Easy to turn volume pots?

Big Job · #1 02-09-2009, 11:23 AM

Hello.

I'm forever damaging the volume pots on all of my guitars! Every guitar that I have ever owned has always suffered from the volume pots crapping out on me. Every time I change them, like every 6 months, they are always so hard to turn!

Can anyone suggest a quality easy to turn volume pot? The better the quality the better and cost isn't an issue. I'd love to not have to worry about the pots always failing on me.

Can you get the volume pots that feature on the new EVH wolfgang?

Chris

Myst and rain · #2 02-09-2009, 03:04 PM

I've read a lot about pots on the internet. CTS pots appear to be very good. And they're smooth in terms of the way they feel when you turn them, as well.

Fender's pots are CTS ones, I believe:

http://www.fender.com/products//sear...tno=0019066000

Allparts has them as well, if I remember correctly:

http://www.allparts.com/store/electr...s,Category.asp

And I think if you buy these from Carvin, you've got good, smooth pots, as well:

https://www.carvinguitars.com/carvin...php?product=P1

I'm not an expert, though. But this is what I've read everywhere on the internet.

toneboy · #3 02-09-2009, 03:06 PM

Jackson uses CTS pots and, I can tell you from experience, they are much better than the stock Ibanez pots.

Myst and rain · #4 02-09-2009, 03:26 PM

I've also read that CTS pots with brass shafts are smoother and of have a longer life than those with aluminum shafts.

toneboy · #5 02-09-2009, 03:34 PM

The pots from my Charvels have brass shafts.

Myst and rain · #6 02-09-2009, 03:37 PM

Also, anyone can order their own, custom pots. Some stores have their own 'house brands'. Like RS Guitarworks:

http://www.rsguitarworks.net/rsstore...roducts_id=386

These, supposedly, are pots that are tweaked to the extent that they're not just pots...but super pots.

But I've seen debates on the internet where opinions differ a lot, regarding these as well as many other 'house brands'. But these do have the brass shafts I mentioned that are supposedly better that the aluminum ones, in any case.

Myst and rain · #7 02-09-2009, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toneboy

The pots from my Charvels have brass shafts.

Interesting. And they've got a smooth feel, right?

Big Job · #8 02-09-2009, 05:42 PM

Dudes thanks for all of your help. I did a little bit of further research and I looked into the new EVH guitar. It uses a brand called 'Bourns'. I'm going to look into them and get one and put it into my Yamaha to test it out. If they are good then I will report back and I will put them in all of my guitars....

http://www.beyondeleven.com/Bourns-G...eters-s/89.htm

http://gb.mouser.com/bourns/

I've been a little silly and brought a 1.5 K industrial one from e bay. I will see how it works!

Thanks again!

Chris

Myst and rain · #9 02-09-2009, 05:46 PM

How come you're so excited about the EVH guitar pots?

andrewgosline · #10 02-09-2009, 08:36 PM

industrial pots might not be audio taper. You could get a very limited range

I've found that most replacement pots are better than the stock ones, especially on price point guitars like low end RGs and squires. You seem to kick their ass, though... What could you be doing that wears them out that fast!!!???

Big Job · #11 02-10-2009, 05:04 AM

I dont know how I destroy them so fast....even the volume control on my Parker crapped out after a bit and I thought they were ment to be super good quality.

Alwyn, I'm excited about the EVH pots because I read, or saw, somewhere that they are very easy to turn indeed. I hate changing the pot and having to fight it to get it to turn. Its so frustrating having what would be a fully functional guitar only to keep on having the volume pot stop working or jump 'on and off' or whatever! Perhaps I keep on breaking them becuase thay can't cope with the awesome music that I play!

Chris

toneboy · #12 02-10-2009, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toneboy

The pots from my Charvels have brass shafts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Myst and rain

Interesting. And they've got a smooth feel, right?

They turn like they're on ball bearings. Now you've got me thinking I need to replace the volume pots in my other guitars.

toneboy · #13 02-10-2009, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Job

I've been a little silly and brought a 1.5 K industrial one from e bay. I will see how it works!

1.5k or 1.5k ohms? I ask because volume pots are typically 250K or 500K, 330K if it's a Gibson and some folks use 1 meg pots to let the high end of the pup come through strong.

Myst and rain · #14 02-10-2009, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewgosline

industrial pots might not be audio taper. You could get a very limited range

I've found that most replacement pots are better than the stock ones, especially on price point guitars like low end RGs and squires. You seem to kick their ass, though... What could you be doing that wears them out that fast!!!???

Hey I've always read that audio taper is for tone controls and linear taper is for volume controls?

And yeah, the pots on my $600 Ibanez S aren't the best I feel. I can't go from 10 to 0, volume wise in one quick motion as the volume pot isn't very smooth. I could use one of these, though.

But it's not very practical in the middle of a song. lol..