Changing Volume Control on LP

[Strat68]

I have a 2011 LP Classic and the volume pots are fairly useless. Once you turn them above about 1 they go full volume. So I'm assuming they are audio taper. I would like a bit more volume control. Can linear taper be substituted without any problems?

[capmaster]

The opposite is the case, they are linear taper, and very likely 300 kOhms. An audio taper volume pot has most of its effect between 10 and circa 7.

 

Lots of my guitars have linear pots including most of my Gibsons with "volume control only" pots, that is without push/pull switches, All of my Fenders have audio taper volume pots, same as all of my Gibsons with volume pots including push/pull switches and the Frank Zappa "Roxy" SGs.

 

Tone controls should be audio tapered in any case, or most of their effect would accur between 3 and 0 (or circa 4 and 1 for Fenders ).

 

I left all of them stock and adapt to them when playing a specific guitar like to all the other differences in design and construction. So far I don't have problems with that.

 

If the guitar has point-to-point wiring, the linear Gibson stock volume pots can be replaced with audio tapered ones. I would use 500 kOhms pots. LPs call for long-shaft pots. In case of a PCB I would recommend a point-to-point rewiring using new components.

[Strat68]

The opposite is the case, they are linear taper, and very likely 300 kOhms. An audio taper volume pot has most of its effect between 10 and circa 7.

 

Lots of my guitars have linear pots including most of my Gibsons with "volume control only" pots, that is without push/pull switches, All of my Fenders have audio taper volume pots, same as all of my Gibsons with volume pots including push/pull switches and the Frank Zappa "Roxy" SGs.

 

Tone controls should be audio tapered in any case, or most of their effect would accur between 3 and 0 (or circa 4 and 1 for Fenders ).

 

I left all of them stock and adapt to them when playing a specific guitar like to all the other differences in design and construction. So far I don't have problems with that.

 

If the guitar has point-to-point wiring, the linear Gibson stock volume pots can be replaced with audio tapered ones. I would use 500 kOhms pots. LPs call for long-shaft pots. In case of a PCB I would recommend a point-to-point rewiring using new components.

 

Thanks. Given how quickly they ramped up I never considered audio taper. They sound like the volume control looks like a shoulder curve.

[jdgm]

Yes. 500k log pots usually do a fine job for vol controls. OK for tone too IMO.