Volume kit

[closeyetfar]

Hey, I want to install a volume kit on my guitar but im not sure what value capacitor and resistor (220k I think) to use. I have heard that the capacitor value depends on whether you have double coils or single coils, is this correct? Right now I have an HSH configuration so im not sure what value capacitor to use. Here is the diagram below.

I found this at acmeguitarworks.com:
"The values are 680pF/220K (single coils) and 1000pF/220K (humbuckers)."

[JohnH]

Are you refering to treble bleed circuits on the volume control? to keep treble from getting dull as you turn down the volume.

If so, theres no exact answer, and both of those 680pF/220k and 1000pf/220k can be appropriate.. I have usually used the 1000pf/220k, but I think that unless you use longer guitar cords (like 20'), the lower cap value may be better. Its more to do with the cord than the type of pickup.

John

[closeyetfar]

Yea I am referring to a treble bleed on the volume pot. I understand that because high frequencies require more energy then low frequencies they have more trouble pushing through resistance the low frequencies. So I thought I would use a capacitor to let them short past the resistance of the volume pot.

My question here is how does the value of the capacitor effect the high frequencies. Does a higher value capacitor help the high frequencies more or less? Then how does the length or resistance of the cord you mentioned factor into all this?

Usually I use an 8 foot cord but there are times when I need a longer one.

Thanks for the Info.

[JohnH]

The spreadsheets that I posted here:
guitarnuts2.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=reference&action=display&thread=3627
were designed to answer exactly that.

john

[ashcatlt]

Jun 6, 2009 4:45:39 GMT -5 closeyetfar said:

Yea I am referring to a treble bleed on the volume pot. I understand that because high frequencies require more energy then low frequencies they have more trouble pushing through resistance the low frequencies. So I thought I would use a capacitor to let them short past the resistance of the volume pot.

This is false. The resistance of the volume pot helps to set the time constant of the low-pass filter created by the inductance of the pickup and (mostly) the capacitance of the cable.

Anyway, +1 on JohnH's frequency calculator. You may not know the exact values of your particular pickups, especially the inductance, but it will help you get an idea.