Question about pots

[Xureal]

If I had two pickups, could/should I use a concentric pot to wire them up, or could I just wire the two pickups to a single pot? They appear to essentially be two pots occupying one space. But I feel like it wouldn't be a very good idea and could end badly if I wired two into one.

 

[line6man]

Do you want the pickups parallel all the time, or do you want separate volumes?

 

[Xureal]

I don't know, now that you bring it up. I feel like separate volume controls would get better sound. Would wiring a concentric pot just be like wiring two separate volume pots? I've never dealt with them, or even heard of them, until about twenty minutes beforethe initial post.

 

[line6man]

I don't know, now that you bring it up. I feel like separate volume controls would get better sound. Would wiring a concentric pot just be like wiring two separate volume pots? I've never dealt with them, or even heard of them, until about twenty minutes beforethe initial post.

A concentric pot is nothing more than two pots stacked together.

 

[Xureal]

Ah, that's kind of what I thought. Would it be more beneficial to wire both pickups to one pot or get a concentric pot?

 

[ehque]

Ah, that's kind of what I thought. Would it be more beneficial to wire both pickups to one pot or get a concentric pot?

If you wire both to one pot you won't be able to favour one pickup over another. The bridge pickup tends to be brighter and more agressive, the neck one more warm and round. Some people need that functionality/versatility, others don't.

 

[line6man]

Ah, that's kind of what I thought. Would it be more beneficial to wire both pickups to one pot or get a concentric pot?

It depends if you want both pickups parallel all the time, or separate volumes.

 

[BillJarrett]

Would it be more beneficial to wire both pickups to one pot or get a concentric pot?

Yes.

 

[Xureal]

Heh, "yes," seems a bit vague as an answer to a two part question.