How do I choose what pots i need?

[dshores]

Hey everyone,

Please excuse my ignorance, I am trying to build my first guitar with my dad. I just wanted to know how do I choose the right pots for the pickups I am getting for my first project. I am either going to use the Dimarzio evolution hsh set or PRS Dragon ii pickups.

thanks!

 

[Cagey]

500K audio taper pots work for everything. If the guitar sounds a bit harsh, just back the tone knob on your amp down a half a notch.

 

[dshores]

Thanks! Does bran make any difference? If so what is a good brand? Thanks again!

 

[Cagey]

Most people use CTS pots, which are pretty widely available. You will find all sorts of Gibson, Fender, Proline, etc. pots out there, but none of those people make them. They just repackage CTS (or worse) pots and mark them up. If you're ordering anything from Warmoth, they have them. Most electronics stores will as well, or the site at the link above. Those are better places to get the things. If you can find them, the Clarostat parts are the best, but they're pretty pricey and you'll be forced to wire them properly with ground lugs, as the stainless steel housings won't allow you to wreck the pot by soldering to the body.

 

[line6man]

I agree that 500k generally works just fine for all high impedance pickups. It is not worth freaking out over, anyways. It makes a subtle difference in most cases.

Brand makes no difference. Manufacturing specs make all the difference.

Tolerances are generally 20% on most pots. If this bothers you, you can buy something tighter, but what most people do is just grab a handful of pots and pick out the ones with the best tolerance.

The rotational inertia of the shaft tends to be a personal preference. Some people like very stiff pots that don't move, others like them a little looser. It makes no difference electrically, however.

With regards to the composition of the resistive element, it makes little difference in this application.

Pots rated for a higher wattage can generally be said to have a lower contact noise, due to the larger resistive area, but this is also not significant in this application.

Taper is of great importance. Many audio taper pots are not actually audio taper, but rather, a combination of two linear segments in an approximation of a logarithmic curve, in order to cut manufacturing costs. Look for pots with decent tapers.

 

[Dan025]

the clarostats are built to outlast the equipment you put them in but PEC are almost as good and feel a bit smoother. they also have 1w pots with brass housings which should feel smoother yet. the biggest difference between the pec and clarostat being that i think the clarostat has a conductive plastic element and the pec has a carbon element.
both are very similar in construction but the clarostats look slightly more heavy duty.

i've tried other pots with conductive plastic and cermet elements and fancy plastic construction but there always seems to be a compromise like popping noises or something. the best pots for the money are the CTS with brass bushings and aluminum or brass shafts. i really like the pec pots but they dont sell them with splined shafts to hold fender knobs. gibson knobs look funny on a strat.