Quick Tip 13: Treble Bleed Circuits - What They Do and How You Install One

[@Bangkokguitar]

well-done. presentation was exceptional.

[@hacksguitarhobby]

Thank you very much.

[@jamesrobinson529]

Can you do a full demonstration of how to properly remove a treble bleed circuit and does improper removal of a treble bleed circuit cause unwanted noise/weird artifacts in the guitars sound?

[@hacksguitarhobby]

Removal would not add noise. It changes the sound as described - standard volume knobs will make the sound darker as the volume is lowered. I find it difficult to record wiring in tight spaces, but removal only consists of desoldering the treble bleed circuit from the first two lugs of the volume pot.

[@jamesrobinson529]

@@hacksguitarhobby I literally ripped the treble bleed circuit out, without doing any soldering. I did a little Chatgpt research and according to it, I may have done something wrong by removing it that way, if the solder joint isn't "correct" (correct, for lack of better term).

[@hacksguitarhobby]

It’s not the best way, but it will probably be fine as long as you still get output from the guitar.

[@jamesrobinson529]

@@hacksguitarhobby I guess it's one of those, "Have to hear it for yourself" type of situations. Thanks and cheers!

[@bluwng]

So it is in series to the output? Signal out + Circuit to Output jack.

[@hacksguitarhobby]

Yes, I believe so. cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-fxdzp2uudp/images/stencil/1280x1280/products/2529/5385/WIRING_MOD_VT004__34489.1471893163.jpg?c=2

[@2bikemikesguitartopics145]

I used the trouble bleed circuit but I used the series one only. The parallel resistor and capacitor also makes a difference however that 100K resistor is now in parallel with the wiper on your pot so when your pot is being wiped ohm's law of resistors in parallel is now in action so if it was a 250k pot before it is now a maximum of something just under 100k. If it was a 500K pot and you put 100K in parallel like that then your pot is been reduced to a maximum from 0 to just under 100k. The resultant parallel resistance will always be lower than the lower value resistor. When I use the series circuit this does not happen my pot remains at 250 or a 500 as installed.

[@hacksguitarhobby]

Mike, I appreciate the comment. I'm not an engineer by any means, but I'm certain it's not quite as simple as saying it turns your 250K pot into a 100k. The reason I say that is that different frequencies are being filtered by the different components. If you only had a 100k pot, or even a 50k pot, with no treble bleed circuit, that would filter a LOT of highs, but the capacitor is allowing a lot of those to still bleed through (hence the name). At the same time, as the volume rolls down, the capacitor actually blocks some bass frequencies, so the parallel resistor adds some back in. The effect of the series resistor is a little unclear to me, but the way I read what this Fender engineer says (www.fender.com/articles/tech-talk/how-a-treble-bleed-circuit-can-affect-your-tone), it sounds like it is used to tune the overall effect of the treble bleed circuit behind it, or essentially to limit the amount of overall signal that passes through the treble bleed circuit... or put one more way, the volume level where the treble bleed mod kicks in. Makes my head hurt. Anyway, I'm not advocating a one-size-fits-all here, but I have found the values and style I use to be fairly versatile. As the Fender engineer notes, he'd change the design to suit every individual guitar design... but I'm not that smart. :)

[@ronleccese8678]

How do you make the polarity correct?

[@2bikemikesguitartopics145]

@@ronleccese8678 Ron, I don't know what you're referring to when you say polarity. There is no polarity of any kind in bleed circuit

[@ibanezton]

For Les paul c=? R=.?

[@hacksguitarhobby]

See the chart at 2:57. Duncan, DiMarzio, Lawrence, or a variation of those will work.

[@2000SkyView]

don't most guitars have this already?

[@hacksguitarhobby]

Unfortunately not

[@manonbassguitar]

Not a very good demo, you’re plucking one string as opposed to playing it which is where it’s most noticeable. Better luck on the next one🤘🏼

[@hacksguitarhobby]

Thanks for watching.