When wiring a pot as a variable resistor...

[greiswig]

...what is the difference whether one shorts the wiper to the unused lug or not? Is it better to tie those, or not?

Thanks!

[Andy Le Blanc]

potentiometers may be either linear or nonlinear
audio taper pots follow the human hearing equal loudness curve
shorting one end of the pot to the wiper will modify this

[greiswig]

Okay, but for a linear pot?

[Andy Le Blanc]

shouldn't be an issue its linear
a audio or logimetric pot is used for its responce
there is only a 10 or 20% change in resistance value
between the common and the wiper when the pot is 50%
rotated

[Firestorm]

I suppose the other thing to consider is that if you don't connect the unused lug to the wiper and the wiper loses contact with the track (junk, dirt, etc.), the pot goes open. If the wiper is connected to one end and the same thing happens, the pot won't work, but the circuit still will. Example: if the middle pot in a tone stack opens up because of dirt, with an open lug the amp will sound like it turned into giant Tweed Champ, with that lug connected to the wiper, it will sound like you turned your midrange all the way up.
But that sort thing only happens one time in a gazillion.

[jjman]

When used in a bias or presence circuit you are "safer" using the "unused" lug for the reason above.

[greiswig]

Very helpful, guys. Thanks!