How To Ground Guitar Volume Pots

[@bellmeisterful]

I got a dumb question. Since you did the cool lug 3 ground deal...what happens to the ground wire that used to go there?

[@uskeeze2131]

I have have accidentally discovered that if you don’t ground that connector the sound is pretty badass and punchy. You lose volume control but I definitely noticed a difference in tone between that being grounded and not. Is there something to explain this? I almost want to cut that wire and just use a volume pedal for volume control

[@Sledr1994]

Yea, you just bypass volume control. Remember that pots are resistors, so they affect your sound (even when the circuit is completely closed...well it's not really closed)

[@Avatheskibidiaplphadog]

How do you know which one is earth , input and ouput?

[@ace4evr]

summed up what i needed to know. thanks dude :)

[@SixStringSupplies]

no problem mate!

[@konradfraczek6482]

Why is this not done by default like this??

[@diegocampista3126]

I’ve asked myself the same question

[@maxwarfield6699]

Is this a logarithmic pot or a linear one? And does it matter? Please let me know, I want to learn. Thank you kindly

[@SixStringSupplies]

Log pot - and it doesn’t matter 👍

[@maxwarfield6699]

@@SixStringSupplies Thanks for the info. Be safe. Cheers!

[@gitaramaker101]

Does placing too much heat on the pot cause problems with how the volume function? I have a few volume pots that I soldered, from 10-4 volume sound level is retained 3-1 it drops. It does not gradually lowers the sound.

[@SixStringSupplies]

Hi that’s the taper of the pots you are using rather than heat damage.

[@gitaramaker101]

Hi Thanks for the reply. Can this be fixed or should I replace it with a good quality potentiometer?

[@al23x56]

Charvel DK24 - hum when the pot is fully open or completely closed, hum disappers when touched or adjusted by a tiny fraction away from open or closed position, any idea what could cause this?

[@Unknown-bd9ss]

Your amp or pedal setup may cause it too, i have the same "problem" on my ibanez rg421ex

[@joshh-23]

could I use a capacitor leg to ground it off 🤔

[@SixStringSupplies]

Yea man

[@joshh-23]

@@SixStringSupplies thank you much appreciated 😊🤘

[@classicartfoundation639]

Should there be loose wires inside the guitar pot cavity? I have a couple of loose wires and am wondering if they're broken? They look like they've come away from the pots? And yes my guitar or amp has stopped working.....

[@SixStringSupplies]

no there shouldn't be loose wires

[@classicartfoundation639]

@@SixStringSupplies ah thanks man

[@51MontyPython]

Doesn't it have to be connected to the ground on the rest of the circuit to actually be grounded?

[@SixStringSupplies]

Yes of course, it’s just a hypothetical video on grounding the unused lugs on volume pots (which has to be done) thanks for watching

[@51MontyPython]

@@SixStringSupplies Now there's another question I have, if you could possibly answer. Why do (or _do_ you?) have to ground that lug to the volume pot if the volume pot itself is already grounded to the rest of the ground circuit? iow, what does grounding that lug to the pot do that grounding the pot itself doesn't do (especially since this lug isn't used)?

[@SixStringSupplies]

Hi, as we reduce the volume, the signal is being sent to ground. If that unused lug isn’t grounded, the signal would not be sent to ground and therefore the volume would not be fully shut off.

[@51MontyPython]

@@SixStringSupplies Thanks. I think I actually finally came to that conclusion on my own, after much contemplation, lol. Hey, could you possibly answer this other question: Does signal flow only out of the hot wire from each pickup, or does it flow out of both the hot _and_ the ground? Or is it out of one and back into the other (such as with a simple DC/battery powered circuit)? No one _ever_ explains this! I've been searching and searching to find the answer to this to no avail. So frustrating.

[@claug4199]

Is this the same procedure for the tone pots?

[@SixStringSupplies]

yes same method (or use a wire) depending on the guitar it might be the middle lug that needs grounding

[@claug4199]

I've got a Bc Rich Warlock bass, the bronze edition, this is the first time i'm trying to do something like this. When i turn the tone all the way to 10, if i play, there are some random sounds when my fingers touch the strings, if i leave it on 0, there's no problem so i suspected it might be a grounding issue. Am i mistaking?

[@seekeroftheways]

So it's the solder itself that bridges the connection between the lug and the cover?!! >:(