weird 500k pot requirement: does anyone make...
- Thread starter scottish
- Start date
ratherdashing
Kablamminator
Re: weird 500k pot requirement: does anyone make...
Not sure exactly what you mean by "mini", but I'm pretty sure you can get an Alpha pot (smaller than a 22 mm CTS) in long shaft push-pull form.
EDIT:
Bourns 500k long-shaft (has PCB-style termination instead of lugs unfortunately): http://www.allparts.com/Bourns-500K-Audio-Pot-p/ep-5686-000.htm
Alpha 500k long-shaft push-pull: http://www.allparts.com/500K-3-4-Pot-p/ep-4286-000.htm
Not sure exactly what you mean by "mini", but I'm pretty sure you can get an Alpha pot (smaller than a 22 mm CTS) in long shaft push-pull form.
EDIT:
Bourns 500k long-shaft (has PCB-style termination instead of lugs unfortunately): http://www.allparts.com/Bourns-500K-Audio-Pot-p/ep-5686-000.htm
Alpha 500k long-shaft push-pull: http://www.allparts.com/500K-3-4-Pot-p/ep-4286-000.htm
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SabbathFan0220
New member
Re: weird 500k pot requirement: does anyone make...
The Bourns Premium pots (first Allparts link that ratherdashing posted) is the only one I know of...they're much cheaper at Mouser though. The 95 Premium series has box style housing that measures 15.88mm x 15.88mm (I just checked the spec sheet).
EDIT: My mistake, it looks like Mouser doesn't carry the long shaft version. The part number is 95Z1D-Z33-EA0/305L for the long shaft, knurled, audio taper, 500k model.
The Bourns Premium pots (first Allparts link that ratherdashing posted) is the only one I know of...they're much cheaper at Mouser though. The 95 Premium series has box style housing that measures 15.88mm x 15.88mm (I just checked the spec sheet).
EDIT: My mistake, it looks like Mouser doesn't carry the long shaft version. The part number is 95Z1D-Z33-EA0/305L for the long shaft, knurled, audio taper, 500k model.
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SabbathFan0220
New member
David Collins
New member
Re: weird 500k pot requirement: does anyone make...
What is this going it to that is so restrictive? There aren't many carved top guitars with the pots located so close to the cavity walls that a standard pot couldn't fit, though they do pop up on occasion. In these cases though, I don't recall running in to any that have had issues with depth as well.
Worse comes to worse, you could always simply enlarge the control cavity to fit standard pots, which probably isn't a bad idea to begin with if you have the tooling. They can typically be undercut with a short head router bit so as to leave the surface and cover plate opening unaltered.
More specifics on what you're doing to what instrument may help with suggestions though.
What is this going it to that is so restrictive? There aren't many carved top guitars with the pots located so close to the cavity walls that a standard pot couldn't fit, though they do pop up on occasion. In these cases though, I don't recall running in to any that have had issues with depth as well.
Worse comes to worse, you could always simply enlarge the control cavity to fit standard pots, which probably isn't a bad idea to begin with if you have the tooling. They can typically be undercut with a short head router bit so as to leave the surface and cover plate opening unaltered.
More specifics on what you're doing to what instrument may help with suggestions though.
David Collins
New member
Re: weird 500k pot requirement: does anyone make...
Then what's wrong with the existing pot? If it's something like an alpha mini with a long shaft, it shouldn't be too hard to find a short shaft one of the same make and just swap out the wafer if you want to change values, or it's worn out.
Then what's wrong with the existing pot? If it's something like an alpha mini with a long shaft, it shouldn't be too hard to find a short shaft one of the same make and just swap out the wafer if you want to change values, or it's worn out.
scottish
WeirdScienceologist
Re: weird 500k pot requirement: does anyone make...
There is nothing wrong with the existing pot aside from size. Lets just say i had to go through hell and high water to get it in there due to some internal bracing and now that im rewiring it i had to do the same to get it out. So now i need a pot with a smaller base but it still needs the longer shaft to get through the top.
Whats the wafer? From what you said, an alpha mini with a long shaft is exactly what i need! But i cant find it anywhere. Gotta have the ~15mm base and 3/4 inch shaft.
There is nothing wrong with the existing pot aside from size. Lets just say i had to go through hell and high water to get it in there due to some internal bracing and now that im rewiring it i had to do the same to get it out. So now i need a pot with a smaller base but it still needs the longer shaft to get through the top.
Whats the wafer? From what you said, an alpha mini with a long shaft is exactly what i need! But i cant find it anywhere. Gotta have the ~15mm base and 3/4 inch shaft.
ratherdashing
Kablamminator
Re: weird 500k pot requirement: does anyone make...
Well, I posted the Alpha long shaft push-pull. Is there a reason that wouldn't work for you? You don't have to wire up the push-pull switch if you don't need it.
Well, I posted the Alpha long shaft push-pull. Is there a reason that wouldn't work for you? You don't have to wire up the push-pull switch if you don't need it.
David Collins
New member
Re: weird 500k pot requirement: does anyone make...
I don't know of anyplace to get an Alpha mini pot with a long shaft, aside from push/pull versions like the ones StewMac sells. I just assumed you already had one that just wasn't working, therefore the need to replace it with one of that size. If you're handy and resourceful, you could modify StewMac's long shaft push/pull mini to remove the switch on the back, but I haven't had one apart in a while, and can't tell you off hand how simple or difficult that would be to do.
First though, at least some basic details may help others offer some advice you may not have yet considered. Foremost, what kind of guitar is this? So far it sounds like the issue is not space to accommodate a full sized pot, but simply getting the harness in and out of the guitar.
I don't know of anyplace to get an Alpha mini pot with a long shaft, aside from push/pull versions like the ones StewMac sells. I just assumed you already had one that just wasn't working, therefore the need to replace it with one of that size. If you're handy and resourceful, you could modify StewMac's long shaft push/pull mini to remove the switch on the back, but I haven't had one apart in a while, and can't tell you off hand how simple or difficult that would be to do.
First though, at least some basic details may help others offer some advice you may not have yet considered. Foremost, what kind of guitar is this? So far it sounds like the issue is not space to accommodate a full sized pot, but simply getting the harness in and out of the guitar.
scottish
WeirdScienceologist
Re: weird 500k pot requirement: does anyone make...
its a prototype i got from a builder. thinline hollowbody, true hollow, no center block no back panel. there is a piece of back bracing pretty much underneath the tone pot hole so getting a full size pot in there is next to impossible.
For the original install i filed down the bracing a bit and was able to jam a regular long shaft in there. Now that im rewiring it, i want it to be an easy fit and the only thing ive found so far is a mini pot. Problem is the shaft isnt long enough.
its a prototype i got from a builder. thinline hollowbody, true hollow, no center block no back panel. there is a piece of back bracing pretty much underneath the tone pot hole so getting a full size pot in there is next to impossible.
For the original install i filed down the bracing a bit and was able to jam a regular long shaft in there. Now that im rewiring it, i want it to be an easy fit and the only thing ive found so far is a mini pot. Problem is the shaft isnt long enough.
David Collins
New member
Re: weird 500k pot requirement: does anyone make...
Ah, sounds like a builder who never served their time as a repairman.
I see those all the time....
I recall running in to a case like that years back. I ended up taking an old spade bit, grinding down the back edge of the spade to the width of the hole to serve as a guide, then grinding and sharpening a cutting edge on the back side. I had to cut down the shank to a bare minimum length and grind a good bit of the end to be able to fish in through inside and feed the shank through the hole to the outside. Then I chuck it in a drill from the outside, and pull up to counterbore it on the inside enough to fit a standard shaft pot. I marked the depth I wanted on the shaft, then bored it out until that line got to the outside surface.
This was years back that I last used it, but it was still in one of my drawers.
Might be a bit labor intensive for you, but the next best thing I could suggest is trying one of the long shaft push/pull minis sold by StewMac (same as the one Ratherdashing linked to from AllParts), remove the switch, and figure out a way to trim and lock off the shaft against the bottom wafer to keep it from pulling up. I deconstruct and rebuild a lot of pots, but haven't had one of those apart in a long time, so can't tell you how difficult that would be.
That, or just go through the struggle again. I don't have an easy answer for you though, as I don't know of anyone who sells exactly what you're looking for.
Ah, sounds like a builder who never served their time as a repairman.
I see those all the time....I recall running in to a case like that years back. I ended up taking an old spade bit, grinding down the back edge of the spade to the width of the hole to serve as a guide, then grinding and sharpening a cutting edge on the back side. I had to cut down the shank to a bare minimum length and grind a good bit of the end to be able to fish in through inside and feed the shank through the hole to the outside. Then I chuck it in a drill from the outside, and pull up to counterbore it on the inside enough to fit a standard shaft pot. I marked the depth I wanted on the shaft, then bored it out until that line got to the outside surface.
This was years back that I last used it, but it was still in one of my drawers.
Might be a bit labor intensive for you, but the next best thing I could suggest is trying one of the long shaft push/pull minis sold by StewMac (same as the one Ratherdashing linked to from AllParts), remove the switch, and figure out a way to trim and lock off the shaft against the bottom wafer to keep it from pulling up. I deconstruct and rebuild a lot of pots, but haven't had one of those apart in a long time, so can't tell you how difficult that would be.
That, or just go through the struggle again. I don't have an easy answer for you though, as I don't know of anyone who sells exactly what you're looking for.
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