are high speed pots usable?

nognow

New member
are high speed pots like the YJM and EVH usable? meaning are they still comfortable to adjust volume? are are they so slippery they can barely be used for anything other than 0 to 10 and back at lightning speed?

Thanks!
 
Re: are high speed pots usable?

You do realise you are asking the opinion of people who might have a polar opposite view of what constitutes 'usable' based on how they play and need the volume control.......how are you going to find out which of the replies is from someone uses the controls precisely the way you do???
 
Re: are high speed pots usable?

I have similar pots in some of my guitars

For me it doesn't really matter, it's just nice that you can turn it fast to get to the desired level more quickly

The downfall is that if the knob is poorly placed, your strumming hand can easily graze over the knob and change your setting. For example I can't stand the volume knob placement on standard Strats, it's right next to the bridge pickup, right in the way of my picking hand, and I can never strum without hitting it. I'm glad I have a high friction pot in my Strat actually, LOL
 
Re: are high speed pots usable?

I don't find them particularly useable, but I generally use my pots a LOT during an average set, I rarely run them at 10.

I think they are great if you are the sort of player who mostly uses his volume knob to mute (either at 10 or 0).
 
Re: are high speed pots usable?

I have speed pots on my Beast. They are Killer! My LP knobs drive me crazy with being slow and hard to get to in a hurry.

That Beast for me has the best volume knob style/shape, location, and speed of anything else I've ever played. I just push my strumming hand straight down and the Fender style knurled dome grabs the backside of my pinkie finger. I've been playing it so long I can get it within a point of where I want to be without looking just by the feel of how far up or down I roll it along my finger. This method works great for lots of stuff but is nice for high gain work without a gate to kill it in a hurry. At this point it is permanently oxidized for visual reference at about 7.5 which is pretty much my standard position.
 
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Re: are high speed pots usable?

My electrics have YJM pots for volume and tone. Love em. Before those came out, it was difficult to find the pots I need in a store...I'd have to go through a bin of CTS pots to find the ones that turn that easily. Now I don't have to.
 
Re: are high speed pots usable?

My electrics have YJM pots for volume and tone. Love em. Before those came out, it was difficult to find the pots I need in a store...I'd have to go through a bin of CTS pots to find the ones that turn that easily. Now I don't have to.
My thoughts exactly. ;)
 
Re: are high speed pots usable?

My electrics have YJM pots for volume and tone. Love em. Before those came out, it was difficult to find the pots I need in a store...I'd have to go through a bin of CTS pots to find the ones that turn that easily. Now I don't have to.
My thoughts exactly. ;)
 
Re: are high speed pots usable?

My electrics have YJM pots for volume and tone. Love em. Before those came out, it was difficult to find the pots I need in a store...I'd have to go through a bin of CTS pots to find the ones that turn that easily. Now I don't have to.

I found Fender push/pulls (at least the three I had) to be uncomfortably light to turn. Made me paranoid about accidentally flipping them. I remember reading somewhere those are CTS made?
 
Re: are high speed pots usable?

Actually, I am not sure. I really don't accidentally turn them, but I purposely turn both a lot (pinky swells on the tone knob...fun).
 
Re: are high speed pots usable?

Actually, I am not sure. I really don't accidentally turn them, but I purposely turn both a lot (pinky swells on the tone knob...fun).

I have bottle caps glued on my strat knobs to make use of push/pulls easier, makes it significantly faster and lighter to adjust too, so those were too much. I've been pleased with Alphas, really much better you'd expect for the price.
 
Re: are high speed pots usable?

I found the CTS pots i got from warmoth I think were very stiff to turn with my pinky. The alpha pots that come stock have been medium stiffness although these got super fast after 2yrs of use. The bourns push pull pots I have had also have been smooth to turn. Recently I have acquired bourns PDA24 series pots that similar feel to alpha ones, havent since got around to installing those yet though.

I much prefer for fast volume changes an actual volume pedal, its more convenient for me. For slow pinky swells, the alpha ones have been the best​ for me.
 
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