Bourns pots?

[Adieu]

Noticed Mouser selling them for $0.94 - 1.70 a pop depending on ohms value if you buy in quantities of 10 (less if in significant bulk)... seems like good value

Are they noticeably worse than CTS? Where are they made?

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Bourns pots?

The only significant difference I've noticed is that one says "Bourns" on the back and the others say "CTS". If that's too big a difference, I can mail you a sharpie so you can write whatever you want on the back.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Bourns pots?

Bourns are hardly bad pots. They came standard in the EVH Wolfgang as well as a host of other high end guitars. Their thing is low friction. Curious if the ones you saw on the Mouser site are the same ones that would be used. What I'm seeing on there in 500K and 250K values, panel mount, solder lugs, are a lot more than 0.94-1.70 for one.

 

[Artie]

Re: Bourns pots?

What you have to watch for is that Bourns is a huge manufacturer of pots. They have inexpensive ones, and high end mil-spec ones. I bought four from GuitarElectronics, and one was "open" across its outside lugs. And I say that as one who likes Bourns pots.

 

[Adieu]

Re: Bourns pots?

Bourns are hardly bad pots. They came standard in the EVH Wolfgang as well as a host of other high end guitars. Their thing is low friction. Curious if the ones you saw on the Mouser site are the same ones that would be used. What I'm seeing on there in 500K and 250K values, panel mount, solder lugs, are a lot more than 0.94-1.70 for one.

20% guaranteed tolerance cost ~$1 - 1.70
10% tolerance...doesnt seem to exist in mouser's catalogues, unless you go with CTS, those are $4 - 5

PS doesnt seem to exist elsewhere, either... EVH signature Bourns pots are 20% too

 

[dave74]

Re: Bourns pots?

I prefer the CTS due to the stiffer feel.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Bourns pots?

I think the YJM Speed Pots are Bourns, and I like that they are so easy to turn.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Bourns pots?

The bourns pots I put into my Dean Hardtail are very high quality and were all matched to be 525k. However, they spin far too easily for my preference. I prefer a slightly stiffer feel.

 

[Wattage]

Re: Bourns pots?

I think the YJM Speed Pots are Bourns, and I like that they are so easy to turn.

Yes the YJM and the regular SD pots are Bourns. They are very good. One of my buddies I do work for wanted to try them, he loves them.

 

[raistlin]

Re: Bourns pots?

There are two versions, PDB241 with 20% tolerance, PDA241 (SRT - standard torque, HRT - high torque) with 15% tolerance, longer life, lesser noise.

Depending on the retailer, the difference between the two is less than a USD buck.

 

[Adieu]

Re: Bourns pots?

I was looking at something called PDB181 .... PDA241's cost more, yup

So A vs B is grade or whatever, but do 181 and 241 stand for? 18mm and 24mm size?

 

[Adieu]

Re: Bourns pots?

Hmm, interesting.... in BIG bulk wholesale (thousands and ten thousands), pdb181 is $0.46 vs. pdb241 $0.95 vs. pda241 $1.53

Over 3x difference

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Bourns pots?

I like the taper and loose feel of the Bourns compared to standard CTS.

 

[raistlin]

Re: Bourns pots?

I was looking at something called PDB181 .... PDA241's cost more, yup

So A vs B is grade or whatever, but do 181 and 241 stand for? 18mm and 24mm size?

18 / 24 is the diameter of the pot, yes.

 

[Adieu]

Re: Bourns pots?

Are 18's the minis or an intermediate size inbetween em?

 

[raistlin]

Re: Bourns pots?

I think the 18 are the minis, there doesn't seem to be anything smaller.

I am due for a pot change, so in the near future I probably will try the Bourns PDA.

p/s Huh, strangely, PDA is cheaper than PDB here! lolz

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Bourns pots?

What is this crap about CTS being the best? They have that wack loose feel and have been the most fragile for me. All I care is that the pot I get is NOT CTS.

 

[dave74]

Re: Bourns pots?

What is this crap about CTS being the best? They have that wack loose feel and have been the most fragile for me. All I care is that the pot I get is NOT CTS.

They also have various grades like the other brands.
I ordered a bunch from guitarelectronics a few years ago that are smooth and tighter feeling, tighter tolerance (measured them myself and they are all within a 5% range). They are flat across the back and are pre-scratched.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Bourns pots?

^ That's what I was thinking.

 

[Adieu]

Re: Bourns pots?

ARE a/b actually grades, though? Or just the same batch, with A's manually tested to conform to the +/-10% spread, and B's bagged straight off the line and presumed to possibly have a somewhat wider spread?

Also, surprisingly, they have a couple "signature" lines for EVH and some other dude, and both of THOSE are only rated 20%....