Skip navigation
Line 6 - Support
3506 Views 15 Replies Latest reply: Mar 17, 2010 1:50 PM by gitarzan53 RSS
fuly4jc Just Startin' 114 posts since
Mar 26, 2007
Currently Being Moderated

Mar 10, 2010 9:51 AM

Splicing into vax volume pot or tone pot for mag's?

Has anyone tried or heard of splicing into the vax volume or pot to run the mag pu's  also?I didn't know if it is even a plausible mod but it would be interesting.Less knobs without actually having to replace them with custom pots.Anywat I was curious if anyone has tried this.I know there has been some who have extened the wiring on both to accomodate placement so I assumed it could be done but not sure.

  • gitarzan53 Just Startin' 203 posts since
    Apr 28, 2006
    Currently Being Moderated
    Mar 10, 2010 12:18 PM (in response to fuly4jc)
    Re: Splicing into vax volume pot or tone pot for mag's?

    That would be great, but it hasn't been done because I suspect it isn't possible. The two set ups (vax and PUs) would need to be on separate circuits. If you use the same components, you're automatically in the same circuit, regardless of the switch position between the two choices. That's why you'd need yet another pot on the same shaft to have it look like the same pot is being used for both, which means you'd have to have custom pots. That added pot would then be hooked up to the other (say, the PU) circuit, separating it from the vax circuit, yet being controlled by the same shaft.

     

    That's the way I see it. If someone else has a better idea or thinks it's possible, post away!

    • johnmcchavs Just Startin' 38 posts since
      Jul 3, 2007

      The main problem is that Variax pots are 10k ones,  and that Mag pups pots should be 250k (for single coils) or 500k (for humbuckers). So, these are just not the pots. If you want less pots, you will have to make them or have them made by somebody, and it will be stacked pots. Moreover, it is not sure that connecting mag pickups to Variax pots (if they had the same impedance) would'nt have an effect on the Variax circuitry. As far as I'm concerned, I would not try it.

       

      Here is a photo of what I got at the moment (when everything is over, I'll post all the making pictures) :

       

      Variax-mag_pups_Pots.jpg

       

      I just have to replug everything and pray. Well, it will wait

        • johnmcchavs Just Startin' 38 posts since
          Jul 3, 2007
          Currently Being Moderated
          Mar 11, 2010 7:33 AM (in response to fuly4jc)
          Re: Splicing into vax volume pot or tone pot for mag's?

          My pleasure. It is so cool to find a place where to find everything. I search for so long on Internet and have so many links related to transplants that I really enjoy that it is now centralized here. The more we know, the better our transplants

          • alezuniga Just Startin' 20 posts since
            Jan 3, 2008

            Hey johnmcchavs those pots are exactly what I need, the two pots are simply perfect.

             

            But the MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION is: Where and how do you get that pots?????????

             

            I saw in the forum that www.potentiometers.com can make this type of pots

            But I was lost with the specs I don't know what to ask.

             

            If you can help me, guide me of how can I get exactly that 2 pots, I will appreciate very much

             

            I'm finishing my first transplant, is a Ibanez RG2610e (originally with only bridge pickup) with an Edge Pro,

            The body was succefully drilled and the piezo pickups are already installed in the Edge Pro.

             

            IS JUST A DREAM COME TRUE. lol

            But I can't finish 'cause of the pots, I was planning to let the variax tone pot inside the cavity and put the 2 original volumes pots out.

            But the right way is to have that 2 triple pots with the push/pull in the tone pot.

             

            Everything is almost done, but I can't find the holy pots!!!!!!!!!!

             

            PD: Excuseme for my bad English, I'm from Costa Rica, but I have an international courier service that bring the stuff to me from Miami, FL.

            • johnmcchavs Just Startin' 38 posts since
              Jul 3, 2007
              Currently Being Moderated
              Mar 11, 2010 11:59 AM (in response to alezuniga)
              Re: Splicing into vax volume pot or tone pot for mag's?

              Oh, my friend, you have come to THE big problem of transplanters : the pots!

               

              Alas, the answer to the million dollar question is : I MADE THEM. "Oh my god", you think. And you are right. Just two pictures to make it clearer :

               

              The pots I used to make the ones of my 1rst post :

               

              original_pots.jpg

               

              BTW, some choices were stupid : the pot chosen to shelter the volume control was with a "center click", which means that you feel a stop when you reach the middle of the pot's turn. Useful for a balance pot, useless for volume. I would choose other models if I had to redo the whole thing (but hell I don't want to do that AGAIN).

               

              And what it looks like with all parts... apart :

               

              mess.jpg

               

              After, you much equip with a tool to verify that your pot is still working after you replaced the plates (the green things), and then glue the retaining rivets you had to cut in order to dismantle the pot. Be very careful when you do that with the stacked pots : always keep in mind that you will have to put everything back together.

               

              The final pot, gluing the rivets :

               

              Gluing.jpg

               

              My english not very good either : I'm a poor frenchy rookie trying to build his first transplant. And progressing VERY carefully.

               

              In order to end up with a positive tone, I heard that these guys can make custom pots. But it will cost you more than what it's worth. Or not

               

              I think that I will contact them for the next transplant (OMG, I can't believe I have said "next transplant" although the first one is not over yet : I must be sick)

               

              Oh, I forgot to answer your 2nd question : the specs.

               

              For a Variax 300 transplant, you need :

               

              a volume stacked pot with :

               

              • 2x10 lin plates working together that will be wired on the Variax motherboard after you remove the original stacked mini-pot
              • 1x500k log plate if you use at least one humbucker (or 1x250k log if you use only single coils) that you will wire as if it were a single volume pot in a standard guitar

               

              a tone stacked pot with :

               

              • 1x10k lin plate wired to the Variax motherboard (remove the single mini-pot) if you transplant a Variax 300. If you do it with a 500 or 700, you'll have to take a 47k lin plate
              • 1x500k lin plate for humbuckers (250k lin for single coils).
              • a push pull switch (DPDT On/On)

               

              That is what you need. Let us know what you did

More Like This

  • Retrieving data ...

Bookmarked By (0)