Pots and Caps for Quarter Pound.

JBG

New member
What pot and cap values does anyone here favor for their Quarter Pounds? I'm refitting a Strat with 3 of them and wondered if anyone stuck with the 250K pots or went with different values?
 
Re: Pots and Caps for Quarter Pound.

They're so high output that humbucker rules apply, 500k unless you want to make an already dark pickup to become even darker. Whether that's OK or not depends on your musical needs. As for the cap value, it's a matter of preference as always, .047 gets you super muffled tone, .022 leaves some mids behind for a thicker sound. I like to put in a push pull tone pot and have a choice between both values.
 
Re: Pots and Caps for Quarter Pound.

Thanks! I'd been wondering if what with being so high output if I'd need to go up to the 500K. What's the advantage to the muffled tone?
 
Re: Pots and Caps for Quarter Pound.

Very interesting! Wish he hadn't been using it on an LP though.
 
Re: Pots and Caps for Quarter Pound.

I had 3 Quarter Pounders in an Strat years ago and just used the 250k pots and .02uf cap. Sounded fine. They are higher output mainly because of the larger polepiece magets, and should work just fine with stock Strat pots.
Al
 
Re: Pots and Caps for Quarter Pound.

So it's down to individual taste here it sounds like. Decisions, decisions, decisions. What else can anyone say about them? What do they feel like under gain? Are they better with an amp's natural drive or better with a pedal? How high do you guys generally set them against the strings?
 
Re: Pots and Caps for Quarter Pound.

They are higher output mainly because of the larger polepiece magets

That's not the fact of the matter. If you look at the specs http://www.seymourduncan.com/comparetones/view/82 it has a resonant peak of 4.8 KHz and a DC resistance of 13.3 k. That's comparable to a Lil 59 bridge humbucker, which as a peak of 4.6 KHz http://www.seymourduncan.com/comparetones/view/197

Contrast that with an SSL-1 http://www.seymourduncan.com/comparetones/view/112 , the pickup type historically paired with a 250k pot, has a peak resonance of 10kHz and a resistance of only 6.5 k, meaning that the SSL-4 has quite a few more winds of what would have to be a thinner gauge of wire in order to get those values in that amount of bobbin space.

So for the reason you'd put 500k pot with a humbucker applies to an SSL-4 as well, but it is ultimately a matter of preference. Nearly everything is.
 
Re: Pots and Caps for Quarter Pound.

That's not the fact of the matter. If you look at the specs http://www.seymourduncan.com/comparetones/view/82 it has a resonant peak of 4.8 KHz and a DC resistance of 13.3 k. That's comparable to a Lil 59 bridge humbucker, which as a peak of 4.6 KHz http://www.seymourduncan.com/comparetones/view/197

Contrast that with an SSL-1 http://www.seymourduncan.com/comparetones/view/112 , the pickup type historically paired with a 250k pot, has a peak resonance of 10kHz and a resistance of only 6.5 k, meaning that the SSL-4 has quite a few more winds of what would have to be a thinner gauge of wire in order to get those values in that amount of bobbin space.

So for the reason you'd put 500k pot with a humbucker applies to an SSL-4 as well, but it is ultimately a matter of preference. Nearly everything is.

while you have a point about the windings, a larger polepiece means greater magnetic flux on the string, which translates to more current and voltage generation than would be possible with the same windings and a smaller polepiece.
 
Re: Pots and Caps for Quarter Pound.

No denying the magnet size and type makes a difference, but since you mention it, I think all things being equal, more often than not a weaker magnet means an even darker tone rather than brighter, at least with single coils. Comparing the Ant I Texas Hot for example, which has A2's and is darker than the Ant II Surfer with A5's.
 
Re: Pots and Caps for Quarter Pound.

I had 3 Quarter Pounders in an Strat years ago and just used the 250k pots and .02uf cap. Sounded fine. They are higher output mainly because of the larger polepiece magets, and should work just fine with stock Strat pots.
Al

How did having 3 in a Strat feel? Any position you didn't particularly like and why?
 
Re: Pots and Caps for Quarter Pound.

I have three in a Strat now. I think the thing you have to realize is that there is no "balanced set" of Quarter Pounds, the pickup in the neck is the same as the pickup in the bridge, so the guitar is very loud and very dark. OTOH, the distortion it puts out it effortlessly thick and creamy, so that's the trade off. The guitar is very fun to shred on, but all hope is lost of having any 2/4 position quack.

But! if you order the tappable version, the "SSL-4T", you can tap them and that will cut the coil down by half with the push of a button and restore 90% of the true Strat character. My Strat does this too, if you have any questions about implementation, I'm happy to answer.
 
Re: Pots and Caps for Quarter Pound.

That's ok. I've never been much in love with quack anyways. Loud is good. This isn't really supposed to be a subtle guitar anyway. It's just going to look that way. Do they work better in light weight guitars or heavier ones? The Strat that's being refitted is fairly light.
 
Re: Pots and Caps for Quarter Pound.

I don't think they're better or worse in any particular type of wood, just different. My SSL-4 bedecked Strat is pretty light also and I love it. If you were unsure, you could buy one SSL-4 before committing to three, especially since you'd have the same pickup in all three spots. Note they have an RWRP middle available in case you want hum cancelling in positions 2 and 4 (but I actively avoid RWRP).
 
Re: Pots and Caps for Quarter Pound.

I'm with you there. I've never loved RWRP. Never. Out of phase, sure, but the other? Nope. Just never felt right. I'm pretty much set on the QP's, but I was just curious is all. Besides You got to love the look of those larger pole pieces.
 
Re: Pots and Caps for Quarter Pound.

They are higher output mainly because of the larger polepiece magets, and should work just fine with stock Strat pots.
Al

No...they are higher output mainly because of the wind, slightly because of the size of the magnets. They are a fuller tone because of the larger polepieces.

Because of the higher output (like a humbucker), they work better with 500k ohm pots (like a humbucker).
 
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Re: Pots and Caps for Quarter Pound.

I have three in a Strat now. I think the thing you have to realize is that there is no "balanced set" of Quarter Pounds, the pickup in the neck is the same as the pickup in the bridge

That's not entirely true. The bridge model has a resistance of 17.4 k, and the neck has 11.8 k. It is true that it doesn't come in a three-pickup set.
 
Re: Pots and Caps for Quarter Pound.

That's not entirely true. The bridge model has a resistance of 17.4 k, and the neck has 11.8 k. It is true that it doesn't come in a three-pickup set.

You're thinking of the Quarter Pounds for Tele, STL-3 and STR-3.
 
Re: Pots and Caps for Quarter Pound.

You're thinking of the Quarter Pounds for Tele, STL-3 and STR-3.

You are absolutely correct sir...I was thinking Tele because that's where I have my Quarter Pound pup. I've had Tele on the brain lately.
 
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