Push-pull Pots: Which brand/type is best?

[jrbowen81]

Re: Push-pull Pots: Which brand/type is best?

my Ibanezes came with the 10mm Asian pots
I replaced one of tones with a 3/8 Push-Push from Mojo Musical Supply
here is the second one I installed in the same guitar
on the Push-Push there is a warning to make sure the knob is in the
UP position before trying to remove the splined knob
it will strip the mechanism if you PULL on a Push-Push

Hey thanks for posting the pics!

 

[Soulcrusher_X]

Re: Push-pull Pots: Which brand/type is best?

Funny that this thread came up, but maybe not. lol Ive been thinking lately that my next guitar should have some push-pulls for more diversity.

Anyway, those knobs have the rubber 'tracks' on them, correct? Are they embedded in a groove or glued to the outside of the knob? I know you were worried about changing the pots just in case you cant swap the knobs too.

Have you tried taking one of the knobs off of your Gibson and seeing if it fits? If it does, then great. Most replacement pots will fit just fine. If the knob from your Gibson is really sloppy or just falls right off of the Schecter pot, then you could always drill the hole in the knob a little bit to fit nicer on the replacement pot, since the CTS/DMZ/Bournes pots are 3/8" instead of 8mm.

 

[1b4n3z]

Re: Push-pull Pots: Which brand/type is best?

I'd get a CGE push-pull if a US spec'd pot was needed. The DiMarzio-branded pot looks like a metric spec to me (which is fine too, but not very compatible with US push-in knobs). They are of nice fast taper too.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Push-pull Pots: Which brand/type is best?

PSA:​

The push/push pots that WD sells are made by Alpha (or at least they used to be) and they are garbage...the push/push switch will fall apart in less than 6 months...in fact those are the very same pot that led me to finding the DiMarzio/CTS Push/Pulls.

The push/push part is nice but the spring loaded actuator part of the switch just falls apart and on top of that the taper of the pots themselves is pretty crummy.

The DiMarzio/CTS pots are very well made, have a super smooth taper and the switch will last at least half a lifetime!

I have no personal stake in any of this, I'm not trying to sell DiMarzio or CTS products I am simply trying to save other guys time, trouble and money with my personal experiences.

 

[jrbowen81]

Re: Push-pull Pots: Which brand/type is best?

I'd get a CGE push-pull if a US spec'd pot was needed. The DiMarzio-branded pot looks like a metric spec to me (which is fine too, but not very compatible with US push-in knobs). They are of nice fast taper too.

Yeah mine are definitely the coarse 18-spline split-shaft ones on this Schecter. I took one off the other day just to see. The problem now is that although the knobs on the volume pots are fairly easy to take off, the tone knob seems to be glued on. When I tried slowly and carefully to remove it, the WHOLE shaft came out! I panicked at first, but luckily it pped right back into place. I seriously thought I broke it. Now, I'm pretty sure I won't be able to keep the knob for another pot anyhow. Bummer. It seriously looks like it's glued in.

 

[Soulcrusher_X]

Re: Push-pull Pots: Which brand/type is best?

Yeah mine are definitely the coarse 18-spline split-shaft ones on this Schecter. I took one off the other day just to see. The problem now is that although the knobs on the volume pots are fairly easy to take off, the tone knob seems to be glued on. When I tried slowly and carefully to remove it, the WHOLE shaft came out! I panicked at first, but luckily it pped right back into place. I seriously thought I broke it. Now, I'm pretty sure I won't be able to keep the knob for another pot anyhow. Bummer. It seriously looks like it's glued in.

If the shaft of the pot pulled out, just grab it with some vise grips and rock the knob back and forth with your fingers. Some persuation should make it come out. When I changed the knobs on my wife's Epi LP, I almost had to cut them off. They weren't glued, but damn were they tight.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Push-pull Pots: Which brand/type is best?

hmm
last year a dude round here reported his Schecter's Tone knob shaft came out

 

[MikeM]

Re: Push-pull Pots: Which brand/type is best?

TGWIF: Thanks for the heads up Gonna order me a handful of Dimarzios in the morning

 

[jrbowen81]

Re: Push-pull Pots: Which brand/type is best?

If the shaft of the pot pulled out, just grab it with some vise grips and rock the knob back and forth with your fingers. Some persuation should make it come out. When I changed the knobs on my wife's Epi LP, I almost had to cut them off. They weren't glued, but damn were they tight.

Your wife plays too? Hey, that's cool! Alright, I might try that once I make up my mind on which pot to buy. Leaning towards DiMarzios. Are they audio taper or linear?

 

[Franknfilms]

Re: Push-pull Pots: Which brand/type is best?

DiMarzios are really good in terms of tone and functionality, but you really need to take off some of the coating on the side of the pot if you're going to try and solder to it. They come very shiny and slippery and you can't solder anything on to them without a very thorough sanding or scraping of the coating. Other pots I've tried, such as Alphas, don't put up as much of a fight.

 

[jrbowen81]

Re: Push-pull Pots: Which brand/type is best?

Funny that this thread came up, but maybe not. lol Ive been thinking lately that my next guitar should have some push-pulls for more diversity.

Anyway, those knobs have the rubber 'tracks' on them, correct? Are they embedded in a groove or glued to the outside of the knob? I know you were worried about changing the pots just in case you cant swap the knobs too.

Have you tried taking one of the knobs off of your Gibson and seeing if it fits? If it does, then great. Most replacement pots will fit just fine. If the knob from your Gibson is really sloppy or just falls right off of the Schecter pot, then you could always drill the hole in the knob a little bit to fit nicer on the replacement pot, since the CTS/DMZ/Bournes pots are 3/8" instead of 8mm.

By the way, I'm sitting with my guitar right now and the little rubber tracks on the knobs are not glued on, but the knob itself does have a groove cut into it for the rubber grip to sit in. They're the coolest knobs I've seen besides the Dimebag speed knobs. I don't know if those are sold separately though. I actually modded the volume knobs on my LP in a way that is very similar to those, but I'm not steady-handed enough to make it look perfect.

 

[jrbowen81]

Re: Push-pull Pots: Which brand/type is best?

DiMarzios are really good in terms of tone and functionality, but you really need to take off some of the coating on the side of the pot if you're going to try and solder to it. They come very shiny and slippery and you can't solder anything on to them without a very thorough sanding or scraping of the coating. Other pots I've tried, such as Alphas, don't put up as much of a fight.

Cool, thanks for letting me know! No prob there. Got plenty of sandpaper here. Hehe