch one probe to the center terminal (the wiper) and the other probe to each of the outer terminals in turn. Rotate the control shaft. You will see the meter change from 0 to about 250K ohms. Most pots have a 20% tolerance so don't be alarmed if you see the meter read above or below 250K ohms by up to 20%.

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