The different between 300K pots and 500K pots

gary mitchell

New member
I have a old Burny Les Paul that has some decent pickups in it, the guy told me they were old Duncans. I have not taken them out to see what they are, it is real bright to my ears. I did how ever look at the pots and they were 500K with .027 caps, I did that cause some dude at guitar center ask me to look. He told me if I went to a 300K pots and down to a .020 are.015 cap, it would help me alot. Is this true, just thought I would ask for I spent the money.
 
Re: The different between 300K pots and 500K pots

What Duncan models are those PU's?

You don't want 300K's for neck HB's. It'll kill any treble and you tend to get mud. But, I use two 250K's for almost all my bridge HB's and P-90's. On some I also use warm magnets. But I like a full, rich sounding bridge. Some guys get a similar sound by turning down their tone pot, but to me this doesn't work as well, the tone isn't the same. It loses something. I want my PU's so that they both sound great with their tone pots on '10', with the same amp EQ setting.

The neck slot is inherently full of mids and bass, and the bridge is naturally sharp and bright, mostly high end. This due to the amount of string vibration and energy. I just don't see the logic in always using 500K pots for both PU's, which is how most guitars are wired. Both will get 'pushed' in the same direction EQ-wise, and bridges don't need more treble, necks do. Likewise, 250/300K pots make both PU's warmer, and necks usually don't need that, especially in an LP.

Sometimes you can dial in both PU's tones with mag swaps; sometimes you can do it with pots; and sometimes you may need both. Depends on the wood and your tastes.
 
Re: The different between 300K pots and 500K pots

turn the treble down on your amp.... it costs a lot less...
Or use your tone control knob... kind of the same ....
 
Re: The different between 300K pots and 500K pots

I have a old Burny Les Paul that has some decent pickups in it, the guy told me they were old Duncans. I have not taken them out to see what they are, it is real bright to my ears. I did how ever look at the pots and they were 500K with .027 caps, I did that cause some dude at guitar center ask me to look. He told me if I went to a 300K pots and down to a .020 are.015 cap, it would help me alot. Is this true, just thought I would ask for I spent the money.

You actually believe “some dude at guitar center”?

What are you crazy?
 
Re: The different between 300K pots and 500K pots

I am a huge fan of 300k for ceramic screamers in the bridge.

Just depends how you use your amp and pups. But I gotta agree with "turn down the treble/tone as a first attempt.
 
Re: The different between 300K pots and 500K pots

The guy at guitar center told you to use a duller pot and a brighter cap?!
 
Re: The different between 300K pots and 500K pots

turn the treble down on your amp.... it costs a lot less...
Or use your tone control knob... kind of the same ....

I'm a firm believer in "Knobs on the amp at noon, Vol/Tone on 10 on guitar".

If it doesn't sound good like that, then it doesn't sound good.

The ONLY exception I'll make is a tele bridge pickup.
 
Re: The different between 300K pots and 500K pots

I'm a firm believer in "Knobs on the amp at noon, Vol/Tone on 10 on guitar".

If it doesn't sound good like that, then it doesn't sound good.

Right. Most guys do not adjust their guitar's tone knobs, so it makes sense to get the PU's EQ'd right with the tone pots on '10'. Makes life a lot easier to do it once up front (with set-up, mags, or pots), then you're done.
 
Re: The different between 300K pots and 500K pots

I dont use tone pots if i can help it. I just use 470k or 270k resistors to simulate a tone circuit on 10.
 
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