I needed two 500K pots for Volume replacement. These Bournes pots are supposed to be + or - 15%, which means no less than 425K. However, the two I was sent: one measures 408K and the other measures 416K. So, they're not really to spec. Will these sound noticeably different compared to 500K?
New 500K Bournes pots measure 400k. Will they be audibly darker?
- Thread starter Petros
- Start date
Re: New 500K Bournes pots measure 400k. Will they be audibly darker?
So then maybe these would sound more like 300K pots (which I don't want)? Is this an issue with Bournes pots? I've got to return them by mail so I don't want to order another set if they're likely to be about 400K.
So then maybe these would sound more like 300K pots (which I don't want)? Is this an issue with Bournes pots? I've got to return them by mail so I don't want to order another set if they're likely to be about 400K.
Silence Kid
New member
Re: New 500K Bournes pots measure 400k. Will they be audibly darker?
I had a few pots lying around from a few recent builds; I did a bit of a test comparing recordings of 250k, 500k, and 1 meg on the same guitar.
Can you tell the difference? Sure, but even between 1 meg and 250k, that difference is so slight that I'd say pretty much ANY other parameter makes more of a difference. I'm sure others will have better ears than me, but pushing your treble up one point or rolling back the tone slightly will put you at about even for most purposes. Pots won't fix or break a guitar setup that you think is too bright/dark IMO. I'm sure 400k sounds different than 500k, but when you consider the other tolerances and variables between amp/guitar it has little meaning.
I had a few pots lying around from a few recent builds; I did a bit of a test comparing recordings of 250k, 500k, and 1 meg on the same guitar.
Can you tell the difference? Sure, but even between 1 meg and 250k, that difference is so slight that I'd say pretty much ANY other parameter makes more of a difference. I'm sure others will have better ears than me, but pushing your treble up one point or rolling back the tone slightly will put you at about even for most purposes. Pots won't fix or break a guitar setup that you think is too bright/dark IMO. I'm sure 400k sounds different than 500k, but when you consider the other tolerances and variables between amp/guitar it has little meaning.
Re: New 500K Bournes pots measure 400k. Will they be audibly darker?
If you have the same amp and guitar, they are eliminated as variables.
One of the things about guitar and tone is you cannot simply dismiss any change as being of little difference for every last person. The change of 100k might mean the neck pickup being just too dark to make amp setting accommodate. Or the bridge being too bright. So yes.....I have found small changes making the difference.
If you have the same amp and guitar, they are eliminated as variables.
One of the things about guitar and tone is you cannot simply dismiss any change as being of little difference for every last person. The change of 100k might mean the neck pickup being just too dark to make amp setting accommodate. Or the bridge being too bright. So yes.....I have found small changes making the difference.
Re: New 500K Bournes pots measure 400k. Will they be audibly darker?
Ah no, not in my experience. With the same amp setup, you immediately hear the difference between a 1 meg volume pot vs. a 250K volume pot. I do however agree other factors in the sound chain can make up for the differences. So I agree:
What about if I'm using a treble bleed circuit that was designed for a 500K pot (.001 mF cap and a 220k resistor in parallel)? --Is it going to interact with a 400K pot differently?
Ah no, not in my experience. With the same amp setup, you immediately hear the difference between a 1 meg volume pot vs. a 250K volume pot. I do however agree other factors in the sound chain can make up for the differences. So I agree:
What about if I'm using a treble bleed circuit that was designed for a 500K pot (.001 mF cap and a 220k resistor in parallel)? --Is it going to interact with a 400K pot differently?
Re: New 500K Bournes pots measure 400k. Will they be audibly darker?
no way, man. the difference between 1 meg and 250k is huge. the difference between 250k and 500k is even huge, sound wise.
no way, man. the difference between 1 meg and 250k is huge. the difference between 250k and 500k is even huge, sound wise.
beaubrummels
Well-known member
Re: New 500K Bournes pots measure 400k. Will they be audibly darker?
Put the higher value on the neck pickup and the lower value on the bridge pickup. Or buy twice as many pots as you need and pick the good ones.
Put the higher value on the neck pickup and the lower value on the bridge pickup. Or buy twice as many pots as you need and pick the good ones.
Re: New 500K Bournes pots measure 400k. Will they be audibly darker?
What I had been doing is buying 1 Meg pots and using resistors in parallel to get the pot as close to 500K as possible. I went with Bournes pots because I need a course knurl on top for my speed knobs. They only had 500K (and I don't know if Bournes even makes a 1 Meg pot that isn't a mini-push-pull type). I was just surprised that people say Bournes pots are top quality, but then I got sent two pots that are both not within the + or - 15% spec.
Just asking again: What about if I'm using a treble bleed circuit that was designed for a 500K pot (.001 mF cap and a 220k resistor in parallel)? --Is it going to interact with a 400k pot differently? The resistor in the treble bleed circuit is used to help preserve the taper of the pot, but if it's 100k lower it may have a more gradual taper anyway.
What I had been doing is buying 1 Meg pots and using resistors in parallel to get the pot as close to 500K as possible. I went with Bournes pots because I need a course knurl on top for my speed knobs. They only had 500K (and I don't know if Bournes even makes a 1 Meg pot that isn't a mini-push-pull type). I was just surprised that people say Bournes pots are top quality, but then I got sent two pots that are both not within the + or - 15% spec.
Just asking again: What about if I'm using a treble bleed circuit that was designed for a 500K pot (.001 mF cap and a 220k resistor in parallel)? --Is it going to interact with a 400k pot differently? The resistor in the treble bleed circuit is used to help preserve the taper of the pot, but if it's 100k lower it may have a more gradual taper anyway.
Last edited:
Re: New 500K Bournes pots measure 400k. Will they be audibly darker?
Yes, the values will need to change in the treble bleed. But if you are used to the 1 meg setup with parallel resistor to get 500.....well that knackers natural pot taper anyhow so maybe you're used to something other than normal taper.
Yes, the values will need to change in the treble bleed. But if you are used to the 1 meg setup with parallel resistor to get 500.....well that knackers natural pot taper anyhow so maybe you're used to something other than normal taper.
Similar threads
