Replacing the TBXs stock resistor with a second capacitor will

give you greater control over the amount of bass cut in the circuit.
Swap a 220 k resistor for the TBXs stock 82 k shunt resistor
for smoother operation in passive setups.
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The Fender TBX Tone Control Mod, Part 2
Dirk Wacker
October 20, 2010
After talking about the basics of the Fender TBX tone control last month, lets now take a closer look at
some of the mods you can make to this system.
First, a few refreshers. Remember that the values of the two pots are fixed, so you cant experiment with
them. I also do not suggest opening the TBXs dual-ganged potthe system is very tricky, and there are no
mod opportunities inside the pot. Also keep in mind that the TBX tone control is not a treble booster or
anything like thatyou cannot increase anything with passive electronics. The system works by allowing
you to reshape the tone by de-emphasizing certain frequencies, thus making others more prominent. The
use of inductors (which is what a pickup behaves like in a guitar circuit) and capacitors can create resonant
peaks and valleys, further coloring the overall tone. Some people like this interaction, while others dont,
but its all relative and it all works at unity gain.
Experimenting with Tonecaps
The bottom pot (with the shaft up) of our TBX system is pot B on the drawing and the normal tone control
we all knowa high-pass filter. Its a standard 250k audio pot with a range from 0 to 5 on the knob. So you
could say it is a normal passive tone control, but with half of the rotation. The 0.022 uF tonecap connected
to this pot works like a standard tonecap, meaning there are tons of options here. Try other values from
2200 pF up to 0.1 uF, try different types of caps like metal-film, paper-in-oil, paper waxed, or silver mica,
or experiment with used or new-old-stock caps. Your choices are virtually unlimited, so be brave and go
wild.
Experimenting with Resistor Values
On pot A, there is an 82 k carbon-film resistor. This is another area ripe for experimentation. The value of
the resistor influences the center frequency and the amount of bass cut out of the circuit (its a low-pass
filter). I like mine to be between 180-220 k in Fender-style guitars, as these values provide a smooth and
natural bass cut. Try values from 20-500 k and see what you like best.
You can also experiment with different materials for this resistor, such as metal-film or carbon composition
models. Some customers report they get the best results with NOS Allen-Bradley carbon composition (CC)
resistors. These resistors have less background noise and were the gold standard back in the 50s and 60s
for all Fender ampsnot a shabby point of reference!
There are more mods you can do to the TBX tone control, such as using a second capacitor instead of a
resistor to rewire the TBX control for more bass cut, or wiring the second end of the resistor connected to
pot A to the same lug as the capacitor on pot B (instead of connecting it to ground) for a more even and
natural effect in passive guitars. Lets take a closer look at these options.
Rewiring for More Bass Cut
You accomplish this by replacing the stock resistor with a second capacitor, which will act as a bass-cut capacitor and determine the bass-cut frequency. The
treble-cut capacitor from pot B stays untouched and determines the treble-cut frequency. As we discussed earlier, you can try different values and cap types
here as well. As a basic rule, the higher the value, the lower the frequency and the greater the effect. (Likewise, the lower the value, the higher the frequency
and the less the effect.) Instead of the resistor on pot A, connect a second capacitor as shown in the diagram below. Start with a value of 2200 pF and work
your way up to 4700 pF, or even 6800 pF for a radical effect. Personally, I like the bass-cut cap to be 10 percent of the value of the treble-cut cap, so if you
use a standard 0.022 uF tonecap on pot B, try a 2200 pF bass-cut cap on pot A.
Rewiring for Smoother Passive Operation
On the stock TBX control, the 82 k resistor is always in the circuit, working as a shunt, no matter where the knob is seteven with the pot fully opened.
The TBX control was originally developed to work with active circuitry, such as the Eric Clapton Mid Boost, where an 82 k resistor has no deleterious
effect on the tone. But an 82 k shunt resistor is something you dont want in a guitar with high-impedance passive circuitry. After the Clapton signature
Strat, Fender included the TBX control in passive guitars, and the 82 k resistor stayed there untouchedheaven knows why.
The TBX control is very useful in passive systems if you modify it slightly, as shown here. Remove the tone-sucking 82 k resistor, add a jumper between
two of the pots lugs, and add a 220 k resistor. The new resistor is necessary to make the transition between the two pots at mid-position seamless, with no
abrupt change in tone or apparent volume as the circuit is handed off from one pot to the other. A lot of pro players prefer this slightly modded version over
the stock configuration.
The Fender TBX Tone Control Mod, Part 2 http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/print/The_Fender_TBX_Tone_Co...
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All right, thats it for this month. I hope youll have some fun with these mods. Next month, we will talk about Fenders active Eric Clapton Mid Boost
circuit, and discuss how you can build your own budget version without breaking the bank. Until then, keep on modding!
Dirk Wacker
Dirk Wacker lives in Germany and has been addicted to all kinds of guitars since the age of 5. He is fascinated by anything related to old Fender guitars and
amps. He plays country, rockabilly, and surf music in two bands, works regularly as a session musician for a local studio, and writes for several guitar mags.
He is also a hardcore DIY-er for guitars, amps, and stompboxes, and he runs an extensive webpagesinglecoil.comon the subject.
Dirk Wacker lives in Germany and is fascinated by anything related to old Fender guitars and amps. He plays country, rockabilly, and surf music in two
bands, works regularly as a session musician for a local studio, and writes for several guitar mags. Hes also a hardcore guitar and amp DIY-er who runs an
extensive websitesinglecoil.comon the subject.
The Fender TBX Tone Control Mod, Part 2 http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/print/The_Fender_TBX_Tone_Co...
2 de 2 31/10/2013 10:20 a.m.