How many pots can a guitar have?

quoricsant

quoricsant

New member
hi all

The question sounds basic, but the thing is I just received a blackouts AHB-2 bridge pup to replace a weak passive stock.
So I will be adding at least 2 more pots to the existing master vol and tone.

I´ve always been interested in EMGs additional controls, specially the AB After Burner (which is like a PA but with variable gain) and the EXG -which scoops the mids- and that's great for me since I play mostly metal.
Both demand more power from the batteries that the pups themselves, so I was wondering if I could make a parallel circuit with independent power supply for these controls, and also if any of you have had experience with them.

On other forums I've read that the best solution to having a passive neck and active bridge on the same gtr -while having a usable middle switch position- is to match the impedance of the passive with a PA2 without the switch! and place it inside the guitar. I guess that's better than having an After Burner for the passive?

And so, having all these into a gtr would mean: 2 vols and 2 tones, an internal PA2, an After Burner and a EXG for the Blackouts bridge. That would be 6 pots. Is it too much?

I like a gtr to be as versatile and complete in terms of tone as possible, hence my question.

:wizard:

..
 
Re: How many pots can a guitar have?

The only constraint is going to be the amount of room inside the control cavity. Electrically you'd be hard pressed to establish an absolute maximum number of pots. Operationally it can begin to become a problem, but whereas I prefer simplicity in controls others are more than capable of jockeying multiple pots and switches.
 
Re: How many pots can a guitar have?

tc said:
my guess is as many as you can fit on it.
Click to expand...
That's right, don't worry about having too many.
Roland_GR-500_guitar_synth_.jpg
 
Re: How many pots can a guitar have?

As many as you can find room for in teh cavity, I´ve hooked up custom les pauls with additional master volume and tones for example bringing it up to 6 pots.... and then you can add spin-a-splits or artie´s "Adjust-a-Mud" mod or a plethora of other options.

Essentially you can run NASA from a guitar if you can find room for the knobs ;)
 
Re: How many pots can a guitar have?

If you're going to play that guitar in front of an audience, you may as well forget the idea. IMO, four pots (possibly push/pull) is the maximum amount. After that it's just ridicilous.
 
Re: How many pots can a guitar have?

Well, as long as you can work them all I see no problem with it. Screw what the audience thinks, it's not up to them.

However if you want to actually vary the mid scoop by turning the knob, just get a Wah pedal and have it modded so it's not as harsh.

If either the AB or EXG are going to be set in one position and not adjusted, get an EQ and gain pedal.

I've got an AB with a set of HZs and it works best with those pickups when set just to where you can hear it kick in (about 3). I set it there and leave it.
 
Re: How many pots can a guitar have?

Every additional pot will affect the original "true" tone of the pickups though eh? Isn't that so?

A Les Paul with 18 pots isn't going to sound the same as a normal one...
 
Re: How many pots can a guitar have?

I assume this means: while visually pleasing.

The best solution is a Tele. You can put 4 knobs into the control plate, move the 3/5-way to a Strat position in the pickguard and if needed add a Les Paul position LP switch. It can take it without screwing up looks too much.

Or add a second control plate with 4 more knobs...
 
Re: How many pots can a guitar have?

Zerberus said:
Essentially you can run NASA from a guitar if you can find room for the knobs ;)
Click to expand...

:laugh2: bwajajajajaja priceless!

Well I concur with Iron Horse four is a good number, not too many (what a scary picture that is! what are those pups btw?)

I was thinking of getting skull knobs -since the Blackouts came with just the potentiometers of course-:

202903MidShotWhiteBGALEXlarge.jpg


For this guitar:

NTBSTGO_hrw.jpg


As you can see, it has only a master tone & master volume for 2 passive pups.
That's why I bought a Blackouts2 and I'm looking for the wiring diagram for passive neck/active bridge.
I am currently contacted with an EMG staff person. I'll be glad to post it if I can find it anywhere!

..
 
Re: How many pots can a guitar have?

I seem to remember someone, maybe Frank Zappa or Chris Poland, having a ton of switches and knobs...

The skull knobs are cool, but maybe a tad "kitschy".
 
Last edited:
Re: How many pots can a guitar have?

Iron Horse said:
If you're going to play that guitar in front of an audience, you may as well forget the idea. IMO, four pots (possibly push/pull) is the maximum amount. After that it's just ridicilous.
Click to expand...

So, just got word from EMG (thanks to Rick Hunt) with the wiring diagram for a passive neck and active bridge pickups:

diagram1passive1active.jpg


That's a very good idea about the push/pull knobs.

I´ve seen DiMarzio 500K and 250K Push-Pull Pots on MF,
left is to see how I could accommodate those into the wiring to avoid drilling +holes :rocket:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top