volume pot qu from a noob
- Thread starter smegolas
- Start date
Re: volume pot qu from a noob
pot is short for potentiometer which is a variable resistor.
the volume control is a pot and a knob, the tone control is a pot, knob and capacitor for treble roll off.
if there is a knob on a guitar, chances are there is a pot attached.
the value of the pot will change the sound of the guitar. in general 250k is used for single coils, 500k for humbuckers
pot is short for potentiometer which is a variable resistor.
the volume control is a pot and a knob, the tone control is a pot, knob and capacitor for treble roll off.
if there is a knob on a guitar, chances are there is a pot attached.
the value of the pot will change the sound of the guitar. in general 250k is used for single coils, 500k for humbuckers
Al Heeley
New member
Re: volume pot qu from a noob
One small further comlication, there are 2 main types of potentiometers or variable resistors used: log and linear.
Log pots vary resistance on a logarithmic scale as the knob is turned, these tend to be used for volume control (as decibel volume is logarithmic in loudness/power) and the tone pot is normally linear response.
One small further comlication, there are 2 main types of potentiometers or variable resistors used: log and linear.
Log pots vary resistance on a logarithmic scale as the knob is turned, these tend to be used for volume control (as decibel volume is logarithmic in loudness/power) and the tone pot is normally linear response.
octavedoctor
New member
Re: volume pot qu from a noob
The best bet is to default to the higher value as 500k will work well with both, but 250k won't work as well with humbuckers.
Another option is to go for a mean value, e.g. 350k, splitting the difference between the two.
It's not a precise art though and when pressed i have used a 250k linear in place of a 500k log pot to get a guitar working and you'd have to be really picky to tell the difference.
Many older guitars (Jaguars, Telecasters, Broadcasters) use pots as high as 1meg.
THe only area where pot value is critical is in order of magnitude. EMGs for example, use 25k pots. This is 10 times less than the minimum value for high impedance pickups and won't work with non-active pickups, neither will 250K pots work with EMGs.
The best bet is to default to the higher value as 500k will work well with both, but 250k won't work as well with humbuckers.
Another option is to go for a mean value, e.g. 350k, splitting the difference between the two.
It's not a precise art though and when pressed i have used a 250k linear in place of a 500k log pot to get a guitar working and you'd have to be really picky to tell the difference.
Many older guitars (Jaguars, Telecasters, Broadcasters) use pots as high as 1meg.
THe only area where pot value is critical is in order of magnitude. EMGs for example, use 25k pots. This is 10 times less than the minimum value for high impedance pickups and won't work with non-active pickups, neither will 250K pots work with EMGs.
