Stellartone's new VolumeStyler Precision Volume Controls are now available in 250kΩ, 500kΩ and 1MΩ values, and with short solid-shafts or long split-shafts.  The unique switched design produces significant tonal and operational benefits which are impossible using any potentiometer.  Using a gold contact mil-spec rotary switch instead of a potentiometer, players may select between eight discrete ±3dB linear-taper loudness and blending steps, plus two flexible muting circuits: in an instrument featuring one volume knob per pickup, each pickup may be switched off independently, or all selected pickups may be switched off at once.

 

Your pickup's DC resistance and impedance never varies, from full volume to -21dB attenuation; this means your tone remains solid and unchanged, at all volumes.  Importantly, this unique design eliminates variable pickup loading in basses without a selector switch... there's no more dull tone when turning down and mixing your J-bass, SG and Thunderbird pickups!

 

The ±3dB attenuation steps provide precise and repeatable pickup blends, lead/rhythm dynamic changes, and contrasting "dirty vs clean" preamp gain thresholds on demand.  This feature makes the VolumeStyler ideal for both studio and stage applications.

 

For custom three-pickup guitars and basses, a set of three VolumeStylers provides the ultimate tonal versatility plus simplicity of controls. Seven pickup selections & combinations are easily accessed... WITHOUT REQUIRING ANY PICKUP SELECTOR SWITCHES!

 

Neck
Middle
Bridge
Neck + Middle
Middle+Bridge
Neck + Bridge
Neck + Middle + Bridge

 

And, unlike the clumsy three-pickup switching systems, these seven essential circuits are fully blendable, in precise & repeatable ±3dB balance steps!

 

Here's how stepped volume controls are sonically-superior to traditional pots... especially when pickup selector switches are omitted:

 

Traditional potentiometers reduce loudness, and blend pickups.  When a pickup selector switch is included, as in most Gibson guitars, each volume pot will progressively load the mix of pickup outputs by adding variable parallel DC resistance, from 500kΩ at full volume to ZERO OHMS (a dead short).  Gibson’s standard volume pot connection produces a light 500kΩ input loading on each pickup, at all volumes.  This is desirable, because fixed loading maintains each pickup’s DC resistance and inductance parameters… the key factors which determine a pickup’s harmonic response and audio quality.  However, a volume pot set to zero ohms will inconveniently mute the entire guitar; this is solved by using the 3-way pickup selector switch to “solo” any pickup.

 

When the instrument omits a pickup selector switch, such as a Fender Jazz Bass or a Gibson Thunderbird, the input and output connections on each pot must be reversed to prevent either control from silencing both pickups when set to zero; otherwise, it would be impossible to solo either pickup.  Unfortunately, the pickup signals are now loaded down with parallel DC resistance, from 250kΩ to ZERO OHMS (a dead short).  Each pickup’s natural DC resistance and inductance parameters are adversely affected whenever loudness is reduced; loading flattens the pickup’s harmonic response curve, and degrades audio quality.  However, if the bass’s volume controls are routinely set to loud levels, the pickup loading effect will be minimized, and that bland, dull tone is avoided.

 

The new VolumeStyler solves the “backwards-wired potentiometer” tonal problem in three-knob basses, by utilizing a rotary switch instead of a potentiometer.  Now, each pickup maintains fixed rather than variable loading, so the DC resistance, inductance... AND TONE of the pickups... is now unaffected by full-range loudness and mixing adjustments! Plus, by turning the VolumeStyler knob to the pickup OFF circuit in detent #2, a silent pickup has absolutely no loading or tonal effect on the other soloed pickup. Finally, all bass tones remain crystal-clear and rock-solid over all loudness and blending ranges!

 

*** 100% passive analog circuity - no batteries - zero noise! Includes mounting hardware and 1/2" hex nut driver. Hand-made in the U.S.A.

 

Click here for PDF instructions.

 

Installation is quick and easy; a drop-in exchange for your existing pot takes only minutes. No modification or fitting is required in most instruments, such as the Precision Bass, Jazz Bass, Strat, Tele, Les Paul Jr, SG, and Thunderbird.  Left-handed operation is available on special-order.

 

- In single-pickup basses & guitars (P-bass style): connect the pickup's HOT output wire to the RED input wire and the tone control input; connect the CLEAR output wire to the jack.

 

- In master-volume + master-tone guitars (Tele & PRS style): connect the pickup selector switch output terminal to the RED input wire and the tone control input; connect the CLEAR output wire to the jack.

 

- In master-volume + dual-tone guitars (Strat style): connect the pickup selector switch output terminal to the RED input wire; connect the CLEAR output wire to the jack.

 

- In dual-volume + master-tone basses & guitars: connect the pickup's HOT output wires to the RED input wires; connect the CLEAR output wires to the output jack (Jazz Bass style) or to the pickup selector switch inputs (Gretsch & Flying V style); connect the master tone control input to the jack.

 

- In dual-volume + dual tone guitars (SG & RIC style): connect the pickup's HOT output wires to the RED input wires and the tone control inputs, and the CLEAR output wires to the pickup selector switch inputs.

 

Specifications:

V-10-250: Continuous input loading fixed at 250kΩ. Stepped output loading varies from 250kΩ to 125kΩ to OPEN CIRCUIT to 0Ω.

V-10-500: Continuous input loading fixed at 500kΩ. Stepped output loading varies from 500kΩ to 125kΩ to OPEN CIRCUIT to 0Ω.

V-10-1000: Continuous input loading fixed at 1MΩ. Stepped output loading varies from 1MΩ to 125kΩ to OPEN CIRCUIT to 0Ω.

100% passive analog circuity - no batteries - zero noise! Includes mounting hardware and 1/2" hex nut driver.

 

Hand-made in the U.S.A.

 

Volume Ten Short, three models:  MAP $129

Volume Ten Long, three models:   MAP $159