Q-Tuner pups

[tjclem]

I am installing a set of these and was told to use 500K pots. I did and the pups seem dead until turned almost all the way up. What value volume and tone pots have you all used? The are the 4 string set.

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And the pots are the 500 ones listed here.

http://www.bestbassgear.com/pots.htm

Thanks.Tom

 

[Rickett Customs]

Tom,
I wish I had an answer for you, but have you tested it with 250k's yet?

 

[tjclem]

Thanks no I just assembled her for the first time this morning. I will give that a shot later. The problem is the customer was told I should use the 500's....t

 

[ZolkoW]

I am installing a set of these and was told to use 500K pots. I did and the pups seem dead until turned almost all the way up. What value volume and tone pots have you all used? The are the 4 string set.

"DEAD" means tonewise?
are you using the usual two volume configuration, or only one volume, or the one vol config doubled?
(the last one doesn't work well actually)

 

[ZolkoW]

Thanks no I just assembled her for the first time this morning. I will give that a shot later. The problem is the customer was told I should use the 500's....t

nothing wrong with that, higher pot resistance gives a bit brighter tone, when turned fully up.

 

[fretno]

that sounds like a taper issue

 

[Rickett Customs]

It wasn't clear whether it was an audio or linear taper on the site. Could this make a difference?

 

[tjclem]

It wasn't clear whether it was an audio or linear taper on the site. Could this make a difference?

I was wondering that myself.......

 

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Sounds like a taper issue.

 

[R. Laevinus]

Yes, it absolutely makes a difference.

Linear taper pots - often marked as B(value), will give a much smoother, more useable volume sweep than audio, usually marked a A(value).

However, you'll want audio pots for the tone knob.

 

[Bassamatic]

I think it is the other way around - Audio Taper gives a smoother increase in level, Linear taper gives it to you all at the end. This is why they are labeled "Audio" taper and are used for volume controls in virtually all audio gear.

Either way - you should try the other type and see what happens.

 

[Ruckus_Instrmts]

good potentiometer taper explanation on this page.

http://www.beavisaudio.com/techpages/Pots/

Codes and Numbering

Of course it would be too easy if manufacturers would simply print the value and type of taper on a pot in plain English. But they don’t they use codes. Very simple to figure out though.

The code is

A single letter, A for audio/log, B for linear


and


A Numeric value, i.e. 10K

So a 100kΩ linear taper would be B100K. A 1k audio taper would be A1K. There, now you know the code. It should be noted that back in the old days the A and B were reversed—if you are working some old mystery pots, the above coding scheme may need to be reversed.

 

[pilotjones]

Also, if you have an audio taper pot but hook it up backwards you will get this effect, even worse than if you had a linear.

 

[tjclem]

Thanks all they are all "A" pots and I used this diagram to wire them.

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The cavity is unshielded at the moment and I also installed treble bleed caps across the input and output on each pot.

 

[DerHoggz]

Even though audio tapers have that curve which makes people think they are not smooth adjustment, that is you your hearing works, so it is a smooth adjustment all the way up.

 

[tjclem]

"DEAD" means tonewise?
are you using the usual two volume configuration, or only one volume, or the one vol config doubled?
(the last one doesn't work well actually)

dead volume wise the 2 volume configuration. I just tried it with a 250 tone cap and no difference I am going to hook it up VBT all 250K next because i have one of those already assembled.

 

[tjclem]

Hooked my OHM meter to them the are audio taper for sure

 

[tjclem]

I dug through a bunch of old e-mails and found info from Q-tuners about it.

"Keep it simple and use as few electronic components as possible. Most people select 500 K audio taper volume and 500 K linear taper tone pots. According to the theory, 1 Meg pots allow for the most "open" sound. The choice for the "right" cap value is a matter of personal preference. If you don't wish to experimentate, you may use a 0.047 uf cap. Read this:
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The problem is, that there are many different schools of thought when it comes to guitar/bass electronics. FYI, I prefer direct out.

Rgds, Erno."

So I guess I need to find a linear taper 500K pot. I called Radio shack and they said we have lots of pots you will just have to come up and look for one.. Useless.....

 

[mikeyswood]

Are you sure that wasn't the Radio Shack guy saying that he has lots of pot? You may be getting his hopes up of a sale.

 

[tjclem]

Are you sure that wasn't the Radio Shack guy saying that he has lots of pot? You may be getting his hopes up of a sale.