No Volume before 2.5 ????

[Gibby]

I don't get ANY volume before 2.5 on my 59 5E3.

I'm sure is wasn't like this when I first got it a couple of years ago..
I don't play below 3 so have not noticed it until last night..

I'm concerned, sure it used to be clean until up till around 3.
Then slowly break... that is why I bought the thing.

It takes more volume to break up now. I used to be able to get it to break up
whilst just playing with my thumb but it needs more attack these day's usually with a pick..

Any ideas ?
many thanks

Paul

[txstrat]

I'd suspect a faulty pot. Can you get it out of the circuit for measuring it's values?

[GibsonLover]

I'm in the same boat with my '56. It comes on like a freight train between 2-1/2 and 3. I read on these pages that someone tried a different pot (it was a discussion about taper) that smoothed out the response in that area. Time to pop the cover. (I just wish I could remember what brand was recommended...)

[mbratch]

I have a new 5E3 clone and it's behavior is similar. It comes on around 2-ish and has most of it's volume by 3.5.

Although, in the OP's case, sounds like it changed behavior. So could be a pot cleaning issue or something.

[blueboxer]

My 5E3 clone does this as well. I think it's just the nature of the circuit design. It doesn't really bother me.

I'm sure the audio-taper pots have something to do with it as well.

[PremiumPlus]

In the 5E3 the volume pot wiper is isolated from DC ground by coupling caps so you can ohm it out right in circuit...

[paddy]

Hi guys,

I had the same trouble with my 5E3.The problem turned out to be the pot.
I found that the first few degrees of rotation made no resistance change
between wiper and ground and then the resistance jumped up dramatically.

I actually had to go through 3 pots untill I found one that showed resistance (betwen wiper and ground) all the way to the CCW position.

If you don't have a selection of pots,you may have to take a multimeter to
the store.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Paddy