Linear Taper Pots: Who uses them?

[dr.barlo]

Hi gang,

Seconds ago I finished replacing the stock CTS500K LINEAR pots on my 04R7 with CTS500K (503/503K for the bridge, 502/502K for the neck, thanks John W ) AUDIO's. While at it I wired the whole thing 50's style.

Made a huge difference. Of course at vol/tone 10 there aren't any differences, but on stage I gotta have them audios, cannot live with linears. They simply don't clean up. Actually they do but like around 2.5, and the resulting range I can use is like 2.5-3 to clean up the tone. SUCKS big time. Of course the same thing with the tone pots.

Anyway who uses them LINEAR pots?

BTW I don't understand gibson. OK the custom shop started using 500K CTS' in 2003. Fine, yet why don't they use audio tapers but linear ones. I, personally, hate them. That's why I am asking if there is anybody out there who prefers linears over audios.

B

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Linear Taper Pots: Who uses them?

I have a linear in as a tone pot for my Carvin. I don't mind it. :burnout:

 

[texasguitarslinger]

Re: Linear Taper Pots: Who uses them?

The Hot Rod Deluxe has a Linear Taper Pot on the master volume control. This is a marketing ploy wherein you got the average guy looking for an affordable gigging amp, he goes into the store plugs into the HRD and turns it to about three or four and the amp nearly blows him into the wall. The guy thinks wow if it's this loud at 3 then it must be unbelievable at 10 or 12. The truth is that linear pots increase the volume mostly between 1 and 4 and the volume increase from 4 to 12 is very minimal. I recommend changing the master volume pot to an audio taper so you can control the volume at a normal rate of increase. :smoker:

 

[rspst14]

Re: Linear Taper Pots: Who uses them?

I don't recommend using linear pots for volume controls, but I actually prefer them on the tone controls. As you're probably aware, the human ear doesn't hear volume changes in a linear fashion, which is why audio taper pots are used for guitars. On the other hand, the rolloff of high frequencies will be heard in a linear fashion, so it makes sense to use linear pots for the tone controls. On most guitars with audio pots, you've probably noticed that you can't turn the tone control down too much before the tone goes to mud. A linear tapered tone pot gives you much more control over the tone adjustment. But again, if you play with everything on 10 all the time, it doesn't make any difference which taper you use.

Ryan

 

[Kent S.]

Re: Linear Taper Pots: Who uses them?

BTW I don't understand gibson. OK the custom shop started using 500K CTS' in 2003. Fine, yet why don't they use audio tapers but linear ones. I, personally, hate them. That's why I am asking if there is anybody out there who prefers linears over audios.

B

We actually covered this in another thread, apparently Gibson made the choice that the linears allow a better range of blending the pups in the middle position ... since I don't own an LP a few I played mixed well, and a few didn't do much once one of the volumes was turned down to like 8 ... In other words all of the blending took place between 10~7.5 or so. In a linear taper that same range would be present from 10~5 or so. You'd have to verify this with someone who has LP with both linears, and another with audios ... Robert S. might be able to verify this. I still think Gibson used whatever they could get at the time, as do a lot of other companies.

 

[Kent S.]

Re: Linear Taper Pots: Who uses them?

I don't recommend using linear pots for volume controls, but I actually prefer them on the tone controls. As you're probably aware, the human ear doesn't hear volume changes in a linear fashion, which is why audio taper pots are used for guitars. On the other hand, the rolloff of high frequencies will be heard in a linear fashion, so it makes sense to use linear pots for the tone controls. On most guitars with audio pots, you've probably noticed that you can't turn the tone control down too much before the tone goes to mud. A linear tapered tone pot gives you much more control over the tone adjustment. But again, if you play with everything on 10 all the time, it doesn't make any difference which taper you use.

Ryan

Linear also makes much better HPF controls as well, this is why G&L used them on their bass controls. Personally, unless using a volume control for straight clean volume I prefer a modified linear, or S taper (there is also a M and N taper which is sometimes used in balance pots also instead of the S taper, not sure of the differences there), if laid out correctly, it starts as an audio taper,the middle range is linear, and then there is a reverse audio at the top; those are normally found on true pan pots. They are kinda neat, but they still aren't quite laid out right as they were never made for volume use. They would have to make them with the log portion from say 0~2.5 or 3, linear from 2.5 or 3 ~ 7.5 or 8, then log from 7.5 or 8~10. Most log pots aren't true log pots they are modified logs, the commercial log (audio) falls into this, it's a two section approximation of a real log taper, there is also a three scetion approximation which is better still, I don't know of anyone that makes one, just that there is such a thing.
Meaningless dribble to most, but some may find it interesting.

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Linear Taper Pots: Who uses them?

I don't recommend using linear pots for volume controls, but I actually prefer them on the tone controls. As you're probably aware, the human ear doesn't hear volume changes in a linear fashion, which is why audio taper pots are used for guitars. On the other hand, the rolloff of high frequencies will be heard in a linear fashion, so it makes sense to use linear pots for the tone controls. On most guitars with audio pots, you've probably noticed that you can't turn the tone control down too much before the tone goes to mud. A linear tapered tone pot gives you much more control over the tone adjustment. But again, if you play with everything on 10 all the time, it doesn't make any difference which taper you use.

Ryan

I dunno about other peoples ears, but mine tell me audio tone pots are more natural. You are right, around 1-2 the tone will get muddy. Yet the range between 10-2 is huge. Lots and lotsa possibilities to be exploited. But on a linear tone pot the change is too gradual for everything between 10-5. Then there is a change yes but all the changes between 5-2.5 sound similar as well. Only between 1-2.5 there are things to be exploited, but such a narrow range. For God's sake I want them endless possibilities that comes with the audio tone pots.

Anyway gotta be rational. Maybe I am way too much accustomed to audios, some others might find audios as nasty as I find linears. :smack: Gotta expect that.

B

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Linear Taper Pots: Who uses them?

We actually covered this in another thread, apparently Gibson made the choice that the linears allow a better range of blending the pups in the middle position ... since I don't own an LP a few I played mixed well, and a few didn't do much once one of the volumes was turned down to like 8 ... In other words all of the blending took place between 10~7.5 or so. In a linear taper that same range would be present from 10~5 or so. You'd have to verify this with someone who has LP with both linears, and another with audios ... Robert S. might be able to verify this. I still think Gibson used whatever they could get at the time, as do a lot of other companies.

No need to look elsewhere, I can verify it. My 03R8 is still with stock linears. That is correct the mixing range is like 10-3(linear), versus 10-7 or 6,5 (depending on the pickup). That's a good argument, and I see that ideally if a guitar player were to have the skills or the time to dial in maybe more precise settings in the middle position. Still that only explains the vol pots, whereas I still think audio tone pots would be more suitable even for this point you raise.

Anyway who cares. Afterall I prefer audios, some others prefer linears. So what.

As I've said, what you said is a valid argument, and cool. I can see why there might be some who would go for linears because of that.

Not me tho!

B

 

[Artie]

Re: Linear Taper Pots: Who uses them?

I prefer linear volume and tone controls. But then again, I don't play live. That may be what makes the difference in preference.

 

[Kent S.]

Re: Linear Taper Pots: Who uses them?

I still prefer a compund taper of some sort, as I only need to *normal audio thing* at the beginnings of the slope ... it could actually I've with a linear as long as it didn't do that annoying on/off thing; they need to be more audio like on the beginning of the sweep from 0 up ... Many people whether they know it or not when taking an audio pot and using a resistor in parallel with a cap (for those that do use them) are making their pots a bit more linear in their response. I have a feeling that those that like an audio if you ever get the chance to use a true log, or exact log (also called true dB) taper pot you'll love it. I still like the compund taper, as such I prefer to take a high valued linear pot, and adjust the taper via a resistor, it does cause the load to cahnge as t various settings, but this to is cool. I feel the lefties are descrimnated against as reverse logs are still hard to find.

 

[lastwinj]

Re: Linear Taper Pots: Who uses them?

linear pots are exactly that. if you have the pot turned at 50%, you get 50% of the resistance it provides. an audio taper, which is designed for audio and the response of the human ear, has only 10% resistance at 50% of its travel.

linear pots are used to save money. PERIOD. being used as a marketnig ploy is just turning a negative into a positive (like mesa does).

in general, audio pots are used for gain controls (pre and post) and the bass control. treble and middle, are linear. at least thats what i do in my amps. sounds the most useful to me.

germ

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Linear Taper Pots: Who uses them?

If you don't know if a pot is linear or audio there's a simple test: Set the pot to the halfway point and measure the resistance from the wiper (middle terminal) to each of the two other terminals. If the pot is set to the halfway point, they should measure the same or very close if it's LINEAR. If it's AUDIO, they won't be the same...one side will measure higher. So if it's a 500K linear taper pot, both sides should be about 250K....with the pot at the halfway point. If it's a 250K linear taper pot, both sides should measure about 125K. Lew