What do pots with a different resistance?

Setup, repair and restoration of Rickenbacker Instruments

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Hotzenplotz
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What do pots with a different resistance?

Post by Hotzenplotz »

Due to my suddly crackling volume pots (electronic spray does not work) I wonder what will happen when using different resistances when changing the pots.

E.g. some old Rickenbackers have 250k as volume pots and 500k as tone pots. Could this work for my guitar, too?

My guitar is equipped with toasters. What will be the effect in the different cases? Maybe the is already a thread about this?


Every information is very appreciated!
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Hotzenplotz
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Re: What do pots with a different resistance?

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Now I have got a targeted idea what to do with my guitar:

I have read that in the old days Rickebacker used 250k pots for volume and 500k pots for tone. The blend knob was 500k, too.
- Can anybody confirm that?
As I read, the 0,047 cap is not needed, also.

So conbined with 7,4k toasters I should receive more "vintage" sound, right?

Is there any con in this?
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electrofaro
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Re: What do pots with a different resistance?

Post by electrofaro »

going from 250 to 500k pots should make your sound brighter afaik
'67 Fender Coronado II CAB * '17 1963 ES-335 PB * currently rickless
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Hotzenplotz
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Re: What do pots with a different resistance?

Post by Hotzenplotz »

electrofaro wrote:going from 250 to 500k pots should make your sound brighter afaik
Brighter? - Yes, please!

So You mean it sounds brighter with 500k tone pots?

BTW, I suspect the 250k pots for the volume to deliver a slghtly higher output, maybe some more grit.
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electrofaro
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Re: What do pots with a different resistance?

Post by electrofaro »

As far as I have been told 500k is brighter, 250k more mellow, darker sounding. I don't know how much the output value is affected, tbh
'67 Fender Coronado II CAB * '17 1963 ES-335 PB * currently rickless
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Hotzenplotz
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Re: What do pots with a different resistance?

Post by Hotzenplotz »

Now i ordered two 250k pots for the volume and three 500k pot for treble and blend knob.

- Next week I will know the truth about all theory.


What is making me a bit disappointed ist the fact that the original knobs did not last five years although we are talking about a carefully used case beauty. OK, one bad pot is ok, but all? - Nah!

Everywhere people say CTS is making good pots. Well, I give ALPHA pots a chance now. They are half the price of the CTS ones but there is no sign that they are worse than CTS.
If they only last 2 1/2 years they would have won the race.
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electrofaro
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Re: What do pots with a different resistance?

Post by electrofaro »

Did you measure the pots what their true value was?

Most requested part for Les Paul under warranty: CTS pots :twisted:
'67 Fender Coronado II CAB * '17 1963 ES-335 PB * currently rickless
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Hotzenplotz
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Re: What do pots with a different resistance?

Post by Hotzenplotz »

electrofaro wrote:Did you measure the pots what their true value was?

Most requested part for Les Paul under warranty: CTS pots :twisted:

No, I did not. My 330 is from September 2010. So must be the all 330k version. Yes, I read the pots vary in a huge range. Is that Your reason for asking?

- Well, these one are dead, what resistance they ever had. :)
So I build a new electronic and do some survey at the same time.

Usually I do a lot of guitar work and repairs. - So this is a nice project.


I remember what my brother (he is a an technician for airplane research) said immediately when he saw the original pots while changing the pickups: "These one's are cheap!" - I can not disagree, now.

The ones I bought now cost 2,75€ each. - No big loss.
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electrofaro
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Re: What do pots with a different resistance?

Post by electrofaro »

Cheap vs. cheap - this is old technology. If you see really cheap ones you'd be shocked :p

Yes, I did ask because there seems to be such a difference.

Any special wiring in mind or rather more standard?
'67 Fender Coronado II CAB * '17 1963 ES-335 PB * currently rickless
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Hotzenplotz
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Re: What do pots with a different resistance?

Post by Hotzenplotz »

I only want to put the pots in place of the old ones. So the wiring itself will stay original.
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