pot & cap value for TB-15 Alt 8

[Marc Burger]

I have the following question for the techs amongst you:
what value pot and cap would you prefer to wire in with an Alternative 8 humbucker in the bridge?

I got a set of buckers for my Blacktop Strat (TB-15 Alt 8 bridge and SH-2n Jazz neck) and find conflicting information.
I plan to use a Superswitch for
5. neck HB
4. neck split
3. both HB
2. both inner coils
1. bridge HB
and to use 3 x 500k pots and 2 x .047 caps.

I learned the basic rule 250k for singles coils and 500 for buckers, but looking at a wiring diagram for the Double fat strat I find that Fender use 250k on bridge and a .022 cap. :scratchch
I can see that 250k makes sense on pickups such as Pearly Gates Plus and the SC sized buckers as I assume these are voiced to be wired into a strat using the stock 250k pots and .022 cap.
From reading up I understand 500k turned down a bit is not exactly the same as a 250k open.
The Blacktop is quite a warm guitar with its rosewood fingerboard.

What difference does .022 make over .047 when the tone pot is set to 10?
Any opinions are much appreciated. Maybe a no load pot for bridge tone (either 500 or 250k)?

:thanks: guys

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: pot & cap value for TB-15 Alt 8

When your tone pot is set to "10", the cap will not make a noticable difference. You hear the difference when you turn the tone knob down. A higher value cap (eg .047) will roll off the highs and some upper mids. A lower value cap (eg .010) will only reduce the highs as the tone is turned down.

Generally speaking, my personal preference for humbuckers is 500k pots and .022 or .010 caps all around. Blueman likes 250k pots in the bridge. But so much depends on your particular instrument and your personal taste. Start with 500k pots and .022 caps and see if it's what you want. If not, it's not a big thing to change.

 

[Chuck_Norris]

Re: pot & cap value for TB-15 Alt 8

When your tone pot is set to "10", the cap will not make a noticable difference.

It will. Once I changed the cap from .022 to .033 on my Ibby and it was a huge difference! The sound got fatter but also muddier - even with the tone pot on 10. Didn't like it at all. A .047 cap will enhance that effect.

For the Alt 8, I recommend a .022 or .010 cap as Doc said and a 500k or even 1M tone pot since it doesn't have much presence. Some ppl over here even like it disconnected from the tone pot.

But in the end it's your decision. You can experiment with different cap values since they are dirt cheap.

 

[Marc Burger]

Re: pot & cap value for TB-15 Alt 8

Fanx guys, did a lot of Googling and drawing today with a pile of diagrams from SD, Fender, DiMarzio and converting all the color codes.
I did learn about inside out wiring (white to hot, link green and black, red to ground) and that a coil split can be done by making a short on the coil you don't wish to have a signal from. (I previously thought that I had to cut off one coil, but now understand I can short the other one by connecting 3 wires).
Think I've gathered enough knowledge to get soldering once my Superswitch is in and will post pics if I manage to succeed

 

[hamerfan]

Re: pot & cap value for TB-15 Alt 8

It will. Once I changed the cap from .022 to .033 on my Ibby and it was a huge difference! The sound got fatter but also muddier - even with the tone pot on 10. Didn't like it at all. A .047 cap will enhance that.

That's because you use 250k as tone pot. With 500k or better 1meg there is no influence ot the tone cap on the sound on 10.

 

[Chuck_Norris]

Re: pot & cap value for TB-15 Alt 8

That's because you use 250k as tone pot.

I was using a 500k tone pot back then and could hear a significant difference, especially with higher gain settings.