Question about pots post size

[engine247]

Newbie with likely newbie question.

I am replacing the duncan designed bridge pickup in my Squier M-77 and figured I would replace the pots while I was there. I grabbed some Allparts brand pots and discovered that the threaded posts are 1/16" thicker than what came stock. (I'll be re-checking that once my 2 year old goes to sleep but I swear that is the case) I wouldn't have thought it an issue until the new pots would not slide through the holes in the body. Is this a common issue? I'm wondering if this is a case of leave the stock pots in or widen the holes in the body. While this is not an expensive guitar and I certainly love power tools I'd prefer not to remove wood if I do not have to.

Anyone run into this before?

Thanks for any feedback.

 

[Mononoaware]

Re: Question about pots post size

I've encountered this one. The CTS replacement posts I bought for my Ibanez sz320 were a little too large. I just bit the bullet and sanded the holes a little larger using some sandpaper wrapped around a pencil. Worked fine, with no real damage to the finish. The CTS throw is smoother than the stock pots, so it was worth it.

My uneducated guess is it's the difference between American spec parts and stuff from overseas (I hear they use something called "metric" over thar').

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Question about pots post size

Had this problem too, and I used a drill to open mine. This was my ESP.

 

[John Wymore]

Re: Question about pots post size

My uneducated guess is it's the difference between American spec parts and stuff from overseas (I hear they use something called "metric" over thar').

That's exactly the case. The threaded portion of the USA made CTS pots measures 3/8" diameter (9.5mm) while most import pots measure around 8 mm. Just take a tapered reamer or a step drill (hand held, not in a drill) and open up the holes slightly.

 

[Jay 77]

Re: Question about pots post size

Yep, same here. All the CTS pots I put in were larger. Just used a round file, and opened up the holes slightly. No worries.

 

[DepecheMoses]

Re: Question about pots post size

Put 3 CTS pots in my LP, I feel like the finish chipped a little from the drill, but the knob covers that up so it's okay.

 

[engine247]

Re: Question about pots post size

Sweet. Thanks to everybody for the input. I have a nice skinny round wood file that should do nicely. -J

 

[Pete Galati]

Re: Question about pots post size

I bought a GFS Tele control plate once, and thought, great, a Tele control plate that's nice and thick. Then I noticed that CTS and CGE pots wouldn't fit it's holes! It was made for the imported Alpha pots he sells. Alpha pots are actually pretty decent, but it wasn't what I wanted to use. So I took a hardware store reamer tool, and enlarged the holes.

It's not very difficult to enlarge the holes with a reamer tool, but they'd have to be a lot less expensive to be worth the extra work, and they aren't.

Pete