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Post subject: Pots for Affinity P-Bass Special
Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2012 4:57 pm
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Hey guys,

I'm new to the forum and looking for some help from the pros. I just picked up a 1998 Affinity P-Bass Special. I love the bass, but it needs some new pots. According to the documentation I've found, they should be solid shaft pots, but the ones in the bass are split and when the set screws are tightened, the knobs go crooked. Also, the one for the P pickup is a little crackly and doesn't have as much output as the J, so I think it's in need of a change anyway.

So, what I'm wondering is: what are the correct values, tapers and physical sizes for the original pots? Part numbers would be helpful, if you've got them. FYI, I've already looked at the parts list from the Fender website, but I can't seem to find a source for the part numbers they list. Are there substitutes available?

Thanks!


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Post subject: Re: Pots for Affinity P-Bass Special
Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 3:55 am
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Location: Province de Québec, Canada
You need 250 K audio solid shaft pot:

Fender No-Load 250k Solid Shaft $5.95
Fender part# 0990833000
http://www.darrenriley.com/fenderparts.htm ( found this with Google )

_______________________________________________________________________

Or any Fender solid shaft 250 K audio pot will do the job. You might have to file a little bit the holes in the pickgard to fit the pots if you put american made pot wich are the best.

You can put some Telecaster pots , they are solid shaft and will do job.
Any Fender dealer can have it or Antique Electronic supply ;
http://www.tubesandmore.com/products/R-V250K-SS


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Post subject: Re: Pots for Affinity P-Bass Special
Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 5:28 am
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That's great - thanks!
BTW, is the tone control supposed to be a mini pot, or is it standard sized as well?


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Post subject: Re: Pots for Affinity P-Bass Special
Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 5:44 am
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Standard , same model as volume pot,

Mini pots are low budget pot


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Post subject: Re: Pots for Affinity P-Bass Special
Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 7:00 am
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Ok, I wasn't sure if there were physical space limitations under the pickguard that I should be worried about. Thanks!


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Post subject: Re: Pots for Affinity P-Bass Special
Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 7:38 am
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American made pot for Fender need not more than 3/4 inches dept under pickgard.


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Post subject: Re: Pots for Affinity P-Bass Special
Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2012 5:25 am
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Ok, so I got some time yesterday to pull the pickguard off and see what what going on under there. ALL of the pots on the bass right now are split shaft minis. At least the value and taper is right (they're 250k audio pots). I also checked the control cavity dimensions, just to be sure. Depth-wise, it's fine, but there's not enough width to accomodate a full-size pot for the tone control. The two volumes have enough space, but the tone control has to be a mini pot. Luckily, I found a supplier on eBay for the pots I need, so I should be in good shape.

Thanks for all the help!


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Post subject: Re: Pots for Affinity P-Bass Special
Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2012 6:07 am
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You are welcome.

For your information , sometimes to modify split shaft pot to solid shaft , I use a piece of metal insert in the split. Light metal sold in hobby shop, brass , aluminum....


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Post subject: Re: Pots for Affinity P-Bass Special
Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2012 6:29 pm
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Originally Squier used 500K pots in these. Not 250K as previously stated in this thread.

The tone pot is a different part number from the volume pots on the parts list but on the diagram it also has a value of 500K. Even though it isn't explained on the diagram I'm guessing the volume pots are audio taper and the tone pot is linear which is about all that could explain the different part numbers. You could use audio taper pots in all 3 positions and it would work fine.

Someone possibly changed these pots before in that instrument, which would also explain the ill fitting knobs.

The 500K mini-pots are hard to find and so are solid shaft mini-pots of any value or taper. I disagree with the statement that, "Mini pots are low budget pot." They are just as good tonally as full sized pots and just as durable. 250K is 250K and 500K is 500K, but I don't like them as much as standard full size pots mainly because they feel different, the knobs are usually push on type and it is way harder to get the correct replacement mini-pots for anything other than split shaft audio taper 250k or 500k. Mini-pots are quite commonly used in many of the better Asian instruments including full blown Japanese Fenders that list for $1,200 US and that isn't low budget at all. PC mount configuration minis are used in many quite pricey active instrument preamp boards too.

Once you get your 250K pots all installed if it sounds darker than you'd like then you can brighten it up with 500K pots. I ran into the same 500K versus 250K thing on a passive Ibanez branded Korean Cort plant built bass once, even though with full size pots. It had 500K's stock, I put in 250K's which I thought would sound better and was just a mistake by Ibanez or Cort or both. Well with 250's it sounded so dark that I promptly went back to 500K's. I've learned that many passive P/J setups use 500K pots because the loading is different in a P/J than in either a Precision or a Jazz. The 500K pots work great in a passive P/J to brighten them up significantly. It especially seems to help the Jazz pickup to sound more like a Jazz pickup.


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Post subject: Re: Pots for Affinity P-Bass Special
Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2012 9:18 pm
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Wow, thanks for the info. Given what you said about the loading in the P/J circuit, I'm considering going back to the original 500k values if I can find the right pots. I may also go with split shaft and stick a piece of metal in the slot as suggested in an earlier post. I've seen adapters that go around the shaft that could work, also. Either way, the hunt continues...


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Post subject: Re: Pots for Affinity P-Bass Special
Posted: Sat May 04, 2013 11:40 am
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Forgot to post link to Affinity P-Bass Special Diagram and parts list so you can figure it out. Here it is: http://support.fender.com/service_diagrams/squier/Squier_PBass_Special_SISD.pdf

I think you should be able to order parts by the part numbers. However these are not parts carried by most of the aftermarket parts houses. You'll have to go to a Squier dealer and inquire about how to get them. Mini-pots carried by the aftermarket parts houses are typically the split shaft ones. Alternately you could buy split shaft knobs and use the split shaft pots the parts houses carry.


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