My new CTS pots - I hate them!

[boondox]

Rewired my fender jazz with new CTS pots since those are the ones people seem to recommend. I'm hating the feel of these. Very stiff and it feels like something is grinding inside. Is there a way to loosen these up? Do they loosen over time?

What I'm looking for I guess are pots like on Fender American Std basses. I like the feel of those. Thought CTS would be similar in feel. Anybody know what Fender uses?

 

[mongo2]

Very stiff?

Grinding inside?

That doesn't sound right. I've used CTS for decades and none have been like that.

 

[boondox]

Yup, no exaggeration. I'm 100% sure they are CTS too.

 

[mongo2]

Just curious, how do you know they're CTS?

 

[boondox]

The backs say "GTR ELEC 0830 A250K CTS". They have split gold shafts.

Thinking of trying these:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]


Unless somebody can suggest something better.

 

[mongo2]

The backs say "GTR ELEC 0830 A250K CTS". They have split gold shafts.

My CTS pots don't have the "GTR ELEC" notation but that could just be a house branding of some sort, like the "MOJO" on the Mojotone pot you linked.

The CTS in my hand has "EP885 250K 0822 CTS" and has a solid brass shaft.

I hope the Mojotones work out better for you.

 

[mrkreuzschlitz]

Try some contact cleaner.

 

[jbrew73]

make sure the knobs are not pushed down so far that they are rubbing on the nut or washer. sounds simple but it fooled me after a new pot install.

 

[enemybass]

Only Cts pot i felt like this was when some noob got the pot so hot while soldering it melted something indise and made it fel really gritty
maybe you did that

 

[boondox]

Only Cts pot i felt like this was when some noob got the pot so hot while soldering it melted something indise and made it fel really gritty
maybe you did that

No, I was totally conscious of the heat when I soldered them.


And they still don't turn easily with the knobs off. It's weird.


Gonna try again with diff'rent pots.

 

[blendermassacre]

just don't forget that those pots will need a screw type knob as apposed to a split shaft push on knob. I'm sure you realize this, but I'm just throwing that out there...

ps, I like the alpha pots I got from stewmac.

 

[ashtray]

Did they turn that difficult before you installed them?

 

[GlennW]

I've gotten some stiff alleged CTS pots from AllParts with the EP... part number; no grinding though, just noticeably harder to turn.

 

[walterw]

flush them with naphtha and they will turn more easily.

 

[svirfnebli]

There is a very good pot used for guitar which I can recommend.. RS Guitar works has a 280k pot they call a super pot. great pots. You really shouldn't notice any difference between 250 and 280. They are available in short and long shaft if I recall. I use the 500k's on all my guitars and they work great. they are NOT for tone controls though.

svirf

 

[GlennW]

flush them with naphtha and they will turn more easily.

I think I sprayed them with Caig's stuff...I'll try it again and if that doesn't help they'll get a shot of Ronson.

 

[walterw]

the naphtha will dissolve the wax they're packed with, loosening them up, which the caig just won't do. i'd follow that with the caig faderlube, though, since the naphtha washes away everything.

 

[Craig_S]

Only Cts pot i felt like this was when some noob got the pot so hot while soldering it melted something indise and made it fel really gritty
maybe you did that

This.

Use at least a 40 watt iron and don't hold it to the pot any longer than necessary. A 25 watt iron is not hot enough for the job. The tendency, with a lesser wattage iron, is to hold the iron to the pot for far too long, overheating the internals.

 

[jworrellbass]

I had the same problems with "cts" pots on a build I did awhile back, they did loosen up after awhile.

 

[GlennW]

the naphtha will dissolve the wax they're packed with, loosening them up, which the caig just won't do. i'd follow that with the caig faderlube, though, since the naphtha washes away everything.

That makes sense; thanks.