CTS pots aren't fitting as replacements for Alpha pots

[ItsaBass]

Re: CTS pots aren't fitting as replacements for Alpha pots

LOL. Yes and no. Not on a guitar, but I am a finish carpenter and the dremel is a great tool, I use one often, but for slightly over sizing a hole, it would not be my first choice.

Exactly what I meant. There are any number of ways to go at it that are better than using a Dremel.

 

[ErikH]

Re: CTS pots aren't fitting as replacements for Alpha pots

I had the same issue with my Korina SE. The original tone pot didn't suit, as I needed a push-push pot in there. I just used a round file; took a couple of minutes and it was done.

This is the correct and safest way. Just use a rat tail file. Spin it slowly between your hands with it in the hole.

 

[Stratman]

Re: CTS pots aren't fitting as replacements for Alpha pots

Those Alpha pots are not Made in USA…. Hence the metric smaller size.

Use a variable speed drill and ⅜ bit, then install the CTS pots… Your tone will love you for it!

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: CTS pots aren't fitting as replacements for Alpha pots

Those Alpha pots are not Made in USA…. Hence the metric smaller size.

Use a variable speed drill and ⅜ bit, then install the CTS pots… Your tone will love you for it!

Are the CTS pots still made over here in the states? Thought I read that they weren't? Like alot of things anymore.

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: CTS pots aren't fitting as replacements for Alpha pots

Do NOT use a s DRill. You'll tear it to shreds.Unlss you are a skilled wood wroker with a drillpress, use a wood reamer. I'm an expert wood reamer!

 

[DreX]

Re: CTS pots aren't fitting as replacements for Alpha pots

Are the CTS pots still made over here in the states? Thought I read that they weren't? Like alot of things anymore.

LOL no, Taiwan.

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: CTS pots aren't fitting as replacements for Alpha pots

Do NOT use a s DRill. You'll tear it to shreds.Unlss you are a skilled wood wroker with a drillpress, use a wood reamer. I'm an expert wood reamer!

Lol reamin the wood.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

 

[Ayrton]

Re: CTS pots aren't fitting as replacements for Alpha pots

This is the correct and safest way. Just use a rat tail file. Spin it slowly between your hands with it in the hole.

I want to make clear you would spin the file vs pulling back and forth. Push/pulling the file is a quick way to damage the finish. In lieu of a proper reamer, I would a step bit and drill slow.

 

[CTN]

Re: CTS pots aren't fitting as replacements for Alpha pots

Unibit + steady hand = success.

you need to enlarge the 5/16" hole for the Alpha pots to a 3/8" hole for CTS, as someone mentioned.

I've done this before with just a hand drill. As long as you are competent with power tools and will not make stupid mistakes that cause you to ruin a whole guitar because you don't know how to handle a drill (I'll refrain from naming names), you'll be fine.

But make sure you let the bit do the work, instead of trying to jam the whole drill through the hole.

 

[tc]

Re: CTS pots aren't fitting as replacements for Alpha pots

I'm an idiot. I thought you meant fitting as in "not good enough". There goes my "Alpha" pot joke.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: CTS pots aren't fitting as replacements for Alpha pots

Good deal on some bits here...

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-piece-titanium-nitride-coated-high-speed-steel-step-drills-91616.html

 

[Zombiwoof]

Re: CTS pots aren't fitting as replacements for Alpha pots

Another choice is to get Bourns guitar pots, they come in metric specs or U.S. specs. Just make sure you get the metric ones. I think they might be an upgrade from Alphas.

Al

 

[Hank-]

Re: CTS pots aren't fitting as replacements for Alpha pots

Okay so my options are step bit, forstner bit, round file & reamer bit. The step bit & reamer options look the easiest. Actually they are all cheap for me to get, so any would do. I'll give a trip to some hardware stores nearby & see whichever I can find first.

Apart from that a question regarding something DreX mentioned about the finish. The finish at the moment on the godin goes all the way into the hole, can't remember what it is like on the PRS SE. Is it necessary to cover the exposed area of the wood after drilling/reaming/filing with something like nail polish or super glue? I mean what are the effects of leaving it raw unfinished.

^I had heard of Bourns, should have looked into them :smack: I have 5 CTS pots lying around at the moment with no place to go lol

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: CTS pots aren't fitting as replacements for Alpha pots

This is so retarded. How many posts does it take to drill a few holes?

 

[trevorus]

Re: CTS pots aren't fitting as replacements for Alpha pots

There's usually no issues with the exposed wood. If it makes you feel better, clear polish can seal it. I wouldn't use a forstner bit without good clamping and a drill press.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: CTS pots aren't fitting as replacements for Alpha pots

I have to ask, if there is nothing wrong with the current pot, and you are not changing values, why bother?

 

[trevorus]

Re: CTS pots aren't fitting as replacements for Alpha pots

I have to ask, if there is nothing wrong with the current pot, and you are not changing values, why bother?

Personally, one of my first upgrades to a guitar is new, better pots. It makes the controls work better, tone better, and the feel better. It may not be something "wrong," but something that can be improved.

 

[DreX]

Re: CTS pots aren't fitting as replacements for Alpha pots

Personally, one of my first upgrades to a guitar is new, better pots. It makes the controls work better, tone better, and the feel better. It may not be something "wrong," but something that can be improved.

I'll believe it feels better, as in it spins more freely, but work better, I guess that's depends on your needs, and better tone, I doubt.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: CTS pots aren't fitting as replacements for Alpha pots

While I am certainly a proponent of the "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" philosophy, I will say that I've never owned a guitar with cheap-ass pots in which at least one of the pots has not gone bad relatively quickly (within a year or two). In other words, I don't monkey around until something acts up...but something has always acted up for me, so I have always ended up replacing pots on my lower-end guitars. If I had a more fearful and less cheap-ass approach to things in general, I might consider just replacing the pots in a low-end guitar right off the bat, as a preventive step.

That said, I don't believe "upgrading" your pots has a damned thing to do with sound quality. Just reliability, really, and often "feel" as well.

But...just drill the damned holes already and be done with it. It's a simple operation with very little risk, if you approach it with common sense. If you truly don't have enough basic mechanical ability to slightly widen four holes using a drill (which I find hard to fathom, but realize could be the case), then just take the thing to a local cabinet maker or something.

 

[DreX]

Re: CTS pots aren't fitting as replacements for Alpha pots

What mechanical happenings would cause a stock pot to fail sooner than a CTS or Alpha pot?