keeping Ibanez Knobs but upgrade POTS?

CountFeedback

CountFeedback

New member
hey Guys,

I guess this is a problem with a lot of import guitars.
I'd like to upgrade my pots on an Ibanez RG without having to bore out my knobs and it would also be nice to not have to drill the guitar.
Any tips for a good brand of pots that will fit.
thanks
 
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Re: keeping Ibanez Knobs but upgrade POTS?

Drill?

No, ALL guitar pots use the same shaft hole size... which may or may not be numerically the same on paper, but SAE or metric or whatever it just fits anyway.

"Small" vs. "Large" pots refers to the size of the arse end that's inside your control cavity, not hole width.

Now the knob spline count? Those vary...although that may or may not be relevant, for starters check if you aren't running metal "tele" knobs that affix via small set screw on the side.

Btw this would be a good time to check in about WHICH ibanez RG you're using. They're ALL imports to us, being a Japanese company... but their mid- to high-tier stuff typically uses the best, smoothest, and longest-lasting pots you'll ever see in a guitar, and generally last 40-50 years (25-50% failure on early 70s guitars, 0% failure on 80s guitars is the norm as of 2018).

Certainly better than the crap Gibson USA uses, whether PCB or not.


"Import guitars = horrid pots" is typically folk wisdom about no-name Chinese knockoffs, not big names
 
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Re: keeping Ibanez Knobs but upgrade POTS?

CTS Pots are great, Alphas are great too, Emerson makes some expensive ones I haven't used -but since they think their 18 dollars caps are better than a 2 dollar orange drop I'm guessing they'll try and make luxury out of anything -I guarantee their pots are not worth it. Dimarzio used to make great ones -but I think CTS or Alpha probably made them for them Go for the CTS or Alpha IMO.

an Ibanez RG will need 500k Pots

The post on your current pots is likely 1/4" (6.35mm) -check it -that's what your nobs will want to reattached to -if not they are likely 6mm

all check the pot shaft to see if it's a solid or split shaft. you'll want the same kind in your new pots.

You can buy them from StewMac.com
 
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Re: keeping Ibanez Knobs but upgrade POTS?

Adieu said:
ALL guitar pots use the same shaft hole size... which may or may not be numerically the same on paper, but SAE or metric or whatever it just fits anyway.
Click to expand...

No, they aren't. The "mini" metric pots have a smaller shaft and threaded portion of the pot, I've had to drill out an LTD guitar and get new knobs when I changed to "regular" size pots. And, I don't advise drilling, it's way too easy to chip the wood or the finish, if anything use a reamer.

These should be the pots you are looking for and not require any reaming or new pots, get the split shaft Bourns or Alpha pots in the value you need.

https://guitarelectronics.com/electronic-parts/pots-volume-tone-blend/mini-guitar-bass-pots/

*EDIT* - Stewmac only sells the Alpha mini pot, only in 500K, and they don't tell you what the taper is - https://www.stewmac.com/Pickups_and_Electronics/Components_and_Parts/Alpha_Mini_Control_Pot.html
 
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Re: keeping Ibanez Knobs but upgrade POTS?

devastone said:
No, they aren't. The "mini" metric pots have a smaller shaft and threaded portion of the pot, I've had to drill out an LTD guitar and get new knobs when I changed to "regular" size pots. And, I don't advise drilling, it's way too easy to chip the wood or the finish, if anything use a reamer.

But, these should be the pots you are looking for, get the split shaft Bourns or Alpha pots in the value you need.

https://guitarelectronics.com/electronic-parts/pots-volume-tone-blend/mini-guitar-bass-pots/
Click to expand...

That's right -some pots are only 6mm and do not play well with knobs meant for 1/4" (6.35mm)

Forgot about Bourn pots -dey good.
 
Re: keeping Ibanez Knobs but upgrade POTS?

6mm will fit in 6.35mm holes but not vice versa.... although when it comes to 1/3 of an mm, you can sand or file your way thru it in a couple seconds.

No drill needed.
 
Re: keeping Ibanez Knobs but upgrade POTS?

I had to open up the holes on my Ibanez RGs when I upgraded the pots

Scroll through Amazon
There are literally dozens of companies that will sell you four of those knobs for 10 bucks
Stash your original ones and pots
Get yer new stuff with matching knobbies

The pots in your Ibanez are just fine
They are not the cheesy crap the internet makes them out to be

Oh and the volume is a linear pot as denoted by the B in the part number
(B500K)
The tone is a logarithmic or audio taper
(A500K)

If you just want push pulls or push push switches I can understand
But changing them to may your guitar sound better is snake oil
 
Re: keeping Ibanez Knobs but upgrade POTS?

I put CTS in my Ibanez arz, you will have to do some hole expanding. I used a tapered sanding drum in my cordless drill. Went slow, had no issues of chipping the finish.
 
Re: keeping Ibanez Knobs but upgrade POTS?

Adieu said:
6mm will fit in 6.35mm holes but not vice versa.... although when it comes to 1/3 of an mm, you can sand or file your way thru it in a couple seconds.

No drill needed.
Click to expand...

Depends on how thick and how hard the wood is. (Cue Butthead laugh)
 
Re: keeping Ibanez Knobs but upgrade POTS?

CountFeedback said:
hey Guys,

I guess this is a problem with a lot of import guitars.
I'd like to upgrade my pots on an Ibanez RG without having to bore out my knobs and it would also be nice to not have to drill the guitar.
Any tips for a good brand of pots that will fit.
thanks
Click to expand...
You rarely have to upgrade pots, unless e.g. you go from a normal tone pot to a no-load pot. Other than that a pot either works ok or not. If you start to hear scratches, etc then its time to replace. How long did you have the guitar when the problem showed up? Just find one with the same resistance, sizes, lengths, etc and you'll be fine.
 
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Re: keeping Ibanez Knobs but upgrade POTS?

Usually the first thing to die in Asian guitars is the crappy jack. I put a Switchcraft jack in them for insurance. Then replace the crummy switches as they croak. Unless you use the pots a lot, leave them alone.
 
Re: keeping Ibanez Knobs but upgrade POTS?

ICTGoober said:
Usually the first thing to die in Asian guitars is the crappy jack. I put a Switchcraft jack in them for insurance. Then replace the crummy switches as they croak. Unless you use the pots a lot, leave them alone.
Click to expand...

I got my MIK arz800 in 2012 and about 2 years ago I had to replace the switch, the pots still work fine. I got my MII uv70p in 2014, and still all electirc parts work as on day one.
 
Re: keeping Ibanez Knobs but upgrade POTS?

Carvin's pot-shafts are tiny.
EMG shafts are bigger. but not as big as the CTS's.

They make a hand tool that you just spin and push,,,,,,can't think of it's name atm. (stew mac has it for a million dollars, and you can get a second one for an extra 900,000)
 
Re: keeping Ibanez Knobs but upgrade POTS?

dave74 said:
Carvin's pot-shafts are tiny.
EMG shafts are bigger. but not as big as the CTS's.

They make a hand tool that you just spin and push,,,,,,can't think of it's name atm. (stew mac has it for a million dollars, and you can get a second one for an extra 900,000)
Click to expand...

Reamer?
 
Re: keeping Ibanez Knobs but upgrade POTS?

dave74 said:
Carvin's pot-shafts are tiny.
EMG shafts are bigger. but not as big as the CTS's.

They make a hand tool that you just spin and push,,,,,,can't think of it's name atm. (stew mac has it for a million dollars, and you can get a second one for an extra 900,000)
Click to expand...

See? A USA brand with much better rep for consistency and reliability uses small pots and it's not a problem

Btw, for the record? EVERY single broken pot under age 40 I've ever seen was a fullsize and made by CTS... never seen a busted small Alpha, never seen a busted Bourns, never seen a busted or iffy unlabelled Ibanez pot either
 
Re: keeping Ibanez Knobs but upgrade POTS?

Adieu said:
See? A USA brand with much better rep for consistency and reliability uses small pots and it's not a problem

Btw, for the record? EVERY single broken pot under age 40 I've ever seen was a fullsize and made by CTS... never seen a busted small Alpha, never seen a busted Bourns, never seen a busted or iffy unlabelled Ibanez pot either
Click to expand...

Just be careful of where you are when busting out the pot. lol
 
Re: keeping Ibanez Knobs but upgrade POTS?

dave74 said:
(stew mac has it for a million dollars, and you can get a second one for an extra 900,000)
Click to expand...
Too funny. I got one of them. Haven't used it yet. Waiting for my Invaders (going to put CTS pots. in at the same time).

"Vicious" looking tool though I'll tell ya.
 
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