Humbuckers and Pot Values

[Butch Snyder]

I just installed a PAF-style humbucker in the neck position and a Duncan Little 59 in the bridge position of one of my Teles. Right now, both volume and tone pots are 500k. Last time I used the Little 59, I had it in a Tele that had 1Meg ohm pots and I liked the sound better.

I'm thinking about disconnecting the tone pot and replacing the 500k volume pot with a 1Meg ohm pot. What would me expected results be? Plus, with the tone pot disconnected, I won't need a capacitor, right?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Humbuckers and Pot Values

No cap needed, and you'd get a little more brightness with a 1meg volume pot. You could also add a no-load tone pot if you need a tone pot now and then. Is the guitar not bright enough, or are you trying to get it to sound more like a Tele?

 

[Butch Snyder]

Re: Humbuckers and Pot Values

Is the guitar not bright enough, or are you trying to get it to sound more like a Tele?

I have two Teles. One is a Nashville style that sounds like a Tele. This one will be more of my "Steve Morse" style Tele; but without the 4th pickup. It's an HSH Tele with a fullsize PAF style humbucker in the neck position, a Strat pickup in the middle, and a Little 59 in the bridge position. I have it wired with two 500k pots and no capacitor. I have a 3-way blade switch wired like a standard Telecaster, The middle pikup is connected to a mini-toggle that turns it off and on.

With the 500k pots, the pickups aren't quite as bright as I would like. I was thinking that a 1Meg ohm volume pot and no tone control would brighten it up a good bit.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Humbuckers and Pot Values

1meg volume and no load tone would be a good option. when on 10 the tone is out of the circuit but you have the option to roll it back if you want

 

[blueman335]

Re: Humbuckers and Pot Values

I've used 1 meg pots on neck HB's in LP's. They give me a little more of the very high end, but otherwise are similar to 500K's.