ganzosrevenge
New member
Re: Bourns pots VS CTS?
I like the RSGuitarworks / CTS pots. Beyond the fact that they test at spec (and usually a bit higher... my 280k Volume superpot is more like 300k, and my 500k tone pot is 547k), they have a very nice feel when you turn the shaft. I know that with low-resist pots such as the bourns, you can do fingertwirls very easy (for the roy buchanan violin swell effect), but as someone who plays an upside-down right, I don't want sudden explosions in my tone. (Note to self: make a left-handed creature one day
.)
That doesn't mean i like stiff or crashy / scratchy pots either. There is a different between a solid pot that you have to put a bit of effort to turn, but is infinitely adjustable, and a pot that has such a thin carbon track that it "no-loads" or cuts out at random points. Even in otherwise-amazing guitars (ie: my American Special Mahogany HSS), I've seen guitars where corners are cut; both in the pots, as well as caps (a discussion for another day). Conversely, there is the point where pot upgrades transcend "useful" and enter "cork-sniffer". I will openly admit that in the past, I had a thing where bigger = better; it's called youthful stupidity when it involves $50 pots. (Thankfully I never bought them.) However, between normal pots (ie: stock CTS) and ones with custom tapers, heavier carbon tracks, better built components and sub-assemblies, i can see justifying some increase in cost in return for a more robust infrastructure, better QC, etc.,
I find it then funny how many users are willing to go into "cork-sniffer" mode for goodies like callaham bridges, KGC bridges, etc., (admittedly they are the business though) and leave equally vital things such as the electronics as stock (with some exceptions), or worse, don't improve weakspots such as the fender neck joint. Yes, I understand the desire for modularity insofar as easy-to-change / replace... but when manufacturers cut corners in quality to provide a cheap good, and leave it to the consumer to rectify, then we have to corksniff... not so much the "i spent more than this guy on this part", but the "which wine appeals to me the most" part. Do i want more bass, do i want a more focused sound, how do I want wiring to be done, what taper, feel... etc., There are so many x-factors that have to be calculated that really... everything is subjective. I may find zephyrs to be OTT, but someone else with Eric Johnson's ear canal may go "yes!"
Jason
I like the RSGuitarworks / CTS pots. Beyond the fact that they test at spec (and usually a bit higher... my 280k Volume superpot is more like 300k, and my 500k tone pot is 547k), they have a very nice feel when you turn the shaft. I know that with low-resist pots such as the bourns, you can do fingertwirls very easy (for the roy buchanan violin swell effect), but as someone who plays an upside-down right, I don't want sudden explosions in my tone. (Note to self: make a left-handed creature one day
.)That doesn't mean i like stiff or crashy / scratchy pots either. There is a different between a solid pot that you have to put a bit of effort to turn, but is infinitely adjustable, and a pot that has such a thin carbon track that it "no-loads" or cuts out at random points. Even in otherwise-amazing guitars (ie: my American Special Mahogany HSS), I've seen guitars where corners are cut; both in the pots, as well as caps (a discussion for another day). Conversely, there is the point where pot upgrades transcend "useful" and enter "cork-sniffer". I will openly admit that in the past, I had a thing where bigger = better; it's called youthful stupidity when it involves $50 pots. (Thankfully I never bought them.) However, between normal pots (ie: stock CTS) and ones with custom tapers, heavier carbon tracks, better built components and sub-assemblies, i can see justifying some increase in cost in return for a more robust infrastructure, better QC, etc.,
I find it then funny how many users are willing to go into "cork-sniffer" mode for goodies like callaham bridges, KGC bridges, etc., (admittedly they are the business though) and leave equally vital things such as the electronics as stock (with some exceptions), or worse, don't improve weakspots such as the fender neck joint. Yes, I understand the desire for modularity insofar as easy-to-change / replace... but when manufacturers cut corners in quality to provide a cheap good, and leave it to the consumer to rectify, then we have to corksniff... not so much the "i spent more than this guy on this part", but the "which wine appeals to me the most" part. Do i want more bass, do i want a more focused sound, how do I want wiring to be done, what taper, feel... etc., There are so many x-factors that have to be calculated that really... everything is subjective. I may find zephyrs to be OTT, but someone else with Eric Johnson's ear canal may go "yes!"
Jason
