John Planetz
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03:59
Johnplanetz - Buzztastic Tune-o-matic Bridge Rattle
Added 713 Views / 0 Likeshttp://www.planetz.com/?p=151 .The standard tune-o-matic bridge has a retainer wire which, on cheap implementations, tends to rattle and buzz. I recorded a demo to show the way this sounds, and discuss how to fix it or replace the bridge. In an upcoming v
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03:13
Johnplanetz - How to Repair the Jack In Semi-Hollow Body Guitar
Added 600 Views / 0 Likeshttp://www.planetz.com/?p=176 .The jack on cheaper Ephiphone semi-hollowbody guitars is notorious for getting loose and dropping into the guitar.This is a short video to demonstrate how to fix it. Hopefully this might save someone an expensive trip to the
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10:16
Johnplanetz - Changing Semi Hollow Body Electronics Part 1
Added 628 Views / 0 Likeshttp://www.planetz.com/?p=185 .This is part 1 of a new series on guitar electronics. In the video, I demonstrate how to get the electronics out of a semi-hollow body guitar, with some useful tips and tricks.Future videos in the series will cover tone capa
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06:01
Johnplanetz - Guitar Treble Bleed, Part 2: Installing the Capacitors, and Basic Soldering Skills
Added 596 Views / 0 Likeshttp://www.planetz.com/?p=299 .Here, I explain some basic soldering skills, and then show how to actually solder the treble bleed cap into place.This is a followup to part 1, where I explain what treble bleed is, and show how to select the right capacitor
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10:15
Johnplanetz - Guitar Treble Bleed, Part 1: Evaluating Capacitors
Added 598 Views / 0 Likeshttp://www.planetz.com/?p=240 .In part one of this video, I explain what treble bleed is, and how to evaluate and select the right cap. I demonstrate my G&L ASAT III which has a treble bleed cap on the master volume, and I compare that with my Epiphone Ri
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07:54
Johnplanetz - Guitar Potentiometers: Why change them?
Added 669 Views / 0 Likeshttp://www.planetz.com/?p=250 .I've read stories of people saying how their guitar sound miraculously better after just changing to a different brand f pots. Are they just imagining it?Here, I compare new CTS and Bourns pots with the original Epiphone pot
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06:51
Johnplanetz - Guitar Potentiometers part 2, Comparing Linear/Audio Taper and Selecting Pots
Added 650 Views / 0 Likeshttp://www.planetz.com/?p=255 .In this video, I demonstrate the sound differences between Linear and Audio taper pots, and compare audio tapers in Alpha, Bourns and CTS pots.I then review the other factors you need to consider when buying pots: tolerances
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03:48
Johnplanetz - Guitar Potentiometers part 3, Enlarging the Holes in Semi Hollow Body Top
Added 651 Views / 0 Likeshttp://www.planetz.com/?p=258 .Typical guitar pots have a 3/8" threaded shaft. But import guitars often use pots with 8mm (~5/16") shafts. So to replace the pots, you need to enlarge the holes.In this video, I demonstrate how to cleanly drill the holes fo
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09:22
Johnplanetz - Potentiometers - How They Work, Disassembly and Exploration
Added 801 Views / 0 Likeshttp://www.planetz.com/?p=261 .In this video, I disassemble a couple different pots (Bourns and CTS 500k audio taper) to show how they're constructed, and explain how they work.I also show how to identify pot values and taper by their markings and by meas
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07:03
Johnplanetz - Guitar Potentiometers part 4, Modifying a Tone Pot to be No Load for True Bypass
Added 661 Views / 0 Likeshttp://www.planetz.com/?p=262 .In this video I demonstrate how to modify a guitar tone potentiometer to be "no load", for true bypass. The change in sound is subtle, as you'll hear, but it's worthwhile.Audio examples recorded through my Vox VT30 amp and a
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03:18
Johnplanetz - Guitar Ground: Dealing with ground noise problems
Added 616 Views / 0 Likeshttp://www.planetz.com/?p=266 .In this short video, I demonstrate what it sounds like when you have a ground connection problem in your guitar, and show how to diagnose and fix the problem.Like this video? Please consider making a donation (of any amount)
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04:41
Johnplanetz - Wiring Up Guitar Electronics 1: Component Layout, Selecting Wire, Stripping and Tinnin
Added 561 Views / 0 Likeshttp://www.planetz.com/?p=272 .This is the first part in a series of videos on guitar electronics wiring.In this video, I talk about laying out the components, selecting wire, and how to strip and tin shielded wire.
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04:03
Johnplanetz - Wiring Up Guitar Electronics 2: Soldering Backs of Pots
Added 654 Views / 0 Likeshttp://www.planetz.com/?p=275 .In this video, I demonstrate how to prepare the pots with sandpaper and solder ground wires to the backs of the pots.
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05:03
Johnplanetz - Wiring Up Guitar Electronics 3, Organizing Wire, Connecting Volume Pots and Switch
Added 642 Views / 0 Likeshttp://www.planetz.com/?p=280 .In this video, I demonstrate how to organize the wires using heat shrink tubing, how to connect up a volume pot (dealing with attaching braided shields to the back of the pot), and how to wire up the switch.
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02:20
Johnplanetz - Guitar Potentiometers part 5, Comparing Tone Pot Tapers
Added 573 Views / 0 Likeshttp://www.planetz.com/?p=302 .In this quick video, I compare linear taper 500k and log/audio 500k taper pots for use as a tone control. The pickup is wired to the jack, with the pot/cap in parallel, just like a normal guitar circuit (but without the volu
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04:12
Johnplanetz - Wiring Up Guitar Electronics 4, Connecting Tone Cap
Added 518 Views / 0 Likeshttp://www.planetz.com/?p=310 .In this video, I demonstrate how to connect a tone capacitor to the a pot.It's an Orange Drop 103, or .01 microfarad cap. The pot I'm using here is a CTS EP086 500k Audio Taper.See my other videos for pot and cap evaluation