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Which pots?


Tomarse

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Ello

 

Just getting some new pots for my guitar that's coming in a few days. Plan on getting some asian spec/metric Bourns. Guitar will have 1 volume 1 tone. It's a PRS style guitar with a solid flame maple top but they've recessed both the outside bit and the inside bit...if that makes sense.

I'm just not sure which to get out of these 3:

 

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/potentiometers/6928639/

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/potentiometers/7703068/

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/potentiometers/7703080/

 

 

Any help is much appreciated.

Cheers

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Why are you buying new pots before you even get the guitar????

 

If this is a new guitar, you may as well get some mileage out of the stock controls first. Buying new pots of the same value has zero effect on sound quality. None! Pots are variable resistors. All they do is vary signal strength. The only thing that makes one different then another, is the taper and how well they are mechanically made.

 

One have more plastic parts inside or the carbon resistor pad may be thinner and wear out quicker then a new one. I wouldn't even bother with then till you start hearing some scratchiness, and even then they are usually good for a cleaning or two before replacement. If they have allot of schlock in them, wiggly or don't feel good turning it would be another reason to swap them, but just to do it for no reason doesn't make any sense, especially with budget pots. If you're going to change them use pots that will quality pots like CTS which will last you a good 10~50 years. Cheap pots can have issues litterally days after installing them.

 

http://www.stewmac.com/How-To/Online_Resources/Pickups_and_Electronics/Which_control_pot_to_choose.html

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Pots is pots.

Unless you want to change the value, like say swapping 250k pots for 500k pots, it makes no difference. The value is what makes a pot.

 

Well, yes and no. The resistance value is important as it dictates the range of effective action. Pots come in two tapers - linear and logarithmic - normally you want log because it emulates the way your ear works. Shaft diameter and threading (usually 1/4 inch with 3/8 threading) and shaft length (which makes a big difference depending on how thick your top or pickguard is). Also whether the shaft is solid or split makes a difference how the knob attaches. And then you can add funky push-pull if you want to switch something...

 

But as someone earlier asked, why replace the pots on a new guitar - I assume they work just fine.

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These particular chinese guitars are notorious for having crappy electrics.

I'm going to change the pickups and stuff anyway so I'd thought I'd change the pots and stuff whilst I'm at it, fun little experiment (never done this before).

Also, I can't use CTS because I don't want to widen the holes, Bourns are of decent quality so no worries.

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