Time for new volume and tone pots. Where to get and what to get??

[Duke of Metal]

hey guys,
Well.. the volume pot on my Lespaul is scratchy now when I turn the volume up and down on it. So i thought I'd replace all 4 at one time.

Any recommendation of what to get?? and from where??


Thanks,
Duke

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Time for new volume and tone pots. Where to get and what to get??

www.stewmac.com
www.universaljems.com
www.wdmusic.com
www.musiciansfriend.com
www.allparts.com
I'm sure Lew probably has some also....This is a start..

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Time for new volume and tone pots. Where to get and what to get??

Your local shop might also carry Dimarzio packed pots. They're actually repacked CTS units, so they are good quality.

 

[Artie]

Re: Time for new volume and tone pots. Where to get and what to get??

Hey Duke; If you want to replace the controls for other reasons, thats fine, but all you really need is a little shot of one of these:

Caig Labs Deoxit

Oddly enough, the first time you use it, it won't be cheaper than new pots, but one can/bottle, will last you virtually a lifetime.

 

[midnite_man]

Re: Time for new volume and tone pots. Where to get and what to get??

That's the first thing I thought of, too, Artie! Get yourself some electronic contact cleaner and put a short squirt into each pot in the small opening above the contacts, and turn the knob several times. That may do the trick. If not, Lew (Lewguitar) has new CTS pots on hand....or any of the other links mentioned above will get you there also. A periodic cleaning of the pots in any guitar is advisable to keep the small chunks of dust or dirt turning into large ones and prolonging the life of a pot.

....Bob

 

[91vintageburst]

Re: Time for new volume and tone pots. Where to get and what to get??

invest in a RS upgrade kit from

rsguitarworks.com

 

[jmh151]

Re: Time for new volume and tone pots. Where to get and what to get??

The RS Upgrade kit is supposed to be the best for Les pauls. Other than that, I'd get CTS pots from http://www.guitarelectronics.com or http://www.torresengineering.com

 

[John Wymore]

Re: Time for new volume and tone pots. Where to get and what to get??

Both R/S and ouselves offer a complete kit that upgrades the LP to 500K CTS pots and either Sprague Orange drop or Hovland capacitors. A special wiring diagram is also included that helps maintain clarity when the volume controls are rolled off. These kits are a great upgrade for any LP.

John @ Black Rose

 

[Falstaff]

Re: Time for new volume and tone pots. Where to get and what to get??

Both R/S and ouselves over a complete kit that upgrades the LP to 500K CTS pots and either Sprague Orange drop or Hovland capacitors. A special wiring diagram is also included that helps maintain clarity when the volume controls are rolled off. These kits are a great upgrade for any LP.

John @ Black Rose

IMHO, John and Black Rose are the best!

 

[Duke of Metal]

Re: Time for new volume and tone pots. Where to get and what to get??

Both R/S and ouselves offer a complete kit that upgrades the LP to 500K CTS pots and either Sprague Orange drop or Hovland capacitors. A special wiring diagram is also included that helps maintain clarity when the volume controls are rolled off. These kits are a great upgrade for any LP.

John @ Black Rose

Thanks for the info guys.. really appriciate it!

hey john.. is that the diagram that you have on your website for the LesPaul wiring here?? and does it affect the tone at all or just maintain clarity when volume controls are rolled off?

Also, any tone difference between the Orange Drops and Mallory caps you guys sell? Ofcourse both would be the same value (.047).


Thanks,
Duke

 

[John Wymore]

Re: Time for new volume and tone pots. Where to get and what to get??

The jump to 500K pots will improve clarity and add some brightness. The wiring will help maintain clarity when you roll down the volumes. The better quality caps will make the tone controls more useable.

I would say Orange Drops and Mallory's sound very similar and the Hovland's a bit better to my ear. The Hovlands are physically pretty big but do fit in the LP cavity OK.

Just FYI, I would recommend .022 caps as the starting point unless you need to roll off a lot of highs with the tone controls.

 

[Duke of Metal]

Re: Time for new volume and tone pots. Where to get and what to get??

The jump to 500K pots will improve clarity and add some brightness. The wiring will help maintain clarity when you roll down the volumes. The better quality caps will make the tone controls more useable.

I would say Orange Drops and Mallory's sound very similar and the Hovland's a bit better to my ear. The Hovlands are physically pretty big but do fit in the LP cavity OK.

Just FYI, I would recommend .022 caps as the starting point unless you need to roll off a lot of highs with the tone controls.

hey John,
Well.. the pots and the caps in my lespaul are still stock. The pots are all 500K.. and the caps say on them "2A473J".. not sure what the means. I am guessing they're 0.047 caps.

I am using a Duncan Custom SH-5 in the bridge.


Thanks,
Duke

 

[John Wymore]

Re: Time for new volume and tone pots. Where to get and what to get??

Duke,

Are you sure the pots are 500K? What year is your LP? I am thinking most are standard with 300K but certain years and models did use 500's. Either way I would suggest 500K as replacements.

I am not sure how to read that cap P/N but it certainly could be .047 ufd.

 

[Duke of Metal]

Re: Time for new volume and tone pots. Where to get and what to get??

Duke,

Are you sure the pots are 500K? What year is your LP? I am thinking most are standard with 300K but certain years and models did use 500's. Either way I would suggest 500K as replacements.

I am not sure how to read that cap P/N but it certainly could be .047 ufd.

hi John,
Yeah.. I opened it up right now before my last posting and it said B500K ohms on all 4 pots.

I am gonna do a little re-wiring when I get the new pots since I wanna get better cables and see if it makes any difference in the noise at all.


Duke

 

[Kent S.]

Re: Time for new volume and tone pots. Where to get and what to get??

Well.. the pots and the caps in my lespaul are still stock. The pots are all 500K.. and the caps say on them "2A473J".. not sure what the means. I am guessing they're 0.047 caps.

I
Duke

Yep, the 473 is .047uF, J means a 5% tolerance, and 2A is a either a characteristic/type number or a dielectric breakdown rating (ie 2 amps), I can only guess as to it being the first, there should be a voltage rating also, but it may not be on there. I don't know why 473's are in your LP, but that's what the three digit code says.

 

[Duke of Metal]

Re: Time for new volume and tone pots. Where to get and what to get??

Yep, the 473 is .047uF, J means a 5% tolerance, and 2A is a either a characteristic/type number or a dielectric breakdown rating (ie 2 amps), I can only guess as to it being the first, there should be a voltage rating also, but it may not be on there. I don't know why 473's are in your LP, but that's what the three digit code says.

Thanks Kent..
What usually comes in Lespauls cap wise??


Thanks,
Duke

 

[Duke of Metal]

Re: Time for new volume and tone pots. Where to get and what to get??

Bump for a reply!!

 

[Kent S.]

Re: Time for new volume and tone pots. Where to get and what to get??

Thanks Kent..
What usually comes in Lespauls cap wise??


Thanks,
Duke

223's are what normally comes in there ... .022uF. If you are happy with the 473 then I say leave 'em, but the 223 will not be quite as dark as the 473, and will have a bit more upper brightness (in principle anyway). As far as tolerance I think most Gibbys had 10%, maybe more. Now days they stick with either 10% or 5%, 5% is better butit's not crucial. A cap rated at at least 100V and up, I think the ODs that most people stick in there are either 400V or 600V.The voltage rating is not that important, but higher rated caps tend to give a bit better performance, and they resist the heat of soldering, and hold to their values better, than lower rated caps do.The tolerance issue isn't that important either, it's just that 5% are closer to *what* they say they are capacitance (value) wise.

 

[Duke of Metal]

Re: Time for new volume and tone pots. Where to get and what to get??

223's are what normally comes in there ... .022uF. If you are happy with the 473 then I say leave 'em, but the 223 will not be quite as dark as the 473, and will have a bit more upper brightness (in principle anyway). As far as tolerance I think most Gibbys had 10%, maybe more. Now days they stick with either 10% or 5%, 5% is better butit's not crucial. A cap rated at at least 100V and up, I think the ODs that most people stick in there are either 400V or 600V.The voltage rating is not that important, but higher rated caps tend to give a bit better performance, and they resist the heat of soldering, and hold to their values better, than lower rated caps do.The tolerance issue isn't that important either, it's just that 5% are closer to *what* they say they are capacitance (value) wise.

I am pretty happy with the sound.. specially since I put the Duncan Custom in the bridge. Its not too bright, its not too dark..

I might not even replace the tone pots since I hardly if never use them at all. They're always on full.

I put some contact cleaner that i had sitting around and it cleaned the volume pots dead clean. I guess i'll just replace them when they go dirty for good. I found the CTS ones locally for $5 each. Which is about the same price they would go for in the USA after currency exchange.


Duke