What makes a pot noisy?
I recently changed pots in my strat and the new one is rather noisy (hissing) compared to the old one?
I recently changed pots in my strat and the new one is rather noisy (hissing) compared to the old one?
Noisy Pots
First thing I'd do is to check grounds, could be a not so happy joint somewhere.. Otherwise, I'm clueless ???
When do they hiss? Continuously? Or when you adjust them (are these tone pots?) are they "scratchy"?
Find a "happy joint", then re-look at the situation ?MikeM wrote: , could be a not so happy joint somewhere..
But seriously, hissing is odd ???
Answering VellaJ's question will help us to diagnose the prob.
Hiss all the time when on max. not scratchy, its still clean when you turn the volume.
It's also independent of whether I'm touching the guitar or not so it's not earthing.
Its a volume pot.
It's also independent of whether I'm touching the guitar or not so it's not earthing.
Its a volume pot.
Ok, my possible diagnoses:
You say you recently replaced the pots. Are these new pots of the same value as the old ones? (kilohm rating)
Are you certain of the quality? I don't know what brand of pots you've put in, but sometimes a pot can have a crack internally in the carbon track.
In either of these cases, replacement is the only real option, pots aren't that expensive...
You say you recently replaced the pots. Are these new pots of the same value as the old ones? (kilohm rating)
Are you certain of the quality? I don't know what brand of pots you've put in, but sometimes a pot can have a crack internally in the carbon track.
In either of these cases, replacement is the only real option, pots aren't that expensive...
I'm with Vella on this one. And the fact that it's at max when it hisses, indicates it's not a Logarithmic/Linear pot issue.
If you changed all the pots, then the problem could stem from even from one the tone pots, and is only highlighted as you max out the volume.
I would fault-find this by first putting your old vol pot back, and see if the hiss is still there. If it's gone, then take the "new" pot back and have them replace it for a new one. If the hiss is still there, then swap out one of the tone pots with the old one, . . . . and so forth.
The issue is: you didn't have the hiss before changing pots, so it is either a bad pot, or, less likely, a dry solder joint. (back to the "happy joint" ?)
What make of pots are they? DiMarzio's are my favourite if you can get them, CTS and Ernie Balls are cool. I've also bought great nameless pots from the local electronics stores too for about R20 ea.
If you changed all the pots, then the problem could stem from even from one the tone pots, and is only highlighted as you max out the volume.
I would fault-find this by first putting your old vol pot back, and see if the hiss is still there. If it's gone, then take the "new" pot back and have them replace it for a new one. If the hiss is still there, then swap out one of the tone pots with the old one, . . . . and so forth.
The issue is: you didn't have the hiss before changing pots, so it is either a bad pot, or, less likely, a dry solder joint. (back to the "happy joint" ?)
What make of pots are they? DiMarzio's are my favourite if you can get them, CTS and Ernie Balls are cool. I've also bought great nameless pots from the local electronics stores too for about R20 ea.
I found the unhappy joint, it's called Ladysmith... ?
It seems my soldering onto the body of the pot was not cool. How should I go about fixing that?
It seems my soldering onto the body of the pot was not cool. How should I go about fixing that?
Aha! That would be it yes....
In my experience, pots (and some other parts) are sometimes coated in a type of clear (invisible) resin preventing a proper electrical connection. Therefor I usually take some sandpaper or a file to them first, then clean it a bit with a cloth and then solder. Also I go for a big blob of solder on a pot. Doesn't look all that neat, but I definitely get a good connection.
In my experience, pots (and some other parts) are sometimes coated in a type of clear (invisible) resin preventing a proper electrical connection. Therefor I usually take some sandpaper or a file to them first, then clean it a bit with a cloth and then solder. Also I go for a big blob of solder on a pot. Doesn't look all that neat, but I definitely get a good connection.
Hi Donovan
Check out this great soldering advice:
http://www.stewmac.com/tsarchive/ts0065.html
That'll do it for ya! 8)
Check out this great soldering advice:
http://www.stewmac.com/tsarchive/ts0065.html
That'll do it for ya! 8)
Well now it's even more confusing.
Changed the pot anyway an its still noisy. But I'm not sure it is or even was the pot at all.
The guitar buzzes like crazy when I touch the strings or anywhere along the earth connection. I cut the earth wire and silence... ???
Changed the pot anyway an its still noisy. But I'm not sure it is or even was the pot at all.
The guitar buzzes like crazy when I touch the strings or anywhere along the earth connection. I cut the earth wire and silence... ???
It seems as though you are emitting 240V alternating at 314 rad/s. Maybe you should see a doctor? ?Donovan Banks wrote: Well now it's even more confusing.
The guitar buzzes like crazy when I touch the strings or anywhere along the earth connection. I cut the earth wire and silence... ???
That is rather strange. Unfortunately the only thing to I can suggest is to check over everything a few times.. Are you sure you haven't got your signal and earth switched around?
That would be where my money is - the signal/earth wire going to the jack socket.makepeace wrote: Are you sure you haven't got your signal and earth switched around?
Someone with electrical knowledge correct me if I'm wrong, but carbon comp resistors in a gain circuit are one thing , but I don't think pots are capable of generating any hiss in a guitar circuit....
After the snip it seems to have quietened down to a normal Strat. So with the Noise Suppressor it is quiet again thank goodness.
I think it's time for all new pots anyway. It's got the same pots from 1990 which have one capacitor bridged across the two controls.
Dan Patlansky had something interesting on his strat, a cap on his volume control so when he rolls down the volume, it cleans up and gets brighter.
I think it's time for all new pots anyway. It's got the same pots from 1990 which have one capacitor bridged across the two controls.
Dan Patlansky had something interesting on his strat, a cap on his volume control so when he rolls down the volume, it cleans up and gets brighter.
thats a treble bleed circuit. small cap, biggish resistor in parallel between your wiper and hot lugs. it also has a similar effect in series.
i was reading that resistors do generate noise, but its something in the region of microvolts, carbon comp being more noisy than film and metal film being the least out of conventional resistors.. i would assume that seeing as the pots we're talking about essentially consist of resistive carbon track, that it would have similar noise characteristics to that of carbon resistors. but as i say, microvolts. so its not going to be audible..
i was reading that resistors do generate noise, but its something in the region of microvolts, carbon comp being more noisy than film and metal film being the least out of conventional resistors.. i would assume that seeing as the pots we're talking about essentially consist of resistive carbon track, that it would have similar noise characteristics to that of carbon resistors. but as i say, microvolts. so its not going to be audible..
+1 Makepeace, the noise will be inaudible. My money is also on the jack being AAF.
7 days later
Just get it to someone who knows what they're doing.
Its a little dangerous to play an ungrounded guitar, esp through a tube amp.. so you should probably get it sorted sooner rather than later..Donovan Banks wrote: After the snip it seems to have quietened down to a normal Strat.
Check that the back of your guitar has a complete Faraday cage. If not, make it one. Secondly make sure your guitar amp has a 3pt plug and the earth is connected. If that doesn't work, check the soldering joints and probe with a multimeter for joints with resistance.