Volume with both knobs turned down

[nitrofix]

Hey All, i have a Gibson Thunderbird and when I turn both volume knob's down I'm still getting sound, I checked the grounds and they seem to be fine, doe's anyone know what else I could check for, after getting the bass I put foam under the pickups since the foam that was there was worn out and I replaced the bridge with a Hipshot...any help would be great, I really don't want to take it to a tech...Thanks

[Chasarms]

Are the pots original?

[nitrofix]

Yes, i believe so...

[nitrofix]

Don't know if you can tell by this picture if anythings up

[Chasarms]

It's hard to determint anything from the photos.

You should tap on the pickups to see which one is not being fully cut by its volume pot. This may help narrow down the options.

It is possible that a pot is simply failing.

[Bassamatic]

Yes - one of the pots may no longer be going to zero.

[RobEmpire]

im going bad pots on the one...ive had this happen to me before

[nitrofix]

Just checked it out again, it's definitely the neck pickup and when I turn the volume knob down and then force it a little more it cut's off but won't stay there by itself, so what do you guys think, new pot ??

[Chasarms]

Originally Posted by nitrofix

Just checked it out again, it's definitely the neck pickup and when I turn the volume knob down and then force it a little more it cut's off but won't stay there by itself, so what do you guys think, new pot ??

Yep. Time for soldering practice.

[Pilgrim]

Yup. Bad pot.

Hint: not every word that end's in an s need's an apo'strophe.

[line6man]

A properly functioning volume pot directly shorts the pickup's output to ground at zero ohms resistance when rolled all the way down.

Electrically, this means it is IMPOSSIBLE to get any output from the pickups. By simple logic, that means the pots are not functioning properly.

Perhaps there is some dirt or something covering the resistive band around the pot, such that when you roll it all the way down, the wiper is not making good contact with the grounded side of the band?

[walterw]

try wiggling that braided pickup wire right where it's "attached" to the back of the neck volume pot. if that solder joint is bad, you might get weirdness like this.