Delberthot Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 (edited) 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darkstrike Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 (edited) 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted March 4, 2012 Author Share Posted March 4, 2012 (edited) 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted March 4, 2012 Share Posted March 4, 2012 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted March 4, 2012 Author Share Posted March 4, 2012 Yeah, I thought that so. I'll need to figure what value resistor to use Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted March 6, 2012 Author Share Posted March 6, 2012 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ikay Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 (edited) 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 beat me to it, variable all the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted March 9, 2012 Author Share Posted March 9, 2012 Never though about that. the control cavity is small but I may try this. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darkstrike Posted March 9, 2012 Share Posted March 9, 2012 Dang, that is clever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Heeley Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 (edited) 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepurpleblob Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted March 10, 2012 Author Share Posted March 10, 2012 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepurpleblob Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted March 10, 2012 Author Share Posted March 10, 2012 (edited) 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Heeley Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 (edited) 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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