Fender Tone Pot

Bryce Van Parys · Post by **Bryce Van Parys** » 26 Oct 2022 11:33 am

Just got an early '70s Deluxe. The tone pot only works in the first 20% and it's not a large change in tone. We've checked the wiring and seems correct. So, what tone pot is typical for this instrument, and is there usually a wider variation in tone? Working on old Hank, and well, you all know what I'm after

Tom Snook · Post by **Tom Snook** » 29 Oct 2022 2:55 pm

I'm having the same problem with the Deluxe 8 I just got from Erv.I imagine I'll get a new tone pot eventually, but it's an added expense I hadn't expected. Other than that

Aloha

Carl Gallagher · Post by **Carl Gallagher** » 29 Oct 2022 3:04 pm

Try some Deoxit before you change the pot.

Jeff Highland · Post by **Jeff Highland** » 29 Oct 2022 5:11 pm

Good quality new pots are only $10.00 or so. IMHO it is rarely worth cleaning one in a simple guitar installation if it does not respond to just working back and forth.

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 29 Oct 2022 5:37 pm

Assuming the volume & blend pots work okay, if you change the tone pot, you might consider installing a new tone cap at the same time. Would work like new.

Glenn Wilde · Post by **Glenn Wilde** » 30 Oct 2022 12:33 pm

1 meg pots in the Fender's iirc.

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 30 Oct 2022 1:23 pm

Jeff Highland · Post by **Jeff Highland** » 30 Oct 2022 2:15 pm

A 1 meg tone pot is not going to do much in the first 75% of rotations from full up clockwise. Then the effect will come on quickly. If that is what is happening it is just a consequence of the pot value. This may be what some people want to get fast rolloff over a limited range. If you want more treble reduction at full rolloff you will need to change the capacitor value.

Carl Gallagher · Post by **Carl Gallagher** » 30 Oct 2022 2:20 pm

"A 1 meg tone pot is not going to do much in the first 75% of rotations from full up clockwise." This would be correct if it were an audio taper pot, but its a linear taper according to the Seymour Duncan schem. I suspect someone changed the original linear pot for an audio.

Jeff Highland · Post by **Jeff Highland** » 30 Oct 2022 2:56 pm

No I was referring to a 1 meg linear.
On a 1 meglinear pot it will take you 75% of the rotation to get to 250k which is the starting point for most fender pots.Not a lot will happen above that.

Carl Gallagher · Post by **Carl Gallagher** » 30 Oct 2022 3:33 pm

A linear 1meg pot will be at 500k at its midpoint.

Jeff Highland · Post by **Jeff Highland** » 30 Oct 2022 4:13 pm

And 250k to ground at 75% from wide open.

Carl Gallagher · Post by **Carl Gallagher** » 30 Oct 2022 7:44 pm

250 to ground at 1/4 turn, 500 at 1/2 turn 750 at 3/4 and 1meg full, no?

Jeff Highland · Post by **Jeff Highland** » 30 Oct 2022 9:23 pm

Depends which way you are turning.
I would consider full onto be full clockwise 1meg, so you would have to wind it back 75% of rotation from there before you get down to 250K and start getting any real effect.

Bryce Van Parys · Post by **Bryce Van Parys** » 1 Nov 2022 1:25 pm

Jeff's description is accurate with my experience. It could very well be that that the audible change in tone in the last (first) 25% of rotation is consistent, and what the western swing guys were utilizing to get the "wah" effect. One would not want to have excessive travel in the pot to use this as a performance affect. But, I was curious if it was standard, and if there might be more audible tonal difference in the pot. From what I'm reading here, it seems like I may be functioning as stock and should just play more and transcribe more old Hank (Don Helms) before I suspect a problem in my equipment

Jeff Highland · Post by **Jeff Highland** » 1 Nov 2022 2:13 pm

Yes, for a more pronounced effect you would need to change the capacitor value rather than the pot, but it does sound like eveything is working as stock.