250K or 500K Pot for JB/Jazz setup? Also, switch options?

Brow

Brow

Active member
Hey guys.

I'm currently building a new HH Pickguard for my old Strat (Mahogany and Ash body, Maple neck and fingerboard) with JB and Jazz pickups in it, and was wondering if I should use 250K or 500K Volume and tone pots? I've heard that the JB was originally made to use 250K pots but I'm not sure if this is true, or if a 250K pot would work ok for a Jazz neck pup.

Does anyone have any advice for me at all?

Also, would a standard 3 way Tele switch work ok in a strat, or is a Strat 3 way switch available? As I planned on wiring the guitar up very simply with only each pickup available on it's own, or both on when the switch is in the middle.

Thanx for any advice.

Craig
 
Re: 250K or 500K Pot for JB/Jazz setup? Also, switch options?

Seymour uses 250K pots in the Tele-Gib with Jazz/JB pickups. I think that makes the pickups sound dull and removes the sparkle. But what do I know? :smack: I always install 500K pots and new 500K tone pots with push/pull switches to split the coils when I install that set. The JB especially sounds great split...as does the neck Jazz. I do not like these pickups with 250K pots! I always use 500K and a .02 tone cap. Lew
 
Re: 250K or 500K Pot for JB/Jazz setup? Also, switch options?

I agree with Lew. The quality I like best about the JB is its "sparkle". (To steal Lew's word.) :laugh2:

However, it may not be a huge difference. Here's my JB clip using both a 100k pot, followed by a 600k pot - or vice-versa. I can't remeber which is which. If you can't tell, it doesn't matter. ;)

JB load test
 
Re: 250K or 500K Pot for JB/Jazz setup? Also, switch options?

Brow, I'm having this debate myself (and with myself). Mine are in my LP. When I play them together clean, they sound fabulous to me. They actually sound as close to acoustic as I've ever approached on an electric. They definitely have that "sparkle" going on. I have 500k pots all around. My amp has always been "boomy" but with these it is not.

However, for a real overdriven sound, I'm finding the JB to be a tad too piercing on the G-string. I'm not sure this makes a whole lot of sense. But I really have to dial up the bass to even out the sound. So, that is why I'm considering a 250k pot. But, again, WTH do I know, either?

I think the final answer is to buy yet another guitar, because if my T-shirt can be believed, you can never own too many. I'm thinking my current LP for jingly-jangly, and another to load some other pups in it for Rokken.

Not sure this helps
 
Re: 250K or 500K Pot for JB/Jazz setup? Also, switch options?

Lewguitar said:
Seymour uses 250K pots in the Tele-Gib with Jazz/JB pickups.
Click to expand...


Lew, pardon the silly question. What's a Tele-Gib? Is that a mahogany Telecaster?
 
Re: 250K or 500K Pot for JB/Jazz setup? Also, switch options?

JammerMatt said:
What's a Tele-Gib?
Click to expand...

I'm not absolutely positive, but I think its just a dual-humbucker Tele.

Seymour01.jpg



Seymour02.jpg
 
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Re: 250K or 500K Pot for JB/Jazz setup? Also, switch options?

Hey Guys.

Thanx for the replies.

I guess I'll try the 500k pots with the JB and Jazz 1st and then if it's too bright I can always switch down to some 250K pots instead :)

Thanx for your help guys.

Craig
 
Re: 250K or 500K Pot for JB/Jazz setup? Also, switch options?

I use the JB with 300K pots with my all mahogany body. It kind of takes the edge off its trebliness when it's split.
 
Re: 250K or 500K Pot for JB/Jazz setup? Also, switch options?

I just changed the pots on my LP Studio from the stock gibson ones to 500k, I noticed a little more top end, but it's not what I would call shrill, you can always turn the tone down a little if it is too bright though...
 
Re: 250K or 500K Pot for JB/Jazz setup? Also, switch options?

You may want to think about the wiring Ernie Ball uses in some Music Man guitars. It uses a 5-way blade selector that allows you to select:
1-Bridge HB
2-BridGE HB (split)
3-Bridge HB + Neck HB
4-Neck HB (split)
5-Neck HB
 
Re: 250K or 500K Pot for JB/Jazz setup? Also, switch options?

Thats for the new replies guys.

Mongrollo, that was a wiring scheme I was thinking of after reading that both the JB and the Jazz sound good split :) Will a standard Strat 5 way switch allow me to do this?

I've changed pups in guitars before, but haven't had much to do with the wiring of switches. So sorry if my questions seem a little basic ;)

Craig
 
Re: 250K or 500K Pot for JB/Jazz setup? Also, switch options?

Brow said:
Thats for the new replies guys.

Mongrollo, that was a wiring scheme I was thinking of after reading that both the JB and the Jazz sound good split :) Will a standard Strat 5 way switch allow me to do this?

I've changed pups in guitars before, but haven't had much to do with the wiring of switches. So sorry if my questions seem a little basic ;)

Craig
Click to expand...

If I am not mistaken It will allow you to have positions 1, 2, 4 and 5. BUT the position 3 will be empty, so the answer is no :smack:. Closest thing I can get is:

1- Bridge HB (full)
2- Bridge HB (split) + Neck HB (split)
2- Bridge HB (full) + Neck HB (full)
4- Bridge HB (split) + Neck HB (split)
5- Neck HB (full)

But positions 2 and 4 will be the same! :smack: :smack: :smack:

I have to think a bit more about this...
 
Re: 250K or 500K Pot for JB/Jazz setup? Also, switch options?

mongrollo said:
If I am not mistaken It will allow you to have positions 1, 2, 4 and 5. BUT the position 3 will be empty, so the answer is no :smack:. Closest thing I can get is:

1- Bridge HB (full)
2- Bridge HB (split) + Neck HB (split)
2- Bridge HB (full) + Neck HB (full)
4- Bridge HB (split) + Neck HB (split)
5- Neck HB (full)

But positions 2 and 4 will be the same! :smack: :smack: :smack:

I have to think a bit more about this...
Click to expand...

Thanx for the reply mate :)

I'd appreciate it if you'd let me know if you did think of a way to wire it like you originally stated by using a standard 5 way switch :)

Thanx :)

Craig
 
Re: 250K or 500K Pot for JB/Jazz setup? Also, switch options?

ArtieToo said:
I agree with Lew. The quality I like best about the JB is its "sparkle". (To steal Lew's word.) :laugh2:

However, it may not be a huge difference. Here's my JB clip using both a 100k pot, followed by a 600k pot - or vice-versa. I can't remeber which is which. If you can't tell, it doesn't matter. ;)

JB load test
Click to expand...
thx distorted clip would be cool too!!

i'm using the JB with 500k and disconnected tone pot. I think it's maybe a bit too bright. I'm gonna try 250k which should give me similar result like 500k vol + 500k tone.
 
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Re: 250K or 500K Pot for JB/Jazz setup? Also, switch options?

I guess I'll look into 1 of those Super Switches when I wire up the new pickguard then :D

Thanx for the help guys.

Craig
 
Re: 250K or 500K Pot for JB/Jazz setup? Also, switch options?

JB's middle name is 250K

J "250K" B ... fat badass
 
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