250k V. 500k tone pot with an SH4-JB?

[MattW]

From searching the forum I gather that a 250K pot is like a 500K pot turned half way down (at least this is what I have been led to believe) and that it is standard to use 500K pots with humbuckers, however, I have also heard that the Seymour Duncan SH-4 JB is a relatively bright pick-up and as my previous tone control had most of the change bunched up at one end of the turn I thought I might try a 250k pot. For those who have the JB, which pots do you use? And for anyone else knowledgeable in this area - which pot would you recommend? Thanks again, (I promise this might be me last question )


Matt:smokin:

 

[sufferinrewind]

Re: 250k V. 500k tone pot with an SH4-JB?

Actually a 250k pot is like a 500k pot on about 7.

 

[MattW]

Re: 250k V. 500k tone pot with an SH4-JB?

Actually a 250k pot is like a 500k pot on about 7.

Ah ok, that's probably a little better than it being at half - I wasn't sure about cutting so much of the high end away. Just for reference my guitar has either an Ash or Poplar body and a Rosewood neck, I'm not sure if that makes it naturally bright or not though!

 

[sufferinrewind]

Re: 250k V. 500k tone pot with an SH4-JB?

Ash and poplar are generally a little brighter sounding than alder, but wood varies. You can have an abnormally dark sounding ash guitar or whatever.

The thing that most don't like about the JB is it's high midrange content. That's what most people are talking about when they say that it is a "bright" pickup. It's not really bright, it just has nasal, piercing high mids.

 

[saladin]

Re: 250k V. 500k tone pot with an SH4-JB?

The JB was designed to be used with a 250k pot.

 

[metlking]

Re: 250k V. 500k tone pot with an SH4-JB?

Personally I love the JB in a strat with a 500k volume pot and 250k tone pots or no tone pot at all on the bridge PUP. I rarely use tone pots. Not too bright or "ICE PICKY" (as some say) to me, of course that may be adjusted out thru my amp settings.

 

[Aceman]

Re: 250k V. 500k tone pot with an SH4-JB?

7 = 250 (actually it's like 7.3 or so....

 

[Artie]

Re: 250k V. 500k tone pot with an SH4-JB?

From searching the forum I gather that a 250K pot is like a 500K pot turned half way down . . .

Actually a 250k pot is like a 500k pot on about 7.

7 = 250 (actually it's like 7.3 or so....

Actually, this isn't correct, but its a popular misconception.

What you're saying is true only on a tone pot. On a volume pot, a 250k is never like a 500k at any knob position, and vice-versa. The total pot resistance acts as a "load" on the pup and a 250k pot is always 250k regardless of where you have the knob set. Same for a 500k volume pot. The "load", which is what affects the pups character, never changes. You must physically change the pot to hear that affect.

 

[Aceman]

Re: 250k V. 500k tone pot with an SH4-JB?

Good point Artie. The original thread does appear to be refering to the tone though...

 

[davedvdy]

Re: 250k V. 500k tone pot with an SH4-JB?

Mine on my strat I believe is at 250k, I wouldn't want it to go above that.

 

[Artie]

Re: 250k V. 500k tone pot with an SH4-JB?

Good point Artie. The original thread does appear to be refering to the tone though...

I believe you're right. As Roseanne Roseannadanna would say . . . "nevermind."

 

[Peter Crossley]

Re: 250k V. 500k tone pot with an SH4-JB?

the 250k pots are great as tone controls, I use them on all my guitars and I use a lot of different SD pickups. I have gotr one with a JB and its fine. what the pot actually does is bleed a little of the higher attenuations. if you stick a 0.01mfd cap on it it should sound real smooth. if it sounds like all the tone is bunched up at one end of the pot, then you are using a linear potentiometer. You should always use Logarhytmic pots for volume and tone, then the variation sounds even across the scale. something to do with the way we hear, I believe we "hear logarhtymically" go figure. the human bod is a strange piece of equipment, give me a guitar anyday.
Pete

 

[MattW]

Re: 250k V. 500k tone pot with an SH4-JB?

Thanks for the replies everyone, I'm thinking I will go for the 250k tone pot (+500k vol) and see how that turns out. At the moment I have stock pickups and a 500k vol & tone...thinking about it my guitar does seem a bit bright - I just forget that I have treble turned down! So hopefully this is the right decision.:smokin: