Pot values for Duncan JB in Fender Kurt Cobain Mustang?

[Ricey]

The bridge position Seymour Duncan JB in my Fender Kurt Cobain Mustang is dark, muddy, undefined and compressed. I cannot currently get a satisfactory bright, cutting, crunchy overrdriven sound from this PUP. It sounds as if the tone control is rolled off, even when it is dimed!

Does anybody know whether the stock KC Mustang volume and tone pots are 500k or 250k? Normally, a Duncan JB would use 500k pots, while the Fender single coil in the neck position would use 250K pots. If Fender compromised and used 250k pots all around, wouldn't some high end be rolled off the JB? I suspect that is the case with this guitar. Conversely, if they are 250k pots and I swapped them for 500k pots to improve the sound of the JB, wouldn't the Fender single coil in the neck be potentially harsh and overly bright? If so,I could swap it out for a stacked single coil that works best with 500k pots.

Any information or advice would be appreciated.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Pot values for Duncan JB in Fender Kurt Cobain Mustang?

IME, that's what JBs sound like. I say that even having tried them direct to the jack and with 1M pots (and never with 250K). If you don't like that tone, get a lower output pickup. If you want a hot pickup with more cut, I might suggest starting with the Custom.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Pot values for Duncan JB in Fender Kurt Cobain Mustang?

You may just have to look in there and check. While you are there, check that everything is wired correctly. If you can't tell, take pics while it is open. That might help us diagnose if something is wrong.

 

[Ricey]

Re: Pot values for Duncan JB in Fender Kurt Cobain Mustang?

Are you suggesting the Alnico 2 Custom Custom or the Ceramic Duncan Custom?

 

[TRex]

Re: Pot values for Duncan JB in Fender Kurt Cobain Mustang?

I'd stick to the JB for a Kurt Cobain axe tbh. That's what he used in almost all of his strats.

Or a Dimarzio Super Distortion, as he supposedly used that in his Jaguar

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Pot values for Duncan JB in Fender Kurt Cobain Mustang?

It looks like 250k pots are stock. You could replace the volume with a 500K pot. Do you like the sound of the neck position or is it too bright or too dark? Because you could run a 500K resistor in parallel with the neck pickup so it still sees a 250K load or skip the resistor and go with a 500K pot for both pickups which will brighten both positions. In the diagram you can see where I changed out the volume pot and added the 500K resistor between the hot lug on the neck switch and the ground.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Pot values for Duncan JB in Fender Kurt Cobain Mustang?

Are you suggesting the Alnico 2 Custom Custom or the Ceramic Duncan Custom?

The plain-old Custom.

If you don't like the way the JB sounds, changing the pots won't change your opinion enough to make it worth the swap. You need a different pickup IMO – something a bit more lean.

Personally, the Custom is still too thick for most things I want to play. But I assumed you would want something at least somewhat hot, and as far as hot pickups go, the Custom is one of the most well behaved ones IME (i.e. it doesn't get too mushy too easily).

 

[Ricey]

Re: Pot values for Duncan JB in Fender Kurt Cobain Mustang?

Thanks for that wiring diagram! I will probably try that first, since I will need to rewire it the same way for new PUPs anyway. Could I go with a 500k for the tone pot too. If so, can it be wired so the neck PUP still sees 250k, like what you did for the volume pot. Ideally, I would prefer the neck sees 250k for both volume and tone and the bridge sees 500k for both.

 

[Ricey]

Re: Pot values for Duncan JB in Fender Kurt Cobain Mustang?

I probably will end up swapping both PUPs eventually. The Single coil is not very good and I actually prefer a low to medium output bucker like a 59', Screamin' Demon, Pearly Gates or Duncan Custom. Interestingly, I sent an email to Duncan and they, like itsabass, recommended the Custom/Custom, so I will definitely check it out as well!

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Pot values for Duncan JB in Fender Kurt Cobain Mustang?

Thanks for that wiring diagram! I will probably try that first, since I will need to rewire it the same way for new PUPs anyway. Could I go with a 500k for the tone pot too. If so, can it be wired so the neck PUP still sees 250k, like what you did for the volume pot. Ideally, I would prefer the neck sees 250k for both volume and tone and the bridge sees 500k for both.

You could leave the tone at 250K because it doesn't make much difference changing it out for a 500K.

 

[Ricey]

Re: Pot values for Duncan JB in Fender Kurt Cobain Mustang?

Could I do a Les Paul type wiring for my Mustang using dual concentric pots so that I would have seperate volume and tone controls for each PUP? If so, would there be any issue with mixing 250k dual concetric pots for the single coil pups volume and tone and a 500k dual concentric pots for the Humbucker's volume and tone? Would the 250k dual concentric pots use the standard 250k cap values and the 500k dual concentric pots use the standard 500k cap values or would they not play well together in the same circuit?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Pot values for Duncan JB in Fender Kurt Cobain Mustang?

THis would be tricky, but I think it is possible...anyone foresee any problem with going for the concentric pot thing?

 

[Ricey]

Re: Pot values for Duncan JB in Fender Kurt Cobain Mustang?

OK, I am going to try the dual concentric pot arrangement with 250k's for the single coil and 500k's for the humbucker. I got my Duncan Custom from Musicians Friend with a 20% off coupon, but still have not decided on the single coil. One issue-the only supplier for 250k dual concentric pots that I could find was on eBay and they are mini pots. I already got the dual concentric 500k pots from guitarelectonics.com, but they are full sized. Any issues mixing mini's with full sized pots or does anybody know of a supplier for full-sized dual concentric 250k pots?