Who uses a 250k pot with a humbucker?
- Thread starter Swampy
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gregory
New member
Re: Who uses a 250k pot with a humbucker?
Either that lug can be connected to the back of the pot or the cap; not both...
...so run one end of the cap to the middle lug and the other end of the cap to the switch where the pickup is connected. Be sure to keep the wire from the back of the volume pot to the back of the tone pot. The other lug on the opposite side from the one soldered to the back of the tone pot needs to be isolated.
Either that lug can be connected to the back of the pot or the cap; not both...
...so run one end of the cap to the middle lug and the other end of the cap to the switch where the pickup is connected. Be sure to keep the wire from the back of the volume pot to the back of the tone pot. The other lug on the opposite side from the one soldered to the back of the tone pot needs to be isolated.
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htwheelz67
Member
Re: Who uses a 250k pot with a humbucker?
I use the jb and pearly gates plus with 250k as well as the fender diamondback HB works perfect, 500 k will work too just cut the tone a bit, I also use a mallory .001 cap as a treble bleed.
I use the jb and pearly gates plus with 250k as well as the fender diamondback HB works perfect, 500 k will work too just cut the tone a bit, I also use a mallory .001 cap as a treble bleed.
Securb
One of Jerry's Kids
Re: Who uses a 250k pot with a humbucker?
When I do a pickup swap I don't change the pots or caps. I want to hear the difference in the pickup then adjust from there. To date, I have not had to change the 250K pots or caps in any of my 3 Fenders when adding humbuckers. My Sunburst HH build does have 500Ks.
When I do a pickup swap I don't change the pots or caps. I want to hear the difference in the pickup then adjust from there. To date, I have not had to change the 250K pots or caps in any of my 3 Fenders when adding humbuckers. My Sunburst HH build does have 500Ks.
Swampy
New member
Re: Who uses a 250k pot with a humbucker?
So the '59 seems a little tamed now. Really liking it. Well, that is when I actually switch to the bridge.
That's what surprises me the most, I've been on the neck pickup ALOT since the changes. This is my only guitar that I really "love" the neck position. And I'm not even sure what kind of neck pickup it is. It was given to me as a Seymour Duncan, but I don't think it is.
So the '59 seems a little tamed now. Really liking it. Well, that is when I actually switch to the bridge.
That's what surprises me the most, I've been on the neck pickup ALOT since the changes. This is my only guitar that I really "love" the neck position. And I'm not even sure what kind of neck pickup it is. It was given to me as a Seymour Duncan, but I don't think it is.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Who uses a 250k pot with a humbucker?
I use 250K pots on my most of my HB's (and P-90's, don't have any Fenders), or use a 470k resistor across the outer pot lugs, which gives the same effect. This won't work for most players, but I use 9's with a beveled-edge pick, and add more treble at the amp than I would with 500K's, which in turn brightens the neck (one of my priorities). If you use thicker strings with a round-edged pick, my method probably won't work for you, and wouldn't work for me either. But then, I like the bridge & neck PU's to be closer in EQ than most players do.
There's a lot of ways to shape your EQ: PU selection, magnets, hybrid coils, pots, caps, resistors, string gauge, etc. Whatever works for you.
I use 250K pots on my most of my HB's (and P-90's, don't have any Fenders), or use a 470k resistor across the outer pot lugs, which gives the same effect. This won't work for most players, but I use 9's with a beveled-edge pick, and add more treble at the amp than I would with 500K's, which in turn brightens the neck (one of my priorities). If you use thicker strings with a round-edged pick, my method probably won't work for you, and wouldn't work for me either. But then, I like the bridge & neck PU's to be closer in EQ than most players do.
There's a lot of ways to shape your EQ: PU selection, magnets, hybrid coils, pots, caps, resistors, string gauge, etc. Whatever works for you.
Zheddar
New member
Re: Who uses a 250k pot with a humbucker?
Don't forget that 2x 500k pots in parallel equal 250k resistance. So if your running a toneless humbucker on a 250k pot turned up to full, then it's pretty much the same as 2x 500k pots. http://www.sengpielaudio.com/calculator-paralresist.htm . Although I have noticed that a humbucker straight to output from volume seems to let more signal through then one with a tone control thrown in (at least with a JB). I was testing it the other day with some alligator clips while trying to decide if I was going to go for the EVH 500k volume with 250k tone type of thing.
Don't forget that 2x 500k pots in parallel equal 250k resistance. So if your running a toneless humbucker on a 250k pot turned up to full, then it's pretty much the same as 2x 500k pots. http://www.sengpielaudio.com/calculator-paralresist.htm . Although I have noticed that a humbucker straight to output from volume seems to let more signal through then one with a tone control thrown in (at least with a JB). I was testing it the other day with some alligator clips while trying to decide if I was going to go for the EVH 500k volume with 250k tone type of thing.
shredi
New member
Re: Who uses a 250k pot with a humbucker?
From my limited observation: I think 250k pots not as much darken the tone of a pickup as they cut both the high and low frequencies, giving more focus on the mids. That's why I think they work great for pickups with too much lows and highs with 500k (The JB being an example).
When a guitar sounds too bright and not enough bass a 250k volume will only make it sounds warmer, yet anemic in the bass.
I also find that treble bleeds make more drastic difference with 250k vol pots compared to 500k.
From my limited observation: I think 250k pots not as much darken the tone of a pickup as they cut both the high and low frequencies, giving more focus on the mids. That's why I think they work great for pickups with too much lows and highs with 500k (The JB being an example).
When a guitar sounds too bright and not enough bass a 250k volume will only make it sounds warmer, yet anemic in the bass.
I also find that treble bleeds make more drastic difference with 250k vol pots compared to 500k.
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Lewguitar
New member
Re: Who uses a 250k pot with a humbucker?
I use 500K on all of my humbucker guitars...volume and tone.
My favorite PRS guitars have just a master volume and master tone, and I have the master tone connected only to the bridge pickup.
No tone control on the neck pickup...don't need one.
But I do need a tone control for the bridge pickup and use it constantly to dial in that "sweet spot".
With that tone control only on the bridge pickup I can leave it turned down a little without it affecting the neck pickup...unless the selector switch is in the middle and both pickups are on.
Since I always have that tone control turned down either a little or a lot, I can see how in my situation a 250K tone pot might be OK. A 500K tone pot turned down to about 7 or 8 is set at about 250K.
But I would never use a 250K for the volume pot with the paf style pickups I prefer.
That would just make the overall sound of the pickup sound "weak" all the time compared to a 500K pot.
I use 500K on all of my humbucker guitars...volume and tone.
My favorite PRS guitars have just a master volume and master tone, and I have the master tone connected only to the bridge pickup.
No tone control on the neck pickup...don't need one.
But I do need a tone control for the bridge pickup and use it constantly to dial in that "sweet spot".
With that tone control only on the bridge pickup I can leave it turned down a little without it affecting the neck pickup...unless the selector switch is in the middle and both pickups are on.
Since I always have that tone control turned down either a little or a lot, I can see how in my situation a 250K tone pot might be OK. A 500K tone pot turned down to about 7 or 8 is set at about 250K.
But I would never use a 250K for the volume pot with the paf style pickups I prefer.
That would just make the overall sound of the pickup sound "weak" all the time compared to a 500K pot.
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gregory
New member
Re: Who uses a 250k pot with a humbucker?
I don't think a 250k pot makes a JB sound weak at all; nor a Screamin' Demon, for that matter!
With just a touch more gain, the Screamin' Demon* will sound fuller with a 250k pot.
EDIT:
- (*) I'd say the same for the JB, but the extra gain probably isn't even necessary.
- I'd try a 500k tone with a 250k volume before using 250k for both.
- Lew has since edited his post to limit his, 250k makes pickups sound weak, comment to the pickups that he prefers.
I don't think a 250k pot makes a JB sound weak at all; nor a Screamin' Demon, for that matter!
With just a touch more gain, the Screamin' Demon* will sound fuller with a 250k pot.
EDIT:
- (*) I'd say the same for the JB, but the extra gain probably isn't even necessary.
- I'd try a 500k tone with a 250k volume before using 250k for both.
- Lew has since edited his post to limit his, 250k makes pickups sound weak, comment to the pickups that he prefers.
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