Soldering terminal strips to back of potentiometer..

[echuta13]

I've noticed it done on a couple of amp builds (older ones, and not often). I've done it a few times, but I'm curious to get a general consensus on if it's an acceptable way to mount components near the pots or should the strips be mounted to the chassis?

[mijomo]

I've noticed it done on a couple of amp builds (older ones, and not often). I've done it a few times, but I'm curious to get a general consensus on if it's an acceptable way to mount components near the pots or should the strips be mounted to the chassis?

I recommend reading Aiken Amps section on: "What about volume and tone control grounds?"

It can be found here: http://www.aikenamps.com/StarGround.html

Hope that helps.

Cheers!

[echuta13]

I actually don't use the back of the pots for ground. I'm interested in getting a consensus on if this is a reasonable (sturdy) way to mount components.

Here is an example of what I'm talking about from a Kalamazoo bass amp. Pretty messy looking, but you get the point:

[img678]http://www.rru.com/~meo/Guitar/Amps/Kal ... l-det.jpeg[/img]

[Leo_Gnardo]

Seen it done esp. on old Gibsons, Epiphones & similar. Not much of a fan. One thing is, I consider a ground made thru the pot body to be a rather uncertain connection. Another - some modern pots like Alpha don't take well to solder. Back in the bad old days, maybe some amp job shops used it as a short cut, pre assemble parts on the back of pots then bolt 'em in and wire up the rest. Much better to bolt tie strips to chassis. Or you can solder them on if you have a big enough iron (Weller 80W "pencil" or 120 or 160 if you have one. I find the "gun" irons don't work so well for this. An 80W Weller is only @ $30.) Of course your chassis material has to be solder compatible too. Aluminum won't work.

[Bob S]

I don't use the pot bodies for ground bar tie points any more.
I still like a star washer to ensure the pot body acts as a screen.
A few of us have been talking about mounting tone stack components next to the pots - possibly reducing noise.
Below is a first attempt - not impressive but you can see what I'm talking about. A bigger chassis would allow more options.
This is the absolute last time I'm rebuilding this thing.
It was originally a SS Marshall lead 12. Twill be a clean channel Deluxe (ish).
With a tube rectifier cos it's better !
I'ts going to a new home in Ohio when I'm done.

[echuta13]

Thanks for the input guys.

[Structo]

I don't like to solder much to the back of pots.
Maybe a ground bus, but certainly not a terminal strip.
Best to mount the strip mechanically if needed.

[martin manning]

I don't solder to pots either. However, taking off from Bob S' work, a small terminal strip on the floor of the chassis near the TBM pots would be a simple way to do the whole tone stack up there with short and direct connections (and the minimum wire length is "TBM" like the 5F6-A, rather than "TMB")

[labb]

Martin, I just finished a 5F6-A and I used the terminal strip for the tone stack as you are showing. Worked out well. I built the amp in a 16 x 8 x 2 chassis so i had to save as much terminal board space as possible.

[martin manning]

Yes it would make room on the board or shorten it for sure. The TS wires are shortened considerably, but the lead from the treble pot wiper (a grid wire) is the same, and the input (a plate lead) gets longer.

[Reeltarded]

Damn you guys are going to hate me.. I put it all on the pots without a tag strip or a board. Have a sample but it's under other amps behind other amps so you and John Lennon imagine... it's easy if you try.

lala lala laaaa

[martin manning]

Damn you guys are going to hate me.. I put it all on the pots without a tag strip or a board.

I don't think the parts would be very well supported hanging in the air without something added. I'd go so far as to say that using a terminal strip would be road-worthy, and Bob's board is bomb-proof!

[Reeltarded]

Yeah Bob's board is solid! I used gravity tension and silicon in two dabs. It works and it looks ok.