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Post subject: replacing 250k pots for 500k's
Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 2:46 pm
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I have a 72 thinline RI. Ive read in several places that humbuckers sound much better (less muddy) with 500k pots as opposed to 250k.

I'm kinda new to the guitar mod thing, so i have a couple questions.

Are there particular brands that I should be looking at?

Where can I pick them up?

How big of an operation is it to replace these things?


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Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 3:07 pm
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I had mine on my 72 Custom RI done, I couldn't tell you the brand as a tech did it (I'll fix anything that doesn't require a solder!) and I can tell you that it did make a difference, a tad brighter and a little more definition while distorted.

I recommend it.

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Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 10:29 am
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Thanks for the info! Nice to hear from someone who has the same guitar that has had this procedure done.

Anyone else? I would like to do it myself, just for the experience.


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Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 8:07 pm
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CTS pots are probably the most common brand and are what's in all Fender upgrade kits I've seen. The MIA HH tele has 500K pots and uses the same capacitor 0.022uf So there you go


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Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 11:00 am
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much thanks. good info


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Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 12:05 pm
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whats the difference between 1 meg and 500 k? (sound quality, physically and playing wise)
(sorry abit of a noob question)


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Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 1:05 pm
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Welcome!

Over simplified, the higher value the pot, the wider the frequency range from the pickup will be allowed through the circuit. There is however, a sliding scale balance between how powerful a pickup is vs. the appropriate pot resistance. For example, a run of the mill Strat pickup has its best tonality with a 250K pot because any higher a pot value, the pickup will sound sterile and clanky. Conversely, to use a 250K pot with a run of the mill, full sized humbucker will make it sound compressed and congested. Granted, there are exceptions to both rules and neither is in stone; I'm simply speaking in generalities of the norms.

Physically, a 1 megohm pot can and does look the same as any other pot.

A 1,000K (1 meg) ohm pot is overkill for any guitar.

The use of this excessively high value pot was a gimmick and widespread fad which emerged back in the 70s. This was a time when the aftermarket (and higher output) pickup was coming onto the scene and with this, came the universal awareness of the effect/affect of different pot values. Many players opted for the, "megpot" or, "megapot" as it was alternately called because for better or for worse, the fad was for their guitar pickups' tonality and volume to be as wide open as possible. Of course, a fully functional volume and tone pot still remained a requirement.

As with any inappropriate circuit design, the taper of these megpots exhibited plenty of bald spots and quick jumps too. Players as a majority came to realize that the megpots weren't such a great idea after all and the fad morphed with either the reinstallation of at least some (more) appropriate value pots or, removing them altogether which was the big thing in the 80s where the amp was assigned as the chief tone shaping device for one's guitar, Oftentimes, the guitar's volume pot was removed too, believe it or not.

So, although dwindling, megpots are still desirable by some for the above reasons. And needless to say, for those manufacturers and or/distributors who stock piled them, they are still trying to unload them by coming up with whatever reasons for players to continue buying them.

redrobin144- wrote:
whats the difference between 1 meg and 500 k? (sound quality, physically and playing wise)
(sorry abit of a noob question)

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Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 1:09 pm
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Martian wrote:
Welcome!

Over simplified, the higher value the pot, the wider the frequency range from the pickup will be allowed through the circuit. There is however, a sliding scale balance between how powerful a pickup is vs. the appropriate pot resistance. For example, a run of the mill Strat pickup has its best tonality with a 250K pot because any higher a pot value, the pickup will sound sterile and clanky. Conversely, to use a 250K pot with a run of the mill, full sized humbucker will make it sound compressed and congested. Granted, there are exceptions to both rules and neither is in stone; I'm simply speaking in generalities of the norms.

Physically, a 1 megohm pot can and does look the same as any other pot.

A 1,000K (1 meg) ohm pot is overkill for any guitar.

The use of this excessively high value pot was a gimmick and widespread fad which emerged back in the 70s. This was a time when the aftermarket (and higher output) pickup was coming onto the scene and with this, came the universal awareness of the effect/affect of different pot values. Many players opted for the, "megpot" or, "megapot" as it was alternately called because for better or for worse, the fad was for their guitar pickups' tonality and volume to be as wide open as possible. Of course, a fully functional volume and tone pot still remained a requirement.

As with any inappropriate circuit design, the taper of these megpots exhibited plenty of bald spots and quick jumps too. Players as a majority came to realize that the megpots weren't such a great idea after all and the fad morphed with either the reinstallation of at least some (more) appropriate value pots or, removing them altogether which was the big thing in the 80s where the amp was assigned as the chief tone shaping device for one's guitar, Oftentimes, the guitar's volume pot was removed too, believe it or not.

So, although dwindling, megpots are still desirable by some for the above reasons. And needless to say, for those manufacturers and or/distributors who stock piled them, they are still trying to unload them by coming up with whatever reasons for players to continue buying them.

redrobin144- wrote:
whats the difference between 1 meg and 500 k? (sound quality, physically and playing wise)
(sorry abit of a noob question)


thanks very much :D
im thinking atm of getting a 72 telecaster deluxe and reading up on the guitar ive found quite a few people have changed the pots (alot changing them to cts 500k) would you recommend this?


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Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 1:24 pm
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redrobin144- wrote:
thanks very much :D
im thinking atm of getting a 72 telecaster deluxe and reading up on the guitar ive found quite a few people have changed the pots (alot changing them to cts 500k) would you recommend this?


You're quite welcome.

I wholeheartedly recommend it!

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Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 1:27 pm
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Martian wrote:
redrobin144- wrote:
thanks very much :D
im thinking atm of getting a 72 telecaster deluxe and reading up on the guitar ive found quite a few people have changed the pots (alot changing them to cts 500k) would you recommend this?


You're quite welcome.

I wholeheartedly recommend it!


sounds great, do you own a 72 deluxe telecaster? or have you played one


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Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 1:29 pm
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redrobin144- wrote:
Martian wrote:
redrobin144- wrote:
thanks very much :D
im thinking atm of getting a 72 telecaster deluxe and reading up on the guitar ive found quite a few people have changed the pots (alot changing them to cts 500k) would you recommend this?


You're quite welcome.

I wholeheartedly recommend it!


sounds great, do you own a 72 deluxe telecaster? or have you played one


I've owned a few originals but none of the RIs.

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Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 1:31 pm
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Martian wrote:
redrobin144- wrote:
Martian wrote:
redrobin144- wrote:
thanks very much :D
im thinking atm of getting a 72 telecaster deluxe and reading up on the guitar ive found quite a few people have changed the pots (alot changing them to cts 500k) would you recommend this?


You're quite welcome.

I wholeheartedly recommend it!


sounds great, do you own a 72 deluxe telecaster? or have you played one


I've owned a few originals but none of the RIs.


:) cool, how long have you been playing


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Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 1:36 pm
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redrobin144- wrote:
Martian wrote:
redrobin144- wrote:
Martian wrote:
redrobin144- wrote:
thanks very much :D
im thinking atm of getting a 72 telecaster deluxe and reading up on the guitar ive found quite a few people have changed the pots (alot changing them to cts 500k) would you recommend this?


You're quite welcome.

I wholeheartedly recommend it!


sounds great, do you own a 72 deluxe telecaster? or have you played one


I've owned a few originals but none of the RIs.


:) cool, how long have you been playing


Longer than I haven't; 40 some odd years. Yes, I'm an old fart! LOL

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Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 1:38 pm
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Martian wrote:
redrobin144- wrote:
Martian wrote:
redrobin144- wrote:
Martian wrote:
redrobin144- wrote:
thanks very much :D
im thinking atm of getting a 72 telecaster deluxe and reading up on the guitar ive found quite a few people have changed the pots (alot changing them to cts 500k) would you recommend this?


You're quite welcome.

I wholeheartedly recommend it!


sounds great, do you own a 72 deluxe telecaster? or have you played one


I've owned a few originals but none of the RIs.


:) cool, how long have you been playing


Longer than I havent; 40 some odd years. Yes, I'm an old fart!LOL


awh wow :P jeese you must have alot of knowledge then haha :)


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Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 1:46 pm
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redrobin144- wrote:
awh wow :P jeese you must have alot of knowledge then haha :)


I would never claim to be on top of the heap or anywhere near it. Having said that, being involved with guitars for close to half a century surely must account for something!

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