i have to replace all 3 pots. do they all have to be the same size ie 250k?

Howdy!

If its a Strat with 3 single coils then I'd stick with 250k pots. Replace like for like where possible.

Andy

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the original pots are 500k's. yes its sss pups. can i go with 250k's? can the tone pots be different size from each other or the volume pot?

Humm....

To give you a better answer could you tell us what pickups and switching your using?

Cheers.

Andy

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So you have SSS, single coils.

Then the standard is 250KΩ audio taper pots....all three, .022µF cap on the tone pots and consider wiring the lower tone pot to effect the bridge pup.


going to 250's from the 500 will make the guitar a little darker ( the volume pot is going to do that) and normally a Strat (single coil) is plenty harsh as it is so warming them up isn't a bad thing.

i had to change the input jack, so i thought while i was in there i could change the pots to 250 k from 500k but ive only got two new pots right now. not changing the pups right now or the wiring configuration. just wondered if i could change the pots value one @ a time or if they all have to be the same value.

Change em one at a time or all together. Personaly I'd change the volume and middle pickup's tone pot to 250K's, leave the neck as a 500K. Then when you get another 250K change the neck pickups tone pot.

That way you'll get a slight increase in bass response on the middle pickup and maybe the bridge pickup too, if it's wired to the tone pot.

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thanks for the 411. my volume pot seems to have one level. 1,2,3,4 different volume then 5,6,7,8,9,10 seem to be the same loudness.
by the way nikininja we seem to have the same fender model.

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WOW look at that thumb over wear on frets 1&2!

Who said you can't wear through urethane!

LG what you are probably experiencing with the volume/tone jumps. Is cheap pots that are likely worn out a bit anyway. The guitar is 15 years old.

Now because I have a little familiarity with those pickups (I wish I'd never got rid of the pickups out of mine). I would tell you to wire your new pots in, but get a 500k pot for the volume control. That pickup I always found to be a little bit dark with gain. Make sure you buy alpha pots.
Also it is worth paying for a 8 lug switch rather than the 5 lug switch that came with the guitar from new. That way you can jumper wire the middle pickups tone pot to work on the bridge pickup and the middle pickup together. Then if needed you can roll off some of the added treble of the 500K volume pot, if needed.

Great pickups in them guitars, prime for metal with that jumper wire mod.

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Impressive!

Sounds like you may have a Logarithmic Volume pot.

If you go for the 500k Alpha as Nick mentions I'd go for a linear pot. Should be labeled as a 500k Alpha B pot.

Hope this helps

Andy

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Pending Greatness

thanks for the ideas. ill definitely go w/ the alpha pots.
i really the like pups especialy the middle & neck.
any suggestions on reparing the fret board wear?

We need a closer picture for that mate. There are a few ways of doing it that people more capable than I will happily advise on.

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