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Author Topic:  Need help sourcing a potentiometer
Jack Hanson


From:
San Luis Valley, USA
Post  Posted 28 Sep 2017 10:09 am    
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Need an unusual pot for an upcoming project. Needs to be a long split-shaft pot (like on a Les Paul) for installation in an old Gibson Ultratone.

The plan is to convert the Ultratone to two Stringmaster style pickups. Seymour Duncan's wiring diagram specifies two 250K pots for the volume and blend controls, and a 1 Meg linear pot for the tone control.

The 250K longs are not a problem. Haven't been able to find a long, linear taper 1 Meg pot. Any suggestions?

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Jerry Jones


From:
Franklin, Tenn.
Post  Posted 28 Sep 2017 10:59 pm    
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If you can find a short shaft 1 meg linear pot in the same brand and package as the long shaft pot, just swap out the wafer.... that is if the backs are removable.
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Jack Hanson


From:
San Luis Valley, USA
Post  Posted 29 Sep 2017 5:52 am    
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Jerry Jones wrote:
If you can find a short shaft 1 meg linear pot in the same brand and package as the long shaft pot, just swap out the wafer.... that is if the backs are removable.

Thanks for the suggestion, Jerry. Never done anything like that, but I'm willing to give it a try if I can locate a similar pot.

Long shaft linear 500K pots are available from the same manufacturer (CTS). How would they affect the sound in the Stringmaster circuit in comparison to a 1 Meg pot?
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Godfrey Arthur

 

From:
3rd Rock
Post  Posted 29 Sep 2017 12:55 pm    
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Will these work?



CTS 1 Meg Ohm LINEAR LONG Split-Shaft Potentiometer Volume Tone Pot.

$7.50 from these guys:

http://visionguitar.com/shop/cts-1-meg-ohm-linear-long-split-shaft-potentiometer-volume-tone-pot-new/
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Jerry Jones


From:
Franklin, Tenn.
Post  Posted 29 Sep 2017 1:01 pm    
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Probably won't matter which you use for tone but Allparts does sell a 1 meg linear pot - long bushing... If that's what you are looking for.

EP-4881-000 CTS 1 Meg Linear Pot
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Jerry Jones
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Jack Hanson


From:
San Luis Valley, USA
Post  Posted 29 Sep 2017 2:35 pm    
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That's the one!

Thanks, Godfrey and Jerry.
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Jim Sliff


From:
Lawndale California, USA
Post  Posted 29 Sep 2017 3:48 pm    
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Quote:
Long shaft linear 500K pots are available from the same manufacturer (CTS). How would they affect the sound in the Stringmaster circuit in comparison to a 1 Meg pot?



A 500k (or even 250k) will change the speed at which treble is rolled off, or the "slope". Pot value won't change the actual amount of treble rolloff in a passive circuit.

There's technically a tiny difference in the treble with the control wide open but I have yet to find anyone who can tell the difference in a blind test. I swap both tome and volume pot values around for players to find what "feels" the best to them.
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Dave Meis


From:
Olympic Peninsula, Washington, USA
Post  Posted 29 Sep 2017 5:38 pm    
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A 500k (or even 250k) will change the speed at which treble is rolled off, or the "slope". Pot value won't change the actual amount of treble rolloff in a passive circuit.

Never can figure out the 'quote' thing, but, would a 250K or 1M roll off with less 'knob'? I assume the 1M, but ... Thanks!
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Godfrey Arthur

 

From:
3rd Rock
Post  Posted 29 Sep 2017 8:28 pm    
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With a 1 meg pot for volume for instance less highs get sent to ground.

Some circuits use the 1 meg for a bass roll off.

As far as knob travel, that can have something to do with the quality or make of the pot. Bourns, Alpha compared to CTS tend to have a roll off effect sooner than CTS.

Then there's the audio vs linear effect as well which has been debated as to what one does over the other in an audio circuit like a guitar.

Guitar builder gurus all have their druther recipes for audio vs linear.

But on a Fender Jazzmaster for example, which uses 1 meg pots as volume and tone, the extreme highs get cut rolling off the volume somewhat before you start noticing volume drop. Was this design a part of the available amps back when, like a Tweed? As a Jazzmaster through a modern brighter amp may sound overly bright to some ears.

A 500 ohm pot would be less bright compared to a 1 meg.

Perhaps tailoring your tone circuit to your intended amp, effects etc., may be something to consider.
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