Importance of 250 k or 500 k pots

D

darnright

RepententRodentologist
I am fixing an old guitar and am going to install P-90's. Due to space requirements, I need to use the smaller size pot. All I have are 500k small pots. Will this make a noticeable difference? The control panel is easy to remove w/o bothering anything else, so I could change them later.
Thanks, Dave
 
Re: Importance of 250 k or 500 k pots

Yes, the value matters. The volume pot is a fixed change, as in you can't just turn something else down to make it the same. With the tone pot, when you turn that down, a higher value pot becomes tonally the same as whatever lower pot value you have the tone turned to.
 
Re: Importance of 250 k or 500 k pots

Agree, but try it and see how you like it. You can always change over to 250k if you find it too bright or shrill.
 
Re: Importance of 250 k or 500 k pots

Instead of using a 250K, you can solder a 470K resistor to the outside lugs of a volume pot, and that'll make it sound like a 250K. Resistors are cheap. If you don't like it, clip off the resistor.

For me, 500K's are too bright and thin on bridge P-90's. It's a bright slot to begin with.
 
Re: Importance of 250 k or 500 k pots

I would never even consider a 250k pot on a P-90. For me, 500k pots are the way to go with P-90 pups. They let me get everything out of the pup that it has to offer. I can always turn down the tone pot on my guitar or amp to fix it if it's too bright, but if I have a 250k pot and it sounds too dark there's no way to get more treble out of it other than replacing the pot.

Besides, one of the beauties of a P-90 is the crisp bright, yet full-bodied high end. Why have a P-90 if you just want humbucker tone?!

(Sorry to disagree with you blueman. I love you anyway.)
 
Re: Importance of 250 k or 500 k pots

Different strokes for different folks, as you can see!

If all you have are 500K pots, then give them a try.

Worst case, it'll tide you over until you can source smaller 250K pots. That is IF you feel it still needs a change. You may dig them with 500K!
 
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