Another thread name change - what trim pot to lower volume of one pickup without volume control

[Delberthot]

would lowering neck pickup height have exactly the same effect on sound as turning the neck volume down?

I'm asking as currently the bridge pickup stays on 10 but the neck one is on 8. I only change this when I use a pick where I turn the bridge pickup volume down.

I've just bought a Blackbird so plan on using the body but with a single volume control for the bridge pickup instead of the switch.

Hope this makes sense

Edited March 10, 2012 by Delberthot

[Darkstrike]

I'd imagine it would change the response of the strings too.

A better option might be wiring a resistor up to the neck pickups hot lead, just to cut the volume a touch, I don't know exactly which one you'd want though.
The Roscoe Beck basses have a push/pull for just this, drops a resistor on the neck pickups path, to keep the bridge pickup louder, as it has a switch instead of separate volumes.


EDIT: I assume you want the bridge pickup to have a volume, but the neck to go straight to the output jack, always on, but at a lower volume?

Edited March 3, 2012 by Darkstrike

[Delberthot]

Yeah, I was thinking about a resistor but didn't know which value to use.

The neck pickup would be going straight to the jack and the bridge would be going to a volume then to the jack. I would want the neck pickup to sound like it the volume was on 9 without actually having a volume control

Edited March 4, 2012 by Delberthot

[Mr. Foxen]

Changing pickup height is the standard way of balancing pickup volumes, it isn't the exact same effect as changing volume control though, becuase there's a bit going on electrically.

[Delberthot]

Yeah, I thought that so. I'll need to figure what value resistor to use

[Delberthot]

I've just changed the title of the thread to see if it attracts anyone who can help me choose a resistor to lower the volume of the neck pickup without using a volume control

[ikay]

One option would be to use a [color=#ff0000]miniature [/color]250k preset potentiometer for the neck pickup. This would be wired exactly the same as a volume control but would sit inside the control cavity. You then just preset it to whatever level you want.

Edited March 7, 2012 by ikay

[paul_5]

beat me to it, variable all the way.

[Delberthot]

Never though about that. the control cavity is small but I may try this.

Cheers

[Darkstrike]

Dang, that is clever.

[Al Heeley]

it's a neat solution, you can use a tiny trim pot, they are no bigger than a small yellow lentil. A small one with three tiny metal legs.

Edited March 10, 2012 by Al Heeley

[thepurpleblob]

A series resistor won't work (a bit of a lie but you'll never calculate the value because it depends on everything that's on the other side of it). The potentiometer is the answer.

[Delberthot]

I've spotted some trim pots on Ebay. Would [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-x-470K-0-1W-Preset-470Kohm-Variable-Trim-Pot-Resistor-/290575927537?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item43a7acc8f1"]these[/url] do the trick?

I'll be using a 500k pot for the bridge volume

[thepurpleblob]

Probably, but I wouldn't buy stuff like that of ebay. Try Maplin, CPC etc... "cermet" multi-turn ones are the ones to have but might be a touch of overkill. Cheap open ones can go nasty though.

[Delberthot]

Ah cool. thought there would be a brand to get for these

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6mm-Cermet-Preset-Potentiometer-500K-Pack-5-/300544058617?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Components_Supplies_ET&hash=item45f9d264f9"]Is this the right thing[/url]? [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/500K-3-4-19mm-Multiturn-cermet-potentiometer-Pk-2-/140569896912?pt=UK_AudioElectronicsVideo_Video_TelevisionSetTopBoxes&hash=item20ba9e67d0"]orthis[/url]? [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/9-5mm-Multiturn-Cermet-Trimmer-Pot-Resistor-500K-4pk-/120458375947?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Components_Supplies_ET&hash=item1c0be0f30b"]orthis[/url]?

There are three tags like a normal pot but which on is which?

Edited March 10, 2012 by Delberthot

[Al Heeley]

they will all work ok though yiou don't need 500k to take the edge of the volume - you only need to take it down by maybe 10% = 50K.
Choose the first one in your link as they are easier to fiddle around with.
Go on, take the plunge, splash out that 99p, you know its worth it!

Note: middle tag is normally the sweep, the outers are what you'd expect. Either end of a resistive strip.

Edited March 11, 2012 by Al Heeley