500k pots question

[wwit]

Hi all.

I just got done installing a Hot rails bridge and Little 59 neck in my Squier VM Tele Special. I installed as per the SD instructions using a 4way switch, 250k CTS pots and a .47 Orange Drop.

Sound is way too dark and muffled. UHG! So it looks like I have to tear it apart and install 500k to brighten things up.

Do have to replace both pots or would just the volume suffice?

Thanks

 

[PoorMan]

Re: 500k pots question

It depends how much you want to brighten it. both pots will be brighter than just changing one.

But the problem is probably the cap. Duncan calls for a .047, not .47. .47 is SUPER dark.

Additionally I find I prefer .022 in the bridge over .047 anyway.

 

[dominus]

Re: 500k pots question

I'm guessing that he did use a .047, but 500k pots and .022 cap are what I'd recommend for humbuckers.

 

[wwit]

Re: 500k pots question

Sorry, it is a .047 cap.

It bums me a bit that on the SD wiring schematic it does show to use 250k pots with humbuckers.

I used the Telecaster, 2 Humbucker, 4 way switch sheet.

I have MS, so what used to take me a couple hours to do, like wiring pups, now takes 2 days. I do have some long shaft 500k pots in my stash, but I think their to long.

So Ill order a couple 500's and try again :cool2:

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: 500k pots question

Hi all.

I just got done installing a Hot rails bridge and Little 59 neck in my Squier VM Tele Special. I installed as per the SD instructions using a 4way switch, 250k CTS pots and a .47 Orange Drop.

Sound is way too dark and muffled. UHG! So it looks like I have to tear it apart and install 500k to brighten things up.

Do have to replace both pots or would just the volume suffice?

Thanks

You could leave the 250k tone pots,but yes switch the volume pot up to 500k.I Like a .022 cap for being the most versatile value...Sometimes I'll even go .015 on a humbucker neck pickup..I usually don't use higher than .033 though.

 

[hamerfan]

Re: 500k pots question

Sorry, it is a .047 cap.

It bums me a bit that on the SD wiring schematic it does show to use 250k pots with humbuckers.

So Ill order a couple 500's and try again :cool2:

It's all up to your personal taste. There is nothing written in stone. I use 300k for the bridge and try to get 1meg for neck (my current one reads over 600k !). 1 meg custom CTS are availiable thru torres engineering but they demand 36 bucks for transportation.

 

[Varg]

Re: 500k pots question

Will it make a huge difference? OP says the sound is "way too dark and muffled". In my experience, changing pot values makes a difference, yes, but enough of a difference to save something that is "way too dark and muffled"?

 

[wwit]

Re: 500k pots question

I ordered a couple 500k CTS pots and .022 caps and will see what happens with those.

Thanks all

:cool2:

 

[wwit]

Re: 500k pots question

So StewMac order came in finally w/new pots and caps.

Tossed them in and it sounds much better. I used a new 4way switch and it sounds like a hot Tele in position 2. And this guitar now loves clean settings.

I have replaced a lot of pups over the years and it seemed odd to me to use the 250k, but thats what the SD diagram said to use. After looking a quite a few other diagrams, it appears that who ever makes them up for the SD site, just got lazy and transcribed the single coil sheet to the HB sheet and left the pots as 250k. The diagrahm I used even shows a 4way and labled 3 way. I found a lot of them done this way.

I hate to sound like a broken record, but i cant be the only one that found this to be very frustrating. :banghead: