Guitar Pot Questions?

[Platefire]

I got this Epiphone el-cheapo Special ll that I like to drag out and jam on from time to time. It works pretty good for me except the volume pot has to quick of a taper in that when you have it turned down to very little volume, so you try to turn in up and with just a little bit of travel and then it's too much volume. It's got ALPHA A500K's on vol and tone. I like to do volume swells and this jump in vol makes it hard to do plus on my dirt pedals causes problems landing on the right vol--any little twitch in the travel throws it way off. 

I love the way my strats and teles volumes works for these purposes. What would I need to do to make this ax's volume behave more line a strat without changing the character of the guirar??? Thanks, Platefire

[pdf64]

I wonder if it’s actually a linear pot?

[Platefire]

More than sure it's Audio Taper

https://www.solomusicgear.com/product/solo-pro-alpha-alp-500k-a-split-shaft-audio-taper-potentiometer/?utm_source=Google%20Shopping&utm_campaign=US%20Feed&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=141920&aelia_cs_currency=USD
Regarding the sound of the ALPHA pots compared to others, this video is interesting---However the issue with my circumstance is not sound but the operation of the taper.
http://www.planetz.com/why-change-guitar-potentiometers/

[acheld]

I've had the same problem in the past.   

First, guitar pots are not (as a general rule) high precision components, and there is manufacturing variability.  Second, the "audio taper" varies from brand to brand and from model to model.

You would think that you could look at a graph and "know" how the pot will behave, but in my experience that does not work out so well.  I've even measured resistance at various points of rotation to construct my own graph of the taper (don't bother).  You just have to try different pots until you find one that works for you.

My personal preference are the Bourns guitar pots.  Datasheet here: Model 95 https://www.bourns.com/docs/product-datasheets/95.pdf -- and you can see their complete lineup here:   https://www.bourns.com/products/proaudio/products.   I get these from Mouser.  One bit of advice -- pay close attention to the datasheet model numbering system so that you order the correct part #.

Of course there are many others to choose from, and just like there are "horses for courses" there is a pot that will suit your need.  The hard part is finding it . . . and then corralling it into the guitar. 

[Platefire]

Thanks Acheld
Yes, Im beginning to believe it's going to take experimenting with different pots to get it right.
I just watched an interesting video that says a Linear pot is what is needed for swells. Please take a look at this video and see what you think??? Platefire
 https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=Setting+your+guitar+up+for+volume+swells+and+tone+wahs

[pdf64]

More than sure it's Audio Taper

https://www.solomusicgear.com/product/solo-pro-alpha-alp-500k-a-split-shaft-audio-taper-potentiometer/?utm_source=Google%20Shopping&utm_campaign=US%20Feed&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=141920&aelia_cs_currency=USD
…

Perhaps what you purchased was supposed to be audio taper.
But consider the possibility that the particular pot you received does not conform well to its intended nominal characteristics.
And that as the conformance to taper nominal is untoleranced, a linear taper would still be compliant to an audio taper nominal

If, as I read the first post, most of the perceived change occurs within the initial 30% rotation (eg 0-3 on the knob), then either your vol pot is closer to a linear than a typical audio taper, or it’s been wired in reverse (ie input applied to the wiper) 

[acheld]

I just watched an interesting video that says a Linear pot is what is needed for swells. Please take a look at this video and see what you think??? Platefire
 https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=Setting+your+guitar+up+for+volume+swells+and+tone+wahs

Interesting video. I think it's a cool effect -- though it takes way more coordination than I will ever have.   

So, if you're after swells, then I guess you need a linear pot. 

Couple of hints.  There are (not expensive) adapter bushings for the 6mm  to fit the 1/4" solid shaft. I would not use the split shaft pots as Hackett does in the video.  https://www.tubesandmore.com/products/potentiometer-adapter-sleeve-converts-6mm-or-18t-shaft-14

IIRC, this pot is not dampened:  https://www.bourns.com/docs/product-datasheets/PDB241-GTR.pdf No guarantees on my recall, however.

You can check your guitar pot for its taper with a DMM.  Check the resistance from pin 1 to 2 with the knob rotated 1/2 through its travel. If it's a linear pot, the resistance will be roughly 1/2 of the total resistance of the pot.  An audio taper pot will show much less.

Lastly: yup, you're going to have to experiment your way to nirvana.  You'll have a blast.

[pdf64]

Linear can work better IF there’s no overdrive, totally clean.
Post 1 mentioned a dirt pedal, and difficulties typically caused by vol pot behaviour indicative of a pot taper closer to being linear than (10%) audio.
With much overdrive, linear becomes a hair trigger, like a switch, over the first bit of rotation.

[Platefire]

I don't try to do swells with .my dirt boxes, it's just hard to adjust the volume on that guitar transitioning from distorted rhythm to lead and back to rhythm because of the jump in volume with just a little bit of movement.   


I do all my swells Clean with maybe a little compression, Rev and delay.


Those p-90's on that guitar are pretty hot. Maybe that has something to do with it?

[SILVERGUN]

Thanks Acheld
Yes, Im beginning to believe it's going to take experimenting with different pots to get it right.
I just watched an interesting video that says a Linear pot is what is needed for swells. Please take a look at this video and see what you think??? Platefire
 https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=Setting+your+guitar+up+for+volume+swells+and+tone+wahs

Just to clear this one up...
At 3:00ish he talks about what he uses these for. "sharp, staccato "swells""...that doesn't make sense to me.
My idea of a swell is a slow, gradual increase in volume.
So when he says "a linear pot will bring the signal up much faster than an audio pot" - we all agree. But, I don't agree that would make for a better "swell" 


I started over-paying for these and I have been pretty happy with the swellability 

[rake]

For almost 20 years my main squeeze on stage was a red 1959 Les Paul double cut.
#2 was that early 80's silver burst Gibson 335S pictured in my avatar.
The P90's did not respond to the vol & tone pots like the humbuckers in the 335S did.
Believe it or not I solved my lead vs rhythm volume issue with a pedal. First in my chain
was a DOD Bi-Fet preamp. Guitar v&t were on 10. rhythm v was set at the amp and the pedal was
set to boost lead gain to a good level. It worked for me.
I tried 500ka, 500kl, 250ka & 250ka with a 250k resistor between the pot ground lug and ground.
All worked like crap so the pedal was my savior. always used either a silver faced deluxe reverb or a silver faced pro reverb depending on club size.

BTW, I bought the 59 in 1973 for $300.00

[G._Hoffman]

I got this Epiphone el-cheapo Special ll that I like to drag out and jam on from time to time. It works pretty good for me except the volume pot has to quick of a taper in that when you have it turned down to very little volume, so you try to turn in up and with just a little bit of travel and then it's too much volume. It's got ALPHA A500K's on vol and tone. I like to do volume swells and this jump in vol makes it hard to do plus on my dirt pedals causes problems landing on the right vol--any little twitch in the travel throws it way off. 

I love the way my strats and teles volumes works for these purposes. What would I need to do to make this ax's volume behave more line a strat without changing the character of the guirar??? Thanks, Platefire

DiMarzio pots. 

No seriously, anytime anyone has any kind of complaint about normal pots, I put in DiMarzio pots.  Every single time, they love them.  Give them a try.  I don't use them by default, because most people just don't need it, but except for Nels Cline wearing out his volume pots every few months, every time I had a customer who had a problem with their pots, the answer was the DiMarzio pots.  It's a different taper, and I think they are also a different rotational force (they turn a little easier), but in EVERY case, DiMarzio pots.

[Platefire]

Is this the right one???

https://www.dimarzio.com/hardware/potentiometers/500k-custom-taper-potentiometer
For my Epi Special l. Pretty sure it should be a short shaft for flat top Jr type body. Thanksa bunch for the info:>)

[G._Hoffman]

Is this the right one???

https://www.dimarzio.com/hardware/potentiometers/500k-custom-taper-potentiometer
For my Epi Special l. Pretty sure it should be a short shaft for flat top Jr type body. Thanksa bunch for the info:>)

Probably best to get a long shaft version, since it is mounted to wood.