Potential Potentiometers and Mysterious Plugging

[@Brandon-q2y6m]

As a weekend warrior, someone who tinkers with guitars because I don't own a motorcycle but still want to be zen... It took me three full days to figure out what you've just shown in 3 minutes about pots. Thank you for being a great resource for everyone!

[@pmd7914]

Amen, brother!

[@joeferris5086]

Im definitely a weekend warrior. I just attempted the ol' magnet trick to secure some cleats and I ended up gluing the magnets to the inside of the guitar lol. Got them off without too much fuss but I was worried I was going to tear a hole in the soundboard. These videos are an incredible resource but its very important that before you attempt something you've seen Ted do, you revisit the video (which can be difficult to find, as my mind remembers the repair as opposed to the guitar). I have attempted some repairs where I thought "I've seen him do that before" and didn't rewatch first. These repairs were anywhere from unsuccessful to disastrous. He gives a lot of information in a clear concise manner and there will definitely be something he said that you didn't catch if you attempt something from memory. Rewatches are imperative imo.

[@PsionicAudio]

“Upon the wine dark sea” I love your brain, man.

[@devschlong]

Because he's read an English translation of Homer?

[@RickJones222]

Is this the best/most entertaining/interesting repair content on YT, or what??

[@that_thing_I_do]

A slice of pumpkin pie,whipped cream topper and a nice cuppa while enjoying Tio Ted. Just one more thing to be thankful for on this Canadian Thanksgiving weekend ....the only thing I'll be polishing is in polishing off that piece of pie. Hoping all the Teddies out there are safe and happy.

[@Chastoic]

Polishing polishing polishing

[@aaronlewis1270]

I appreciate the hell outta you, man! I’ve learned so much

[@ViluMasi]

Ditto. The Bob Ross of luthiers does not get enough credit.

[@Smart75]

The reverse log pot for a left handed guitar is just genius.

[@Jakfilm]

The Wine Dark Sea. You're so literary, Ted.

[@pwman]

It’s wonderful when Ted’s secondary passion for falconry crosses over into guitar repair work.

[@klauswassermann8054]

Brilliant info, brilliant stories, brilliant video production, brilliant sense of humour. Thanks muchly, Ted :)

[@bldallas]

Thanks Ted, Really great job on the Gibson J-45; I’ve saved this for reference as it’s a perfect instructional video on how to properly set up an acoustic guitar. You’ve taught me so much through the years, that I now quite confidently do all my own set-up and mist of my repairs, as well as those for a few good friends. Great stuff, thanks again!

[@Chris-bz6wl]

Great! Time for another informative video by one of the most humble and finest I’ve ever seen! You have to appreciate the occasional bits of history and dry humor thrown in for good measure as well !

[@vsmicer]

Regardless of your expertise, wonderful explanation of materials and technique, much appreciated by my luthiering self, I just wanted to say your vocal delivery is so pleasant, so compelling yet so chilled, even my wife watches your videos and now understands guitars and how they work to such a degree, she buys me tools on line all the time! Thank you, Ted!

[@schm4704]

Loved the remarks about the Helping Hands. Those are a blessing and a curse at the same time.

[@daviswall3319]

Left-handed pots! Love love love this channel!! 😎

[@3PH]

The part with the pots was really great! You explain it in a very low key way that makes it easy to understand!

[@carlmontney7916]

What an excellent job on that Gibson J series. I have always loved those. There's something about the rounded dreadnought body shape that feels very comfortable to me when I play one, and they always seem just a little bit brighter than a Martin dreadnought does. Now, if only they weren't so expensive....

[@vvvvaaaacccc]

6:06 flexing the neck is an interesting technique. I had a bass whose truss rod was deemed broken by one tech. I then took it to Matt at 30th St Guitars in NYC and he pretty quickly solved the issue by giving the neck a chiropractic adjustment like Ted did. it turned out that the truss rod was only ineffective because it was stuck somehow (perhaps glue).

[@trevorashworth7307]

I did the same.Good info.

[@corneliuscrewe677]

I learned from Dan Erliwine to kind of help the truss rod by pulling the relief out by hand while simultaneously tightening the truss rod. I kind of do the opposite when introducing relief.

[@janneboman8573]

Yeah sometimes I think a truss rod can get also mechanically stuck if the wood around it changes dimensions due to humidity changes.

[@kthwkr]

I whap the back of the neck with my palm.

[@damnperrys1]

And Never after Labor day! Oh man what a beautiful delivery! Thank you so much for all you do and for sharing with plebeians such as myself!

[@margaretanncarno4014]

Thank you for taking the time to explain everything you do. As a new guitarist, your explainations help me understand more about my guitars.

[@firecrackerheart]

WOWZA, that J-50 sounds glorious after your great work. nicely done, ted.

[@hughmann1118]

Excellent episode, as usual. Thanks for all the thoughtful content which is of great use to us DIY guys. Super helpful tips about saddles and nuts--things that I'm brave enough to tackle as a non-pro. Will need to re-watch this a few times to absorb it all.

[@dr.buzzvonjellar8862]

Hey Ho devotees of quality craftsmanship!

[@jonlavigne3270]

I used to think that I was just being OCD by trying to put my bridge pins back in the same order they came out. I feel vindicated now.

[@Ukedc259]

Hit like. Put kettle on. Make beverage. Load video. Savour the balm of a no-BS craftsman at work. Forget mad world for 30mins. Relax. All is well. Humans aren’t all bad. There is hope.

[@angryspacerasta1398]

You had me right up until the end, there…

[@Ukedc259]

@@angryspacerasta1398ha! We’re all doomed.

[@d4nd31o]

​@@Ukedc259These are the only videos I watch that are worthy of a like-click the instant I land here. Each and every one a joy to watch and learn from. Happy Saturday, Theregang!

[@Jesuswinsbirdofmichigan]

Only the haters of Jesus. Yes, they are doomed. Simple faith, is their unobtainable/destruction. Choice is still available.

[@teterouge1472]

Really?..... Jesus?...... Grow up...

[@Proud2bmodest]

Our ears are sensitive to audio power which is why log pots are used for volume. Changing from 1 to 2 Watts is very noticeable because the power is doubled while the same linear change from 100 to 101 Watts is not that noticeable. The change from 100 to 200 Watts is experienced the same as the 1 to 2 Watt change. To be noticeable, the change in power has to be comparable to the starting power and this requires an exponential increase in power.

[@walterw2]

that, and also guitars are typically run with at least some compression and overdrive in the amp; audio taper volumes concentrate the biggest change up towards the top where you have more compression squashing the differences. if you're trying to work the clean to crunch transition by adjusting the guitar volume then you want audio taper for bass players and jazz guitar players and their typically bone-dry clean sounds linear taper volumes are actually more useful, they have a more even volume change throughout the whole sweep

[@matthewbartolone7036]

Thanks Ted, loved the dialog with the Gibson set up, it was a great reminder of the balance between Nut and bridge.

[@Iam_Dunn]

Great episode! Lots of useful information in this one. TY Ted! ❤ from James Bay! :)

[@willykanos1044]

The neck flexing detail to make sure the strings don't hang uo in nut slots is a good idea. In the past I loosened the strings before adjusting the truss rod. I think it accomplishes the same thing but your method takes less time.

[@RaymondLau-u7x]

I liked the humor about left handed guitars. Great stuff!

[@markmelville6670]

You're my new best friend. I've built a dozen F style mandolins but not done not much guitar stuff....Now the repair requests are coming.

[@mdhebert]

Thanks for the pot info. As often, more stuff I didn't know. :)

[@Three_Eyed_Willy]

Thanks for mentioning the wiring book. I needed that!!!!

[@jlmmag72]

A welcome sight every time Ted puts up a video to watch. Thanks for all the great content.

[@jasonb2180]

Now I know what I am doing for 34 minutes of my evening …..

[@srt8speed]

Gorgeous J-50 for 30 years old !! Nice work Ted, as per usual..

[@millardbrown4769]

A really great tutorial, especially on "all things potentiometer". I enjoyed it immensely.

[@J.C...]

Yea I had to remove that clunky switch in my red 335-style Boardwalk. I couldn't deal, with how funky it feels when everything else I own has Switchcraft 3 ways.

[@nocturnalferalguitarist]

Excellent video ,. I really enjoyed every moment of it.

[@SanFranciscoFatboy]

i love it when u say "purchase". reminds me of my grandpa...... another good one is "this piece of paper has good tooth"...... make sure you got good purchase b4 u check its tooth............. i am just btrippin here, but purchase is a great word....

[@cfreeman5631]

Very informative today, thanks for the POT lessons.

[@DanielMoore-f4q]

Thank you for the explanation of every step. As a beginner in working on instruments, the information you give is excellent.

[@joelnakasone]

This is an awesome video! Never gets old, masterful, and superb work.

[@telecasterbear]

Storytime with Uncle Ted. Oh boy!

[@shamsam4]

Norton?

[@telecasterbear]

@@shamsam4 ?

[@shamsam4]

@@telecasterbear never mind. I thought you may have been referencing an old radio bit. Also, I have a Telecaster that looks almost exactly like the one in your profile picture. Have a good day!

[@salvadorsambiasi]

That's exactly how it feels here as well :)

[@alanmarston8612]

Takes me back to the time I was studying Electronics. Thanx Man.

[@alanmarston8612]

Hello. I am not clear about how to get on telegram?

[@r.w.7470]

Ya know Ted, everything (you cover) is always very practical, amply thought out with no failure to be aware of all the pitfalls. That requires many years of attentive experience. It's like the "next step up " from common sense 101 class, cool. Well done.👍

[@jetphone1974]

Thanks once more for great content. So much knowledge stored in your cranium Ted. Much respect.

[@georgefrench1907]

A master class in saddle adjustment! 👍

[@bryonkidder6199]

Thanks for all the extra information once again!

[@katherinef4291]

One of my favorite parts is at the end when you play!

[@joeferris5086]

Love the wear on the fretboard at 17:30. There's nothing that feels better than a fretboard with worn little scallops in it like that.

[@thewizardmountain]

and of course... POLISHING POLISHING POLISHING!!! lol. you really gave a lot of info on this video, like explaining relief... things that you sometimes gloss over. i appreciate that. thank you.

[@richsackett3423]

Crazy how messed up this is yet with virtually zero play wear. Some people have too much money.

[@andyh-u2b]

Potentiometer is a device that allows the division of a potential or voltage, in this mode it is not a variable resistor. the voltage at the wiper or middle connection is depending on its position between zero and 100% of the potential difference across the two outer terminals. When used in 2 connector configuration, where either terminal 1 or terminal 3 is not connected and not grounded then it becomes a variable resistor. Sound levels; sound is measured in decibels dB which is a logarithmic scale. Mainly because sound is in 3 dimensions. If you compare amplifying a constant signal by varying the amplification level, the perception is that say a 50 Watt amplifier is not 10 times so loud as a 5 Watt amplifier through the same speakers. The dB scale in which a doubling of the volume is measured by an increase of 6 dB. So if a linear potentiate were used with the potentiate set at 5 , the perceived signal level would be around 90% of full volume and not the expected 50%. Using logarithmic pots corrects this. Potentiometers have quite poor linearity and wide tolerances of absolute values and linearity - thus a 500k ohm pot may be between 400k and 600k and the mid point may be +/- 15 degrees of rotation, but who looks st their guitar controls?

[@Westie_NZ]

Potential Potentiometers and "Perplexing" Plugging? Love the channel!

[@ericcurry-pitcher5493]

Wo dude I have not jammed any Keel in forever. Don't know why I stayed a complete Metal nut, but so much has come and gone. It's time to add their discography to my modern collection and let them back into rotation. Good band, and I am curious to check out the material I missed. Always getting turned on to new bands or old bands from back in the day from the Doctor. Thanks dude, you sound well. Peace brother.

[@daveayerstdavies]

Guitar makers put a huge effort into making instruments aesthetically pleasing. Even in areas that are not visible things are kept neat and tidy. Thus it's surprising that when it comes to the electronic components of a build, making it look neat and tidy appears to be abandoned. Messy looking wires and ugly solder blobs are totally acceptable.

[@kitmoore9969]

Even if they can't manage a printed circuit board, they could at least fit ground lugs and colour-coded wires.

[@JM46jm]

Excellent information as always. Thank you.

[@scottnorlyn6479]

I wish I had your patience. I just don't have it. But man, you do beautiful work!

[@daverice2426]

26:26 The kind of advice you won't find anywhere else. Kudos!

[@pmd7914]

7mm hex brass is an unusual size. What comes to mind are the brass gas jets of gas cooktops, they require a 7mm socket to remove. This size rarely in sets of sockets or spanners.

[@sinistersteel1042]

Bro I love the watch what you do you're literally the best luthier I've ever seen I would give anything to have you just touch every guitar I own LOL

[@myeyesarewaiting]

Lovely silking on the soundboard of that Gibson.

[@daysleeper3910]

I cant help but get excited everytime i see a vid...

[@TempoDrift1480]

I don't know why or how but when I learned how to level frets, I would do a little and try it, do a little more and try it and to me, flat uncrowned frets just feel so much better. It almost seems like it gives it a little more cowbell having just that slightly increased surface area. I don't ever have any intonation issues and I file them low enough that a heavy grip doesn't pull the strings sharp. Great work and great channel.

[@markfischer5044]

Great details on sanding technique!

[@swagedelic]

Both those guitars are beautiful. I have the AG75 from 2002, good guitar.

[@valleywoodstudio7345]

David Collins of Ann Arbor did a great series on guitar wiring and capacitors - well worth checking out his channel.

[@davidwood351]

I have a theory about potentiometers. If a pot knob remains in one position for a long time, there will be a buildup of crud at the point of contact of the wiper and the strip. That causes the snap, crackle, and pop when the knob is turned and the wiper passes over the crud. So always turn your pots to zero when you put away your guitar or amp.

[@markbernier8434]

Always a pleasure. Thanks.

[@alecl.8559]

Thank you for your videos. Very interesting and quite educational.

[@daveayerstdavies]

A resistor alone (fixed or variable) will not (at audio frequencies) have an effect on the blend of frequencies attenuated. For that you will need a capacitor or the combination of a capacitor and a resistor. The amount to which a tone circuit passes or blocks frequencies is determined by combining the capacitor value and resistance value. A change in either will change the function of the filter. In a volume control, the aim is to vary all frequencies equally so generally you don't involve a capacitor. Using a higher value pot' might cut higher frequencies, but only in the context of a specific circuit, it does not (by itself) "bleed off higher frequencies".

[@RobMods]

Pickups actually have quite a bit of capacitance.

[@kitmoore9969]

At least Ted is making some effort. Most forums tell you it's down to - Tone woods - CTS pots - A 600V capacitor, orange - Made in the USA Want a different tone? Change the pickups!

[@daveayerstdavies]

"Quite a bit" In reality between 50pF and 300pF. The self capacitance of a pickup is far too small to make a difference at audio frequencies. @@RobMods

[@RobMods]

@@daveayerstdavies actually the stray capacitance and inductance combine to create the resonant freq of the coil. Given the same inductance, a shift from 50p to 200p will drop the res freq by an octave.

[@jonathanroyce9692]

Thanks Ted! You’re my hero 🏆

[@CathodeULT]

Keep them coming Ted

[@edwardpetersen4309]

Been working on instruments for over 30 years. Never thought of a razor blade to remove the hump on a sanded saddle bottom. Thanks.

[@tperki2322]

Wow, nice J45 (50). I've never liked Gibson acoustics - I make an exception for this one. And with all the wear on the fretboard around the first three frets (cowboy chords), it's been played, yet the top is immaculate. Did I say Wow!

[@dooleyfussle8634]

More evidence that the top has been refinished?

[@lyndamcardle4123]

The bridge on that 90s Gibson acoustic looks like it's the wrong way round ....surely the rounded edge should be on the pins side ?

[@WonkeyWabbit]

I'd just like to point out that whilst European-made pots may have A for linear and B for log, you are very unlikely indeed to come across these in guitars (or amps). UK/European luthier suppliers generally stock CTS, Bourns or Alpha pots as named brands, whilst the no-named pots will almost always be of generic Chinese sourcing. These pots don't get re-designated specially for sale in Europe, so we're all very familiar with A = log and B = linear and C= reverse log. I have come across some Chinese-made pots where A= linear and B= log in the parts bag for Chinese-made guitars kits, so if you don't know the manufacturer, it's worth checking the 50% position resistance to determine whether linear or log (if the tab1 to 2 resistance isn't roughly 50% of the tab 1 to 3 resistance then it's a log pot).

[@corneliuscrewe677]

How timely, I was just contemplating replacing the wiring in my early AF75. I replaced the pickups on mine with some relatively inexpensive P90's that suit it really well. The taper on the stock pots is truly awful.

[@robertcharles7085]

Always pleased to watch 100 k agree 🙋‍♂️🙋‍♂️🙋‍♂️🤔🤔🤔😜😜😜🐒🐒🐒😎😎😎

[@mullinguitars8619]

You really illustrate the finer points of lowering a saddle. Honestly, I swear by my saddle “skate” jig. Setting the string height becomes a simple matter of zeroing the saddle in the jig, dialing in the amount to remove, back and forth on the sanding board, and voilà. With very little practice, you can be bang on target every time, with a straight, flat bottom, and very, VERY fast! Yes, it was pricey (I got mine direct from Heart Sound in Italy who don’t seem to have a website anymore), but mine paid for itself in no time (and I’m sure the Chinese copies are much cheaper). It’s become one of those “can’t-live-without” tools in my shop.

[@timothy4664]

Great treatise on potentiometers

[@dale1956ties]

Excellent description of the workings of a guitar pot. BTW...you haven't lived until you've seen Uncle Doug open up and rehab an old potentiometer. He actually bends those itsy-bitsy little tabs and takes it completely apart and works it over. If I tried that, I'd never be able to get it back together again and even if I did, the little tabs would break off when I tried to bend them back anyway.

[@wharman1]

Red guitars always seem to sound better. Great video!

[@txd]

@24:27 I belive its the pots resisitance in parrallel with the pickup that changes the resonance frequency of the pickup that gives the more or less bright sound. As there is no frequency depency in a normal pot, at least not until you reach several megahertz. However the pickup being a coil, it has a rather large inductance that can be affected by different amount of pot resistance.

[@KS-uv7yc]

VERY MUCH ENJOYED THE TECH/SCIENCE

[@the_nondrive_side]

that roller nut.. I have one on my Les Paul.. the slots in the roller won't allow the E and A to sit in properly and the D is then immediately too low.. dremel and annoying work.

[@qualia1123]

Took a drink when you said you have a pair of old nippers, and a second when you said logarithmic pots are for left-handed guitars. I've invented some sort of game.

[@graham6229]

I really like the older Ibanez guitars. I have a Custom Agent (1976) and a A105 (1983 ) and they are both beautifully made and apart from being a tad heavy play like a dream.

[@kthwkr]

The vol pot reduces the highs when it is turned down slightly and it is helpful when playing rhythm parts making the guitar not only less loud but less bright. Then when it's your turn to shine turn it up full and the highs come back and your lead screams out. ALSO, the loss of highs is due to the cable capacitance and thus the cable length. A short cable (6ft) results in much less loss of highs when the vol pot is turned down a little. A 25 ft. cable and the highs are really gone. It's due to the equation 1/(2*PI*R*C). You see - the C(capacitance) is a function of the capacitance of the cable per foot. The longer the cable the more capacitance it has. The bigger the C the lower the 3dB frequency. Now here is trick for those who like that bright sound at all vol pot settings. Instead of using a common quarter inch cable use a quarter inch to XLR in line transformer at either end of the cable. And since it is XLR you will use a common microphone cable. And it can be real long. 50ft no problem. The transformer converts the impedance to a much lower value(R is smaller) so the break point governed by 1/(2*PI*R*C) is at a much higher frequency and is commonly well above the audio range. So you get the full brightness of the pickup at all volume pot settings and you can wander all over the stage with a 100ft cable. Of course wireless is so good nowadays that you might as well use that.

[@ianrose5505]

Thanks Ted great info as always

[@mrclaus859]

Thanks Uncle Ted

[@PrinceWesterburg]

33:41 - Handling a hot pot with a leather glove must mean you 'Smell the Glove'.

[@bobmeyer7009]

Really like your videos!!

[@MrGixxer1300r]

Awesome content Ted. Keep up the good and hard work.

[@jfarmer1711]

Having just watched the neck reset & setup of the Martin D-45, and now this one, I am struck by how different the voices are between the Martin and Gibson.

[@FlipDahlenburg]

Good video! You just sold a copy of 'Complete Guitar Wiring' for Gerry Hayes! Beats all those little scraps of paper we used to collect at the guitar shop!

[@BB49]

Good voicing on the acoustic!!!

[@waynebake1123]

You should try shining a blacklight on a nitro finish guitar like the Gibson, it would tell you if there has been any refinish work, including if a very talented luthier repositioned that bridge and refinished it. There should be an even glow on a nitro finish.

[@chrisdenett7593]

should you check the nut height first pressing down on the 3rd fret then the bridge?

[@polkusin]

Wondering if the pot with the different shaft diameter happens to be the same size as the switch. If so, could have been a mistake at the factory (someone forgot to change drill bits) or maybe accommodating for two different control layouts (assuming it makes sense to swap the switch over to the other side)?