Blend pot with 2 caps

[mountain]

Hi,

I'm new here so be gentle!

I'm doing a complete rewire and the following idea popped into my head last night.

I already have a dpdt switch to select between different cap values.

I was wondering if anyone has used a blend pot to 'pan' between two different value caps?

Would this work?

Just an idea before I get my soldering iron out, as I have found an old tone blend pot.

[newey]

mountain-

Hello and Welcome to G-Nutz2!

I'm new here so be gentle!

We're largely harmless. Some of us are both large and harmless . . .

I already have a dpdt switch to select between different cap values.

Based upon what you're requesting, can I assume that these caps are wired to ground, in parallel with the output? As opposed to switching between two caps off of a tone control?

If it's the latter, I don't see the point of a blend control, that's why I'm assuming it's caps wired to ground in parallel to the output.

If it's the former, you could certainly use a blend control to blend between the two, but I don't know that the results will be to your liking.

The first issue is raised by your statement:

I have found an old tone blend pot.

Read this, from our Reference section, and then get out a multimeter and check that "blend" pot to see what you really have:

ChrisK's dissertation on Blend and Pan pots

While he's speaking of blending two pickups instead of caps, you may have significant loss of output at the center detent if it's not a "true blend" pot.

Also, you now have a switch, so you either have one capacitor or the other. With a blend control (and again, assuming the caps are in parallel), you'll be adding the values of both caps together as you twist the knob. (This may mean selecting different cap values to get the sound you want.)

Another question arises, too: Is there a "no cap" setting with your current switching arrangement, and how will you maintain that option with a blend pot?

Please understand that none of this is meant to discourage you from experimenting, I'm just raising some things for you to consider. I believe we have had a member or two try something similar to what you're asking, so I'll have to look through our dusty basement to see if I can find that thread.

[newey]

Couldn't find the thread of which I was thinking. Most of these "cap-switching" ideas have been done in conjunction with a tone pot, not "free standing" as I have assumed you are doing. If my assumption is wrong, here's some links to ideas for multiple tone pot caps:

First off, asmith's Tone Control Switcher offers a way to switch one's tone pot between a treble cut, bass cut, or both.

An alternative idea uses a blend pot to make a High cut/ Low cut tone control. In one half of the rotation, it's a treble cut, on the other half it's a bass cut.

For a simple tone cap switching scheme, ChrisK's Free "Woman Tone" gets rave reviews.

Just throwing these ideas in for your reference.

[mountain]

Thanks.
Yep, large and harmless myself too!!!

Based upon what you're requesting, can I assume that these caps are wired to ground, in parallel with the output?

Yeah. I could get some interesting tone variations that way.


I'll have a good read of the link before I do anything. Although I might just see what happens- it's only a few bolbs of solder As I remember the pot allowed blending of the pickup tones when both were on. It had a master tone and a blend. I suppose it functioned in the place of 2 tone knobs that way.

I may put in a tone bypass switch too. I have 3 mini toggles but now have non coil splittable active pickups so the redundant switches are sat staring at me with no wires on them. Before I had coil taps and phase reversal which I never used to be honest.

I'm thinking of something more straightforward but with as much tone variation as I can get.

[Deleted]

Oct 7, 2012 7:13:48 GMT -5 mountain said:

Hi,

I'm new here so be gentle!

I'm doing a complete rewire and the following idea popped into my head last night.

I already have a dpdt switch to select between different cap values.

I was wondering if anyone has used a blend pot to 'pan' between two different value caps?

Would this work?

Just an idea before I get my soldering iron out, as I have found an old tone blend pot.

Hi, and welcome....

Can't help you directly here, but anyway if you do the experiment and witness a good change in tone, then feel free to share!

[mountain]

www.guitarnuts2.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=modules&action=display&thread=3883

Ah that looks like a way to use up a mimi switch!!! I only have DPDT on,on,on though.

Will have to give it some thought!

[newey]

I only have DPDT on,on,on though.

The same thing can be done with a DPDT On-On-On, like so:

Here's another thread with a similar topic:

www.guitarnuts2.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=wiring&thread=6215&page=2#65183

[mountain]

Woah thanks,

I've just spent ages with a pencil and paper working out different selection ideas with a DPDT. LOL.