Pots for Seymour Duncan SH-6’s

[mjharrison7]

Pots for Seymour Duncan SH-6’s

Seeing that I am getting no help from Fender/Jackson in getting the proper replacement pots, figured I’d check here. So here’s the scoop:

My Jackson JS32 DK-M had 500k (A and B) for the stock pots. The wiring diagram for the new pick ups suggests 250k. Just wanted to make sure I’m getting the right pots. Any suggestions? Also, would switching from 500k down to 250k make a difference? Do I need to get general audio pots or do they have to be volume and tone specific? Links?

My appreciated everyone!


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[Dave Locher]

Re: Pots for Seymour Duncan SH-6’s

Re: Pots for Seymour Duncan SH-6’s

Going from 500k to 250k pots definitely makes a difference. It mellows the tone a bit. You hear less highs and maybe a tiny drop in overall volume when both knobs are at 10. If you like bright, keep the 500k. If too much icepick bothers your ears, 250k might be better for you.

All audio pots are volume and/or tone pots. It just depends how you wire them. Just look carefully at each pot in your guitar and wire in each new pot the same way and you will be fine.

People seem to like a lot of different brands and models. I like Allparts CTS linear pots for volume and tone for the exact reasons others would hate them: they are very stiff and most of their effect occurs toward the low end of their sweep. I like that because they hold their settings until I intentionally change them, and because it gives me a lot of sweep to work between max vs almost maxed vs just under maxed.
Others like pots that are easy to turn, with much more "action" at the 10/9/8 end of the sweep. It's just a matter of personal preference.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Pots for Seymour Duncan SH-6’s

Re: Pots for Seymour Duncan SH-6’s

Also remember - you can always turn a 500k pot down. You can't turn a 250k up. 500k on ~7.2 = 250k. It isn't exactly like that, but it will give you an idea.

Personally I'm a fan of Gibson 300k pots for ceramic screamers in the bridge.

 

[mjharrison7]

Re: Pots for Seymour Duncan SH-6’s

Re: Pots for Seymour Duncan SH-6’s

Going from 500k to 250k pots definitely makes a difference. It mellows the tone a bit. You hear less highs and maybe a tiny drop in overall volume when both knobs are at 10. If you like bright, keep the 500k. If too much icepick bothers your ears, 250k might be better for you.

All audio pots are volume and/or tone pots. It just depends how you wire them. Just look carefully at each pot in your guitar and wire in each new pot the same way and you will be fine.

People seem to like a lot of different brands and models. I like Allparts CTS linear pots for volume and tone for the exact reasons others would hate them: they are very stiff and most of their effect occurs toward the low end of their sweep. I like that because they hold their settings until I intentionally change them, and because it gives me a lot of sweep to work between max vs almost maxed vs just under maxed.
Others like pots that are easy to turn, with much more "action" at the 10/9/8 end of the sweep. It's just a matter of personal preference.

Great! I attached a pick of the diagram that I’m using and I guess I should stick to that regardless. Do they make long shaft CTS 250k pots? My tone pot is too short and Ill have to replace it. In this diagram I can get two basic audio pots right?

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[mjharrison7]

Re: Pots for Seymour Duncan SH-6’s

Re: Pots for Seymour Duncan SH-6’s

Great! I attached a pick of the diagram that I’m using and I guess I should stick to that regardless. Do they make long shaft CTS 250k pots? My tone pot is too short and Ill have to replace it. In this diagram I can get two basic audio pots right?

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Keep in mind I do not have a tele but it’s the same layout. Maybe I could get a long shaft 500k???


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[Nagisa]

Re: Pots for Seymour Duncan SH-6’s

Re: Pots for Seymour Duncan SH-6’s

I would look at those 300k at the least. I have 500k on my LP with a dist bridge and I personally wouldn't want less.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Pots for Seymour Duncan SH-6’s

Re: Pots for Seymour Duncan SH-6’s

Personally I'm a fan of Gibson 300k pots for ceramic screamers in the bridge.

This is a perfect way to fix the dreaded 498r/490t set. Put a 300k pot as the bridge volume and a 1meg as the neck volume. You could also swap magnets, but that's for a different thread.

I would look at those 300k at the least. I have 500k on my LP with a dist bridge and I personally wouldn't want less.

A lot of the newer high output pickups are built around 1meg pots, sadly often times someone at the guitar factory won't get the memo.

 

[esandes]

Re: Pots for Seymour Duncan SH-6’s

Re: Pots for Seymour Duncan SH-6’s

You could even try one pot 500 and the other 250 to have the in between tone.

 

[allstarrme]

Re: Pots for Seymour Duncan SH-6’s

Re: Pots for Seymour Duncan SH-6’s

I doubt anyone at Seymour Duncan thinks the pots need to be 250k, they just needed a diagram and picked a value.

I wouldn’t put 250k pots in until after you’ve tried it. Then if you find it too bright go down to 250-300k.

Personally I like 550k pots if I’m replacing them, otherwise stock 500k are fine. 250k is for single coils and old people.

 

[mjharrison7]

Re: Pots for Seymour Duncan SH-6’s

Re: Pots for Seymour Duncan SH-6’s

Hey guys, figured I’d ask for your help on this feed since you guys are familiar with the scenario. So here’s the issue:

So, when I turn the the tone knob all the way down, the buzzing goes away. When I turn both volume and tone down, I can’t still get sound out of the instrument (its faint but it’s there). When I have the guitar on the clean channel, there no buzz at all.

Any thoughts on what’s causing this?


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[Mincer]

Re: Pots for Seymour Duncan SH-6’s

Re: Pots for Seymour Duncan SH-6’s

My guess is that something isn't grounded properly. Post some detailed pics of the wiring and we can see if we can spot anything. It might just be a soldering issue, too.

 

[mjharrison7]

Re: Pots for Seymour Duncan SH-6’s

Re: Pots for Seymour Duncan SH-6’s

My guess is that something isn't grounded properly. Post some detailed pics of the wiring and we can see if we can spot anything. It might just be a soldering issue, too.

Sure thing! I will post late tonight. That’s what I thought the issue might be. Everything was soldered properly but it’s kinda of a wire mess in there but I made sure nothing was touching just in case.


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[Artie]

Re: Pots for Seymour Duncan SH-6’s

Re: Pots for Seymour Duncan SH-6’s

When I turn both volume and tone down, I can’t still get sound out of the instrument . . .

Just curious. Is this a typo? You shouldn't get any sound with the volume all the way down.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Pots for Seymour Duncan SH-6’s

Re: Pots for Seymour Duncan SH-6’s

250k is for single coils and old people.

Actually it's the opposite: people gradually lose the ability to hear high frequencies as they age, and they need more treble to compensate.

 

[mjharrison7]

Re: Pots for Seymour Duncan SH-6’s

Re: Pots for Seymour Duncan SH-6’s

Just curious. Is this a typo? You shouldn't get any sound with the volume all the way down.

One would think haha. Yeah it’s a very odd issue. Like I said, it’s quite faint.


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