/ Register

250k/500k stacked pots - Which is on top?

Discussion in 'Pickups & Electronics [BG]' started by pattyløve, Jul 22, 2013.

  1. Jul 22, 2013 #1
    pattyløve

    pattyløve

    Apr 7, 2009
    Sydney, Australia
    Endorsing Artist: Ashdown Engineering, D'addario
    So I am wanting to install a Vol-tone stacked pot to accomodate for my bass's 2 pickup, 2 knob setup (vol, vol/tone stack).
    With the fender and CTS stacked (500k/250k) pots, which pot is the 250k and which is the 500k? Common sense tells me the bottom should be 500k.. but I have no way of telling.

    http://basspartsresource.com/electrical_concentricpots.htm
     
  2. Jul 22, 2013 #2
    Angel LaHash

    Angel LaHash

    Aug 24, 2012
    wouldnt it be best to Measure the Value
    The way its worded i would say Top one was the 500K and bottem 250K .. 500K/250k
     
  3. Jul 23, 2013 #3
    pattyløve

    pattyløve

    Apr 7, 2009
    Sydney, Australia
    Endorsing Artist: Ashdown Engineering, D'addario
    Oh okay, thanks!
    If that's the case, does anyone know where I can get some 250k/250k stacked pots?

    Anyone else have any more insight into this?
     
  4. Jul 23, 2013 #4
    Angel LaHash

    Angel LaHash

    Aug 24, 2012
    Sorry its easy to make mistakes, so its always suggest you check it before doing any thing
     
  5. Jul 24, 2013 #5
    sunbeast

    sunbeast Supporting Member

    Jul 19, 2006
    Denver, CO
    I believe they are indeed designed with the top knob being the 500k and the bottom 250.

    I don't know of a source of CTS style 250/250k stacked pots (i'm pretty sure they aren't readily available if at all), but it is possible to switch out the rings on a CTS stacked pot with a 250k ring from one of their non stacked pots without much effort. They come apart and go back together very easily and all the parts are mostly compatible. If you are using one of the Fender-branded CTS stacked pots, you can also actually take it apart and just switch the rings on a 250/500k pot. On a non-Fender standard CTS stacked pot you can switch the two rings, but may have to widen the hole in the middle of the bottom ring slightly with a small file (which is super easy!).

    I have taken apart and modded tons of CTS brand pots over the years with no problems, but I'm not sure if this is possible with other brands (I know some aren't designed in a way where they can be taken apart at all).