Pot Reading

EZ9R · #1 04-20-2010, 01:40 PM

I bought 2 Fender 250k Aud. pots from GC. I used my multimeter on them and 1 read 256 and the other read 197.
What does that mean?
Thx

T-Bird · #2 04-20-2010, 01:50 PM

Hi.

It means that the first one is well within' the +/-20% tolerance, the other ever so slightly over the tolerance range.

Regards
Sam

KimblesNimble · #3 04-20-2010, 01:53 PM

T-Bird, could you expand on this a bit?

EZ9R · #4 04-20-2010, 01:59 PM

I did research that and read about the +/-20% tolerance. So which one is better or should I say, will either one effect my tone? These are CTS pots. I bought 2 to replace on a jazz bass. So is it more common if I were get a 250k and the reading is around 197-200. I have some old 250k which read around the same area of 197.

EZ9R · #5 04-20-2010, 02:16 PM

From what I read, most pots aren't created equal. The papers the came with the cts 250K pot say that the pot has a +/-20% Tolerance Reading. I guess meaning it's within the 20% 250k. 20% of 250k is 50 and the first pot read 197k. My question is: 1 read 197k and the other read 256k. Does the +/- 20% Tolerance mead below 250k only?

**line6man** · #6 04-20-2010, 02:22 PM

It's very difficult to ensure that every part has a resistance of exactly the value it's rated for when you are mass producing potentiometers.
With a 20% tolerance, it is acceptable for a pot to stray as far as 20% higher or lower than it's rated value.

You got one good pot, and one that went outside of the manufacturing tolerance.

I would replace it with another pot of a tolerance closer to the rating.

**line6man** · #7 04-20-2010, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EZ9R

So which one is better or should I say, will either one effect my tone?

The 197K pot will have less volume/treble than the 256K pot.

MatticusMania · #8 04-20-2010, 02:29 PM

I usually just ask the guy behind the counter.

EZ9R · #9 04-20-2010, 03:12 PM

Don't mean to get side tracked, but What counter? Guitar Center? Sorry for the bashing, but the 3 Guitar Centers in my area has some braid dead people working there. I live in No. VA. Chuck Levins is great. The old Venemans was great too. Case in point: I was using Rotosound Swing 5 string (45-130) for $26 back in 2003-2004. I wanted to by a set of Swing Bass 40-125 and they were $35. They guy there said they were different types of metal an therefor more expensive. Not bashing all Guitar Centers.
Any way, Next time , I'll just bring my mulit-meter in and test the pots right there. Sure they're $7, but that can add up. .

**line6man** · #10 04-20-2010, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EZ9R

Don't mean to get side tracked, but What counter? Guitar Center? Sorry for the bashing, but the 3 Guitar Centers in my area has some braid dead people working there. I live in No. VA. Chuck Levins is great. The old Venemans was great too. Case in point: I was using Rotosound Swing 5 string (45-130) for $26 back in 2003-2004. I wanted to by a set of Swing Bass 40-125 and they were $35. They guy there said they were different types of metal an therefor more expensive. Not bashing all Guitar Centers.
Any way, Next time , I'll just bring my mulit-meter in and test the pots right there. Sure they're $7, but that can add up. .

$7?
CTS pots shouldn't cost any more than $4-5.
Mini pots should only cost $2-3.