Terminal identity comes before left and right
A conventional three-terminal pot has two track-end terminals and a wiper terminal. The wiper is commonly the middle terminal on familiar guitar pots, but the part drawing is the authority for the component you are holding. Push-pull switches, stacked controls and unusual footprints may add terminals that belong to another function.
A diagram viewed from the rear is mirrored relative to a front view. A photograph without a stated viewpoint is therefore a poor basis for assigning functions by left and right. Identify the shaft, body and viewing orientation, then verify the terminal functions before using a numbered circuit reference.
Apparition’s volume convention
| Terminal | Function | Connection |
|---|---|---|
| Lug 1 | Ground | Ground / return network |
| Lug 2 | Wiper / output | Output jack TIP through the output path |
| Lug 3 | Signal input | Pickup or selector signal output |
The simple main path is pickup/selector → volume lug 3 → wiper/lug 2 → output jack TIP. The end-to-end track between lugs 3 and 1 loads the signal, while the wiper divides the voltage along it. This reference describes functions, not a universal left-to-right view of every manufactured pot.
For the Modern tone-loading branch described in these guides, the signal node at volume lug 3 feeds the tone network toward ground. Do not move that signal attachment to grounded volume lug 1. A treble bleed, by contrast, connects between signal input lug 3 and wiper lug 2. Those are different networks with different jobs.
Check with a meter before soldering
With the pot electrically isolated, measure between the track ends: the reading should remain approximately the full resistance as the shaft rotates. Measure between the wiper and one end: the reading should change through the travel. The reading from the wiper to the other end changes in the opposite direction.
These checks establish the moving contact and direction of the sweep. They do not tell you that an in-circuit measurement equals the printed value when other resistances are connected in parallel. If readings do not make sense, disconnect the relevant path or consult the part documentation rather than renumbering a diagram to fit a guess.
TIP is signal; sleeve is return
A supported mono output jack has a TIP contact for signal and a sleeve contact for return. Identify the actual contact with the jack drawing and continuity checks; the solder-lug position is not a reliable substitute for contact identity. Inserting an unconnected plug can help establish which lug reaches the plug tip and which reaches the sleeve.
The pot casing can be used as part of the ground network when the intended wiring calls for it, but the casing is not the wiper. Avoid solder bridges from signal terminals to the casing. Ground and shielding have related but distinct roles, so follow the complete return and shield references rather than assuming every bare conductor is interchangeable.
Translate the circuit into physical connections
Choose the supported configuration in the Wiring Diagram Generator and inspect its connection list before soldering. Confirm part orientation, terminal identity and clearance in the instrument. Route wires so movement of the controls or closing the cavity cannot press exposed conductors together.
After assembly, inspect each joint and check intended continuity with the instrument disconnected from equipment. A visual similarity to a diagram is not evidence of an electrical connection. Conversely, a connection can be electrically equivalent even when the physical wire route looks different; terminal identity is what matters.
Keep the reference specific
Multi-volume instruments, special switching and alternative tone connections can introduce additional interactions. The simple path above is the starting convention, not permission to replace a configuration-specific diagram. Read the guide for the intended circuit and use the tool within its supported capabilities.
If output disappears, isolate the cable and jack before assuming a bad pot. Check for signal-to-ground shorts, a missing wiper connection and mistaken selector contacts. Correct identification and measurement usually provide more useful evidence than replacing components at random.