Volume pot issue

[Mook]

Hi all....


I am finding that the output from my volume pots on my Lakland DJ is not gradual.....On a 0-10 there is no volume until about 8.5/9 for either pick-ups.

I know it will need to see a doctor for a check-up but just thought I'd see if anyone has any experience of this.

Thanks in advance

[Green Alsatian]

That sounds normal - there are two types of pots that can be used - Audio (or Logarithmic), which are generally used for volume pots and Linear, which are generally used for tone pots.

With audio pots, you only hear any significant change until nearing the end of the knob's travel up from zero. Here's a little feature which explains how they work.

http://www.learningaboutelectronics.com/Articles/What-are-audio-taper-potentiometers

Some people prefer switching them around though - all down to personal choice.

[HowieBass]

It might be worth checking that your guitar cables are good quality too - I recently discovered one I'd used regularly between instrument and my effects console was fitted with poor solderless jack plugs; when I finally swapped it with a much better constructed cable (where I'd actually soldered the plugs on myself and I'm not the world's best at it) the change in sound quality was immediate... volume and tone pots had greater effect. I reckon the crappy solderless plugs and the poor metal to metal junctions were somehow acting as a capacitor...

[Mook]

Ahh...interesting. I didn't realise there were different types. Thanks a lot for that info. I just wanted to make sure that I was getting the full output of the bass.

Strange though that guitars like Tele and Strats have linear pots if they aren't meant for audio...the sweep on those seem to go up gradually from 0 if I'm not mistaken.