Looking at replacing the electronics on my Fender Modern Player Tele that has a humbucker bridge, strat single coil in the middle, and tele neck pickup. From what I've read so far, 250k pots are better for single coils, while 500k is better for humbuckers. In my situation though, I have only 1 volume and 1 tone. What would work best? I'll also be using a push-pull tone knob to switch the neck pickup on and off, regardless of the switch position, if that matters. Thanks for any help!
250k or 500k pots for a HSS configuration with 1 volume and 1 tone?
- Thread starter 46andCruz
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atf
New member
Re: 250k or 500k pots for a HSS configuration with 1 volume and 1 tone?
I have 500k pots on one hss guitar,and it sounds bright on the single coils, which may cut well through a band scenario, and 250k pots on another tele with higher output single coils, the latter sounds like p90s to my ears.
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I have 500k pots on one hss guitar,and it sounds bright on the single coils, which may cut well through a band scenario, and 250k pots on another tele with higher output single coils, the latter sounds like p90s to my ears.
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Clint 55
OH THE DOUBLE THICK GLAZE!
Re: 250k or 500k pots for a HSS configuration with 1 volume and 1 tone?
There's also 300k which can be relatively bright. You could go with a 300k volume and stay with a 250k push pull for the tone and have tone control over all your pickups. If you no load the tone, it will be brighter yet.
There's also 300k which can be relatively bright. You could go with a 300k volume and stay with a 250k push pull for the tone and have tone control over all your pickups. If you no load the tone, it will be brighter yet.
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Lewguitar
New member
Re: 250k or 500k pots for a HSS configuration with 1 volume and 1 tone?
Lots of options.
1. I might go with 250K volume and find a bridge pickup that sounds good with 250K. Like the Pearly Gates or (if you like it) the JB.
2. If I went with 250K I might remove the tone pot from the neck and middle and use it only on the bridge pickup. You could use a 500K tone pot if you do that.
I don't like Alnico 5 Strat and Tele pickups with 500K. Too bright.
Why is your neck pickup turned off and on with a push pull pot? So you can combine it with the bridge pickup?
3. I'd probably replace the selector switch with a 5 way Schaller Megaswitch.
In the middle position, instead of the middle pickup you'll get the neck and bridge combined.
4. I've never done it it, but John Suhr uses a resistor on a normal 5 way switch so that the neck and middle pickups see 250K and the bridge pickup sees 500K.
That diagram can be searched for and found online.
Lots of options.
1. I might go with 250K volume and find a bridge pickup that sounds good with 250K. Like the Pearly Gates or (if you like it) the JB.
2. If I went with 250K I might remove the tone pot from the neck and middle and use it only on the bridge pickup. You could use a 500K tone pot if you do that.
I don't like Alnico 5 Strat and Tele pickups with 500K. Too bright.
Why is your neck pickup turned off and on with a push pull pot? So you can combine it with the bridge pickup?
3. I'd probably replace the selector switch with a 5 way Schaller Megaswitch.
In the middle position, instead of the middle pickup you'll get the neck and bridge combined.
4. I've never done it it, but John Suhr uses a resistor on a normal 5 way switch so that the neck and middle pickups see 250K and the bridge pickup sees 500K.
That diagram can be searched for and found online.
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Re: 250k or 500k pots for a HSS configuration with 1 volume and 1 tone?
What would work best is what sounds best to you.
If you have 500k pots and the bucker sounds ok but the singles sound way too bright, try a 300k vol pot (ala Gibson). If the singles still sound a bit bright and/or if the bucker sounds a bit dull, try a 500k vol pot and have the bridge pup bypass the tone pot (the tone pot only controls the singles). That way you can adjust the tone to shape the sound of the singles any way that they sound good to you and to go well with the bucker.
What would work best is what sounds best to you.
If you have 500k pots and the bucker sounds ok but the singles sound way too bright, try a 300k vol pot (ala Gibson). If the singles still sound a bit bright and/or if the bucker sounds a bit dull, try a 500k vol pot and have the bridge pup bypass the tone pot (the tone pot only controls the singles). That way you can adjust the tone to shape the sound of the singles any way that they sound good to you and to go well with the bucker.
Lewguitar
New member
Re: 250k or 500k pots for a HSS configuration with 1 volume and 1 tone?
Gotta have a tone pot for the bridge pickup. At least I do. Dunno about the OP, but for me that's the way to remove the edgey sizzle most bridge pickups have. And the way to sweeten the bridge pickup's sound if you like the tones Clapton got with Cream or Eric Johnson style violin tone.
Gotta have a tone pot for the bridge pickup. At least I do. Dunno about the OP, but for me that's the way to remove the edgey sizzle most bridge pickups have. And the way to sweeten the bridge pickup's sound if you like the tones Clapton got with Cream or Eric Johnson style violin tone.
Re: 250k or 500k pots for a HSS configuration with 1 volume and 1 tone?
But if he's only got one tone control you wouldn't want it on the bucker with the single bypassing the tone pot. And you wouldn't necessarily want the same tone pot controlling singles and the bucker.
I definitely get what you're saying about getting that woman tone or violin tone, however. I suppose if it were my guitar I'd add another pot.
But if he's only got one tone control you wouldn't want it on the bucker with the single bypassing the tone pot. And you wouldn't necessarily want the same tone pot controlling singles and the bucker.
I definitely get what you're saying about getting that woman tone or violin tone, however. I suppose if it were my guitar I'd add another pot.
Re: 250k or 500k pots for a HSS configuration with 1 volume and 1 tone?
Yeah, there are a lot of things that you "could" do. Concentric pots are not very useful in performance settings (I don't like them at all). You can also wire resisters on pups to change the individual pup DCRs (again, I'm not a fan of this either).
Yeah, there are a lot of things that you "could" do. Concentric pots are not very useful in performance settings (I don't like them at all). You can also wire resisters on pups to change the individual pup DCRs (again, I'm not a fan of this either).
