I got the Squier VM fretless jazz right after they were introduced (4 years ago) its been my go-to bass for all but 2 bands ive played in during this time. I did the typical jazz bass upgrade years ago with a Badass II bridge. But a few weeks ago my bass started to buzz and hiss alot. Replaced the pickups which I've wanted to do for years with Custom Shop 1960s Jazz. (those pickups are amazing! the clarity and tone is amazing, any jazz i get for now on is getting those loaded in) Along with the pickups I want to upgrade the pots because of what I've heard here about the squier pots. I got the CTS pots but they dont fit. I asked on the hardware forum about the control plate being different and the very few responses I got were their shouldnt be. Along with the having to change the control plate, the knobs dont fit on the new pot's stems. I really dont want to have to pay another 40 bucks for a new control plate and set on Knobs. Does CTS make mini pots? And is there a measurement different with a Fender jazz control plate compared to a Squier?
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Redoing electronics on a Squier VM fretless Jazz
- Thread starter bl2112
- Start date
If you haven't already gotten them, 500k CTS Mini pots:
Link Removed
Just ordered a set for my Squier VM fretless jazz
Link Removed
Just ordered a set for my Squier VM fretless jazz
- Aug 21, 2008
- 10,386
- 252
- 68
- Disclosures
- Owner, SGD Music Products
recently ran across this myself when replacing the pots/cap/jack in a 70's VM jazz.
the stock Alpha mini-pots fit in an 11/32" hole in the control cavity
CTS pots need a 12/32" (3/8") hole. guess what, pots don't fit.
get yourself a 3/8" drill bit that works on metal. use painters tape to secure your control cavity to a piece of flat wood (so you don't drill thru the cavity and the wood onto whatever you are drilling on. drill into the backside of the cavity as it makes a cleaner cut on the front AND if you f-up and have an issue you won't damage the front of the plate.
there isn't much room left in the cavity once you have the CTS pots in there.
i am trying to lower the pots into the cavity more because the knobs for v/V/T stick up further than stock and too much daylight shines under 'em.
between the orange drop cap, bigger CTS pots and a push/pull cts pot since i wired mine for parallel/series operation i have no NO ROOM in the cavity!
she's a-tight
re: knob size on shafts. i ordered a set of white strat-style knobs that are supposed to fit both coarse (MIA/MIM) and fine (MIJ/MIK/MII) shafts. they fit OK if you push them down hard. they won't take too many times of coming on/off.
the stock Alpha mini-pots fit in an 11/32" hole in the control cavity
CTS pots need a 12/32" (3/8") hole. guess what, pots don't fit.
get yourself a 3/8" drill bit that works on metal. use painters tape to secure your control cavity to a piece of flat wood (so you don't drill thru the cavity and the wood onto whatever you are drilling on. drill into the backside of the cavity as it makes a cleaner cut on the front AND if you f-up and have an issue you won't damage the front of the plate.
there isn't much room left in the cavity once you have the CTS pots in there.
i am trying to lower the pots into the cavity more because the knobs for v/V/T stick up further than stock and too much daylight shines under 'em.
between the orange drop cap, bigger CTS pots and a push/pull cts pot since i wired mine for parallel/series operation i have no NO ROOM in the cavity!
she's a-tight
re: knob size on shafts. i ordered a set of white strat-style knobs that are supposed to fit both coarse (MIA/MIM) and fine (MIJ/MIK/MII) shafts. they fit OK if you push them down hard. they won't take too many times of coming on/off.
