what kind of pots do I need?

[KILLROY]

howdy! I have installed seymour's favorite set (jazz and jb) in my epi les paul and would now like to add coil tap pots. When I went to buy them, I saw that they come in 250K and 500K varieties. Is one better than the other? Also, is there a particular brand/source that's best to purchase? I found some online for ~$12.00 each (from hong kong). Thoughts?

thanks!

 

[jeremy]

Re: what kind of pots do I need?

welcome to the forum!!

i would suggest 500k pots, i prefer cts brand usually but i dont recall if they make a 500k push/pull or not. the value of the pot 250k or 500k will shape the high end content of the sound. a 500k will bleed less high end to ground than a 250k giving a brighter tone

 

[Sanford]

Re: what kind of pots do I need?

Are push/pull pots considered an on-off switch?

 

[John Wymore]

Re: what kind of pots do I need?

CTS unfortunately does not make a push/pull pot anymore that I have been able to find. So, you are probably stuck using the import mini pots with DPDT switches that are available from many suppliers (including us). You will only need two for doing the coil taps so I would suggest doing it on the tone pots and getting better quality CTS pots for the volumes.

For the Jazz pickup go 500K but some folks prefer 300K with the JB. It just depends on the guitar and what you like. I'd start with 500K and see if you like it. If it's too bright you can always tame it with the tone control.

On a side note, I talked with Bourns<sp> electronics at the NAMM show about what it would take to make up some full size 10% pots with DPDT push pull switches on them. They said they would look into and let me know if it was feasible. We will see if I hear anything back.

 

[Curly]

Re: what kind of pots do I need?

I wonder if Alpha makes any full size push/ pull?

 

[scottish]

Re: what kind of pots do I need?

alpha does and this is where to get them http://store.guitarfetish.com/pudppo50auge.html

 

[John Wymore]

Re: what kind of pots do I need?

Nope, those are the mini's. They are available anywhere

 

[blueman335]

Re: what kind of pots do I need?

A lot of guys use 250K's with JB's, to tame that potentially annoying "ice pick" spike (or use a warmer magnet). 500K's and a JB is sometimes unpleasant to the human, and canine ear. I use two 250K pots on all my PU's with A5 magnets to take off the excess treble (you always have a bunch of unused treble available on your amp).

Stew Mac has 250k & 500K push-pull pots, I've used a lot of them. I'd avoid mini-toggles, as that means drilling holes in your guitar, which does wonders for the guitar's resale value.

 

[scottish]

Re: what kind of pots do I need?

Nope, those are the mini's. They are available anywhere

my bad, you are right. i didnt notice that.

 

[shawnlanefan]

Re: what kind of pots do I need?

warmoth has push-push pots 250 and 500k. you just tap on them instead of actually having to grab the knob and pull up---they're slick. $12 too.