NF3 SE Volume Pot Replacement

[DrRx]

I just picked up an NF3 SE and it is great. However there is one glaring issue for me. The volume pot is almost unusable. Going from 10 to 9 bleeds an incredible amount high end out of my signal. I want to clean up a dirty sound and instead I get the equivalent of rolling my tone off. I have owned several guitars over the years and have never really learned much about wiring and electronics because I have been generally happy with how they sound stock.

Here are my questions
1) has anyone had and/or fixed this issue on this line of guitars
2) I prefer a brighter sound, would a treble bleed help
3) is this an issue more with the response of the pot installed (so much change from 9 to 10) and I should install a pot of the same value or increase it
4) if I swap volume pot, should I do anything with tone pot?

 

[FatFingerBlues]

Welcome to the forum!

Before I added anything, I would change the pot and see where you are at
PRS doesn't design guitars with poorly functioning pots
They do on occasion get a bad pot
put a high quality pot in it and go from there

 

[Tim S]

Here's a comparison of wiring diagrams - 2012 NF3 (w/ treble bleed) vs SE NF3

 

[Broseph]

The current nf3 se used 1 Meg pots. Swap the pot and install a treble bleed

 

[RickP]

Just replaced the volume pot on my 2013 NF3... volume pots have been the only thing that seems to go out on my PRS guitars. It was wired just as the schematic shows. I didn't know the SEs had different wiring!

 

[phillybri]

I tried out an NF3 at Guitar Center last night and absolutely loved it until I turned the volume knob down to about 7 and pretty much lost the signal entirely...

 

[mikewiles]

I picked one up today and it is the same. Sounds great with the volume wide open. Then the tone rolls off immediately with the volume knob. I almost thought it was the tone knob when I first used it. Like you, I use the volume knob to clean up my sound. So I'll either rewire it or return it. I haven't decided yet. The trem is throwing the D string sharp anytime it's used. Trying to sort that out too.

 

[RickP]

I picked one up today and it is the same. Sounds great with the volume wide open. Then the tone rolls off immediately with the volume knob. I almost thought it was the tone knob when I first used it. Like you, I use the volume knob to clean up my sound. So I'll either rewire it or return it. I haven't decided yet. The trem is throwing the D string sharp anytime it's used. Trying to sort that out too.

If you like the guitar, a volume pot is a simple swap. Rather than have to take the guitar back, I’d be surprised if a dealer wouldn’t be willing to swap it for you!

 

[SinSir]

Swap the pot with a core.. best taper out there for the roll. I use it for just that. Clean to a lil dirt.

The trem sharp thing. Break in the trem and strings. If it's still not working for you check your nut. And then call John Mann the best damn mod you can do for a se.. Done.

 

[mikewiles]

If you like the guitar, a volume pot is a simple swap. Rather than have to take the guitar back, I’d be surprised if a dealer wouldn’t be willing to swap it for you!

You're right. A volume pot swap is simple. But it's not a bad pot. A better taper only elongates the tone roll off. It needs a treble bleed. I don't mind doing that either. But looking at the diagram, they have put so many resistors on the switch and I don't know what they all are doing exactly. I don't really want to mod a new guitar. I'm certain that even a change in the pot value would not correct this issue.

 

[SinSir]

You're right. A volume pot swap is simple. But it's not a bad pot.

Buy core and don't blame the se

 

[mikewiles]

Buy core and don't blame the se

They don't make this in core. I have other cores. I like these pickups. I don't care for the way they sound when I roll the volume back. Other guitars don't have this issue. I wish they had opted to have a more effective treble bleed. I'm not blaming anything. I'm supporting the original post as someone said it was just a bad pot. If so, it's on more than one new one. So I doubt that's true.

 

[SinSir]

They don't make this in core. I have other cores. I like these pickups. I don't care for the way they sound when I roll the volume back. Other guitars don't have this issue. I wish they had opted to have a more effective treble bleed. I'm not blaming anything. I'm supporting the original post as someone said it was just a bad pot. If so, it's on more than one new one. So I doubt that's true.

They have a volune pot for sale used in core

 

[Broseph]

They have a volune pot for sale used in core

There is no current core level 1 Meg volume pot available.

Add a treble bleed. I did and it makes the volume knob a lot better. Maybe I’ll upgrade the pot when I get around to it to see if the taper will improve even more.

 

[SinSir]

There is no current core level 1 Meg volume pot available.

Add a treble bleed. I did and it makes the volume knob a lot better. Maybe I’ll upgrade the pot when I get around to it to see if the taper will improve even more.

Didnt think about the 1m pot

 

[Intentionally Blank]

There is no current core level 1 Meg volume pot available.

Add a treble bleed. I did and it makes the volume knob a lot better. Maybe I’ll upgrade the pot when I get around to it to see if the taper will improve even more.

Would you mind sharing what you installed for a treble bleed? Values, components?

I'm considering one of these SE NF3s but that volume rollback behavior would be a big no-go for me.

 

[intothevoid]

Just got a brand new SE NF3 and can report that it has the same issue of losing high end when tapering the volume. Also when tapering the volume an annoying grounding noise / hum comes in which isn’t there when the knob is wide open

Would love to know how people are solving these issues on this otherwise perfect guitar

PRS should be taking note

 

[Intentionally Blank]

This is discouraging to hear. I've been considering one of these but I'm not sure I want to buy a guitar and know that I have to muck with the wiring even before I play it.

 

[andy474x]

Is it just me, or does PRS seem to be falling out of love with the treble bleed? Lots of the newer models seem to not have it. Maybe because they’re chasing a vintage spec on some things (594, Silver Sky, etc.), but I don’t understand why they wouldn’t have put it on the NF3. Very easy to add, though.

Personally, I want it on everything. And I don’t understand what the deal is… because it’s all about me!

Oh, wait…

 

[intothevoid]

What core volume pot would one put in this, considering there is no 1 meg core version available? 500k?