I have an idea...
I recently purchased a Tesoro Vaquero I'm having trouble with the GB. I took it out for the first time today, but I can't get it to ground balance. I've read through the manual and I'm following every instruction. The ground I'm balancing on is free of metal. Regardless of where I turn the GB knob, I get a negative feedback. I've even cranked it all the way positive and its the same Negative feedback. Any idea whats going on? please help!
I'm sure that you know this, but I thought I'd mention it anyway. Since Tesoro uses 3¾ turn ground balance pots
with no end stops..sometimes new users are a bit puzzled on where to start. If those pots had actual end stops, it would be lots easier for the new guy.
Try this.. Turn the GB knob about SIX full turns CLOCKWISE, then turn it back just one full turn counterclockwise. Recheck your ground balance again in all metal. If everything is working properly, you should now get a positive response as you're only one turn back from maximum positive. If you still don't have a positive response, again turn the knob SIX turns clockwise, leave it there and again check ground balance... You should be at max positive there.
A positive response will be an increase in threshold volume as the coil approaches the ground, and a negative response will be when the threshold tone goes quieter or "nulls".
IF you STILL have a negative response (where the audio nulls when the coil approaches the ground), then you may have a problem with your Vaquero. Not likely a Vaquero problem though; they're pretty trouble free.
Anyway, give that a try, then let us know what happens. Learning to ground balance is a little confusing at first, but once you know how, it just takes seconds.