Butch Snyder
ObsoleteChickenPickingologist
I know the deal; most folks use 250k ohm pots for single coil pickups and 500k for humbuckers. What is the result if you use 1M ohm pots (vol and tone on a Telecaster)?
Humbuckers at 1M Ohm Pots
- Thread starter Butch Snyder
- Start date
Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
Re: Humbuckers at 1M Ohm Pots
A bright thin Telecaster. I only use 1M pots for hot humbuckers like the Invader or SLUG.
A bright thin Telecaster. I only use 1M pots for hot humbuckers like the Invader or SLUG.
Butch Snyder
ObsoleteChickenPickingologist
Re: Humbuckers at 1M Ohm Pots
My Telecaster has Vintage Noiseless pickups. They come stock with 1M vol/tone pots. I was thinking about installing a full-size humbucker in the neck position; something like a 59 model or even Alnico 2 Pro.
My Telecaster has Vintage Noiseless pickups. They come stock with 1M vol/tone pots. I was thinking about installing a full-size humbucker in the neck position; something like a 59 model or even Alnico 2 Pro.
VinceT
New member
Re: Humbuckers at 1M Ohm Pots
It really depends on the pickups. My Am Deluxe Tele is fitted with TVJones Starwood pups - they sound great, MUCH better than the N3 noiseless that it came with - and I used the stock Fender S1 volume switch (250K). I did switch out the tone pot for a 1M no-load. With that setup, I can’t get twang on any setting (but that’s not really my thing, so no big deal), but I do get just the right amount of cut-through from the bridge pickup.
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It really depends on the pickups. My Am Deluxe Tele is fitted with TVJones Starwood pups - they sound great, MUCH better than the N3 noiseless that it came with - and I used the stock Fender S1 volume switch (250K). I did switch out the tone pot for a 1M no-load. With that setup, I can’t get twang on any setting (but that’s not really my thing, so no big deal), but I do get just the right amount of cut-through from the bridge pickup.
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Clint 55
OH THE DOUBLE THICK GLAZE!
Re: Humbuckers at 1M Ohm Pots
I use a 1 meg volume with no tone on my new hot humbucker guitar and it opens them up just a bit more. It does depend on the pickup. It won't necessarily end up ice pick if the pickups don't have ice pick in them like a vintage single coil.
I use a 1 meg volume with no tone on my new hot humbucker guitar and it opens them up just a bit more. It does depend on the pickup. It won't necessarily end up ice pick if the pickups don't have ice pick in them like a vintage single coil.
Silence Kid
New member
Re: Humbuckers at 1M Ohm Pots
Late sixties/seventies Telecasters use 1 meg pots. Jaguars/Jazzmasters (including most humbucker variants) use 1 meg pots.
I don't think pots are the tone game-changer a lot of people do- in general I find that a bright pickup using 1 meg pots still sounds like a bright pickup using 250k pots (or vice versa - you can't really fix an over-dark pickup by switching from 250k to 1 meg either.) Others seem to have different experiences.
Still - I'd rather use a higher value pot than I need, and turn it down than be stuck with a lower value pot that has less wiggle room.
Late sixties/seventies Telecasters use 1 meg pots. Jaguars/Jazzmasters (including most humbucker variants) use 1 meg pots.
I don't think pots are the tone game-changer a lot of people do- in general I find that a bright pickup using 1 meg pots still sounds like a bright pickup using 250k pots (or vice versa - you can't really fix an over-dark pickup by switching from 250k to 1 meg either.) Others seem to have different experiences.
Still - I'd rather use a higher value pot than I need, and turn it down than be stuck with a lower value pot that has less wiggle room.
Masta' C
Well-known member
Re: Humbuckers at 1M Ohm Pots
In general, the 1M pot will boost (think: exaggerate) the frequencies nearest the resonant peak. So, a bright pickup gets brighter, a mids-oriented pickup tends to get a bit middier/brighter, etc. Ex: A 1M pot on a JB adds to the "honk" up top, while a 250K flattens it out quite a bit.
As always, a lot depends on the guitar and the specific pickups being used. I think of pots as a way to fine-tune a pickup's response to get the character I want and I agree with Silence Kid that we fear 1M pots too much...many players have been exposed to them and not even known it! Some single coils sound great this way!
In general, the 1M pot will boost (think: exaggerate) the frequencies nearest the resonant peak. So, a bright pickup gets brighter, a mids-oriented pickup tends to get a bit middier/brighter, etc. Ex: A 1M pot on a JB adds to the "honk" up top, while a 250K flattens it out quite a bit.
As always, a lot depends on the guitar and the specific pickups being used. I think of pots as a way to fine-tune a pickup's response to get the character I want and I agree with Silence Kid that we fear 1M pots too much...many players have been exposed to them and not even known it! Some single coils sound great this way!
Clint 55
OH THE DOUBLE THICK GLAZE!
Re: Humbuckers at 1M Ohm Pots
I don't know how you formed that opinion. Ssl1s with 250k volume and tone are downright bassy. But with a 1 meg volume and no load tone sound like glass shards.
I don't know how you formed that opinion. Ssl1s with 250k volume and tone are downright bassy. But with a 1 meg volume and no load tone sound like glass shards.
Masta' C
Well-known member
Re: Humbuckers at 1M Ohm Pots
You technically don't lose any bass with a 1M pot, but you gain emphasis and volume at higher frequencies (around the resonant peak) that make the bass less apparent. Furthermore, too much emphasis on the wrong frequencies can make a great pickup sound "off" or "harsh"...the SSL-1's are a good example.
If I were putting a Tele together, I'd stick to 500K pots, personally, but I don't have a problem using 1M pots in some humbucker-equipped guitars, especially if I'm using hotter, midrange-centric pickups and want a little more clarity and push in the upper mids.
You technically don't lose any bass with a 1M pot, but you gain emphasis and volume at higher frequencies (around the resonant peak) that make the bass less apparent. Furthermore, too much emphasis on the wrong frequencies can make a great pickup sound "off" or "harsh"...the SSL-1's are a good example.
If I were putting a Tele together, I'd stick to 500K pots, personally, but I don't have a problem using 1M pots in some humbucker-equipped guitars, especially if I'm using hotter, midrange-centric pickups and want a little more clarity and push in the upper mids.
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Silence Kid
New member
Re: Humbuckers at 1M Ohm Pots
I haven't tried SSL1s with multiple pots- but I have multiple guitars (humbuckers, singles, Jazzmasters) where I've tried several pot sets between 1 meg/500k/250k. The difference in each case was downright subtle. As in- Detectible, but I couldn't tell you off-hand what pots were in a guitar unless I was able to review recordings of each pot side by side. Besides, what change existed could be undone with the tiny flick of a knob. I think the only time when such a change becomes *not* subtle, is between something extreme like the 50k 'rhythm' and 1meg 'lead' settings on a Jazzmaster or Jaguar.
My conclusion was: Since pretty much any other change contributes more to the tone of a guitar, and because what change existed was easily compensated by the twist of a knob (either the pot itself or the amp,) I was not going to obsess over pot changes.
I haven't tried SSL1s with multiple pots- but I have multiple guitars (humbuckers, singles, Jazzmasters) where I've tried several pot sets between 1 meg/500k/250k. The difference in each case was downright subtle. As in- Detectible, but I couldn't tell you off-hand what pots were in a guitar unless I was able to review recordings of each pot side by side. Besides, what change existed could be undone with the tiny flick of a knob. I think the only time when such a change becomes *not* subtle, is between something extreme like the 50k 'rhythm' and 1meg 'lead' settings on a Jazzmaster or Jaguar.
My conclusion was: Since pretty much any other change contributes more to the tone of a guitar, and because what change existed was easily compensated by the twist of a knob (either the pot itself or the amp,) I was not going to obsess over pot changes.
Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
Re: Humbuckers at 1M Ohm Pots
I've noticed that while the tone pot can be a higher value and be compensated by turning the control down, this can not be used to account for changes in volume pot value which I find shift the entire EQ of the pickup.
I've noticed that while the tone pot can be a higher value and be compensated by turning the control down, this can not be used to account for changes in volume pot value which I find shift the entire EQ of the pickup.
Jacew
New member
Silence Kid
New member
Re: Humbuckers at 1M Ohm Pots
My understanding is there is still a shift incurred by turning down the volume control vs. using a full-up lower value pot- but again I don't find it to be a significant enough one to bother thinking about. Maybe it's just my ears, or maybe the specific pickups I've tried don't care what pots I select. I do believe you can turn down a higher value tone control and more accurately match a lower value one, however.
My understanding is there is still a shift incurred by turning down the volume control vs. using a full-up lower value pot- but again I don't find it to be a significant enough one to bother thinking about. Maybe it's just my ears, or maybe the specific pickups I've tried don't care what pots I select. I do believe you can turn down a higher value tone control and more accurately match a lower value one, however.
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Humbuckers at 1M Ohm Pots
It will sound brighter. Less tonal change introduced by the onboard electronics – closer to what the pickup itself produces. Might be good, might be bad. Depends on your taste and your application.
IME, you get more usable sweeps on your volume and tone pots with 1M pots. For example, I am almost always a volume and tone on 10 guy...but with my Jaguar and Jazzmaster, things are different. I use a wide range of the available sweep on the pots, more like one might use active electronics. Guess what volume pots Jags and Jazzmasters they use? 1MOhm.
Some Teles came from Fender with 1M pots, mostly in the '70's. An oddity, for sure...but not necessarily BAD, IMO.
Try it, and see what happens. It's an easy thing to reverse if you don't like it.
It will sound brighter. Less tonal change introduced by the onboard electronics – closer to what the pickup itself produces. Might be good, might be bad. Depends on your taste and your application.
IME, you get more usable sweeps on your volume and tone pots with 1M pots. For example, I am almost always a volume and tone on 10 guy...but with my Jaguar and Jazzmaster, things are different. I use a wide range of the available sweep on the pots, more like one might use active electronics. Guess what volume pots Jags and Jazzmasters they use? 1MOhm.
Some Teles came from Fender with 1M pots, mostly in the '70's. An oddity, for sure...but not necessarily BAD, IMO.
Try it, and see what happens. It's an easy thing to reverse if you don't like it.
Clint 55
OH THE DOUBLE THICK GLAZE!
Re: Humbuckers at 1M Ohm Pots
Using 1 meg tones compresses the effective portion of the sweep into the bottom, making it less effective in my opinion. Even a 500k linear tone has a lot of useless portion at the top that has to be bypassed before you get any noticeable effect from the cap. If you want it bright, just go no load. I use 250k no load tone pots regardless of the volume pot value because you get effect as soon as you turn it down.
Using 1 meg tones compresses the effective portion of the sweep into the bottom, making it less effective in my opinion. Even a 500k linear tone has a lot of useless portion at the top that has to be bypassed before you get any noticeable effect from the cap. If you want it bright, just go no load. I use 250k no load tone pots regardless of the volume pot value because you get effect as soon as you turn it down.
Jacew
New member
Re: Humbuckers at 1M Ohm Pots
I think it's lesser effect with humbuckers (just about brightness), but single coils, larger value volume pot ramps up the eq spike while adding a bit more oomph across the spectrum. Brightening them that way works better for less scooped pickups. Otherwise you need to adjust tone control to cutoff excess spike unless you specifically want very cutting tone.
Edit: No-load specifically means pot that has no effect when dialed full.
I think it's lesser effect with humbuckers (just about brightness), but single coils, larger value volume pot ramps up the eq spike while adding a bit more oomph across the spectrum. Brightening them that way works better for less scooped pickups. Otherwise you need to adjust tone control to cutoff excess spike unless you specifically want very cutting tone.
Edit: No-load specifically means pot that has no effect when dialed full.
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