Volume pot taper: Audio or Linear?

[Eagle]

View attachment 14520

These are the Alphas I mentioned above, they are fine.

 

[Eagle]

Oh. Now that is interesting.

We've had some scratchy and gritty brand new CTS pots here recently. One was in a Suhr, and John Suhr has recently stated that they're dropping CTS for that reason. The pot on the Suhr improves with a few squirts of cleaner, but usually returns to scratchy after a week or two.

So you're saying the risk of crappiness is pretty much the same if I was to go with the Bourns?

( Obviously, I bow to your superior experience concerning this matter )

It depends what you ask for, I have had Suhr CTS go bad but the ones PRS use seem to last.

 

[Eagle]

Well the (expected) results to my poll and vol pot question are pretty clear to me.

Dare I move on to the question of no-load tone pots? Why would someone not want that?

** ducks **

It adds brightness, good or bad depends on the application.

 

[jellodog]

It depends what you ask for, I have had Suhr CTS go bad but the ones PRS use seem to last.

Info appreciated. I understand now that this is not a black and white issue, and I have recalibrated my thoughts accordingly

 

[Eagle]

I would use CTS 450's as first choice with low friction and the through axle . I would also use the type with the spring clip with Gibson style knobs. After that the Alphas or the Bourns are fine but IME they don't last as long.

 

[Eagle]

Info appreciated. I understand now that this is not a black and white issue, and I have recalibrated my thoughts accordingly

All the companies spec what they want so they can vary , The Dimarzio specked one is better that many and not expensive.

 

[Eagle]

500k-custom-taper-potentiometer

 

[la szum]

Well the (expected) results to my poll and vol pot question are pretty clear to me.

Dare I move on to the question of no-load tone pots? Why would someone not want that?

** ducks **

Bourns makes a No-Load Volume Pot. Has a little indented spot run wide open that
is the No Load Load. I kind of hate them. Seriously. I never run it wide open. So I have
to find that spot where it isn't so freaking trebly. PITA!

For me.

 

[jellodog]

I kind of hate them

Haha All good @la szum (and Eagle). I'm usually combating stridency (don't want a tinnitus flare up), so I'll give the no-loads a miss.

Was just curious and wanting to look at all possible options and "final" tweaks for when I open up the JM.

I really hate messing around in there because it's so crammed full of annoying bulky cloth wiring that I usually have to fiddle about for ages to get the pickguard back on with the wires properly arranged in the routes and not pinching. I do have the wiring taped in places to hold the harness in place, but it's still got some room for movement.

Then the JM takes forever to tune because it's not a hardtail and effectively "floating". Bah!

Every time I open it up, I mutter under my breath "this is the last fecking time!".

 

[la szum]

You got this! Just have some Cookies and Cocoa handy and close by as needed.

 

[fretworn]

 

[jellodog]

@la szum A positive thing that I will say is that I was playing the JM last night and I don't know if it's the neck or what, or the sum of all the parts, but it's the most mojo-filled resonant electric guitar I've ever put hands on.

It's got all sorts of warts that would probably annoy the hell out of most players (rocking bridge for a start!), but there really is something unusual about it. I was sat down playing it and it was heavily vibrating and purring against my chest in a manner that I can only describe as magical.

Exciting! Inspiring!

I often think of getting rid of it, and then I have a moment like last night and I realise again that it's with me for life.

 

[la szum]

Wow! That's awesome, JD! You could churn through 100+ guitars and not find that "thing."

As you know, it is rare and not guaranteed when it comes to something being greater than
the sum of its parts.

I've actually experienced very, very few of those. Maybe an handful.

Yeah, don't let it get away....

 

[laxu]

Well the (expected) results to my poll and vol pot question are pretty clear to me.

Dare I move on to the question of no-load tone pots? Why would someone not want that?

** ducks **

I've got no-load tone pots on my old Yamaha SA-1200S semihollowbody, think ES-335. I pretty much never use them at 10 as it's just not that useful to bypass them IMO. I like what the tone pots do to the sound when they are at 9 or below.

 

[laxu]

Don't expect Bournes to be any better . CTS 450s are probably still the best around for guitar. The premium full size Alpha are as good as the Bournes now so that is a consideration too.

I've found CTS knobs to be the most inconsistent in value and they also tend to do absolutely nothing for about 1/4 of the turn, no change in resistance. But this might depend on the exact model, not sure what the ones I tested were.

Bournes are very close to their rated value and have a smoother taper, but I really hate the low friction thing, they spin too easily. They seem to make a high friction model but I haven't tried that.

Alpha has kept improving and I'd consider them the best price/performance option now.

Note that the above is based on testing a few pots, so I might be generalizing here.

 

[Eagle]

I've found CTS knobs to be the most inconsistent in value and they also tend to do absolutely nothing for about 1/4 of the turn, no change in resistance. But this might depend on the exact model, not sure what the ones I tested were.

Bournes are very close to their rated value and have a smoother taper, but I really hate the low friction thing, they spin too easily. They seem to make a high friction model but I haven't tried that.

Alpha has kept improving and I'd consider them the best price/performance option now.

Note that the above is based on testing a few pots, so I might be generalizing here.

The thing is when you order from CTS they speck a range so it's often down to distributers specking cheaper options . You can get a 5% pot with a heavy duty track and a C clip with a through axle brass shaft or a light weight version with 20% it's not bad pots it's cheap specks.

 

[Eagle]

Also the Bournes low friction is a 5% speck pot and way more expensive than the 20% CTS .Try one of those Dimazio speck CTS they are a different deal entirely, much more robust than the Bournes on the track. I agree that the top Alpha's are pretty good but It is hard to be sure the version you see is the right speck without testing every one. They make a wide range from absolute garbage to on a parr with the best.

 

[jellodog]

I have ordered more pots than I need and will test with a multi-meter to choose the closest for my needs before installing