Tone Pot to Blame?

Does the addition of a tone pot in the wiring sequence effect the pickups tone, even if it's in the off position?

Two otherwise identical Cali's with identical p'ups; one has a tone pot, the other volume-only. The difference in the two p'up's sound is discernible. If I had to describe the difference, I'd say it seems to be a minuscule loss of mid-high to high end on the tone. In this case, the mid-low's to lows are more prominent and thus the p'ups sounds more beefy. Not a bad thing but just different from the other Cali with no tone pot.

I realize it's certainly possible for some differences in the p'up attributable to manufacturing but the more glaring difference in comparing is the tone pot.

diablo175 said:

Does the addition of a tone pot in the wiring sequence effect the pickups tone, even if it's in the off position?

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Yes.

Even a "no load" tone pot will and "color" to the circuit (far less than a regular pot)

All you have to do is clip or unsolder the wire from the tone pot to find out yourself.

Acceptable tolerances in pots can be +/- 20%.  I'd check the delta between the two volumes to start.

Anything in the circuit will alter the signal...

I blame the tone pot for everything, including my sloppy playing and complete lack of rhythm.

benjammin308 said:

I blame the tone pot for everything, including my sloppy playing and complete lack of rhythm.

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Thanks man, I have pretty much worn out the "lousy guitar" "cheap amp" "old strings" I been excusing with. And all my guitar got tone pots!

Thanks again.