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Post subject: New pots for my MIM?
Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 5:47 am
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I feel like making a slight mod to my MIM P-Bass. When I turn the volume and tone knobs. it feels cheap and flimsy. I was hoping to change them to beefier ones. You know what I mean? The sound is great and all, but I'm hoping to feel more resistance when I turn them. Should I transition to the American pots or do you recommend something else?

Thanks!

Edit: Well, after a quick look at the parts list, I see that the same pots are used for both the MIM and USA models. Any suggestions for making them feel less flimsy?


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Post subject: Re: New pots for my MIM?
Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 6:10 am
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andyreich wrote:
I feel like making a slight mod to my MIM P-Bass. When I turn the volume and tone knobs. it feels cheap and flimsy. I was hoping to change them to beefier ones. You know what I mean? The sound is great and all, but I'm hoping to feel more resistance when I turn them. Should I transition to the American pots or do you recommend something else?

Thanks!


The pots on today's MIM Standard and today's American Standard P-basses are the same exact part numbers. The pots are made by CTS. Often when people remove the pickguard's protective plastic layer on a new instrument some of the protective plastic doesn't get removed from under the control knobs or some of it bunches up under the skirts of the knobs. This makes the knob feel less than smooth. Try removing the knobs and use tweezers to remove any residual protective plastic and see if that helps. The knobs on my son's MIA Strat suffered from this. I removed the knobs and got all the plastic off under them and that made the pots operate much smoother.

While the knobs are off I would also check that the nuts are good and tight to make sure what you perceive as poor pot operation isn't resulting from the pot itself being loose and spinning some.

I would not replace pots unless absolutely necessary.


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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 9:00 am
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Thanks brotherdave. I actually saw after I posted that they are the same.

It's not the fact that it's not smooth. It's a little too smooth. I'd like to feel a little pressure or resistance while turning. It seems all I have to do is touch the volume, and there's a drastic change.


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Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 10:39 am
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Does the tone pot feel the same way?


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Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 11:19 am
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The tone knob feels the same to me.

Maybe I'm just being overly sensitive, but my Steve Harris knobs feel "better" to me.


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Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 4:33 am
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I'm noticing with my new MIM P bass, the volume cuts sharply after only 1/4 turn of the knob. I would like a longer transition. Also, I really have to listen to hear a change when turning the tone knob, but maybe that's a capacitor issue.


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Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 6:27 pm
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I know exactly what you are describing as pots feeling cheap , loose, flimsy. Does it make them bad ? hard to say . I don't like that feel either.I hate to recommend anything you might not need . If you aren't happy with your pots and think the volume pot may have to short of a taper/ poor linear control I would suggest looking here. read on the differences and how to check your pots.

http://www.guitarelectronics.com/catego ... ring_faqs/

I have bought parts from them in the past with zero problems.

I would only recommend the CTS pots , more money but excellent quality and feel.


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