How To Measure Guitar Pots When In Circuit

[@shibaku73]

Thanks. This is super helpful (I didn't know the trick about figuring out pot values and types). You can also do this without having to remove the output jack, which makes the whole process much easier. Just plug an instrument cable into the guitar and measure resistance across the tip and sleeve of the other end of the cable.

[@fireball1066]

Yep, I just plug in a pedal cable. It's small and fits easily with other guitar tools I keep in an old DMM case.

[@markreid9149]

Incredibly helpful. I now know my model came with stock 500K pots after reading a lot online that suggested otherwise. Well done.

[@Sealevelsounds1]

INCREDIBLY USEFUL! Thanks so much! My 1977 Les Paul Special came with 300k volume, 100k tone pots. Simply swapping the tone pots for 500k made all the difference in the world.

[@carlosanvito]

Great video. When I first viewed your video, I wasn't convinced that the formula you presented was valid - I thought that it might have been a "rule of thumb." But, after working out the circuit equations, from first principles, I concluded that the formula is accurate. The only minor inconvenience with measuring resistance at the output Jack is that measuring a pickup resistance with the volume pot in circuit in will introduce a slight error of a few percentage points (in the hundreds of ohms range), but that's minor in the grand scheme of things. Sure beats removing covers to develop some ballpark values. Well done.

[@steelman774]

If you take a cable replacement end and keep it with your multi meter, you’ll never have to take off the jack cover. 😉 (I’ll even plug in a cable into it and then unscrew the sleeve from around the cable tip and use those for access (knowing it is rounded down for any connectivity interference).

[@charlesalmero331]

My guitar only has one volume knob, a 3 way toggle and two humbuckers… I followed the method for the bridge and neck pickups, and the final values I got were the same with a tolerance level of +/- 1 Did I do it right? Because, I’m lead to believe I have a 540k ohm potentiometer installed on my guitar; which will help with the high output pickups that I’m about to install 😊 Outstanding video once again, thank you for passing down the knowledge ❤

[@daviddigital6887]

I just found your channel. Man, you are awesome ! Everything I wanted to know. I did buy a guitar that I can take apart, unlike that beautiful les paul style you have there. Im working on a Donner strat style. Ive done a few easy things and sure I will have plenty if questions for you, if you dont mind. What is that you wipe your solder iron tip on ? It looks like Brillo pad ? I did solder back in the 80s in a factory job but mostly I was in the machine shop, so I did have some knowledge, but need to get it back. Im gonna attempt the cable jack first because it seems to be where im getting buzz. I ordered one of those new 4 point types. I could see it was cheap China slapped together, no heat shrink or anything. Thanks for doing what you do. I may have a few questions along the way on building my Frankenstein strat.

[@josephbrewer7026]

Thanks for a fantastic and informational video. I’m wondering if using a short patch cable would introduce too much resistance to get an accurate reading? It would let one avoid pulling the input jack.

[@rj2128]

Thanks for that. you don't need to take the jack out. you can plug a patch lead or connector and take readings from that.

[@SixStringSupplies]

yup - didn't have any patch cables though. End result is the same. A former boss once said of me..."you always get it done but you make it look more difficult than it is" :)

[@daviddigital6887]

You have made me buy all the tools. Soldering kit, assorted tools, wires. Im kinda scared to use it. I need a junker guitar to work on

[@SixStringSupplies]

yes always wise to get a junker or some old/cheap parts to practice on. Good luck with your project.

[@richwallace6854]

Considering that there is NO need to remove the jack from the guitar, do you really believe that a D.C. MEASURMENT on a passive A.C. component is all that important?

[@MauricioBond23]

Hi there! Thanks for the info. Does this work for standard and 50's wiring? Thanks!

[@metalasfck4752]

You don't need to pull the Jack out . Plug a short able into the guitar, put the positive on the tip and negative on the barrel part of the plug

[@ruslanmansurov3790]

Super useful! Thank you!

[@ccjmusic]

Is the calculation the same if you want to see what the resistance for the pot is at somewhere other than max? Say for example you put the volume pot on 2 rather than 10, would the value be the resistance at that position divided by 4 minus the pickup value? I want to put a toggle switch in circuit that replaces the volume pot with a fixed resistor. That way I can switch between the variable vol pot level and a fixed level, rather than have to try and find the right spot while playing.

[@bangaujam]

Thanks. Would the same readings and formulae be applicable for a Les Paul that is wired in a 50s wiring configuration?

[@Phillip_higgins]

Good stuff brother 👍👍

[@stevelaferney3579]

Cool thank you very kindly. Now all I have to do is open the Strat pick guard to get to my pots.

[@andye300]

Great tutorial thank you!!!

[@jakegreene1484]

How would this work on a 2 pot style? I assume you multiplied by 4 because of the 4 pots. Do I multiply by 2? Or 4 still? I did the math and I’m within the tolerances of 250k when I multiply by 2. And also 500k when I multiply by 4. How do I know which math is right?

[@jakegreene1484]

My pots have no value stated on them is why I’m curious

[@peggyhodge1178]

Any application for Strat, 1 vol, 2 tone pots?

[@k77stan27]

Thanks for the video.. my duncan designed pickups read 15.7 bridge and 7.5 neck- sounds about right, but the pots volume value peak is only 19.5? Multiplied x4 as you suggested is way too🤔

[@charlesalmero331]

That can’t be right. I have Duncan Designed pickups too, and the measurements you mentioned [15.7 Bridge and 7.5 Neck] are in the same areas as mine. Did you turn the knob to zero, and slowly rotated it to find that peak value? Mine peaked at about 139 - 140, and once I did the math, I came up with ~540k ohms.

[@KyleMcAllisterMusic]

Same on my 335. Did you ever figure it out?

[@LanceJordan]

I suppose it's the same on single coils / Strat? Does 210 sound right for volume pot? Seems outside of tolerance.

[@baz1102]

Single coils would usually use 250k pots so that sounds pretty close to me.

[@p_1210]

My volume pot was measuring 195 peak , what does that mean? Obviously it’s not nearly an 800ohm pot! I’ve measured it 10 times and get exactly the same! Is the pot faulty?

[@charlesalmero331]

What kind of guitar and pickups do you have? Maybe your guitar is supposed to have that rating for your pot? Then again, I’ve never seen an 800k ohm pot before, lol that’s bananas 🥴🥴🥴

[@MatthewTomich]

Thank you!

[@mathavraj9378]

Could someone explain why the resistance increases to a peak value and then decreases? Shouldn't the resistance be the highest at knob positioned at 10?

[@jakegreene1484]

I’m not sure when exactly or how exactly or even why exactly. but I figure it’s because it stops resisting to a degree, and you see the pickup resistance at that point as he noted.

[@bass2762]

If the pot is rotated to the highest value shown on the knob, the volume should be highest and resistance should be lowest. Because if the resistance is high, the signal being output will be lowered. As for why the resistance increases to a peak then decreases while the pot is being turned all the way in one direction, I'm still trying to find an answer as to why

[@garyrouleau4676]

It looks like your bridge pickup ring is turned around!!!!

[@deacondeschenes7508]

Thank you for your helpful videos! I have a problem with a guitar that I can’t figure out: the pickups read twice the resistance that they should. I’ve only measured them in the guitar because it’s a 335 style and I’ve been hoping I wouldn’t have to take it apart to figure this out. The pickups are supposed to read about 10k in the neck and 14k in the bridge, but the readings I’m getting are 20.1k in the neck and 29.8k in the bridge. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[@keithklassen5320]

Even 10k and 14k are pretty high values for a semi-hollow, no?

[@billavonda1604]

This works well for measuring the resistance of the pickups but, in my guitar with a treble bleed circuit it will not properly read the total resistance of the circuit. Does this make any sense??

[@SixStringSupplies]

Yup this method won’t work if you have a treble bleed wired in parallel.

[@anthonytremblett8187]

That's one beautiful top. What's the guitar? Useful info, thanks for the vid.👍🎶💕

[@SixStringSupplies]

Cheers Anthony I hope you're well. Yes the top is a beaut! It’s an Epiphone, either a bourbon or tobacco burst, not sure myself.

[@heythere6983]

My tone pots don’t really register when I move them up and down, it shows the max resistance , I think I got lucky once and it seemed to react as if it were linear taper But literally every other time with about 4 guitars the tone pots rating doesn’t move at all when I move it . Why does that happen? I’m trying to figure of my juniors infact have linear tapers or not for the tone

[@dennisboyce813]

When I try this the digits on the multimeter jump around and end back at number one. Two different multimeters.

[@jimdeavenport9952]

I do the same thing but I have a cord plugged in and just check at the open end.

[@gerardconde3652]

Your Bridge pickup mounting ring looks like it's backwards.

[@corkbour7708]

Would have been helpful to know what they should be

[@virtualfi]

if you put regular cable into jack you can do that measurements without unscrewing anything, I'll let you figure it out :P

[@ccjmusic]

I was going to suggest the same thing.

[@baz1102]

@@ccjmusic I also came here to say that.

[@Phillip_higgins]

You can if you like 👍

[@mattlisa69]

Just remember to take if the resistance of the patch cable in your calculations.

[@Youtubemademeaddahandle]

There should be no need to remove the jack to access contact points. Simply insert a cable (of any length) and take the readings from either side of the divider insulation on the cable jack end.

[@650thunderbird]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@NabiGuitars]

Podrías poner subtítulos en español te sigo pero no entiendo muy bien te lo agradecería

[@bluwng]

Measuring pots in circuit was the mystery. Won’t the tone pots influence the readings?

[@NabiGuitars]

Hola qué tal