New (to me) Holiday / Harmony Stratotone

[dbishopbliss]

I just bought a Stratotone that has seen better days. Based on the serial number it appears the guitar was originally a Holiday version of the H45.


The electronics weren't working properly (tone control did not work) so I opened it up. The fix should be fairly simple because the capacitor has one leg disconnected.


However, there are a number of suspicious values that makes me question if the pots/caps are original. Specifically, the volume pot appears to be 5K. From what I understand the Stratotones used to have 50K pots. I cannot find 50K pots on guitar supply sites. Any reason why I should not use a 250K pot or use one of these:


https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Alpha-Taiwan/RV16AF-10-15R1-A50K-0DLA?qs=sGAEpiMZZMtC25l1F4XBU1WvpdUcjC%2f68kiQFMX4jVD7gLypQ6Rx2A%3d%3d


 

[jjasilli]

If you can't find a 50K pot, the simple solution is to parallel a 100K pot with a 100K resistor.  For more info and stuff about pot taper, see:  http://www.geofex.com/Article_Folders/potsecrets/potscret.htm


The pot does not exist in isolation, but also in conjunction with any tone cap, forming an R-C network.  This is a directly variable relationship: e.g., if you double the R value, you halve the C value and get the same tone curve.  The pot also functions with the impedance, inductance and capacitance of the guitar PU: so changing the pot value alters tone - higher pot value > brighter tone.

[sluckey]

Plenty of 50K pots at AES... solid shaft like your mouser link and split knurled shafts for push on knobs

https://www.tubesandmore.com/products/potentiometers_0?filters=Resistance%3D50k

https://www.tubesandmore.com/products/potentiometer-fender-50k-audio-split-shaft-14-bushing