Pots...am I too anal, orrr.......

mmbongo · #1 10-06-2011, 05:55 PM

...am I just an annoying moron?

I am installing new pots in one of my basses. I need 2 500k pots....so I ordered 4 of them.

Why four? Since pot values vary, I want a matched pair and the highest values possible (to get as bright as possible). So here's my quandry. The 4 pots measure as follows:

514
516
537
569

So I've got pretty much and equal pair, and I've got a pair with much higher values that are not very equal.

So, what would you use? Matched pots, or higher value non-matched pots?

Liam Wald · #2 10-06-2011, 06:02 PM

Yeah, that's both anal and anoying!

Marton · #3 10-06-2011, 06:03 PM

Throw them all in a bag, and take two randomly. I'm sure you won't see much difference if you don't know which they are !

Liam Wald · #4 10-06-2011, 06:04 PM

Just kidding.
It is totally fine if that is what you want to do.
Most people would never in a million years actually notice a difference, but if you do you should do whatever it takes to satisfy yourself.

Modulator · #5 10-06-2011, 06:09 PM

Order 400 more...

**SamanthaCay** · #6 10-06-2011, 06:10 PM

I would return them and get some 1 meg's. lol

Seriously there are no rules saying you can't use a really high value to get more top end output.
My p bass has 2.5 meg's and works great!

As far as whether or not a difference of 32 ohms will make a difference that you can hear the answer is no.

i_got_a_mohawk · #7 10-06-2011, 06:18 PM

But the output, both in terms of tone and signal strength, will differ between your pickups

Yes, it's anal! I doubt you'd notice the difference between any of them. Maybe should have bought 2 pots that were twice as expensive

As long as they are in the ballpark and are mechanically sound, they'll be fine.

(want me to make things worse? Chances are they don't taper the exact same way either, so there will be other inconsistancies through the taper, talking of a couple ohms here or there, so also something you wouldn't notice)

ReDnEcK_SaMuRaI · #8 10-06-2011, 06:22 PM

What is wrong with the old pots?

mmbongo · #9 10-06-2011, 06:24 PM

So there's no advantage to using matched pots?

mmbongo · #10 10-06-2011, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReDnEcK_SaMuRaI

What is wrong with the old pots?

Too much friction (too hard to turn) and the shafts are too long and my knobs don't sit down on them all the way.

**line6man** · #11 10-06-2011, 06:32 PM

It's doubtful that you could hear any difference, or notice any difference in taper.

ReDnEcK_SaMuRaI · #12 10-06-2011, 06:33 PM

Pick 2 at random. There will not be an audible difference between the 514k and the 569k pots. You are way over thinking this.

knarleybass · #13 10-06-2011, 06:35 PM

you could really go nuts and make yourself some stepped attenuators, using a 12 or 24 position rotary switch and a bunch of matched resistors, or just wire both pickups straight to the jack and hold on for dear life.

Passinwind · #14 10-06-2011, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmbongo

So there's no advantage to using matched pots?

You've already carefully matched the pickups, I assume?

mmbongo · #15 10-06-2011, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Passinwind

You've already carefully matched the pickups, I assume?

Nah, the pickups couldn't be much more different! It's a MM/J setup, but the J is a humbucker.

FaithNoMan · #16 10-06-2011, 07:02 PM

Too small to hear a difference, if anything at all.

mmbongo · #17 10-06-2011, 07:04 PM

Allright, I guess I'm too anal because I KNOW I'm not an annoying moron!

walterw · #18 10-06-2011, 07:20 PM

are these for volume or tone? and did you get linear or audio taper?

mmbongo · #19 10-06-2011, 07:38 PM

For volume, audio taper.

walterw · #20 10-06-2011, 08:01 PM

i'd send them back for linear tapers anyway.

audio tapers on basses (especially 500ks) will have an annoyingly big drop-off from "10", with little left by the time you get to "2" or "3".

linear taper volume pots will evenly sweep from full-up to off.