Volume Pots

BluesDisciple

BluesDisciple

New member
I'm not sure if this is being posted in the right place, but this seems somewhat logical.

What effect does a volume pot have on your tone? How does it work to your advantage or disadvantage? Specifically, I have a LP with 300k volume pots, stock. How are those 300k pots affecting my tone, in comparison to a set of 500k pots? What benefit would I receive tonally if I swapped the pots, using Gibson original parts, to a 500k set?

Thanks,
BD
 
Re: Volume Pots

You don't want 300K's on a neck HB or P-90, as it takes away the little treble that position has.

There's been many discussions here (and occasionally brawls) about using 250K/300K pots on bridge HB's and P-90's. Most guys prefer 500K's all the way around, and use the bridge tone pot to reduce treble to a bearable level.

I take a different path and use 250K's on almost all my bridge PU's to get the PU's EQ'd up front (with both tone pots on '10'), so I don't have to keep adjusting the bridge tone pot. Dialing down a 500K tone pot does not give the same sound as a 250K/300K tone pot. I always use 500K's on all my neck PU's.

Both sides will also use warmer magnets to reduce bridge treble.
 
Re: Volume Pots

Quick and easy answer to your questions..

500k will keep things brighter
250k shunts off more highs to ground and your tone would be a bit darker...

General rule...250k for single coils and 500k for dual coil/humbuckers....Like Blueman said though,anything goes and whatever works..

Not a war,but just another way to skin the cat!
 
Re: Volume Pots

blueman335 said:
You don't want 300K's on a neck HB or P-90, as it takes away the little treble that position has.

There's been many discussions here (and occasionally brawls) about using 250K/300K pots on bridge HB's and P-90's. Most guys prefer 500K's all the way around, and use the bridge tone pot to reduce treble to a bearable level.

I take a different path and use 250K's on almost all my bridge PU's to get the PU's EQ'd up front (with both tone pots on '10'), so I don't have to keep adjusting the bridge tone pot. Dialing down a 500K tone pot does not give the same sound as a 250K/300K tone pot. I always use 500K's on all my neck PU's.

Both sides will also use warmer magnets to reduce bridge treble.
Click to expand...

Blueman knows his stuff!

But, I have a Seth Lover in my Gibson with 300K pots and I love it. Dave Murray from Iron Maiden used DiMarzio PAFs in the neck of his strats with 250K pots on all the classic albums and his neck lead tone is one of the most iconic EVER.

It's all about personal preference.
 
Re: Volume Pots

Varg said:
Blueman knows his stuff!

But, I have a Seth Lover in my Gibson with 300K pots and I love it. Dave Murray from Iron Maiden used DiMarzio PAFs in the neck of his strats with 250K pots on all the classic albums and his neck lead tone is one of the most iconic EVER.

It's all about personal preference.
Click to expand...

Once again we need to not forget about the amp(s) and anything in between the guitar and amp...The amp is every bit as important as the other items in the chain..As you're finding out with your feedback issues! ;o)

If the amp or any of these other factors sucks,the whole tonal affair sucks also!
 
Re: Volume Pots

Varg said:
I have a Seth Lover in my Gibson with 300K pots and I love it...It's all about personal preference.
Click to expand...

Thank you. For me, 250K/300K pots on bridge PAF's are mandatory. I try to get the bridge and neck EQ's closer to each other, which works much better for my style. I do a lot of deep blues bends with vibrato, and with a good dose of mids and moderate treble, I get a lot of sustain and muscle.
 
Re: Volume Pots

blueman335 said:
Thank you. For me, 250K/300K pots on bridge PAF's are mandatory. I try to get the bridge and neck EQ's closer to each other, which works much better for my style. I do a lot of deep blues bends with vibrato, and with a good dose of mids and moderate treble, I get a lot of sustain and muscle.
Click to expand...

No, you misunderstood me Rick - its a Seth in the NECK with a 300K pot. :cool2: I swapped the bridge Seth for a JB, I needed something a bit hotter for metal (the Seth will go back in the guitar eventually, once my metal band runs out of steam).
 
Re: Volume Pots

Varg said:
Dave Murray from Iron Maiden used DiMarzio PAFs in the neck of his strats with 250K pots on all the classic albums and his neck lead tone is one of the most iconic EVER.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah, just listen to Powerslave! This makes me want to rip out my lace sensors and set up my American Strat "Murray style":naughty:
 
Re: Volume Pots

blueman335 said:
Oh, my mistake. I think neck HB and P-90 need 500K's. If you want a hot neck, what about a Full Shred or Fred?
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Are you asking me that? I dont want a hot neck pickup, doesnt matter what bridge pickup I use, even X2Ns or Invaders, I still stick with 59s, DiMarzio PAFs or the Seth or whatever.

I have one superstrat with a pair of JBJs in it though, you would HATE that :lol:
 
Re: Volume Pots

~Vintage~ said:
Oh yeah, just listen to Powerslave! This makes me want to rip out my lace sensors and set up my American Strat "Murray style":naughty:
Click to expand...

Do it. Super D, PAF in the neck and leave the Lace in the middle. :beerchug:
 
Re: Volume Pots

~Vintage~ said:
Whoa, cool idea br0!! I like it.:cool2: What does he use? Dimarzio?
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Nowadays he uses Hot Rails - might even just be three, Im not sure what he uses in the middle. But his classic tone was, yeah, DiMarzio Super D bridge and a DiMarzio PAF in the neck - his original HSH strat had the Fender single coil in it too.
 
Re: Volume Pots

Varg said:
Nowadays he uses Hot Rails - might even just be three, Im not sure what he uses in the middle. But his classic tone was, yeah, DiMarzio Super D bridge and a DiMarzio PAF in the neck - his original HSH strat had the Fender single coil in it too.
Click to expand...

Cool! I wonder if I put a superdistortion in the bridge when I switched to the middle if I'd need a boost for the lace to be as loud as the super d?
 
Re: Volume Pots

~Vintage~ said:
Cool! I wonder if I put a superdistortion in the bridge when I switched to the middle if I'd need a boost for the lace to be as loud as the super d?
Click to expand...

I only ever use single coils in HSH guitars and then its only for cleans, which is fairly uncommon. Well, almost never really.

But it works fine for me without any boost on the single coils.
 
Re: Volume Pots

Varg said:
I only ever use single coils in HSH guitars and then its only for cleans, which is fairly uncommon. Well, almost never really.

But it works fine for me without any boost on the single coils.
Click to expand...

Alright, sounds like a project for a rainy day. Have to start looking at getting the goods! I was just worried about losing the classic Fender sound but keeping one lace sensor in the middle is a real good idea for that.
 
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Re: Volume Pots

~Vintage~ said:
Alright, sounds like a project for a rainy day. Have to start looking at getting the goods! I was just worried about loosing the classic Fender sound buy keeping one lace sensor in the middle is a real good idea for that.
Click to expand...

You can try setting the 'buckers to autosplit as well, if you go for 4 conductors.
I've never actually owned a Lace Sensor, so I have no idea how they would work with the Dimarzios or HotRails, should be fine I would expect.
 
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