Question about pots

[Ofek Deitch]

Hi everybody

I'm currently working on a fuzz face. I figured out that the fuzz sounds good only if the Fuzz knob is after midnight. So my question is if there's a way to put a resistor in series with a pot that's smaller that 1k so that I will have more control on my sound? (like 0K5 resistor and 0K5 pot)


Also, I'm curious if there's a way to wire a pot that will switch linearly between two caps with different values?


Thanks!
Ofek

[Govmnt_Lacky]

For the Fuzz pot....

If it sounds good from the 12 o'clock position and higher.... you could just wire a 500 ohm resistor in series with a 500 ohm pot. Right? 

[Ofek Deitch]

That's what I was thinking... Do you think it'll work? Or have you done this before?

[Gurner]

I'm not familiar with the particular circuit...but I've just googled the schematic -  adding a 500 ohm resistor in series with the pot will give a range of 500R (pot at minimum)  to 1k5 (pot at maximum)

if you're saying it sounds good from the halfway position, then you likely want a range of 500R (pot at minimum) to 1k (pot at maximum...ie as it is now)  ...to get that characteristic, you'd need tp place a 500R in series with the pot & a 1k resistor in parallel with the pot...this will give an effective range of 500R to 1k.

Will it work?  Since the circuit will see between 500R (your preferred fuzz starting value) & 1k max (which is what the circuit sees at max presently), then yes, of course it will work. Furthermore, you'll have beter granularity (for your stated preferred fuzz kick in threshold) along the whole sweep of the pot.

[Ofek Deitch]

Thanks for the respond!

But I'm kind of confused right now.. 

Can you perhaps post a schematic?

Thanks!

[Govmnt_Lacky]

I'm not familiar with the particular circuit...but I've just googled the schematic -  adding a 500 ohm resistor in series with the pot will give a range of 500R (pot at minimum)  to 1k5 (pot at maximum)

I said that a 500 ohm resistor should be used with a 500 ohm pot. Range would be from 500 ohm to 1K  

Replace the 1K pot with a 500 ohm pot and solder a 500 ohm resistor (470 ohm or 510 ohm) between Lug 3 and the board.

if you're saying it sounds good from the halfway position, then you likely want a range of 500R (pot at minimum) to 1k (pot at maximum...ie as it is now)  ...to get that characteristic, you'd need tp place a 500R in series with the pot & a 1k resistor in parallel with the pot...this will give an effective range of 500R to 1k.

This would work as well 

[Gurner]

I said that a 500 ohm resistor should be used with a 500 ohm pot. Range would be from 500 ohm to 1K  

Ok, missed that .....but then he'd have to source a 500R pot of the same physical attributes of his 1k pot (also pots are expenive vs resistors & then the hassle of removing & installing another)  ...whereas almost everyone has a spare 1kR  0.05c resistor that can be pressed into play here quickly to make the 1k pot an effective 500R

[Govmnt_Lacky]

Ok, missed that .....but then he'd have to source a 500R pot of the same physical attributes of his 1k pot (also pots are expenive vs resistors & then the hassle of removing & installing another)  ...whereas almost everyone has a spare 1kR  0.05c resistor that can be pressed into play here quickly to make the 1k pot an effective 500R

Agreed! 

[Ofek Deitch]

There's no desoldering problem! Everything is on my protoboard..

So.. What do you think will work best?

[Govmnt_Lacky]

There's no desoldering problem! Everything is on my protoboard..

So.. What do you think will work best?

Of the two solutions presented, there really is no best. The question becomes "Which is convenient?"

I agree that Gurner's solution is the most convenient. 500 ohm resistor in series with the 1K pot. The 1K pot has to have a 1K resistor tied across lugs 1 and 3.