Emerson Custom Treble Bleed Circuit — Volume Mod for Guitar & Bass

The Emerson Custom Treble Bleed Circuit is a pre-wired treble bleed mod — a small RC (resistor-capacitor) network soldered across the input and output lugs of your volume pot to preserve high-frequency clarity as you roll down the volume. Built with a polystyrene capacitor and a mil-spec 1% tolerance 220KΩ metal film resistor for transparent, accurate sound. Handcrafted by Emerson Custom in the USA. Compatible with most passive electric guitars and basses.

The Problem: Tone Loss When Rolling Down Volume

On most standard electric guitar wiring, rolling down the volume pot causes a noticeable loss of high-frequency content — the guitar sounds progressively darker and thinner as the volume decreases. This happens because the volume pot interacts with the pickup's inductance and the cable capacitance to form a low-pass filter, cutting treble frequencies as the pot's resistance increases. The result is that many players leave their volume at 10 and rely on their amp or pedals for volume control, losing the expressive dynamic range that the guitar's volume knob could otherwise provide.

The Solution: Treble Bleed

A treble bleed circuit (RC network) is wired in parallel with the volume pot — allowing high frequencies to pass through the capacitor and bypass the pot's increasing resistance as the volume is rolled down. The result is a volume control that maintains consistent tone and clarity across its full range — the guitar sounds like a scaled-down version of full volume rather than a darker, thinner version. The 220KΩ resistor in series with the capacitor prevents the treble bleed from making the sound overly bright at lower volumes, producing a natural, balanced taper.

Premium Components — Transparent Sound

Emerson Custom uses a polystyrene capacitor — a high-quality capacitor type known for its accuracy, low distortion, and sonic transparency — paired with a mil-spec 1% tolerance 220KΩ metal film resistor. The tight component tolerances ensure the circuit performs consistently and predictably, with no colouration of the guitar's natural tone.

Easy Installation

The pre-wired circuit simply solders across the input and wiper lugs of your existing volume pot — no additional components or wiring changes required. Compatible with most passive electric guitar and bass volume pots.

Specifications

• Capacitor: Polystyrene
• Resistor: 220KΩ, mil-spec 1% tolerance metal film
• Dimensions: 2.5cm (L) × 1.5cm (W) × 0.5cm (H)
• Weight: ~5g
• Compatible With: Most passive electric guitars and basses
• Made by: Emerson Custom (USA)

Available at Reco Music Malaysia — Free delivery for orders over RM100 to West Malaysia. Fast delivery nationwide. Contact us for more information.