guitar pot question

madaxeman

New member
Can I use a 500k linear pot in the tone pot position? are they the same? Or do they make specific pots just for the tone position?
 
Re: guitar pot question

THey are different. An audio taper pot varies the resistance logarithmically (approximation to log). The linear pot adjusts the resistance linear to the pot sweep.
The human ear does not percive tone or volume changes linearly the log or audio pots match what the human ear "hears". So with a linear tone pot what people tend to hear is no change in the tone until you get the pot turned down to almost the end of the sweep. Same for a linear volume pot.

Artie did I get this right?
 
Re: guitar pot question

I'm not sure if I can explain this very well. A diagram would show you quickly.

The linear taper produces a straight line on an X -Y graph and and an audio taper produces an exponential curve.

The linear taper will increase volume in direct proportion and the audio taper will start slowly and then increase exponentially as the knob is turned.

I think I'm correct here, but please wait for someone else to verify/comment.

ArtieToo (a forumbro and electronics guru) will be able to explain more precisely (and correct me if I'm wrong). He might even have a diagram. Hope he reads this.

Dave
 
Re: guitar pot question

well Bert and Greco are right.
I actually have a linear tone pot now. and i dont hear much of a diff until im near the end. personally if you dont really use the tone pots much you can just get linear ones like i did, they cost way cheaper too. i got my linear pots at about USD 40cents :D
 
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