EOB strat tone control problem

ToneControl

I just bought an EOB strat
effectively there is a pre-amp after the pickups, then 1 volume (B500k) and 1 tone pot (A500k) 
https://www.fmicassets.com/Damroot/Original/10001/Fender_Ed_O_Brien_Stratocaster_0140192305_SM_REV_A_11-08-2017.pdf
The wiring is slightly different to normal, but should work

trouble is, the tone control only works between 1 (start position) and 2, i.e. 90% of the change is between 1 and 2
I found the same comment in a forum from someone a year ago

is this a design fault or a manufacturing fault?

FelineGuitars

You could try a B taper pot

You could try moving the tone cap to the centre tag of the volume too

Funkfingers

The Fender wiring schematic illustrates no path between the tone pot chassis and ground.* Presumably, the screening foil on the underside of the scratchplate is supposed to suffice.

If the guitar is out of warranty, I would simply add a ground wire between all three pots.


* The diagram also illustrates no connection between the third terminal on the volume pot and its chassis.

ToneControl

FelineGuitars said:

You could try a B taper pot

You could try moving the tone cap to the centre tag of the volume too

I noticed that, and wondered what the difference might be
should it make a difference?

meltedbuzzbox

Sounds like its a linear pot rather than a taper.

ICBM

A B (linear) pot will make it even worse, if it’s an A (audio, or log). First check that they haven’t fitted the pots the wrong way round...

If the pot is an A, the problem is that the value is far too high - 500K sounds very high for a circuit with a preamp before it. You may need to use as low as 25K or 50K - the way to find out would be to find the point at which the tone stops changing noticeably and measure the resistance there.

ToneControl

ICBM said:

A B (linear) pot will make it even worse, if it’s an A (audio, or log). First check that they haven’t fitted the pots the wrong way round...

If the pot is an A, the problem is that the value is far too high - 500K sounds very high for a circuit with a preamp before it. You may need to use as low as 25K or 50K - the way to find out would be to find the point at which the tone stops changing noticeably and measure the resistance there.

what capacitor would I need?

ICBM

ToneControl said: although 

what capacitor would I need?

The same one there is now if it works when it’s right down - it’s only the range of the pot that’s wrong.

ToneControl

ICBM said:

ToneControl said: although 

what capacitor would I need?

The same one there is now if it works when it’s right down - it’s only the range of the pot that’s wrong.

great thanks
I measured the pot when full treble audible, it's 50k

ToneControl

ToneControl said:

ICBM said:

ToneControl said: although 

what capacitor would I need?

The same one there is now if it works when it’s right down - it’s only the range of the pot that’s wrong.

great thanks
I measured the pot when full treble audible, it's 50k

I thought I'd ask Fender about this
(btw turns out the ebay shop owner was not accurate in describing the guitar as "new", even though it had the plastic still on the scratchplate)

I sent Fender a description, they asked for videos, I sent videos of neck pickup reach max tone around 4 or 5, Mid+bridge reaching max tone at 3 (as in 1 being minimum)

their reply was....

The issue that you are experiencing with your guitar could be due to a loose cable or a faulty component which should be an easy fix, but the only way to determine this and have it sorted is to take the guitar to a tech or service centre. Unfortunately we are unable to offer repair for second hand items, but we recommend that you get in touch with a local Fender authorised dealer to enquire about external service centres in your area.

so, no extra clarity obtained there
I'm sure that it's not a loose cable
and if it's a faulty components, I think the fault is in the spec