Bigsby vol/tone pedal problems

Tele · Post by **Tele** » 24 Nov 2001 9:55 am

hey this is an ever returning thread, isn't it?

maybe I'm too dumb but I cannot get it working as it should. I have the correct vol poti but I cannot get the desired effect. There's no real sweel in it, it's either off or on, very annoying.
Anyone has a schematic that would help me ??

Andy

Paul Warnik · Post by **Paul Warnik** » 27 Nov 2001 7:00 am

Andy-they had a lot of problem with the pedals before Ted McCarty sold out to Gretsch-they sent me a bunch of new pedals to be redone-part of the problem was the pots and capacitor-you need a 250K for the volume-100K for the tone and .05 Cap in the tone circuit-even after redoing these pedals they still were not as good working as my old original one because as Ted explained to me the music has changed since then and so have the electrical components that are available-try to find an older Bigsby pedal

Tele · Post by **Tele** » 27 Nov 2001 11:29 am

Paul, thanks for the info. I think mine is an older pedal, this one has a bakelit baseplate, don't think it these would come with a newer one.
A friend of mine has told me that "..The carbon
"ring" inside the pot is broken, so it acts like an on-off switch.." that might be the problem. But I was using an Allen Bradley 500kOhm pot, so this isn't correct??

Andy

Robert Thomas · Post by **Robert Thomas** » 28 Nov 2001 5:15 am

Andy, I have been using a Bigsby pedal since about 1951. I had the pots changed in it in 1963 and never had it done since.The volume
pot is a 100k Allen/bradley which you can't get anymore. Awhile back I developed some noise and an electronic firm put me on to a product called "QD Elctronic Cleaner". They explained to me that the pots hardly ever wear out, just get dirty and this product makes them like new and it does.
keep making beautiful music.