pot values for volume and tone

[Travis]

Charvel 750xl - mahogany body, maple top, set maple neck, rosewood fretboard, string thru.

I'm puttnig in a pair of Duncan Distortions to replace the EMG 89s that are in there now. I was thinking of a 500k pot for the volume. Which should I use for the tone, 250k or 500k and why?

 

[rspst14]

Re: pot values for volume and tone

500k volume and tone pots for humbuckers, 250k for single coils.

Ryan

 

[PhantomStranger]

Re: pot values for volume and tone

500k volume and tone pots for humbuckers, 250k for single coils.

Ryan

The same thing would apply for single coil size humbuckers, say like a a Strat? 500k tones and volume?

 

[Jeff5]

Re: pot values for volume and tone

For Hot Rails, JB jr, Cool Rails etc., I would use 500k

 

[Jackal]

Re: pot values for volume and tone

Generally the higher the "k" value the more high frequencies will come out...
For example a 250K pot is probably better for single coils so they aren't "brittle bright" sounding. Whereas you can use up to a 1 meg pot to brighten up a humbucker.

 

[cvansickle]

Re: pot values for volume and tone

Generally the higher the "k" value the more high frequencies will come out...
For example a 250K pot is probably better for single coils so they aren't "brittle bright" sounding. Whereas you can use up to a 1 meg pot to brighten up a humbucker.

I use a 2 meg pot from Torres Engineering along with a Duncan Distortion in one of my guitars. If you install the tiny capacitors that come with it, you won't lose any highs from this high-gain setup.

I would describe the tone as this: full output of the pickup is clear and punchy, but never brittle. No "ice pick in the eardrums" sounds!