250K or 500K pot for JB

250K or 500K pot for JB

  • 250K Volume POT in LP style guitar and JB sounds dynamic

    Votes: 1 5.3%
  • 250K Volume POT in LP style guitar and JB sounds dull

    Votes: 1 5.3%
  • 250K Volume POT in Strat style guitar and JB sounds dynamic

    Votes: 3 15.8%
  • 250K Volume POT in Strat style guitar and JB sounds dull

    Votes: 2 10.5%
  • 500K Volume POT in LP style guitar and JB sounds dynamic

    Votes: 5 26.3%
  • 500K Volume POT in LP style guitar and JB sounds too bright

    Votes: 3 15.8%
  • 500K Volume POT in Strat style guitar and JB sounds dynamic

    Votes: 2 10.5%
  • 500K Volume POT in Strat style guitar and JB sounds too bright

    Votes: 2 10.5%

  • Total voters
    19
Re: 250K or 500K pot for JB

250k all the way... however i went strat style close as it gets to an rg on that list from what i saw
 
Re: 250K or 500K pot for JB

Hey Chi3f . . . LTNS. :)

Anyway, for anyone interested, here's a short clip of my JB done on my Genny, which has the variable load control.

The first half, (approx 30 secs), is with a 100k load, and the second half is with a 600k load. You may or may not be able to hear a difference. Its subtle.

By the way, this is a pathetic attempt at Satriani's ZZ's Song. :laugh2:

JB load test
 
Re: 250K or 500K pot for JB

Whats the difference between backing a 500 k pot off, and running a 250 k on full?
 
Re: 250K or 500K pot for JB

Its not the same at all. A pot in a guitar serves two distinct functions:

1. A voltage divider that determines how much of the pickups voltage makes it out of the guitar.

2. The pickups "load". With a 500k control, the load stays at a constant 500k, regardless of where you turn the knob.

The exception to the above is in typical LP dual-volume control wiring. In that case, the "load" does, in fact, increase as you turn the volume down.

In my Genny, I've converted the volume control to a variable load control,
as you can see in this thread:

My Genny wiring

Edit: btw - what you're describing is relevant in a tone control. A 500k tone control set on "5" is exactly the same as a 250k tone control set on "10". Its just with a volume control, that its different.
 
Last edited:
Re: 250K or 500K pot for JB

ArtieToo said:
Its not the same at all. A pot in a guitar serves two distinct functions:

1. A voltage divider that determines how much of the pickups voltage makes it out of the guitar.

2. The pickups "load". With a 500k control, the load stays at a constant 500k, regardless of where you turn the knob.

The exception to the above is in typical LP dual-volume control wiring. In that case, the "load" does, in fact, increase as you turn the volume down.

In my Genny, I've converted the volume control to a variable load control,
as you can see in this thread:

My Genny wiring

Edit: btw - what you're describing is relevant in a tone control. A 500k tone control set on "5" is exactly the same as a 250k tone control set on "10". Its just with a volume control, that its different.

Thanks artie.

I didn't see the volume part in the poll :smack:
 
Re: 250K or 500K pot for JB

I Gotta use a 250K with a JB in any guitar.
 
Re: 250K or 500K pot for JB

Gotta go with 300k volume pots in just about any LP for me. I like the thicker/creamier tone you get with the 300k volume pots and I notice no lose of articulation.
 
Re: 250K or 500K pot for JB

500K. I can't imagine how anyone could actually prefer 250K if they compared both in the same guitar. Lew
 
Re: 250K or 500K pot for JB

Lew, I honestly have all the clarity and thickness I need with 300k pots in an LP. 500ks always seem to thin things out.
 
Re: 250K or 500K pot for JB

papersoul said:
Lew, I honestly have all the clarity and thickness I need with 300k pots in an LP. 500ks always seem to thin things out.

You gotta be comfortable or you won't play your best. :) I just can't stand losing the sparkle if I know it's there in the pickup but I'm throwing it away with a 250K pot. I prefer 59B's because the JB's do not have alot of genuine sparkle or high end...though they DO have that ear-ittating mid/treble peak :laugh2: that people describe as being "bright".

250K pots tame that ear-ittating peak...but also kill the little bit of sparkle the JB has.

I know Seymour uses the 250K pots...but his JB is in a Tele!

It's all personal preference though. :)

Lew
 
Last edited:
Re: 250K or 500K pot for JB

Lewguitar said:
You gotta be comfortable or you won't play your best. :) I just can't stand losing the sparkle if I know it's there in the pickup but I'm throwing it away with a 250K pot. I prefer 59B's because the JB's do not have alot of genuine sparkle or high end...though they DO have that ear-ittating mid/treble peak :laugh2: that people describe as being "bright".

250K pots tame that ear-ittating peak...but also kill the little bit of sparkle the JB has.

I know Seymour uses the 250K pots...but his JB is in a Tele!

It's all personal preference though. :)

Lew

I hear ya Lew, but I prefer the C-5 anyway! Ha. Seriously, would you be able to get me an over wound C-5 and 59 in nickel?
 
Re: 250K or 500K pot for JB

papersoul said:
I hear ya Lew, but I prefer the C-5 anyway! Ha. Seriously, would you be able to get me an over wound C-5 and 59 in nickel?

I have some 59's and C5's in nickel and wax potted in stock. But if you want an overwound one, it's faster for you to ust order them direct from MJ in the Custom Shop. How much hooter do you need the 59N? You could get a 59B and use it as a neck pickup is all I'm thinking. Thanks! Lew
 
Re: 250K or 500K pot for JB

Lew, my thinking is the C-5 over wound would add more midrange according to Seymour himself - this may be my all time favortie pickup! I have a C-5 open coil. My thoughts are to have the Custom shop take this pickup cover it with nickel after over winding by about 10%. I am just hoping a 59 would balance fine with it, ya know? I could order the 59 from you because I like you. :) Seriously, you have been nothing but cool to me and it's about time I ordered something from you!
 
Re: 250K or 500K pot for JB

papersoul said:
Lew, my thinking is the C-5 over wound would add more midrange according to Seymour himself - this may be my all time favortie pickup! I have a C-5 open coil. My thoughts are to have the Custom shop take this pickup cover it with nickel after over winding by about 10%. I am just hoping a 59 would balance fine with it, ya know? I could order the 59 from you because I like you. :) Seriously, you have been nothing but cool to me and it's about time I ordered something from you!

Listen to you! :laugh2: Thanks!

Gearjoneser has mentioned the overwound C5 thing too. A stock one is 14.4K. A stock JB is 16.4K. I think they're both wound with the same gauge wire...but Duncan is secretive about that stuff. If you overwind it to 16.4K, I'd guess you'd end up with a JB. You think maybe 15.4K or something like that? I'm sure you'd get more mids...you should give it a try.

Lew
 
Re: 250K or 500K pot for JB

The thing about the C-5 as Gerjoneser mentioned is that it feels like a medium output pickup. I am thinking over winding would balance it a bit more like the Custom. I don't like the icy highs of the Custom and the clinical feel in my opinion. I just want a C-5 with a touch thicker mids- but not too close to a JB. I have had the C-5, Burstbucker Pros, and Rio BBQ/Texas in my LP and I thnk an over wound C-5 with a 59 neck might hit the spot. Plus, this is cheaper than going the boutique route! I can't get myself to spend that kind of money no matter how much those guys talk em up! I am also thnking I could find some pots sound somewhere between 300 and 500...400? 450? to use with the C-5/59. This would be for the volume pots and orange drops. Can you do all this? I would have to go the over wound route with the shop first. Let me think this through bro.

I think the bump in mids would bring the bass a little more in check and smooth the highs over with the C-5. The Custom shop says they usually do a 10% over wind on the C-5 for people.
 
Re: 250K or 500K pot for JB

Lewguitar said:
You could get a 59B and use it as a neck pickup is all I'm thinking. Thanks! Lew


Wouldn't that be EQ'd different as it is my understanding that the bridge is EQ'd differently than it's corresponding neck pickup to account for less bass in the bridge??

Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
 
Re: 250K or 500K pot for JB

Ohhhh, now I have to try the JB with a 250K pot again! I have it in my RG with 500k's now and it's pretty bright but still fat. Leads sing like no other pickup!

Maybe I need another Les Paul for my JB... :rolleyes: :smack: oh no! GAS! :yell:
 
Re: 250K or 500K pot for JB

Think the guy with 1 Megers in his guitar is looking at the guys with 500ks any different from the guys with 250ks (LOL)?

Felt like I needed to say that before I said Lew said everything I wanted to say about this…you know...just so it appears like I'm open minded.

Artie really appreciate the sound clip...good info!
 
Re: 250K or 500K pot for JB

Lightning said:
Artie really appreciate the sound clip...good info!

You're welcome. I was beginning to wonder if anyone actually listened to that clip. :laugh2:
 
Back
Top