Guitar Potentiometers part 3, Enlarging the Holes in Semi Hollow Body Top

[michaelsuydam]

Thanks for the video. I'm just about to put a Jimmy Page mod on my Guild X-155 and noticed that the POTs were larger than the originals.

[iloveJCmysaviour]

is that guitar a epiphany riviera??

[johnplanetz]

@iloveJCmysaviour - Epiphone Riviera P93

[ChronoGXay]

How many people tried to blow away the wood chips after he finished drilling? I did. XD

[mrcarepig]

beautiful guitar

[jameschoi999]

1:42. thats what she said

[jameschoi999]

@jameschoi999 or in this case he said*

[noahwayne]

Excellent video.

[zurdoremi]

hi John, great videos, thanks!

I have three 1967 Kent 820 guitars that I use because I love their huge single-coil pickups and sound. all 3 have a "boost" slide switch which literally boosts the volume by about 20%. These switches are all worn and I am trying to find out what slide switch I can replace them with. HINT: I think it's a ON-ON slide switch but it only has two poles or "legs" underneath. Can you help?

**also would like to match the screw holes on the pickguard.

[johnplanetz]

@zurdoremi - I found a couple pics, and just looking from the top, that slide mechanism looks fairly unusual (for a guitar). Two lugs indicate SPST (singe pole single throw). You could try searching mouser or digikey for a comparable SPST slide switch- they'll have datasheets indicating hole spacing, etc. You might have more luck replacing it with a toggle instead of a slide. Good luck!

[zurdoremi]

John,

yes, I have searched for a two-lug slide switch SPST but no luck, ( the screw hole spacing is standard so that is not an issue), the issue has been finding the ON-ON slide switch.  If you find 3 of them for me, let me know, I will pay you via Paypal or as you prefer, you have my e-mail in your SUBSCRIBE list.

thanks again!

[johnplanetz]

@zurdoremi - with only two lugs, it can only be an SPST on/off switch (if I'm understanding correctly). On-on would require three lugs.  Have you opened it up to investigate the wire connections?

[zurdoremi]

the entire wiring harness and pickups, is mounted on a carton just like in your videos, so I connect a guitar cord to the amp to test components the slide switch in question has two lugs only; 1 hot wire and ground comes from the cord Jack, connects to one lug and to case (ground); A second wire connects from the hot at the middle position of the toggle switch to the second lug. A resistor is soldered between both lugs of the slide switch. Value of resistor unknown.

[johnplanetz]

@zurdoremi - it's hard to analyze the circuit remotely, but my guess is that this switches in a resistor in parallel with the volume knob to jack. with the switch off, the resistor is disconnected / open-circuit. With the switch on, the resistor is connected, in parallel with the volume pot resistance, thereby lowering the overall resistance and causing a boost in the volume level. You should be able to replace it with any SPST slide switch with matching hole spacing. Hope this helps.

[1pixle]

if you want to protect the finish when elarging holes try using painters tape, it does a pretty good job

[lafnbuddha]

Great videos~! I'm thinking about swapping out my stock stuff with Push/ Push pots and Duncan 59's for a coil tap setup on my Epi Sheraton. You're prefectionista style details have pushed me to pay the shop to do it. Ha!

[Hoopskidoodle]

I'd use a hand reamer. A drill could easily get away from a novice.

[fishfan67]

I have to do this to a les paul copy project. the holes are smaller then the pots are. so should i do the exact same way as you did the semi hollow body?

[riotdiscoman]

Something that will also help to prevent chip out is to apply some masking tape over the holeprior to drilling. Hope this helps.

[capoieragerais18]

Hey, I've an Epi LP and I've been wanting to do split coils...can I change the pot to a coil tap pot without much/any mods to wiring etc? Or is it as simple as just installing the tap pot?

[TheAquariumFish]

@capoieragerais18 its not very hard, if your pickups are already 4 wire its as simple as moving one wire(bottom lug of switch/pushpull), jumping that wire, and attaching another wire(middle lug)

hope this helps. if you change your pickups(which I highly recommend doing) I recommend gfs pickups. theyre about 30 dollars a piece(as apposed to 70+ for most anything else) and they are great quality and the customer service is really top-notch.

[capoieragerais18]

@TheAquariumFish yeah im not sure if it is, im too afraid to go messing with it lol as it has a bit of sentimental value too! what if it isnt 4 wire? would it just be easier to buy new 4 wire pick ups and replace them at the same time as installing the pot? as opposed to modifying the pick ups to make them 4 wire

[TheAquariumFish]

@capoieragerais18

ive done both ways and it is easier to buy new pickups. if youre really tight on cash though you dont have much of a choice. you are probably better off replacing the pickups because epiphones are known for having crappy pickups. it isnt really that hard to rewire the stuff anyway. there are tons of diagrams out there for whatever you need.

hope it helps

[capoieragerais18]

@TheAquariumFish yeah i looked up the gfs stuff and theyre inbelievable prices! think i will invest. Yeah it helps, thanks alot

[InFuriatedShadows]

K so. I ahve a coil tap pot. I try to put it in....and a little point is sticking up to not let me put the pot in. Should I bend this little point?

[johnplanetz]

I prefer to cut it off.  Or bend it if you don't have good cutters.

[InFuriatedShadows]

@johnplanetz, do you know why it's there?

[johnplanetz]

It's a locating tab that can be used in pre-drilled panel assemblies to orient the pot so that "0" is in the right place. A little slot is drilled in the panel for the tab to fit into).

It's not necessary for guitars, so just get rid of it. Cut it, or bend it (when you bend it down, it may just break off).

[InFuriatedShadows]

@johnplanetz, yah it did

[InFuriatedShadows]

@johnplanetz, yo I wired up a coil tap. it has sum pretty big noise. When I touch the input jack the crackle is almost all gone...How do i fix?

[DrTahanBlues]

hola ..cual pot es mejor el pequeño o el grande...gracias.........hi what pot is better the little or the big one.....thanks

[johnplanetz]

I'm not sure one is particularly better than the other. But my instinct says to go with the larger pots if you can fit them.

Smaller pots are commonly used in pedals, etc, so they're not necessarily bad!

[MrLaguna24]

hey bro what do u suggest if i want to make a new hole for another pot? i'd be drilling through a gold top finish to be exact.

[johnplanetz]

Once you figure out the exact position you want to drill, start the hole with a small (like 1/8") brad point drill bit. Keep the drill bit perpendicular to the guitar body. After that, proceed to enlarge the hole as I described in the vid, using a few successive sizes of drill bits (don't need to be brad point). It's easier to control when you don't jump straight to the final full-size bit.

Hope this helps-- Good luck!

[stlausdeo]

You don't need a tapered bit. Just put masking tape over the hole and it will prevent chipping. Try it. I put switches on my Epi Dot and I put on a Bigsby by using masking tape.

[johnplanetz]

Thanks for that. A couple people have suggested that- I will add an annotation to the video at 0:46 for future viewers.

[MrBUCKETHEADcover]

how did you get the pots into the guitar without a opening in the back?

[johnplanetz]

Through the f-hole. I showed how to remove the electronics in one of my earlier videos (see my video channel). And I'll be posting another video soon which shows how to put everything back in...

[obviouszebra]

You are a god amongst men

[suigie]

just a tip, if you put a piece of tape over the hole your drilling, it'll keep the finish from cracking or chipping

[johnplanetz]

Good suggestion! Blue tape is one my favorite tools in the shop.

[zildjan974]

Thanks, great advice!