Sensitive potentiometer... How to fix?

[Sav'nBass]

I have a bass where the volume pot is very sensitive meaning that it does not take much to turn it .. It is so sensitive that sometimes just by inadvertently bumping it the volume will change.. drastically. Is there anything I can do to address this other than changing the pot? The Pre is dead silent.. no scratches.. no noise at all. Aside from that one thing I have no issues with the bass that cant be fixed by adjusting.

 

[mech]

Go to a craft store and get some felt and cut a washer to go under the knob. You can use thin felt and build it up or thick felt and thin it to get the turning resistance you like.

 

[JustForSport]

Felt is a good idea,
an O-ring of the right size would work as well.

 

[Sav'nBass]

Good ideas thanks guys.

 

[craig.p]

Also, drummers use those thick felt washers above & below their cymbals. Maybe one of those would work, possibly trimmed to desired thickness? (Also gives you a legitimate excuse to visit a music store.)

 

[okcrum]

There's something wrong with the pot or the way it's wired, if it's that sensitive. It would be worth it to shoot some contact cleaner into the pot.

 

[Precision101]

Also, drummers use those thick felt washers above & below their cymbals. Maybe one of those would work, possibly trimmed to desired thickness? (Also gives you a legitimate excuse to visit a music store.)

Yes I have these on my cymbals and they work pretty good.

 

[Precision101]

There's something wrong with the pot or the way it's wired, if it's that sensitive. It would be worth it to shoot some contact cleaner into the pot.

Contact cleaner would really only fix scratchy sounding pots. But I do agree there maybe something wrong with the pot.

 

[okcrum]

Contact cleaner would really only fix scratchy sounding pots. But I do agree there maybe something wrong with the pot.

That's quite true. The OP's description of the problem doesn't rule out a dirty pot.

 

[LoveThatBass]

I like the felt idea. All sometimes tightening the nut on the pot can orovide more tention.Just do a little at a time and try it

 

[Precision101]

Maybe try resoldering connections to the pot.

 

[Fernando Costa]

A doubt. Mechanically sensitive or dynamically sensitive (audio taper type A pot)?

 

[delta7fred]

The "resistance to turning" in a pot is provided by the application of thick grease on the pot shaft at assembly time.

Re-soldering or cleaning the pot will make no difference whatsoever.

+1 to the felt washer or O ring between the knob and the body.

 

[Sav'nBass]

There's something wrong with the pot or the way it's wired, if it's that sensitive. It would be worth it to shoot some contact cleaner into the pot.

Contact cleaner would really only fix scratchy sounding pots. But I do agree there maybe something wrong with the pot.

That's quite true. The OP's description of the problem doesn't rule out a dirty pot.

The pot works fine.. It isn't that I touch the pot and it suddenly changes volume...

The "resistance to turning" in a pot is provided by the application of thick grease on the pot shaft at assembly time.
Re-soldering or cleaning the pot will make no difference whatsoever.
+1 to the felt washer or O ring between the knob and the body.

It is this.. the pot turns smoothly with no noise whatsoever.. it is just so sensitive that I have turned up my volume accidentally just by brushing the knob in passing. Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I still have yet to get the washers but I will have some time to stop by my local ACE and see what I can find.

 

[okcrum]

The pot works fine.. It isn't that I touch the pot and it suddenly changes volume...

Your first post indicated the opposite... "It is so sensitive that sometimes just by inadvertently bumping it the volume will change..".

Half of understanding the problem is describing it unambiguously.

Good luck once you figure it out

 

[delta7fred]

I have a bass where the volume pot is very sensitive meaning that it does not take much to turn it ..

First sentence - I think that describes the problem perfectly.

 

[Precision101]

So is it just the knob or pot? Take the knob off and see if there's any difference. It sounds like the knob might need to tighter on the pot. If that's the case just add a felt washer.

 

[Hopkins]

So is it just the knob or pot? Take the knob off and see if there's any difference. It sounds like the knob might need to tighter on the pot. If that's the case just add a felt washer.

Its the pot, it does not have enough turning resistance. A felt washer between the knob and the pot will add turning resistance. Personally I would just change the pot.