#1
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Tone pot question.
I've got a scratchy pot on one of my pickups, and am planning to change it. I seem to remember hearing something about different tone pots affecting the tone differently but cant remember much more than that. As well I'm wondering if I could intentionally mismatch them, use different pots on the neck and bridge to change the sound of the pickups, or would that cause me trouble in the middle position?
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#2
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The general rule is use a 250k pot for single coils and 500k pot for hum buckers. You will find posts online that suggest more unusual pots (like 300k pots or 1 Meg Pots) but I have never messed with those. I would stick with the values you have. Most likely, if you have a Les Paul style guitar, they are 500k. Just stick with what you have and don’t go down the “what happens to the tone if I do something different” rabbit hole. I have found it does not change things that radically, so concentrate on repairing it and just play.
You might be able to fix it using contact cleaner so you do t even have to replace it. If you do replace it, buy a CTS brand pot. Make sure you get the right shaft size to match what you have. It probably would not cost much to have someone do it for you if you haven’t soldered before. |
#3
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I've soldered before, never on a guitar though. |
#4
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Just use some Deoxit on that scratchy pot, and that should help.
if you can, remove the pot from where it's anchored, and spray just a blast of deoxit in the little opening, and sweep the pot from 0 to 10 for a 90 seconds, do a second blast and repeat sweeping, that usually solves this.
__________________
Ray Gibson SJ200 Taylor Grand Symphony Taylor 514CE-NY Taylor 814CE Deluxe V-Class Guild F1512 Alvarez DY74 Snowflake ('78) |
#5
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Sorry, meant to say that in my original answer. P90s are also generally 500k.
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#6
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Don't forget to consider the pot's taper, as well.
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#7
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https://www.radioshack.com/products/...SABEgL0efD_BwE |
#8
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I changed the pots in my '76 Gibson ES-345 back in '83... went for a more linear taper with them.
I have the guitar out on a stand most of the time, and, being a semi-hollow body, dust gets in through the F holes. The pots will get scratchy, especially if I haven't been playing that guitar much. A tech told me to just work the pot, from 0-10, back and forth a BUNCH of times, and that should take care of it... so far it's worked every time, for nearly 40 years now! I seriously doubt your pots are "bad"... the De-Oxit is a good thing to have around, but I would wager that just working those knobs, back and forth, will do the trick... Unless you REALLY want to spend money and time with it...
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"Home is where I hang my hat, but home is so much more than that. Home is where the ones and the things I hold dear are near... And I always find my way back home." "Home" (working title) J.S, Sherman |
#9
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...Grasshopper...high is high...low is low....but the middle...lies in between...Master Po |
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#11
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#12
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COOL! If it comes back, get some dexoit and clean it up with that. you should be all set. I have a '95 Les Paul, w/thousands of hours of use. as yet, I have not had to change any pots, just some of that stuff now and then, it's magical and good to have on hand.
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Ray Gibson SJ200 Taylor Grand Symphony Taylor 514CE-NY Taylor 814CE Deluxe V-Class Guild F1512 Alvarez DY74 Snowflake ('78) |
#13
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Yep!
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I LOVE IT when a plan works out!!!
__________________
"Home is where I hang my hat, but home is so much more than that. Home is where the ones and the things I hold dear are near... And I always find my way back home." "Home" (working title) J.S, Sherman |