Variable treble bleed sent to the UK - can someone help?

Cieran · #1 05-07-2011, 09:08 AM

I'm trying to get hold of a variable treble bleed found on the guitarelectronics site:

V-Treb Variable Treble Bleed Circuit For Guitar & Bass

However they insist on charging $45 for international shipping regardless of the item and it isn't worth doing for something worth $12.

If anyone would be so kind I would paypal over the money and give you my address. Would be really appreciated.

Many thanks

i_got_a_mohawk · #2 05-07-2011, 10:09 AM

There was some talk of these before.

Is it just a variable resistor (could be a variable cap, but I don't think you'd get much in something that size), a cap and a resistor?

You could knock one together for under £1 !

Tommorichards · #3 05-07-2011, 11:36 AM

Its pretty much this

Ive put a few together, so if you want me to make you one instead of buying that one, i dont mind...

Cieran · #4 05-07-2011, 04:00 PM

Thanks for the info guys,

i got a mohawk - I thought it was probably just a variable resistor but I can't seem to see any for sale on the internet.

Tommorichards - I have already had some success making treble bleed mods myself but I have never made one with a variable resistor. That would be great if you could make me one, but only if you don't mind and have the time. Would be much appreciated.

The only reason I am interested in a variable resistor is because I can never seem to find a satisfactory balance between losing volume/losing tone. I currently have .001 cap with 150k resistor in my Gretsch bass which is the best balance I could find with the parts I had laying about

Tommorichards · #5 05-07-2011, 04:44 PM

Im just looking up the specifics of the component, but it may take a little time.

Cieran · #6 05-07-2011, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommorichards

Im just looking up the specifics of the component, but it may take a little time.

No worries - like I said don't worry if it's too much hassle/ time consuming.

I can always find someone who is willing to send over one of the guitarelectronics kits if need be.

Thanks

i_got_a_mohawk · #7 05-09-2011, 07:12 AM

A pot is a variable resistor

Trim pots are pretty easy to come by.

There's a fair range of them here:

Presets & Trimmer Potentiometers

darkstorm · #8 05-09-2011, 06:21 PM

PRS guitars use a cap wired on the volume control to get the same effect of volume not affecting tone as volume is rolled down. Certainly a more cost effective method then the circuit your looking at. I think the cap is wired so treble isnt grounded as volume is rolled down.

Tommorichards · #9 05-10-2011, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkstorm

PRS guitars use a cap wired on the volume control to get the same effect of volume not affecting tone as volume is rolled down. Certainly a more cost effective method then the circuit your looking at. I think the cap is wired so treble isnt grounded as volume is rolled down.

That would be this one

SGD Lutherie · #10 05-10-2011, 07:44 AM

This is an old trick going back to the first fender Telecaster. Here's another version:

Seymour Duncan - Treble Bleed

Cieran · #11 05-14-2011, 11:32 AM

Sorry for the lateness of my reply - i've been really busy with work the last week.

Ok i've finally got my head around this. As far as I can tell all I need to do is wire it exactly the same as a standard treble bleed i.e. a cap with a resistor in parallel - the only difference being that I swap out the resistor for a trim pot? is this correct?

Tommorichards - the "Treble bleed circuit with w/ variable parallel Resistor" diagram shows a trim pot with a resistor next to it. Is this just for the purposes of the schematic? Presumably the trim pot/ resistor is all 1 unit?

If someone had an actual picture of how it looked wired that would really help to clarify things in my mind.

Also what sort of values would people recommend? I currently have a .001 cap with a 150k resistor. Should I keep the cap value and replace the resistor with a 200k trim pot with the ones found here:

Presets & Trimmer Potentiometers

Thanks once again for your help with this question.

SGD Lutherie · #12 05-14-2011, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cieran

As far as I can tell all I need to do is wire it exactly the same as a standard treble bleed i.e. a cap with a resistor in parallel - the only difference being that I swap out the resistor for a trim pot? is this correct?

Yes. The resistor limits the amount of bass roll off, which is how the circuit works. Also you can try some different cap values. If you want higher trebles, go to a smaller cap. If you want more upper mids try a larger value.

Tommorichards · #13 05-14-2011, 05:09 PM

From what i can see, its a trim pot with the resistor. So the resistor provides a base, and the trim pot can negotiate to what you want.

Ive been thinking about using a 500k resistor, and a 1meg trim. But i think it needs some experimentation to be properly utilised.

SGD Lutherie · #14 05-14-2011, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommorichards

From what i can see, its a trim pot with the resistor. So the resistor provides a base, and the trim pot can negotiate to what you want.

Ive been thinking about using a 500k resistor, and a 1meg trim. But i think it needs some experimentation to be properly utilised.

Very often this circuit is used without a resistor, but that can be too thin sounding. The 1meg trim is probably in parallel to the 500K. The combination is parallel equals a 333.33K resistor.

The larger the value of resistor, the less low end is mid back in. The above example (from the Duncan website) shows a 100K resistor, so this would allow from zero to 333.33K.