Jump to content
Why become a member? ×

Changing Pots on a Semi - Any Tips or Hacks?


Recommended Posts

I’m thinking about fitting a varitone style tone pot to my Guild NS Starfire 1. I can’t afford/not prepared to pay for a Stellartone Tonestyler but I found this on eBay: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256589834315?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=kOM5mf7iTRe&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=4_PGIYs4SqC&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY. I’ve used this guy’s stuff in the past and it was good: much easier than doing it myself and I can’t see how I could do it cheaper buying the components.

 

I have done plenty of wiring myself on solid bodied guitars and basses but I have never tackled a semi. Has anybody replaced pots on a Starfire or similar bass? Apart from putting pieces of string through the mounting holes, how do you ensure you don’t lose the pot inside and how do you get the shaft into the mounting hole without being able to put your hand inside? Am I going to be able to change the tone pot without having to remove the volume pot and jack socket? (TBH I don’t mind removing the jack socket as I was thinking of changing it for a Puretone while I am fiddling with the wiring.)

 

Are there any tools out there made for this purpose, or has anybody come up with their own hacks? Any experiences and advice gratefully received.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Posted (edited)
9 minutes ago, ahpook said:

If came across this stroke of genius - using what looks like surgical tubing to hold onto the pots, which makes swift work of getting the pots through the holes .

 

Thanks for that! Great idea! I will definitely use that. Wonder where you can get the surgical tubing without having to buy a massive quantity 🤔.
 

I hope I don’t have to remove the pickups but I guess it depends on whether I can get the pots through the f-holes.

 

P.S. It looks like Amazon is a good source of the tubing.

Edited by Obrienp
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, Obrienp said:

Thanks for that! Great idea! I will definitely use that. Wonder where you can get the surgical tubing without having to buy a massive quantity 🤔.
 

I hope I don’t have to remove the pickups but I guess it depends on whether I can get the pots through the f-holes.

 

Pretty sure when I did some work on my Starfire, which was years ago (bass now long gone), eveything went through the f-holes.

 

 

Not sure about the tubing though....try Ebay or your preferred online retailer ?

 

HTH

Edited by ahpook
  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Fishing line or strong thread attached to the pots and switch work like the tubing hack, tying all the ends together, before removal, stops the lines accidentally pulling all the way through.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, ahpook said:

 

Pretty sure when I did some work on my Starfire, which was years ago (bass now long gone), eveything went through the f-holes.

 

 

Not sure about the tubing though....try Ebay or your preferred online retailer ?

 

HTH

That’s good to know.👍

 

Yeah, it looks like FleaBay, or the dreaded Amazon can oblige with the tubing.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, ezbass said:

Fishing line or strong thread attached to the pots and switch work like the tubing hack, tying all the ends together, before removal, stops the lines accidentally pulling all the way through.

Another good one! Thanks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

17 minutes ago, floFC said:

I documented changing the pickups on my Dean Stylist semi here: https://diaryofabassguitar.wordpress.com/2013/04/04/new-pickups/

Thank you for sharing that. There are some good tips in there. I hadn’t thought of the tailpiece ground wire complication but it makes sense. I wouldn’t wire up a solid body bass without grounding the bridge.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, gary mac said:

I do plenty of re-wires on hollow bodied guitars and basses. Aquarium airline tubing is what I use. 

Thanks. I’ll look out for that.

 

I’ve got to go through with it now, as I have ordered the varitone. It’s pretty big though, so I think I might have to remove the pickup to get into the body; I don’t think the f-holes are going to be wide enough to get it in. 😬

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...