And here we are, 12 years later, …AND your video is still curing headaches. Thanks so much man!

I know it's 7 years later, but thanks for this video.

This video is by far one of the best instructional videos I have ever seen. Additionally, it completely saved me as I was struggling to figure out how to wire pickups on a self-built guitar.

@aaronstonebeat

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

I spent this whole video going "Ohhhhh! I get it now!" Thank you so much!

This is one of the very few explanations of a tone control that actually explains the scientific principles properly, rather than "here's where to put the wires". Thanks a lot!

You start with the most basic concept, and then build on this, concentric genius, so simple yet so genius, this is perfection of teaching. This will be my model for teaching videos.

@aaronstonebeat

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

I know it's been 11 years since this video was made, but you've done a very good job explaining how things work.

I know it’s twelve years ago that this was uploaded but thank you so much. Clear and concise explanation 👍

Marc, your a life saver. I just watched your video after many others and I could see easily my problem on my project guitar and fix it quickly. I just needed the insight on how things worked to identify what I did wrong. So many times diagrams and people seem so uninformative, its just where instead of why, so much easier to fix something you understand just a little bit of. Thanks again

@YannyPQ

5 жыл бұрын

Very helpful. Thanks

Thank you for the excellent tutorial on guitar electronics. Just the facts without a lot of extraneous nonsense in an attempt to impress. Great use of clear graphics to illustrate the points, which was excellent for conveying the information as efficiently as possible.

Thank you! Exactly the explanation I was looking for! Short and to the actual point. Most videos are 30 minutes long and I end up with more questions! Thanks again! You must have heard me screaming! Take care!

For someone who has a good understanding of electrical but no understanding of guitar controls - you just explained this beyond perfectly. Great job.

Thank you, this is a very clear explanation. :)

@aaronstonebeat

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you. You're welcome.

@rll1971

3 жыл бұрын

Agreed. Simple and to the point.

very good, it helps to see both illustrations of the volume and tone control potentiometers: first as a long tube with ends and a wiper; and then as a round pot with terminals.

dank je wel voor het plaatsen. het eerste filmpje wat echt het basisprincipe duidelijk uitlegd. heel blij mee!

Ten years after... Wow, Excellent. I'm going to watch it again and then check out your other vids.

@aaronstonebeat

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Thanks a lot! This is the only explanation I needed for one single coil, one volume, one tone

I'm only halfway through, and this video has already demystified so much of guitar electronics diagrams for me.Awesome job.

I don't even want to say what I do for a living, but you just taught me a lesson I've know forever... Know where the signal is going! You've cleared my head with this video. Thank you sir! I'm doing a multi cap strat killing rogue DC and AC interference with it. Two unique circuits and I just now realized I placed the DC cap on the wrong leg! Been a bad winter, loads of interference, just fixed my amp filter circuit a week ago, one faulty cap that is bad. Thank you from Texas!

This is one of the best introductory vids I've seen, thanks!

This is the most practical and clear teaching video I have ever seen anywhere. I'm a retired teacher! great weldone! How about doing the same/similar for bass guitar?

@aaronstonebeat

10 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much! Electronics in basses doesn't really differ from electronics in guitars; blender pots and pre amps may be a bit more common in bass guitars.

@wertherellerbrock

10 жыл бұрын

I agree! I think these videos are VERY well done, and thought through. I am a teacher myself (music teacher) and I can relate with the fact that most often than not (if not always) we must deal with the very basics in a clear and succint way, to have a good foundation with the more intricate stuff. Congratulations Marc Van Oppen!

@bassmentality

9 жыл бұрын

I have refurbished a trashed Strat body and now its a slick single coil short scale P bass using a Seymour Duncan Hot pu. I would like to be able to use the 3 position switch in a way so I can change tone. Can it be done and can you post how I could go about it. I'm ok at soldering despite my 70 years! Thanks.

@bassmentality

9 жыл бұрын

?

I am supposed to be an engineer grad decades ago, but boy, Marc makes this so clean and simple to understand. THANKS!!!

Thanks for these videos Marc ... they're VERY helpful to people like me trying to wire/re-wire a guitar for the first time to really understand what's going on.

Thank you! I have been trying for 2 days to understand how this tone control is wired. Good video...

Mark, Thank you for a very good class. Helps out a lot! Keep up the good work!

Easy to follow. Did not put me to sleep like some others I've watched. It all made sense. Subscribed. Thank you!

Yes, thank you -- I need the basics.

Thanks for a very helpful video! It really helps to have it explained from the ground up like you did. I'm looking forward to watching the rest of the series!

Very much appreciated!, thanks for spending your time on this- so many help vids go straight into the weeds - this was clear and helpful - you sir, are a damn fine people!

Bloody brilliant vid!!! You're right, not much out there puts it quite so simply or explains things so well. Thank you!!

Thank you for taking the time to explain those things!!!

Very helpful series of video's, watching them for the second time now. Bedankt ;)

Great video! Nice and clear. Also, your diagrams are very well done. Thanks, Rick

Than you for being clear, concise, and to the point. God bless!

Yes. Thank you so much for this video. I am going to attempt this for the first time. And this is exactly what I was looking for. It is, a truly excellent, instructional video.

@aaronstonebeat

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

thanks so much, i started studying basic electrics this semester and this stuff actually makes sense to me. might do some custom wiring for my strat some time!

Good and clear presentation of basic guitar circuit ! Well done

AWESOME presentation..direct, simple and very clearly demonstrated without unnecessary theories...hardwire only...many thanks...have subscribed and looking forward to viewing MORE of your great videos !!..tnks again !!

That makes sense to me now, thanks for taking the time :)

thanks man for the video! it can't get better than this, super understandable!

Awesome video and detailed explanation! Thanks.

This was very helpful … thank you!

That makes A LOT of sense, countless times on the schematic I see the arrow and am unsure on how to design the circuit accordingly. This presentation has helped heaps, plus I now now why I,m having hum issues :)

Thank you , thank you , thank you, so much out there jumps to switches and multiple pickups, or works backwards from an existing wiring system, this was very helpful, again thanks

@aaronstonebeat

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! The point of these vids was indeed to try to explain some things.

Thanks finally I understand how these pots actually work!

Thanks Marc for this very clear and logical presentation. Light-bulb moment! :0)

Excellent. This was simply and clearly explained.

Wow this was very informative. Well done!

@aaronstonebeat

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Finally, plain and simple explanation. thx very much

great video thanks, id never looked inside a guitar before and was able to install a new volume pot on an older guitar tha had it volumepot ripped out ages ago. very clear, thanks a million!

@MitjaShi There is one hot lead from each of the volume controls to each tone control; if you cut those the tone controls are out of the circuit. Don't worry about the ground connections (or perhaps capacitors between the tone control and the casing of the volume control, depending on how things are connected). Disconnect those two wires and you're good to go; if you want to go back to having tone control there is only one wire for each set of controls to reconnect.

that was very enlightening, thankyou!

Wonderful video series. Thank you so much.

@MitjaShi In this schematic lowering the volume will affect tone because part of the resistance of the potentiometer is in series with the hot side of the circuit when the volume is less than 100% up. To prevent this you could use a 'treble bleed'.

That was great, thanks.. Sure a lot different values for the capacitors we are studying in the electrician apprenticeship.

Good job, informative video!

Great Video very helpful. This makes a confusing topic so clear. Thanks

fabulous explanation and diagrams. so helpful thanks very much!!!

@FriendOfLeoF Thank you! The next one is in the making already.

Yes it is. Generally larger pots (500K) are used with humbuckers so more resistance will be in series when the volume is lowered. I use a treble bleed (just is simple small capacitor) on one of my humbucker guitars.

thanks very much.. super and easy to understand.. will use the knowledge gained on my next home made guitar.. 10/10 spot on cheers jb

Keep it up bro. Amazing video

That was terribly useful! Thanks very much.

True. Edition VI in this series is about independent volume controls.

Thanks for this very practical explanation.

That was perfect. Thanks!

this will aid me greatly in creating black metal

@muaythai4lifelife Yes, you need a 'mirror image' pot. I'll try to explain it as simple as possible with images of life like pots and connections. Thanks for the idea, it will be a nice and useful addition to my videos.

Excellent, thank you.

Great video!

thanks man you are awesome n a perfect video

Awesome explanation thanks.

@aaronstonebeat thanx so much to you :) it will help a lot og left handed guitarist, trust me :) uh another bad point is that you can't correct do volume swells with a stock-standard right pot ( left handed wired ). take care!

@aaronstonebeat thanks for the clarification!

Thats very well explained. Thanks

@aaronstonebeat

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Thanks again. I thought I had it done right, but I done something wrong hooking up a piezo cable & handmade pickup made from the winding in an old hard drive and two magnets. Aiming for one pot, gain, volume and one tone control for both. Used case as saddle and added wire to string for extra measure since saddle case holding the rig ought create a ground. So far failure.

Thank you!!!!

THX for this teaching. now i got it ;-)

thanks ..vey useful👍

when i wanted to read the inbteractive transcript of this video i was hitting the report button accidentally, sorry about that i didn´t mean to. your explanation is very useful.good work

Thank you for this video I think I get it now

Very useful ,, Thank you

Going to build own strat after this video.previous time successfully built own random star Akira Takasaki guitar.now its malmsteen time.thanks

@aaronstonebeat

3 жыл бұрын

The best of luck to you!

Yes, thanks for the explanation, : now I get it why the 'input' is wired to the middle connector. :-D

@muaythai4lifelife Sure, I'll do that. It's a nice subject; left handedness hadn't crossed my mind yet. I'll try to make a clip before the weekend is over.

The volume pot is connected as a voltage divider, the tone pot as a variable resistor. The variable resistor allows the signal to 'see' more or less of the capacitor. If the signal 'sees' the capacitor high frequencies don't reach the amplifier (or to be more precise: the capacitor lowers the resonance frequency of the circuit). A potentiometer doesn't have an input or output as such; what is what all depends on the way it is connected.

Thank you!! :) I'm making a luthier building a left handed guitar and I have to tell him the specs I want. After many researches I found out I need antilogarithmic / reverse log potentiometers and wire them in a reverse way ( opposite from a right handed guitar configuration ). If I won't use reverse log pots and use standard right handed pots and wire them reversed the result would be awful. Awful because the response of the pot would act almost as an "on off" switch. You can test it with a m

@hezzart Hoi, It doesn't really matter, any wire will do. Lengths are short so resistance is low; even for the very thin pickup wire (about 0,05 mm) it's in the range of 1 Ohm per 10 cm. Stiffness of wire can be a problem if it's too thick and space inside the guitar is limited. Shielded cable reduces hum but also adds parallel capacity to the circuit and thus takes away some of the high frequenties. Te weinig tekens over om het hele verhaal in het Nederlands te herhalen ;-)

Thank you nice video upload 🙂

@aaronstonebeat

4 жыл бұрын

Much appreciated!

thanks , have enjoyed you instructional video , you have made it simple to understand i wonder if you may be able to help me with imformation please ,i have lost tone control on my 1983 fender jazz , i have multi metered the pots / pickups / which test fine / i would like to test the cap , a .22 uf /200v but not sure how ,can you please advise me ,thankyou so much , from ,Peter ,

Thanks Marc, this is a great video. I'm just a little confused about the signal flow. Does the filtered signal travel back down the hot line from the tone pot. I'm struggling to wrap my head around how that signal gets into the output

@aaronstonebeat

Жыл бұрын

Well, you could say that the high frequencies 'disappear' to ground and the low frequencies are allowed to travel to the amplifier via the hot connection. A more correct way would be to say that the pickup and the capacitor form a system with a lower resonance frequency than that of the pickup on its own.

note that in this case if you turn the volume down you basically connect the positive output to ground, which is ok for one pickup, but if you want to hook up multiple pickups with individual volume controls to a single output, you have to connect the output to pin 1 and the coil to pin 2, otherwise you won't have any output when eider of the volume pots is turned down.

About the diagram you showed in this video. Is this the modern wiring scheme (lowering volume also cuts treble) or the 50s wiring scheme (lowering volume doesn't affect treble)?

Quick question: Does the type of electrical-wire matter for guitar-electronics or will typical household-electrical wire do? (I have from the Formido some "Montage-draad" & "huishoud-snoer voor het vervangen van huishoudelijke apparatuur".)

Hi, a question for you. Many famous guitarists at one point decide to disconnect their tone potentiometer on the bridge pickup to get more sound ( as a tone & cap could suck high freq. even all the way open ) With a stock SG, how many connections must be unsoldered to properly do that? Thanx!

@hezzart Dank je Hessel! Inmiddels is het al een hele serie geworden. Ik denk dat ik onderhand de meest voorkomende zaken wel heb behandeld. Misschien nog wat dingen als super switches, varitone en wat beroemde schakelingen zoals de Jerry Donahue-telecaster, de 50's tele wiring enzo; voorversterkers wellicht. Min of meer hetzelfde staat in geschreven en geillustreerde vorm op mijn eigen website. Groet, PS Mooie foto's trouwens; ik heb net even jouw site bekeken.

You can test it with a multimeter. The bad point is that guitar companies use STD pots for left handed guitars :(. Fortunatelly CTS still makes reverse log pots! Also called vintage pots. I have problems making/explaining my luthier how to set up the wirings for both Volume, Tone ( capaciors) controls. Thanx in advance!! Cheers!

Hello. Me and a friend are trying to make a custom bass guitar and my friend plays for a death metal band. Can you please tell me the best configuration of pots for volume and tone controller. And also the capacitor value for the tone controller

Hallo, veel opgestoken van je uitleg, vraagje; in een test stratocaster met 2 tonepots wou men liever de pickups aan 1 tonepot hangen, is er een verschil in geluid tussen 2 pots of capacitors? En een cabronita heeht geen tonepot, heeft die ook een capacitor of enkel pickups en volume?

Hi i have a question too.When i get my tone control up theres buzz that when i touch anything metal stops and when i get it down the buzz completly stops??