How Guitar Pots Work

[@pdempsey]

I can't believe how many "how to wire your guitar" videos I watched before I finally found one that actually explains how pots work! Thanks for your content, now I actually feel prepared to go forward with my project.

[@TBD3.0]

Masterpiece. 👍

[@AdamMiller-m2h]

Re-tweet

[@simonjhudson7378]

Really happy you are back doing regular videos again. I'm just getting into modifying guitars and so far I have found these to be extremely informative.

[@SixStringSupplies]

More to come!

[@josephbrewer7026]

Fantastic tutorial! Everything I wanted clarification on with no excessive dialogue. Thank you!

[@patrick-cote]

Great video, one comment is that I think you switched the high and low pass filter definitions. Most tone pots are low pass filters, which allow for the lower frequency signals to pass to output while the high frequency signals are filtered to ground through the capacitor.

[@rileystine8970]

The capacitor works as a high pass filter, allowing the high frequencies to go to ground. In effect that gives the guitar a low pass filter, but the capacitor itself works as a high pass filter. Hope this helps!

[@spokes28]

I’m trying to put together a diy kit and this helps me understand how things work-thank you.

[@SixStringSupplies]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Mattguitarmania]

This is one of the most helpful, concise and easy to understand explanations I have ever heard about this often confused topic. Thank you so much for your good work!

[@jamiebriggs8277]

Best explanation I've found so far. Thank you.

[@lesblack413]

Best I've seen on KZbin explaining the works of pots and caps. Cheers...

[@rolandjgutierrez7737]

I have been all over the net for a week to learn how to wier all-day today looming for an iron purched a 60 watts.All your vedi9s how you instructed wss grest now implementing so thank you imo your number one in this wiering business. wow, factor 100% and highly appreciated will recomend...Roland aka ..RocknRollflat5

[@raabdj]

Absolutely brilliant! This is the perfect video for what I was looking for and so helpful.

[@darwin1987able]

Great video. thanks so much. Could you make a video talking about Rory Gallagher strat wiring mod?.

[@SixStringSupplies]

Great suggestion! It's on the list.

[@tunemeister99]

Learn something new everyday!!! Thanks for a wonderful info video!

[@SixStringSupplies]

You are so welcome!

[@brandonleroux6059]

Holy crap thank you for posting this is all new and fascinating to me. I like the thorough way in which you explain things.

[@TBD3.0]

Indeed best in the business. 👍

[@randymiles-j1w]

nice video man. I’m wiring up a Les Paul and I Had some questions. Very informative video.

[@blowera1]

Great video, thank you. Very helpful as I'm currently exploring customising the electronics in my guitars. Only frustrating thing is everyone explaining this stuff seems to skip over active pick ups. I'm hoping the general wiring layout is the same with the difference being, use the correct output jack, use the correct sized pots (25k), use the correct sized cap (0.1uF) and the obvious addition of the battery (wiring directly between the pickups, battery and output jack).

[@jerryrussell2600]

His spoken words contradicted the print that appeared on the screen. At 6:59 he said more high end is retained, but the printed text said more treble retained, which is correct, since the capacitor controls how much of the higher frequencies are allowed to flow onwards into the common ground, and this allows the lower frequencies to continue to the amplifier.

[@colincannon8072]

This is brilliant. Thank you.

[@SixStringSupplies]

You're very welcome!

[@StevenDoyleYes]

not a second wasted. excellent video!

[@onemanaftermath771]

Excellent video. Very well explained, great images. Thank you!

[@sebrura]

Excellent demo and explanation

[@kyledriscollmusic]

you should do a video on how to take apart various parts. I don't understand how to do something like a blender pot on a Bournes

[@leroyjs222]

Great video. This was very informative.

[@alecvoggel]

Fantastic explanation!

[@AZWorm41]

Thanks a lot. This has been very informative. 👍

[@sirhans]

If you use an audio taper pot as a tone pot, does it become reverse audio taper if you solder the capacitor to lug 1 instead of lug 3?

[@georgelinconthebeast]

legendary youtube channel. huge help thanks!

[@thoughtprovoking001]

I recently found your channel and I'm loving your videos. Can you explain what needs to change in a pot to turn it from a treble cut into a bass cut? I'm not wanting a TBX pot. Just a stand alone bass cut pot I can't seem to find this info anywhere.

[@meyeshots3426]

Absolutely brilliant 🤩

[@Fili2009able]

Gracias amigo , Thanks for sharing your knowledge , congrats great video .

[@finnpoulsen4886]

Lug 3 in your video is called log 1 on my göldo pot ?

[@RobSanx]

Thanks a lot! I'm wondering... if I want to make a guitar/bass without any controls, can I just omit them or do I need some kind of resistor on their place? Since at 10 you have no resistance, I suppose I can omit the pots, but I've read that a guitar without pots sounds different and the pickups are supposed to work with some resistor in between so they can sound as intended. I'm confused.

[@Waggel86]

Yes, you can run pickups straight to the output. No pots required, but it does change the sound. Note that while there is a change, it isn't night and day. It's quite literally MORE of the same. Manufacturers recommend certain pot values because they know virtually all customers will use them with pots. Note that you can use a mini toggle or a push-pull pot wired as a blower switch. That way you can choose whether to go straight to output or not.

[@RobSanx]

@@Waggel86 Thank you so much. It helps a lot. If it's safe and it's not a huge change it shouldn't be a problem for me, specially for a bass. I think I'll try straight to output and go from there. 🙏

[@rickkutzer1981]

Great video! Very informative.

[@TBD3.0]

Bravo spectacular top notch presentation nothing but the best. 👍

[@clint.87]

7:32 bit confusing here doesn't the signal from the pick-up go to lug 2 with the tone pots ?

[@spokes28]

? I too am putting together a diy LP kit and it has pots just like you show in this lesson, but your wiring diagrams (link) do not show this type with the capacitor wired just to the tone pot. How would you wire them? Where do the pickups connect to, and where does the jumper between volume and tone connect, and where does the switch connect to the pots? Thank you so much!

[@johnbeard7252]

This video is gold! Thank you very much!

[@indianolaguitarman]

This is a helpful video. I built a lap steel from a kit that came with no instruction sheet and a partially wired volume and tone pot along with a single coil pickup. Got semi-answer from the kit maker on wiring but upon completion it is noisy. Checked continuity for ground issues and that doesn't appear to be the problem with my minimal knowledge/skills. Came across this to learn more. I'll look around more on your site and videos but curious if one or more of your resources show the path/flow of the circuit to better understand how it should be versus noticing something clearly wrong in my wiring? (Also ordered a book on guitar wiring that is on the way to learn more.) The cavity where my pots are is unshielded as is the wooden cover. Not sure if that unshielding alone would account for it being so noisy?

[@raybrodeur3886]

Did you finally figure it out?Sounds like a ground problem or

[@raybrodeur3886]

😊

[@TLBJ24]

Excellent video! Thank you!

[@o.brygier2364]

Thanks for your clear explanation of the pot functionality! I still have one question, though: On my Gibson ES 335, there is no output any more, when I turn off one of the 2 volume pots (if the toggle is in middle position). I suppose, this is because the 2 hot wires are connected then and one of the output wires is grounded. On another guitar, I swapped the input and the output wires on the pot lugs, so that the input wire is grounded when the pot is on zero. On this guitar I do not have that effect of silence, when one of the pots is off. Can this wiring cause any issues, i.e. with the pickups? I would appreciate an answer very much! Best regards from Germany!

[@MOCHOLENCHO]

Great Explanation

[@koteynikoi-kotei9301]

Great explanation!

[@dougwilliams44]

So with ACTIVE pups, LESS resist is used (25K/50K) to ALLOW more sound (9V Battery) makes it LOUDER?

[@bobmanners8624]

Good video.

[@noahwright3274]

thank you very helpful

[@Usernamebutwhy]

Thankyou! great vid

[@joep229]

I just made and installed a new harness on my Ibanez AM50 and everything seems to be working fine, except when I have the three-way switch in the middle position and the volume to zero on the neck volume pot there is no Sound coming from the bridge pick up but as soon as I turn the volume up a bit on the neck I start to get volume on the bridge. Can you offer any suggestions?

[@Tagordarcoloo]

What compacitor would i use for the tone pot???

[@neilfordan]

hello, i'm a bit confused. but why in some diagrams the capacitor is wired in the middle lug and others in the 3rd lug?

[@noahwright3274]

could you make a video on wiring a Stratocaster but with only 2 volume pots and a 10 way switch but still only 3 one coil pickups

[@alexandrefaite8147]

good one, very clear.

[@aligator381]

Great video, thank you. I was looking to learn more cause I have a weird noise problem with my volume pot. When my guitar is at 10 it's great, there's no hum. But if I start to turn down the volume, a hum is introduced. How do you think this might be happening? Why would the hum be there only when the circuit is on the carbon track?

[@RobSanx]

I don't know much but watching this 4:52 , it seems like the lug 3 could be not grounded properly. Since at volume 10 none of the signal is going through lug 3 shouldn't be a problem, and the more signal goes through lug 3, more noise. Maybe I'm wrong, but you can try if that makes sense for you. Good luck.

[@aligator381]

​@@RobSanxTurns out my interface & PC were not plugged into a grounded power socket, doing so resolved the issue. Although I have no idea how, since the interface only has a 2 pin (not grounded) power connection, therefore I assume the guitar still has no connection the an actual ground..

[@RobSanx]

@@aligator381 Maybe it's grounded through the USB or something? I have no idea, but if it works it should be ok. 😁

[@duncansbuddy]

I have a Les Paul Goddess. Unlike standard Les Pauls, the Goddess has only two knobs (pots). One of the two knobs control the volume for both humbucker pickups. The 2nd knob controls the tone to both humbuckers. Is there a way to redo factory setup allowing separate individual volume and tone control for each pickup w/o damaging body by drilling more holes and adding two extra knobs (pots)? Did that come out right? Any help would be greatly appreciated - Thank you.!

[@mikestanton8949]

Concentric/stacked pots might work?

[@MatthaeusEbonah]

So wait.....if I want to build a single pickup guitar with a static tone/volume.(just always "dimed out" Would I just wire the hot line through a resistor to the input jack?

[@adrianjos04]

Why does my fender guitar volume pot only decrease/increase volume when turning the knob at almost zero ?

[@8NoneofyourBusiness]

Thank you so much for this!!!

[@Phillip_higgins]

Had to watch, great video my friend 👍

[@benjamincripe9768]

With this taken into consideration, could a resistor be used to tame the high end on a guitar circuit? I've been thinking of putting a 2m to 5.6m ohm resistor to try and tame the high end on a blower or bright switch mod. What's your take?

[@mattbrumhead655]

Question, i'm not sure if anybody has already asked and if so i apologise, but can lugs 1 and 3 be swapped? does it matter? are they polarity conscious in that sense? My guess is that it would be at full volume with it rolled down, which would be pretty funny too...

[@kaishaohta]

Awesome and super helpful, as usual :) Always look forward to your videos. I’m currently modding a Jazzmaster and I’m hoping to start rewiring it soon… any chance you might be planning on doing a tutorial for either a Jazzmaster or a Jaguar someday?

[@acook213]

Good video, but I'm still confused by something: why does a higher resistance rating mean more treble, specifically, will pass through? Also, if the pots are fully open (i.e. if no signal is sent to ground) wouldn't the amount of treble coming through be the same regardless if it were a 250k or 500k pot, for example?

[@bpoirier2002]

I have the same question, this is what I came here for

[@acook213]

@@bpoirier2002 I can’t find the link now, but I googled this question and I actually found some good explanations for this.

[@bpoirier2002]

@@acook213 do you remember what the simple explanation was?

[@acook213]

@@bpoirier2002 I don’t. It had something to do with treble naturally going to ground before any other frequencies did.

[@sebrura]

But if you have your volume pot fully open, ie max volume, then pot values should not matter on tone?

[@guitarhobbywithdannythemedic]

THANK YOU for explain!!!!!

[@vincentetflorencen4174]

HI, I have a hum when I lower the volume. I noticed that the input was soldered to lug 2 and the output to lug 1. Could the problem come from there? Thanks

[@thomasr.5443]

No. It does not matter to the current which way to go. I thing the hum results from a broken ground connection somewhere inside the guitar, most probably at the bridge. So, the hum is always there but at full volume you just don't hear it.

[@jonathanotrujillo]

Wait. So the guitar pot itself will have a resistance even though it’s not “active” all the way up to 10? I’m planning on installing a 250k for a new humbucker but afraid it’s going to be too treble

[@bpoirier2002]

Wondering the same

[@dougwilliams44]

Ok, so what if I have 9V Active BASS Humbuckers,( Factory used 25K Low Resist pots), and I installed 250K/500K pots into THAT Active series?

[@dynamn]

So I guess vol and tone are in series, so does it matter what is in front please?

[@jazzFABRYk]

Excellent, thanks!

[@noahwright3274]

what is the difference between A250K and B250K pots

[@SixStringSupplies]

A is logarithmic, B is linear: sixstringsupplies.co.uk/pages/audio-or-linear-pots

[@noahwright3274]

thank you

[@LasciviousPsyche]

I wish on the diagrams to hook up switches and pots to the pickups we could know how it works. While see all the wiring diagrams seeing how each is wired confuses the heck out of me.

[@crimadellaphone9374]

Is that a linear or audio taper pot?

[@SixStringSupplies]

audio

[@TaiwanDawei]

I love you man, thankss🎉

[@MechanicForGMCCars]

wuld those potenciometers work on distributor pick up coil? I try for days to finde solution for retarding me ignition system please help some one. Do exist wires that have no resistance? I did kinde of managed to retard me engine ignition perhaps did some thing wrong it wasnt realy ideling that great . So I was do remote controled variabel resistors exist or potenciometers . The pick up coil is similar to that in distributors found but culd not finde logical explanation why some effects acure I did even pass ceramic magnets on galcoated distributor cap holder and with out moveing the distributor the coil sparked I did moved magnet tought. So I was wondering what calculation can be used or resistor to capacitor type to get phase angel degrees on pick up coils do there exist some equations?

[@TheRealFrankWizza]

I don't get the pot values. If your knob is at 10, and you are at 0 ohms between the input and output, why are your frequencies bleeding off to ground through the track?

[@brianmoore8596]

0 ohm is like twisting the wires together. You only get the 250 or 500 ohms resistance when turning down, unless you turn down your tone you're not even using the capacitor either. It might be argued that if you always leave your tone at 10, you don't need a tone control or cap. Also if you like turning your volume down for quieter parts you'll notice the sound gets muddy. Do a search for treble bleed circuit and easily make your volume useful. Hope that helps.

[@TheRealFrankWizza]

@@brianmoore8596 Thanks, that's kinda what I was figuring.

[@facethefaceandmore44]

Doesn't explain WHY lug 3 on the volume pot has to be grounded though, just that it is and what happens to the current.

[@HamCar1000]

He explains that it is so that you get 0 sound when you turn the pot to 0 instead of just a reduced volume

[@R1GAMBLER]

*LEGALIZE POTS!* great content 👍

[@SixStringSupplies]

wish I'd thought of that. Thanks for watching

[@NoNameNo.5]

So….are pots the same? Meaning, there is no real tone or vol pot but we wire them to be tone and vol. I was in the guitar shop the other day looking for pre wired control plates and then individual pots and they said neither tone nor vol ha

[@darkslider802]

Thumbs up

[@roberthauze8169]

NOTHING passes through a capacitor.

[@bobmanners8624]

Yes, things pass through a capacitor, but what passes depends on the type of current and the state of the capacitor:

[@carolineclayton9109]

🌺 Ｐｒⓞм𝕠𝕤𝐌

[@JTM1809]

Good insights on connectivity and the internal workings of the pots, but some of the information you provide here is factually incorrect. So a little errata follows: 1) The tone control connectivity is a low pass, not a high pass. A high pass would allow all the high frequency components through, and limit the low frequency ones. 2) Increasing the capacitance of the capacitor doesn't create a steeper roll-off. This is a 1st order low pass, and that will always decay by 20dB per decade. The capacitor value simply shifts the cut off frequency up, or down. The higher the product of capacitance and resistance, the lower the cut-off frequency.

[@ericdahlman3354]

Lol - "ground this mo fo"