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Topic: Model 59 Pot value |
Kelvin Monaghan
From:
Victoria, Australia
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Posted 20 Jan 2007 9:55 pm |
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| After getting my newly acquired Pre War 59 cleaned up.I decided to tackle the very stiff Vol pot.THe paper inside was dated Dec 37 and the serial number on the headstock is E966. All the wiring and solder joints were untouched and original.The 1.5'' pickup impedence reads 1.28K at the output jack.Now the intersesting point I had assumed the Volume pot would be around 250K.It worked fine but was very hard to move.When checking the value I discovered it read 1.25K.I checked several times even reading some known value pots and resistors in my bin,sure enough 1.25K is the value.I was able to free it up by shooting some contact cleaner and lube into a tiny hole,this pot is totally sealed and is the old style large variety so it was difficult but solved the problem.Has anyone seen such a low value also it appears to be a linear taper. Cheers Kelvin. |
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John Dahms
From:
Perkasie, Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 21 Jan 2007 10:15 am
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| A pot with a 1.5k value would certainly give up too much signal back to ground. The output of old Ric pickups can support a 250k (or 500k even). Try and see which you like. |
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Blake Hawkins
From:
Florida
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Posted 21 Jan 2007 10:31 am
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Kelvin,
Glad you got your pot working. Just thought I might mention a technique I use to deal with a stiff pot.
Usually the binding is in the bushing on the shaft. I put one drop of a light machine oil on the shaft, let it soak in and then work it back and forth a bit.
You can do this from the front of the pot without taking anything apart.
Any light oil will do. I have used gun oil, sewing machine oil and "3 In 1" oil at various times.
Of course, if the pot is noisy, it must be sprayed internally with something like "Caig De-Oxit."
Blake |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 21 Jan 2007 8:02 pm
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| 100K pots are common on old Ricks. Maybe thats why they sound good?? Who knows. A 250K works good, and maybe lets more highs thru. |
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Fred
From:
Amesbury, MA
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Posted 22 Jan 2007 5:18 am
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Hi Kevin,
Have you disconnected the pot from the circuit to measure it?
If you haven't you're measuring the pot and pick-up in parallel. Since the pick-up is usually a much lower resistance than the pot the value of the two in parallel will be very close to to the pick-up's resistance.
Of course if it's working, don't worry, just enjoy.
Fred |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 22 Jan 2007 2:01 pm
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| I have an old bakelite here with an original pickup, and DC resistance is 1856 ohms. Not unusual . They seem to sound as good as the modern 6 to 9 K pickups. Of course the later ones may have more output. |
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Kelvin Monaghan
From:
Victoria, Australia
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Posted 22 Jan 2007 9:08 pm
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| Thanks Fred the penny just dropped,I had not disconnected the pot hence the very low reading as you rightly explained.I don't need to touch anything as I have freed the pot up considerably and don't wish to disturb the wiring.My guess is it sounds like a 100k as it rolls the highs off like a tone control when rolled back,a nice smokey kinda tone not at all harsh in fact even at full vol the tone is not as strident as my Post War B6.However more output. Thanks for input.Cheers Kelvin |
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