Volume & Tone Pots for SH-5 Custom?

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neckcutta

New member
I was verifying that the SH-5 Custom works best with 500k volume and tone pots. It's going into an epiphone les paul custom, which has 250k pots if I'm not mistaken?
 
Re: Volume & Tone Pots for SH-5 Custom?

I'd upgrade to 500K pots with a Custom or any ceramic pup for that matter. Should sound pretty sweet in that Epi LP.
 
Re: Volume & Tone Pots for SH-5 Custom?

neckcutta said:
I was verifying that the SH-5 Custom works best with 500k volume and tone pots. It's going into an epiphone les paul custom, which has 250k pots if I'm not mistaken?
Click to expand...

It will work fine with 250k, 500k, 1M or even no pots.... higher pot values will open up the sound a bit and subtract less "bite" and "sizzle" from the signal.

Toss it in the Epi with the stock pots and THEN start tweaking it ;)
 
Re: Volume & Tone Pots for SH-5 Custom?

The pots in the Epi Les Pauls I've worked on were already 500K. But if yours has 250K pots, I'd change them to 500K...otherwise the pickup will sound to dark and lacking in treble. IMO.

Lew
 
Re: Volume & Tone Pots for SH-5 Custom?

Thanks for the responses. I have one more question....


Is there going to be a lot more brittle or "sterile" type sound compared to the epi pups? Because the pickups are not bad. I would just like more clarity and a slight sizzle to it. Just a little curious as I'm switching from A2 magnets to ceramics.
 
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Re: Volume & Tone Pots for SH-5 Custom?

neckcutta said:
I was verifying that the SH-5 Custom works best with 500k volume and tone pots. It's going into an epiphone les paul custom, which has 250k pots if I'm not mistaken?
Click to expand...

I always use 250K pots & .100 MF caps on bridge pickups (with the standard 500K pots & .020 caps on neck pickups). To my ears this takes any harshness & brittleness off the bridge, and gives it a richer tone, and it still has plenty of treble for bite. This makes it easier for me to get an amp setting that works equally well for both pickups (because they're not total opposites in tone). It may not be for every style of music, but I'm going for a late '60's British blues/rock sound. I've done this on Epiphone Les Pauls, 335's, SG's, and hollowbodies, and think it works well on all of them. By the way, the only guitar I've seen come from the factory with 250K pots on the bridge is an Epiphone Lucille.
 
Re: Volume & Tone Pots for SH-5 Custom?

I guess I'll try it out and go from there. The only way to know for sure. I'll be ordering my sh-5 today. I've been putting it off for almost a year now, sticking with my stock pups. Eager to hear it in action...
 
Re: Volume & Tone Pots for SH-5 Custom?

I've tried an SH5 with 300K pots in a Les Paul. Didnt like it at all. I put in a 500K pot and it really came to life...made a notable difference.

Your results may vary...and should since you and I dont have the same ears or equipment.
 
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