Variable Capacitor Varitone Pot

[frets]

Hi Guys,
I wanted to share with you a pot that my Uncle, myself and a fellow member of the forum (Angellahash) have come up with.   We have been working on it for a long while and now have it perfected.

Basically, it’s a variable capacitor configured to deliver an increasing range of  uF values from .004 to .047.   The caps are positioned in series and reside on a dual gang logarithmic pot (Bourns dual gang or Alpha dual gang)




This setup provides a Varitone within a smooth roll pot (normal
pot sweep).  To prevent pops between caps, two 10M resistors are positioned.  There is a very very slight static when the values change but it really is a help to discern if you have actually changed a value. You hardly notice it.

The result is a better tone pot with the ability to “park” at any tonal value you desire.

Of course there are those that won’t like that they are ceramic caps but personally, I think the construction makes no difference.

Anyway, given we talk about tone a lot, I wanted to share it with the group.

[newey]

frets-

Looks like a cool idea. Can you post some sound samples?

[frets]

Newey,

I don’t currently have my studio stuff setup.  So it will have to be just a recording using my phone.  Which will sound awful.  I will go ahead and record it.  Give me a bit of time to do it.

[newey]

Just curious, no real hurry or anything.

[stevewf]

Me too - I'm also interested in hearing it. But I don't want to rush frets. Better quality recording beats fast response... after all, the samples might effect interest in purchasing!

[frets]

Okay, I will setup my studio stuff. I have a new mic and it’s time that I set it up anyway. I just don’t think recording it using my phone will result in a very high quality recording. But I envision the recording being open strumming and a focus on the roll back and forth. And Parking it at different points on the sweep.

It really is incremental in terms of the sound.

Give me some time to set everything up.

[thetragichero]

Feb 19, 2024 18:11:57 GMT -5 frets said:

Of course there are those that won’t like that they are ceramic caps

remember that this is guitarnuts where magical hand-rolled tone capacitors painstakingly-built by tibetan monks is considered feldergarb. ceramic is just fine