Adding Controls to a Dot Studio
I was asked this question by Jeff on my treble bleed youtube video:
I’m going to upgrade an Epiphone DOT Studio that I recently picked up and I’ll be putting two additional POTs in.. I have a request, would you please send me a link to your wiring diagram and would you PLEASE make a crude template showing where your POT and selector switches are positioned in relationship to each other on the guitar? I want the installation to look as stock (personal use but…) as possible. Thought about going to GC and making one but didn’t think they’d appreciate me pulling off the knobs. Haven’t been able to find a template in three days of searching 🙂 Thanks again
This sounds like a fun project, Jeff!
Tonight I pulled the knobs off my Epiphone Riviera P93, and used some calipers to measure all the spacings. The Riviera should be representative of a typical Gibson 335-style guitar like the Epiphone Dot and Sheraton. I took a picture and added some crude annotations (click to enlarge). Note, all the measurements are in millimeters.
It looks like you’ll need to swap the placement of your Dot Studio switch and volume pot, and add a couple new holes down below the f-hole for your second volume and tone.
You’ll also need to revise the wiring. The Dot Studio has a single master volume and tone, and will need to change that to individual volume and tone controls for the two pickups. I made a sketch of the wiring diagram for this 3-pickup Riviera, which will be an interesting reference, but won’t be exactly what you want since your Dot Studio only has two pickups. Instead, try this wiring diagram for a typical 335-style guitar with two humbuckers, 3-way selector switch, two tone and two volume controls.
Good luck with the project! Share some pictures when you’ve completed it.
July 3, 2017 @ 12:59 pm
Well it’s started! 🙂
I’ve gotten everything off/out of the guitar and now I’m thinking I’m going to have to patch the existing holes and relocate all of them.
They don’t line up at all and if I use the existing holes, and flip the switch then I have two problems; The two would be to close (I’ll have to rethink this) and the switch hole is pretty large for a POT. So I’m thinking if I have to repair one hole anyway, I might as well just deal with it and relocate all of them to where I want anyway.
Can’t figure out how to post pics 🙂
July 3, 2017 @ 3:30 pm
Hey Jeff,
I’ve never tried filling something as significant as a pot/switch hole. You could cut a plywood plug but it’ll be quite difficult to match the finish seamlessly, especially if you have a natural or transparent finish top.
If it’s just a project guitar, and you don’t mind a bit of inconsistency in the top appearance, then go for it!
Good luck,
-John
July 3, 2017 @ 5:20 pm
John,
Let me address a NEW problem for me. I just saw your video from 09, about the problem with having multi POTs and the Treble Bleed fix. So now I’m in a somewhat of a quandary. My plan is to use independent volume and tone controls with the mod and 50s wiring , I think my wiring should be from the era in which I was born :-), but I hated the sound with my Epip LP dual pickups selected. What would this do for your tone problem since the middle pickup is always wired in?
http://www.stewmac.com/Pickups_and_Electronics/Components_and_Parts/Potentiometers/Emerson_Pro_CTS_Blender_No-load_Pot.html
As far as my little project goes and patching the holes………..If the patch doesn’t blend well I’ll just repaint the entire guitar. I’m not too concerned, I’ve repaired guitars and airbrushed things for a few years now.
Here’s the link to the folder with a few pictures of what I’ve done so far……………….
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B6bMbCRmM2VGVmVuMDNaRG1zWDg?usp=sharing
July 5, 2017 @ 12:35 pm
Hey Jeff,
With two humbuckers, I recommend you try non-independent volume wiring (pickup wired to side pot lug instead of center lug). The only reason the Riviera P93 uses independent volume wiring is because of the 3 pickups and the 3-way switch (where the middle pickup is always on- and the only way to turn it off is to turn its volume all the way down). With only 2 pickups, you can turn off each pickup just using the switch, so you’ll never need to turn a volume knob all the way down. And non-independent wiring has the benefit of keeping a constant load on the pickup, so there’s much less treble-loss. You may find you don’t even need a treble bleed cap, unless you’re wanting it to get really thin and bright as you turn down.
I recommend you experiment with your circuit using alligator clip leads before doing any soldering. That will let you easily experiment to find what you like before committing with solder.
-John
July 5, 2017 @ 1:25 pm
I agree with you, but I am curious to see what type of sound I can get by having the individual volume and tone controls. I rewatched your POT comparison video yesterday and my plan is to use the clips and test everything prior to installation. So if it works out, and I don’t need the mod or independent wiring, then I’ll follow your idea. Thanks
July 5, 2017 @ 1:38 pm
Sorry if I wasn’t clear. My suggestion was to use “non-independent wiring” for the volume controls. You’d still have individual volume and tone pots for each pickup. The volume pots would just be wired using a little differently than “independent wiring”.
A typical Gibson Les Paul, SG or 335 ( two pickups, two vol, two tone, 3-way selector switch) uses non-independent wiring for the volume controls.
With non-independent wiring (output wired to middle lug, ground on one side, pickup on the other), if your switch is in the middle position and you turn one volume all the way down, they both go silent. This is not typically a problem with 2 pickups and a 3-way selector, and the upside is that you experience very little treble loss when turning down.
With independent wiring (pickup wired to middle lug, ground on one side, output on the other), you can turn one volume all the down without affecting the other, but you experience significant treble loss when turning down (because of the increased load on the pickup). This is the problem with the Riviera P93.
July 5, 2017 @ 1:54 pm
Thanks, I understood 🙂
Going to keep the dual volume and tone, just may wire them differently.
My LP was wired like you said and it’s the reason I started down this road. I hated how I couldn’t get independent volume in the middle position and how muddy it would get when I turned it down. Just wasn’t happy with the sound.
I plan on wearing this guitar out so wanted it looking, sounding, and controlled how I want. Since sound is the overriding factor I’ll wire it the way that gives me the best sound. Which means I’ll have to be buying more alligator clips 🙂