Unofficial Taylor Guitar Forum - UTGF

Lessons, Recordings, How Tos, Repair, Accessories => Lessons, Recordings, How Tos, Repair, Accessories => Topic started by: ericjungemann on November 09, 2014, 03:17:39 PM

Title: Taylor T5 knob detent
Post by: ericjungemann on November 09, 2014, 03:17:39 PM
Hi all,
I have one of the knobs on my Taylor T5-12 where the center detent can't be felt but a very slight 'bump' is felt in cycling open and closed but in different positions.  Not as firm as the other two knobs.

A really awesome guitar, btw.

Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Eric
Title: Re: Taylor T5 knob detent
Post by: Earl on November 09, 2014, 11:56:15 PM
I've noticed a similar thing on almost all my guitars with the ES system knobs.  Some click in to the detent nicely, where others have almost no perceptible detent.  Wish they were more consistent, but electronic components do vary.  I want the bass and treble to be positive, but I can live with less detent on the volume pot.
Title: Re: Taylor T5 knob detent
Post by: guitarsrsoawesome on November 10, 2014, 08:41:42 AM
The ones without much detent are called their "baby bump" controls.

Sorry, couldn't resist.  :)

I've only had two Taylors with the ES and all six knobs seemed to respond the same.
Title: Re: Taylor T5 knob detent
Post by: timfitz63 on November 10, 2014, 09:53:26 PM
I've encountered several ES guitars with 'weak' detents; most of them have been T5's.  Don't know why they sometimes seem to turn out that way, though...
Title: Re: Taylor T5 knob detent
Post by: Edward on November 10, 2014, 10:33:12 PM
Hi Eric,

A few years back I bought a 2010 preamp/harness to do an ES upgrade ...and found the volume pot had no detent.  Thinking I may have gotten a dud, I called the mothership and they told me that's what they got; so be it.  I ended up doing another ES upgrade on a diff guitar a bit later and, low and behold, the vol pot had the detent back.  Perhaps the parts supplier got it "right," or the factory made a stink and got them to change back? ...who knows.  Perhaps your T5 is of that era?

Edward
Title: Re: Taylor T5 knob detent
Post by: Earl on November 11, 2014, 12:18:03 PM
While we are on this topic, I would find it useful to have the volume knob slightly different in look and feel to the tone pots.  It is understandable why Taylor would not do this - more part numbers to stock and deal with, and not everyone would like a different look.  But on stage, I can use all the help I can get, and a different volume control can be a good thing. 

I have not yet removed one button and taken it to the local electronic parts warehouse to find something else that would fit the post, but one day......
Title: Re: Taylor T5 knob detent
Post by: guitarsrsoawesome on November 11, 2014, 02:58:00 PM
It's funny, but I saw a video way back about the ES and on it the guy said that the Bass control is the one closest to your Belly, using the B's as the reference point.  For some reason that stuck with me and has helped me to remember that the volume is the one farthest away...
Title: Re: Taylor T5 knob detent
Post by: ronmcc4 on November 11, 2014, 03:47:54 PM
It's funny, but I saw a video way back about the ES and on it the guy said that the Bass control is the one closest to your Belly, using the B's as the reference point.  For some reason that stuck with me and has helped me to remember that the volume is the one farthest away...

Ahh - that ws helpful. Kinda like lefty loosey righty tighty.
Title: Re: Taylor T5 knob detent
Post by: timfitz63 on November 13, 2014, 11:23:51 AM
A few years back I bought a 2010 preamp/harness to do an ES upgrade ...and found the volume pot had no detent.  Thinking I may have gotten a dud, I called the mothership and they told me that's what they got; so be it.  I ended up doing another ES upgrade on a diff guitar a bit later and, low and behold, the vol pot had the detent back.  Perhaps the parts supplier got it "right," or the factory made a stink and got them to change back? ...who knows.  Perhaps your T5 is of that era?

When I encountered this with a T5-C1 I was considering for purchase, I spoke with Taylor Customer Service and they told me that there was a brief period when one of the pots (and I believe it was volume) was sans detent.  The CS Rep said that Taylor reasoned there was no particular benefit in having a detent on the volume pot, so they eliminated it for a brief period; he never elaborated on the rationale for including it again, but I imagine it may have just been in response to customer inquiries/requests.

However, he did mention that the T5's have always had a detent on all three pots...
Title: Re: Taylor T5 knob detent
Post by: Earl on November 13, 2014, 05:54:54 PM
When they first came out with the balanced output ES system, the idea was that with the volume set at the detent, it was a 1:1 pass through - no gain, no cut.  The tone knobs are set up the same way too.  So it makes sense to have a detent on the volume knob.  In practical terms it doesn't really matter much, since you are either happy as it is set, or you change it according to the playing conditions.