Blueman has converted me! I love the 250k volume pots on my Les Pauls.

Re: Blueman has converted me! I love the 250k volume pots on my Les Pauls.

Wow, stupid thread.

Add me to the "turn the tone knob down for less treble" camp. Why limit myself by cutting the highs across the board? I probably adjust my tone knobs at least once per song to sit right in the mix at a given moment.

I'd also like to point out the misconception that many people have about treble being annoying/ice-picky/etc. When a guitar sounds too spiky, it's usually the high mids that are the culprit, not the high treble, and certainly not the frequencies you lose by switching to 250k pots.

We are most sensitive to sounds in the human vocal range, which tend to fall into the high mid category in guitar terms. When these sensitive frequencies are too strong, it sounds very cutting and irritating to us. Treble frequencies add pop and clarity to guitar tone, and rarely contribute to annoyance/irritation unless they are brutally loud.
 
Re: Blueman has converted me! I love the 250k volume pots on my Les Pauls.

ratherdashing said:
Add me to the "turn the tone knob down for less treble" camp. Why limit myself by cutting the highs across the board? I probably adjust my tone knobs at least once per song to sit right in the mix at a given moment.

I'd also like to point out the misconception that many people have about treble being annoying/ice-picky/etc. When a guitar sounds too spiky, it's usually the high mids that are the culprit, not the high treble, and certainly not the frequencies you lose by switching to 250k pots.

We are most sensitive to sounds in the human vocal range, which tend to fall into the high mid category in guitar terms. When these sensitive frequencies are too strong, it sounds very cutting and irritating to us. Treble frequencies add pop and clarity to guitar tone, and rarely contribute to annoyance/irritation unless they are brutally loud.
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Wow, another stupid post!

Turning down the tone knob does not sound the same as using 250K pots. The treble filtering is different. I've tried bridge PU's with 500K's and I don't like the tones I get turning by down the tone pot. For me it doesn't work. 250K's shave off some of the high end, the part I don't like. It doesn't matter what others players do, this works for me. I do not want to be adjusting tone knobs throughout a night.

I simply don't like a lot of treble; it's not upper mids. It's piercing, screechy, ice pick treble that I find annoying; the high frequencies. More often than not it's somebody not knowing how to EQ an SSS Strat. Trust me, it's annoying. You're telling me what I hear and what I don't like? Interesting.

I really don't want 'pop' in my guitar sound. Not my thing. I want enough treble for bite and crunch, and that's it. I don't want a bright, thin, top heavy sound; my style is lots of midrange punch and a good dose of low end. I want it to hit hard. I do a lot of string bending and vibrato, Peter Green style, and mids give me sustain. When I turn down the mids and add treble, my sustain disappears. That ain't gonna work baby.

I had no idea at the beginning of this thread that my doing things differently than the pack would offend so many people. There's more than one way to do things. Is it a problem for players to know they have options? I don't care what they choose, they should know they have a choice. For some styles, maybe most, a lot of treble is great. For others, a lot of treble isn't so appealing.
 
Re: Blueman has converted me! I love the 250k volume pots on my Les Pauls.

blueman335 said:
Wow, another stupid post!

Turning down the tone knob does not sound the same as using 250K pots. The treble filtering is different. I've tried bridge PU's with 500K's and I don't like the tones I get turning by down the tone pot. For me it doesn't work. 250K's shave off some of the high end, the part I don't like. It doesn't matter what others players do, this works for me. I do not want to be adjusting tone knobs throughout a night.

I simply don't like a lot of treble; it's not upper mids. It's piercing, screechy, ice pick treble that I find annoying; the high frequencies. More often than not it's somebody not knowing how to EQ an SSS Strat. Trust me, it's annoying. You're telling me what I hear and what I don't like? Interesting.

I really don't want 'pop' in my guitar sound. Not my thing. I want enough treble for bite and crunch, and that's it. I don't want a bright, thin, top heavy sound; my style is lots of midrange punch and a good dose of low end. I want it to hit hard. I do a lot of string bending and vibrato, Peter Green style, and mids give me sustain. When I turn down the mids and add treble, my sustain disappears. That ain't gonna work baby.

I had no idea at the beginning of this thread that my doing things differently than the pack would offend so many people. There's more than one way to do things. Is it a problem for players to know they have options? I don't care what they choose, they should know they have a choice. For some styles, maybe most, a lot of treble is great. For others, a lot of treble isn't so appealing.
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How is my post stupid?

Who is offended?

How exactly is the treble filtering different, given that I can easily tailor the specific frequencies rolled off by replacing the tone cap?

Why do you think I'm wrong about high mids? What I posted is a well-researched phenomenon. What do you base your objection on exactly?

What part of my post says it's a problem to have options?
 
Re: Blueman has converted me! I love the 250k volume pots on my Les Pauls.

I find the postings educational and also opinionated,but I think it's the attitude and delivery that is causing some tension? Can we work on maybe toning this last thought of mine down a bit? ;o) I take offense to the attitudes and not the post topics...Just a thought..
 
Re: Blueman has converted me! I love the 250k volume pots on my Les Pauls.

ratherdashing said:
How is my post stupid?

Who is offended?
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Actually, since it's my thread, I could find it offensive that you called it a stupid thread. I don't, because I "know" you for years and I know you don't mean to offend, but if you were a newbie, I probably would have blasted you, lol.
 
Re: Blueman has converted me! I love the 250k volume pots on my Les Pauls.

75lespaul said:
Actually, since it's my thread, I could find it offensive that you called it a stupid thread. I don't, because I "know" you for years and I know you don't mean to offend, but if you were a newbie, I probably would have blasted you, lol.
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The coolest thing about creating one's own thread....Is the delete feature! ;o)
 
Re: Blueman has converted me! I love the 250k volume pots on my Les Pauls.

STRATDELUXER97 said:
The coolest thing about creating one's own thread....Is the delete feature! ;o)
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I thought about doing that once or twice, but I believe in letting threads die a natural death, lol.

OKAY EVERYONE, LET'S LET IT DIE! LET'S NOT HAVE THIS BECOME THE NEW "ICEMAN" THREAD! :smokin:
 
Re: Blueman has converted me! I love the 250k volume pots on my Les Pauls.

Okay, I gotta admit, I laughed pretty hard. Thanks Jeff, thanks Christian!
 
Re: Blueman has converted me! I love the 250k volume pots on my Les Pauls.

ratherdashing said:
How is my post stupid?

Who is offended?

How exactly is the treble filtering different, given that I can easily tailor the specific frequencies rolled off by replacing the tone cap?

Why do you think I'm wrong about high mids? What I posted is a well-researched phenomenon. What do you base your objection on exactly?

What part of my post says it's a problem to have options?
Click to expand...

Your post wasn't necesarily stupid, but I think it's pretty arrogant to start off with 'Wow, stupid thread.' And then telling us we don't know what we're hearing, but that you do. You could have worded it better. I probably could have responded better, but your attitude hit me wrong. Sorry.

The fact that I have different tastes and approaches than the majority doesn't mean I'm wrong, or tonedeaf. Respected forum members like Zhang and Lt Kojak also use 250K's on most (or all) of their bridge HB's. So it's not just me. I stand in good company.

A forum member, Orpheus, recently explained why dialing down tone knobs does not, and cannot replicate the effect of 250K pots. I'm not an electrician and don't know the technicalities, but I have tried a number of times with 500K's and I can't do it. It does not sound as good to my ears. 250K pots have a much more pleasing sound to my ears. The sharp upper part is trimmed off. Everything we do here is based on individual perceptions of sound, including this.

I have a problem with high frequencies; they bother my ears. It's not high mids. It's treble, upper treble. I can only handle it in moderation. That sharp high end sounds awful to my ears, that's why I don't own any Fenders. Way too much treble. Instead of using the maximum amount of treble I can, I do the opposite; I use the least I have to. Once I get some bite and crunch I'm set. No need for more.

Maybe you don't like excessive high mids; I don't like excessive treble. Is that not possible? I know what I hear. I tweak to get the tones I want, which include a more balanced bridge EQ; some guys here like the same thing. Warmer pots are a viable option in that quest. So are magnets and resistors. Why are A2's often recommended here, which have little treble and lots of mids, and 250K pots discouraged? I tried an A2 498T with 500K's, and it was too rounded on top for me. Couldn't get any bite. I got more treble with an A8 in the 498T and 250K's. Funny how limiting treble one way gets you pats on the back, and doing it another way gets warnings and admonishments. All I'm saying is there's a number of ways guitarists can reduce treble (pots, magnets, resistors, thick strings, etc), and they all have their place. Look at them, make an informed decision and choose what's best for you.
 
Re: Blueman has converted me! I love the 250k volume pots on my Les Pauls.

Mario, what pots are you gonna put in the LP special you got from me?

On a serious note, have you figured out what you are gonna do, pup-wise in it?
 
Re: Blueman has converted me! I love the 250k volume pots on my Les Pauls.

A forum member, Orpheus, recently explained why dialing down tone knobs does not, and cannot replicate the effect of 250K pots. I'm not an electrician and don't know the technicalities, but I have tried a number of times with 500K's and I can't do it. It does not sound as good to my ears. 250K pots have a much more pleasing sound to my ears. The sharp upper part is trimmed off. Everything we do here is based on individual perceptions of sound, including this.
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For me the 250k values work great in a strat...They trim off alot of that toppy crap and personally I also hate a shrill sounding strat...Now with my warmer sounding humbucking guitars,I like the 500k because it does add that extra bit of highend...I find with our band or playing in a band,that it's the highs that I need and naturally mids,to cut through,especially during soloing...

Probably another nice thing about the 250k values,is that it does things faster...In other words(for me anyway) that there's less overall travel to hear its affect on the tone of the guitar...I've not tryed 250k in any of my humbucker guitars,but I imagine with the right tone cap and a guitar that might lean towards bright anyway,would benefit from it...I usually look for more highend from the humbucking guitars and I'm a fan of using my home made No Load Tone pots...I ride my tone and volume pot at times and would rather be able to remove the highend,rather than have to reach back over to the amp or my effects and increase the highs...I'm also not a player that rides all of my guitar controls on 10...

I Love all the posts and everyone offers great info as always....Lately it just seems some of us are up-tight or we have a chip on our shoulders or something.... ;o) I don't feel the forum brotherhood,but instead sense alot of tension...Don't know why?
 
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Re: Blueman has converted me! I love the 250k volume pots on my Les Pauls.

I'll come clean...I do use 500k pots but I disconnect the tone controls and just wired the caps in line so it's like having the tone control on 0 all the time...any other way and it's just too toppy...I'm actually thinking about running an outboard EQ of some kind to trim off a touch more top end...
 
Re: Blueman has converted me! I love the 250k volume pots on my Les Pauls.

JeffB said:
Mario, what pots are you gonna put in the LP special you got from me?

On a serious note, have you figured out what you are gonna do, pup-wise in it?
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25K all the way!

Seriously though, I actually LIKE the pickups. Both clean and through the Mesa Boogie patches on my Vox Valvetronix and Tonelab, they sound very good. Nothing like the stock pickups in my Pro/Fx Les Paul which imo are horrible. These are pleasantly sweet to the ears.
 
Re: Blueman has converted me! I love the 250k volume pots on my Les Pauls.

STRATDELUXER97 said:
I Love all the posts and everyone offers great info as always....Lately it just seems some of us are up-tight or we have a chip on our shoulders or something.... ;o) I don't feel the forum brotherhood,but instead sense alot of tension...Don't know why?
Click to expand...

Sorry. I've been retaining water lately and cramping, and haven't been my normal jovial self.

Actually, I've had the flu for the last two weeks, and am way behind on my sleep.
 
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