Pot Questions for Tele Little '59 set

[Shuggie69]

Hi Folks,

I am new here and this may be my first question. I am confused about correct pots and resisters to use if I decide on a little 59 tele set. Teles and Strats normally use 250k pots and humbuckers use 500k. The little '59 set is a humbucker but SD suggests using 250K? Is that correct?

I like the idea of noise cancelling but keeping the tele vibe, to some extent. I thought the little 59 should be the one, but I also see that there is the hot rails set. That seems more popular but I suspect the little '59 would be closer to a tele sound. Please let give me your thoughts. Thank you!

 

[Securb]

Yes, most, if not all, of the single-sized replacements are designed to work/match with 250K pots. I have the Hot Rails in my Tele and it is about as far as you can get from a Tele tone, wonderful tone but in no way Telecaster.

 

[Clint 55]

Welcome to the forum.

Hot Rails are just hot. The Lil 59s seem like they have more tele tone to them.

You can use whatever pots you prefer with lil humbuckers. 250k if you want em darker, 500k if you want em brighter.

 

[Mincer]

Well, neither sounds particularly Tele-ish. Both sound like humbuckers, and the Hot Rails is even warmer. The little humbuckers are designed to drop right in with no other mods, but that doesn't mean you can't experiment. If you are after a Tele sound, but hum-cancelling, you may want to look at some of the stacked sets.

 

[Shuggie69]

Thanks for the responses!!

What does SD recommend for POT(s) value? I know typically single coils are 250 and HB's are 500k. What does the manufacturer recommend on single coils that are humbucker or stacked?
I am fine with it not sounding exactly like a tele. I have a humbucker equipped Veritas guitar that sounds like the perfect tele - low output, warm, clear and quiet. It has Lambertones Crema's in it. The little '59 seemed cool but if there are other stacked versions I should be looking at, let me know.

 

[Securb]

Like Mincer said, the Lil 59 and Hot Rails are designed to drop right into a 250 K-equipped guitar. That does not mean you can not swap out the pots later if you are chasing a different tone. I have Rails in two guitars, both of which have 250K original pots, and both of them sound amazing. Once again I have to stress neither guitar sounds anything like a Telecaster.