Bourns pots?

[Chistopher]

Re: Bourns pots?

i actually like having the 20% tolerance, for bridge pups i like to go lower than spec and for neck higher. cts, bourns, alpha... i usually buy cts but what ever i have with the right reading and taper gets used

I do the same thing. I'm not quite sure the difference is more than just in my head, but it feels nice to know that my guitar electronics are "tuned".

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Bourns pots?

i actually like having the 20% tolerance, for bridge pups i like to go lower than spec and for neck higher. cts, bourns, alpha... i usually buy cts but what ever i have with the right reading and taper gets used

This is good practice, IMO. I measure pots when I get them, and write the measured resistance on the backs with a Sharpie. When a wiring project comes up, I decide what pots go where in the circuit, based on those previously measured resistances.

For example, when wiring a Strat, I grab three pots. I use the highest value one as the volume pot, the second highest as the neck tone, and the lowest as the middle tone.

That said, I have pretty much settled on 500K volume pots for Strats. I can actually use the upper range of the volume control that way. With 250K pots, I always run my volume wide open. Same basic reason why Jazzmaster controls are so much more usable IMO. They are 1M pots, and in practice, they behave a lot like active controls. That is the "normal" position for me is a bit down the pot's range, so they can be turned down or up – not just down like when I use 10 as my home base with 250K pots.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Bourns pots?

I need to try some Bourns pots with a stiffer turning resistance. I like the quality of the ones I have, but I just don't like how easily they turn. Does anyone have a link to the high quality Bourns pots, but with stiffer resistance? I don't care what they cost, since pots are relatively cheap. I just want them to test at spec and be very high quality.

 

[Artie]

Re: Bourns pots?

Which potentiometer sounds best? Bourns or CTS (or Alpha)?

I just noticed that the top three guitar pot makers begin with A,B,C.

i actually like having the 20% tolerance, for bridge pups i like to go lower than spec and for neck higher.

This is a cool idea. Never occurred to me before.

 

[Darg1911]

Re: Bourns pots?

I need to try some Bourns pots with a stiffer turning resistance. I like the quality of the ones I have, but I just don't like how easily they turn. Does anyone have a link to the high quality Bourns pots, but with stiffer resistance? I don't care what they cost, since pots are relatively cheap. I just want them to test at spec and be very high quality.

All I can tell you is that the smaller (181 series) Bourns pots are stiffer than the full size (124 series). The standard 24mm (124's) are advertised as low torque. The 181's are not. I used the 181's in one guitar, out of necessisty, and they are definitely stiffer than the 24 mm. Probably a little more so than full size CTS too. The ones I have are very smooth as well. I prefer the minis over the full size, standard Bourns. I have no experience with the Sean Silas series 124's. The literature claims "dampened rotational torque for smooth feel". Whatever that means. I'm guessing that the 82 and 95 series, which are conductive plastic, are both stiffer than the standard 124's as well but haven't used those either. They are more expensive, maybe $10+ for the 85's and $15+ for the 95's. Some companies also have their pots made for them by Bourns so there may be other custom versions out there.

I've been using CTS. I love the CTS vintage tapers (for volume) as sold by Mojotone and some others.

 

[Darg1911]

Re: Bourns pots?

This is good practice, IMO. I measure pots when I get them, and write the measured resistance on the backs with a Sharpie. When a wiring project comes up, I decide what pots go where in the circuit, based on those previously measured resistances.

For example, when wiring a Strat, I grab three pots. I use the highest value one as the volume pot, the second highest as the neck tone, and the lowest as the middle tone.

That said, I have pretty much settled on 500K volume pots for Strats. I can actually use the upper range of the volume control that way. With 250K pots, I always run my volume wide open. Same basic reason why Jazzmaster controls are so much more usable IMO. They are 1M pots, and in practice, they behave a lot like active controls. That is the "normal" position for me is a bit down the pot's range, so they can be turned down or up – not just down like when I use 10 as my home base with 250K pots.

Like this ...

 

[Zombiwoof]

Re: Bourns pots?

I need to try some Bourns pots with a stiffer turning resistance. I like the quality of the ones I have, but I just don't like how easily they turn. Does anyone have a link to the high quality Bourns pots, but with stiffer resistance? I don't care what they cost, since pots are relatively cheap. I just want them to test at spec and be very high quality.

EVH now offers a high-torque version of their Bourns pot, I think they now have them in 250K and 500K, and both types of shafts, knurled and plain. I've seen them on Ebay. They are like 13 bucks ea.
Al

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Bourns pots?

Thanks for the info guys. Good stuff.

 

[Adieu]

Re: Bourns pots?

EVH now offers a high-torque version of their Bourns pot, I think they now have them in 250K and 500K, and both types of shafts, knurled and plain. I've seen them on Ebay. They are like 13 bucks ea.
Al

>$50 to re-pot an LP? Youch...

Definitely gotta get the $125 Gibson faux-bumblebee kit & permafrost fossilized Mastodon/wooly mammoth ivory nut with that~!!!

Oh and don't forget to replace your tuning keys with something ridiculous as well