Best Audio and Linear... volume and tone pots????

[Superbeast520]

I was wondering if anyone could enlighten me to the best Audio and Linear/ Volume and Tone pots out there???

anyone know anything about this brand: Bourns   http://www.allparts.com/500K-Audio-Pot-p/ep-5086-000.htm

Im looking for the best quality I can get without getting nutty....for instance I think the Sprague Orange Caps will work just fine for me, and will skip the $60 dollar bummble bees....I've used CTS Pots in the past but don't want to miss out if there is something better....anyone???  :-\


Also which is usually preferable Audio Taper or Linear Taper????

 

[Death by Uberschall]

Get audio taper

 

[esabtech]

I've never tried the Bourns pots, on either guitars or effects pedals. I've only used CTS or Alpha. Both of those are quality pots. I did check and you can get the Bourns from Mouser Electronics for $8. I don't really like the look of the Bourns for a guitar. And, that plastic housing means you'll have to find some else to do your grounding.

Also, audio taper is what you want for volume and linear taper for tone. If audio taper is used for tone,  you'll notice most of the tone control is in the last part, when you turn down to 1 to 2 on the control. Which you may or may not like.

Hope this helps.

 

[Schlieren]

Am I going to need long shaft pots with a rear-routed Tele?

 

[Superbeast520]

I've never tried the Bourns pots, on either guitars or effects pedals. I've only used CTS or Alpha. Both of those are quality pots. I did check and you can get the Bourns from Mouser Electronics for $8. I don't really like the look of the Bourns for a guitar. And, that plastic housing means you'll have to find some else to do your grounding.

Also, audio taper is what you want for volume and linear taper for tone. If audio taper is used for tone,  you'll notice most of the tone control is in the last part, when you turn down to 1 to 2 on the control. Which you may or may not like.

Hope this helps.

Thank you for that bit of info, I was reading that as well, but that part didn't really stand out as all important till you mentioned it....I guess it would matter in how I plan to use the tone controll, I think I would like to go linear as I can then use it subtly while playing and not have to roll it way back to get effect...which for some reason sounds more user friendly.

Also Thank you for reminding me that I can solder to the back of the CTS pots where as with the Bourns plastic housing that won't be an option...much appreciated. :icon_thumright:




I built a rear route strat and didn't need the long shaft, though it wouldn't hurt if you did use them. But being I havn't built a Tele I can't give you a 100% answer on that.

 

[-CB-]

CTS are really terrible pots, as pots go.

Bournes makes good stuff.

Clarostat makes some really nice stuff too.

I've got two Clarostat totally sealed stainless 250k audio pots here... for the next Tele.  To get those today, expect to pay $20-35 each.  We're talking "NASA" grade pots.  Thing is... will they sound better?  No.  Sound the same as those crappy little CTS pots folks go gaga over.

Use the CTS, cheap, gettable, easy to work with.

 

[Dan025]

lets be clear, there are worse pots than cts by far. cts it basically what i expect from a pot and everything lower is unacceptable. apparently there is better but it is up to you to decide what is needed.
audio taper is a must for volume and the audio/linear for tone is up for debate. as i see it it is variable so you will find the sound you want one way or another. the most linear sounding transition will depend on your ear, pickup characteristics, cap size, and pot value as well.

the volume control wiper is connected to the output and variably selects between full ground and full output so the output depends one resistance ratio between the wiper and each one. the logrythmic taper is designed to give the appearance of a smooth transition in this situation as the perception of volume happens in an exponential way.

the tone control taper is funny because it is a variable shunt through a cap. the crossover point depends on when the impedance that the pickup is driving through (it's own impedance from inductance at that frequency + its nominal impedance measured at dc) meets the impedance of the shunt (impedance of capacitance at the frequency + impedance if the pot). if you use a pot with a huge value like 5meg or so most of its range will have a negligable effect regardless of taper as it is cutting frequencies not heard by the ear or that are already filtered by the cable capacitance or amp or speaker until some point that it begins to work.
a 500k audio pot is normal for a les paul but may sound wrong if you use a smaller cap or use it in a strat. is these cases a linear taper may sound more right.

look at what others are doing, and trust your ear. there is never a perfect solution but you may find one you like.

 

[-CB-]

Another thing to remember is that CTS does in fact have several grades of pots.... in fact, a good deal of its low end might very well be rebadged.

http://www.ctscorp.com

 

[Dan025]

Another thing to remember is that CTS does in fact have several grades of pots.... in fact, a good deal of its low end might very well be rebadged.

http://www.ctscorp.com

very true