Danelectro Volume Pot.

[Brian T. Williams]

Hi,

I've just bought a new Danelectro 59 reissue 12 string that I absolutely love and am now using for gigging in preference to my Gibson 335-12 (unbelievable but true).

I just have one small issue that I hope you can help with.

The volume pot responds from "off" to almost full volume over approximately the first 30% of travel, with very little audible difference over the remaining 70%; (the effect is the same, whatever position the pickup selector switch is set).

Is this a common issue on cheaper electric guitars or Dano's. in particular, or would it be a "feature" of the 59 clone specifications?

Whatever the case, is it just a case of replacing the volume pot with a better quality one?

Any help or advice greatly appreciated.

Thank you.........Brian

[Paul Verticchio]

Hi Brian.

Aren't those cool 12 strings?  Major bang for the buck.

Yes, if you have ANY issue with a vol or tone pot, just replace it. I favor US made CTS pots for their consistency, predictability & reliability. For volume pots, the inclusion of a treble bleed circuit is always advisable.

As a matter of  standard operating procedure, I replace all of my 'new (or new to me)' guitars electronics immediately with a Switchcraft switch and jack and CTS pots. I also upgrade the shielding while I'm at it.  While I'm extremely cautious to mention it, I find a significant sonic improvement over stock circuitry when I'm done. At least MY ears can discern it :)

When it comes to gigging, I don't want to risk on stage gear failure and those import switches & jacks don't give me the feeling of confidence I desire. Essentially, they're junk and WILL fail at the most inopportune time. I've experienced it too often in the past; hence my upgrade routine.

Just a suggestion for when you're at your favorite music store: Run your 12 string through a Jangle Box (2 or 3). You'll find heaven on earth :)

Play on :)

[Robbie Collins]

I have a 56-U3.  I replaced the switch but the pots are solid.

[Andrew]

Ill second Paul's vote on the new components and treble bleed circuits. Id also upgrade the tone cap (if applicable) if it looks chintzy.

[Russell Vance]

You have a highly logrithmic pot.   Pots come in (CTS for instance) half a dozen "tapers" which govern how fast they come on and how slow they taper to full on (basic speak here) as they are moved up and down.  The problem you have is most likely a combination of the pickup and pot (including your tone pot value - even when fully up) interacting to give you a nasty roll-on contour.  

The sort of effect is you get say, 60% of the overall volume in the first 30% of the angular rotation - which is a high logrithmic pot taper in action.

A treble bleed circuit will not help this problem (in this case) and may make it even more evident as it acts on reinforcing the volume of the roll-off contour.   Treble bleeds are not a given improvement - sometimes they do the trick, particularly with single coils, but sometimes not (humbuckers) and you can hear that dead easy.

Get your guitar tech to replace the existing pot with a "linear" pot of the same value which should help iron out your roll-on contour and tell us how it goes.

Rusty.

[Paul Verticchio]

Just to clarify: treble bleed was suggested (as an option) in concert with a new volume pot. NOT as a possible solution.

Rusty: I've come to trust more in what you say than in what I know.  I've always been told and understood that Audio (log) pots are spec'd for volume pots. Specifically FOR the logarithmic taper that allows for even swells and easily accomplished volume changes without too much rotation.  Granted that you never know the exact effect of the taper until it's in the circuit, but why the recommendation of a linear taper pot?

That question isn't a 'challenge" but I need to be re-educated. or further educated. :)  I'm always re-thinking what I think I know.

Oh ya, have you tried the PEC guitar pots from Canada? SUPER great but 'sell your first born' EXPENSIVE!!!

Oh ya, I see this 'cheap pot' problem almost every month. It's the nature of poorly crafted import pots...even Alphas.

Thanks buddy :)

[Brian T. Williams]

Hi, thanks for the advice so far, I'm just a little bewildered by the "Linear v Logarithmic" thing.

A closer inspection of the electrics reveals that the volume pot is an Alpha B500k pot which I understand indicates that it is a Linear (B type) pot; with what I understand is a "treble bleed" capacitor added on.

Is the advice then, in order to obtain smoother, more even volume control, to replace the pot with a Logarithmic (A type) and to keep the treble bleed capacitor in place, (bearing in mind that I certainly have no wish to change the overall tone of the guitar)?

Thanks again......Brian

[Brian T. Williams]

( I hope so, thats what I've decided to do)......;-)

[Andrew]

Yup, that's a linear pot, and yup, you'll probably want an audio taper (log) pot. As long as you use the same value pot, you shouldn't affect the tone at all.

[Len Biglin]

The treble bleed is between the input and output of the pot , remove one end and that might just do the trick , otherwise get a A500K pot

[Russell Vance]

OK, deep breath. Ignore me on this one for the following reasons:

I didn't mention the well read article "the secret life of pots" which has a technical expose of pot tapers and contradicts to some extent my advice because I had a severe brain fade and other issues.   Everybody quotes it. Paul V is correct in his interpretation and understanding of what Audio pots are designed to do.  

But, practically, as is the case with many Strats (because we know what they do),  the standard logarithmic volume pot is louder and relatively constant from 5 up and dead as a maggot from 5 down to 0.   Linear pots even this out a bit and reach down below 5 better.   This is a function of a number of things and it's what I was thinking about when I had a quick stab at this  in my previous post. 

Anyway, other things:  the treble bleed in this Dano will  be adding to the low numbers volume as it helps maintain a bit of signal as the volume is rolled right down. Clipping out the treble bleed may even up the output a bit - but it will change your tone

We use linear pots to give fine and incremental control over the full pot rotation.  We also use very responsive pickups with this selection so we cop a larger dynamic anyway.  Linears require a different touch but gives the player good command for violining and a wider sweet spot for rolling back the amp.  But,we don't generally use tone pots in the circuits and generally use BKP heavies so I'm dealing with different loadings and responses which has probably also colored my thinking on this problem.

So , I think maybe I should withdraw from this thread with the comment: whatever is in there (and check the taper with a multimeter - European and US manufacturers use A and B designation exactly opposite for Linear and Audio pot designations.)  just install the opposite and tell us how it goes.

Some days the dragon wins,

Rusty.

[Paul Verticchio]

Rusty,

Thank for your time in giving us your point of view. It's VERY much appreciated.

I'm going to play around with Linear pots for volume. I, like you, do not have a tone control on my electrics [no cap & pot = zero loading]. The way you explain it is the way I've always 'conceptualized it' but never employed it.

I shouldn't have mentioned the treble bleed cap as it definitely skewed the solution.

As always, thanks for sharing your deep knowledge, my friend :)

[Andrew]

Paul, have you ever tried wiring a blower switch in? If you wanna get past the load of the pots, its an interesting option. You can have all your normal tone controls etc, and just use the switch to bypass everything. You can also use it to go back and forth between a certain volume/tone setting to wide open and back without losing your place or messing around.

Sorry for the off topic.