Favorite pots?

[andrewsrea]

So what is your favorite potentiometer for guitar?

Just changed the 500K RS Guitars Super Pot in the volume spot of my 2003 PRS McCarthy, with a CTS 500K audio-taper. I don't like linear-taper and absolutely hated the S-taper of the Super Pot, which is like a linear on steroids. A linear-taper seems to have all of its volume drop at around mid-sweep' and the S-taper is even more 'all-at-once.'

I truly like audio-taper, bit can see how lefty's may like linear-taper. I typically prefer 250K for Fender type single coils and 500K for P-90's and buckers.

Bourns was at the top of my list for the best sound, taper and ability to accommodate import knobs. However, I break them too fast.

I've settled into Emerson CTS and CTS lately, spraying the latter with a Caig lubricant to make them feel played-in.

What about you - what is your favorite?

[golem]

TBX. I also like No Load Tone Pots. But whatever you usually set me up with also works. McCarty just in case anyone is reading Rob's post and is confused. I believe he has one with the desirable all rosewood necks.

[RockYoWorld]

The Bourns I've used had the best feel but I've had a hard time finding them available, or at least in what I need (500K or 25K, long/short, and with or without push/pull).

CTS has been my go-to for the past 5 years because of quality and finding the right pairing, though it does require me drilling the holes wider on all my Korean guitars, which has a real possibility of me chipping the finish, but it does get covered up by the knob. Some stock knobs from my Korean guitars don't fit on them, though, which is annoying. Also, The long shafts are too long and the short ones aren't long enough... You got me on a rant...

This is actually good timing. I've been pushing it off, but I think I'm finally converting my favorite guitar to play (the Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid UV in my profile pic) from the Fishman Fluence Modern pickups to Seymour Duncan JB+Jazz with a 5-way megaswitch P. I have 2 other guitars with similar or the same configuration and it seems to work better on my Axe FX 3. I've been pushing it off because I really like the Fishmans for what they are as active pickups, but they're just too compressed/treble-y for what I'm doing right now. It sucks cuz I really like the configuration that they're in and it was the most annoying pickup install I had to do with 3 different push-pull pots giving me 18 sonic combinations with the 3-way switch, but I've stopped taking it to gigs and I don't like having my favorite guitar not be played. I'll just have to get another guitar to put the Fishmans into

[Rollin Hand]

I like CTS, and also Alpha.

I may need to buy a Bourns EVH pot. The volume on my Peavey Wolfgang is cutting out when I use the pot. I already have some Fender CTS pots, but want to keep the Wolf as stock as possible.

[andrewsrea]

... to Seymour Duncan JB+Jazz

I love the Jazz, but I cannot get a JB to work with my style. The specs appeal to me and I really tried to love them, but never connected. I had one in a super strat for 35 years and that guitar was never considered in my 'varsity' line-up of go-to guitars. I built new pickups for that guitar and play it all the time now.

@golem kinda has the same experiences with JB's.

[Chocol8]

I have been using CTS for years. The only exception is the 50k volume pot on my midboosted Strats where I use the Fender branded pots included in the kits. I am not sure who makes them for Fender but they do they job.

[RockYoWorld]

... to Seymour Duncan JB+Jazz

I love the Jazz, but I cannot get a JB to work with my style. The specs appeal to me and I really tried to love them, but never connected. I had one in a super strat for 35 years and that guitar was never considered in my 'varsity' line-up of go-to guitars. I built new pickups for that guitar and play it all the time now.

@golem kinda has the same experiences with JB's.

Do you have a better suggestion instead of a JB for a hard rock sound? I've dug them in my guitars but open to other options. I do have a JB+Jazz lying around ready to go. Oddly enough, I've had more resistance to the Jazz, myself, being too bassy/muddy when I switch to it. I think the SD '59 in my LTD EC1000 does better, but I'm not 100% sold yet.

[golem]

@RockYoWorld Bassy, muddy, Jazz? I've only tried it in two guitars but I recall it having a lot of clarity.

[andrewsrea]

Do you have a better suggestion instead of a JB for a hard rock sound? I've dug them in my guitars but open to other options. I do have a JB+Jazz lying around ready to go. Oddly enough, I've had more resistance to the Jazz, myself, being too bassy/muddy when I switch to it. I think the SD '59 in my LTD EC1000 does better, but I'm not 100% sold yet.

+1 for what @golem said. Me thinks there is something wrong with your Jazz neck pickup or perhaps the pickup being too close to the strings? Make sure you do not have an SH-2B (Jazz Bridge) which is hotter. They are an infrequently found pickup, but they were produced at one time.

In the late 80's I called Seymour Duncan and spoke with a builder (not Seymour, nor MJ) and asked what made the Jazz (SH-2N) different from the '59 (SH-1N), when they were spec'd almost exactly the same. He did not divulge exact company secrets, but I surmised from the conversation that the Jazz has a very strong Alnico 5 magnet at full-charge, with the polepiece coil being wound a little high and the slug side, a little low. The could have also used 41ga coil wire or 42ga with thicker insulation. All to make it "flat with a little more top end" sounding, which is what they thought would appeal to jazzers. He said the '59 had a "calibrated Alnico 5 magnet, 50's enamel coated 42ga (thinner than 41ga)" and insinuated that coils were balanced (like the early 60's PAFs), but not matched (like the Gibson 490R T-tops). "For a warmer sound with pronounced mids," which I think still is the company talking points for that pup.

As for a recommendation for a 'better rock sound than the JB', I can only profess my tastes to my style and experiences. JB's were born of a 'more is better' era, when amps with lower pre-amp gain and overdrives were very bright. Not to get geeky as I usually do with physics, but the stronger (winding and magnet) the pickups are less sensitive to picking, great for single notes, but awash for chording. The Duncan Distorion is a JB with a Ceramic-8 magnet, which makes the single notes brighter and the chords clearer,, but is still stiff (on & off) for picking dynamics IMHO.

Some folks make those pickups work. I am typically in the role of a rhythm player who plays 1/3 of the solos. I create the canvas to enable the rest of the band. That has become my focus and thus, here my ear goes. The harmonic content when soloing and clarity plus sensitivity when in the background, are my goals. So I prefer lighter PAF humbuckers & P-90's, and a bit stronger Fender single coils (in the high 6's for DCR vs. 5's, on average). With those preferences, I don't have to mess with amp or pedal settings.

For a heavy rocker and shredder, I'd recommend something in the 10K range for bridge with a strong Alnico 5 magnet or Ceramic (not necessarily a C8). For Duncan products, that would be a Bro Bucker and Duncan Custom, respectively. They would balance well with a Jazz neck. Listen to JY Young of Styx for and example the Duncan Custom. It is in all his guitars, he is on that pickup 90% of the time and shreds when it is his turn.

I made a pickup for boutique amp builder Bill Landry, called the AMI 'Perfect 10'. Bill likes EVH, so I made him a 49.2mm PAF with a strong A5 magnet, 42ga overwound to 9.9kDCR. He absolutely loved it and you can hear it on his Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/LandryAmps . Play the videos fromt he last two years, where he is using his green double humbucker with the dual crème coils.

Start with what you have and journey on from there. Keep us posted!

[Rollin Hand]

I have been using CTS for years. The only exception is the 50k volume pot on my midboosted Strats where I use the Fender branded pots included in the kits. I am not sure who makes them for Fender but they do they job.

Pretty sure CTS makes them for Fender.

[howardlo65]

CTS audio for me. Dan Erlewine says in one of his books that linear taper pots have no place in a guitar. I tend to agree.

[mozz]

Forget which brand these are, but Mouser must have had them made for them and put their name on them. Bought a bag full on Ebay (cheap) and went back to buy more once these arrived, alas they were all gone. Nowhere near as loose as the few Bourns long shaft i currently have and not too tight or loose with these metal knobs. Yeah i know, 500k on a Tele, neck is a humbucker and bridge is 9000 turns/ 7.2k so i should be good, also with a .022.