Audio Taper vs Linear Taper Guitar Pots: What to Know

What Is Potentiometer Taper?

Potentiometers, or pots, are the rotary controls that adjust volume and tone on an electric guitar. A pot works like a variable resistor: as you turn the knob, the resistance between its terminals changes. The way that resistance changes relative to the knob's rotation is called the taper.

Two tapers are common in guitar electronics: audio taper, also called logarithmic taper, and linear taper. With audio taper, resistance changes slowly at the start of the rotation and faster toward the end. With linear taper, resistance changes at a constant rate across the whole sweep. For a deeper look at potentiometer values and how they interact with other components, see our article on guitar potentiometer values.

Audio Taper: Made for Volume

Audio taper is the industry standard for volume pots on electric guitars. The reason is the way the human ear perceives loudness. When you turn a volume knob, you aren't just changing resistance; you are changing the level of the signal. To make that level change feel even to your ear, the resistance needs to change in a way that mirrors the ear's response.

With an audio taper pot, the first half of the rotation produces a small change in resistance, so the volume stays low and lets you fine-tune clean tones. As you keep turning, the resistance drops more quickly, and the volume rises fast toward the end. This matches how you expect a volume knob to behave: small adjustments at low settings, bigger changes at higher settings. On many guitars, the volume knob is also used to control overdrive by rolling it back for a cleaner sound. An audio taper makes that transition smooth.

Linear Taper: For Even Control

Linear taper changes resistance at a constant rate. If you rotate the knob halfway, you get about half the total resistance. For a tone control, this is often desirable because it gives a predictable, even change in treble across the entire sweep. As you turn the knob from minimum to maximum, you hear a steady change in brightness that is easy to locate.

For a volume control, a linear taper tends to be less practical. Because the ear's loudness response is not linear, a linear pot would cause the volume to jump quickly early in the rotation and then seem to do little later on. This can make it hard to find a sweet spot, especially at low volume. Some guitarists use linear taper for tone controls to get a more uniform feel, especially when they want to fine-tune the treble response across a wide range.

How to Choose Taper for Your Guitar

The simplest approach is to follow the traditional layout: audio taper for volume, linear taper for tone. This is what most stock electric guitars use, and it works well for most players.

But there is no rule against experimenting. Some players prefer a linear taper for volume because they want a more direct response, especially for blending pickups or for effects that respond to the knob's position. Others use audio taper for tone to get a more dramatic change early in the sweep, which can be useful for quickly switching from a warm to a bright sound.

How to Know What You Have and How to Change It

If you want to know whether a guitar uses audio or linear taper, you can measure the resistance at the center of the knob travel with a multimeter. If the resistance is close to the midpoint of the full value, it is linear. If it is significantly less than that, it is audio. However, you don't need to open up the guitar to enjoy it; you can also listen to how the knob behaves.

Replacing a pot is a straightforward job if you have basic soldering skills. You can find detailed steps in our guide on replacing guitar volume and tone pots. The taper is marked on the side of the pot, usually as 'A' for audio or 'B' for linear, but check the datasheet if you are unsure.

Mixing Tapers and Custom Wiring

Many electric guitars use audio taper for both volume and tone, especially on modern models. Vintage-style guitars often use linear taper for tone. You can mix and match freely, and some players even install a push-pull pot that chooses between tapers.

If you are building or upgrading a guitar, think about how you use each control. For volume swells, an audio taper is almost always better. For a tone knob that you sweep while playing, a linear taper gives you more consistent positions. For a tone knob that you set once, either will work, but audio taper can give you a wider usable range.

The right choice also depends on the guitar and pickups. A high-output humbucker may benefit from a different taper than a single-coil. Explore our guides on electric guitars and beginner electric guitars to see how different models are configured.

What to pick for your use

Questions

What is the difference between audio taper and linear taper?

Audio taper changes resistance logarithmically, so it provides a smooth change in perceived volume. Linear taper changes resistance at a constant rate, which is more predictable for tone control.

Why is audio taper used for volume controls?

Audio taper matches the ear's non-linear response to loudness, so turning the knob gives an even change in perceived volume from clean to full. A linear pot would make the volume jump quickly early and then barely change later.

Can I use a linear taper pot for volume?

Yes, but it will feel different. You'll have less control at low volumes, and the sweep will be more abrupt. Some players use linear for volume if they want a very direct response, but most prefer audio.

How do I know which taper my guitar has?

Measure the resistance at the center of the knob travel with a multimeter. If it is close to the midpoint of the full resistance, it is linear; if it is significantly less, it is audio. You can also listen to how the volume and tone knobs behave, or look for the taper code on the pot body.

Does the taper affect the tone of the guitar?

The taper affects how the control responds, but it doesn't change the signal tone at any fixed setting. It only changes how the knob feels as you rotate it. For tone controls, the taper changes how quickly the treble is rolled off, which can affect the usable range.

Are audio taper and logarithmic taper the same thing?

Yes, they are used interchangeably. Audio taper pots are designed to approximate a logarithmic response to match human hearing, which is why they're also called log pots.