Split vs. Solid shaft?

[Ryan Mohr]

I am ordering some new wiring harnesses from Bayou for my P and J basses. Should I get split of solid shaft? I have no idea what the difference is between them. Is it knob choice?

 

[MEKer]

I know you have way more options on knobs with using solid shaft. But beyond that, its the tapered shafts that REALLY limit you to knob choices. I have looked forever for "tapered shaft-acceptable" knobs with numbers on them for instance...with no luck. All in all, I'd stick to solid shafts with the most common diameter (look that up as I am not sure what is considered universal common). I'm sure someone could enlighten us both on that part of it.

 

[Craig_S]

It depends on the type of knobs you want to use. Split shaft pots are the type that take the push on style knobs (like a speed knob or the type on a strat). The solid shaft pots use knobs that have set screws to hold them in place (the type that P and J basses typically have).

 

[Rick Auricchio]

A solid shaft requires a knob with a setscrew to lock it in place.

A split shaft uses a push-on knob without a setscrew. (You can also use a setscrew knob on them too.)

In the images below, you can see the difference. The smooth shaft is the solid one.

 

[Ryan Mohr]

It depends on the type of knobs you want to use. Split shaft pots are the type that take the push on style knobs (like a speed knob or the type on a strat). The solid shaft pots use knobs that have set screws to hold them in place (the type that P and J basses typically have).

My Jazz (an SX) has split pots, that's why I asked.

A solid shaft requires a knob with a setscrew to lock it in place.

A split shaft uses a push-on knob without a setscrew. (You can also use a setscrew knob on them too.)

In the images below, you can see the difference. The smooth shaft is the solid one.

Thanks, so it is OK to put a knob intened for solid shafts on a split shaft pot?

 

[mikezimmerman]

My Jazz (an SX) has split pots, that's why I asked.


Thanks, so it is OK to put a knob intened for solid shafts on a split shaft pot?

Yes, but sometimes they don't sit on the shaft perfectly straight.

Mike

 

[v-grooves]

My Jazz (an SX) has split pots, that's why I asked.


Thanks, so it is OK to put a knob intened for solid shafts on a split shaft pot?

Also note: After a few bends with the split shaft, they sometimes tend to break due to the cheap aluminum they use.

Not that they are bent often, but putting a screwdrive into the split more than a few times and you have a half shaft.

V

 

[bassmodder]

I would go with solid shafts. Fender uses them factory standard. I also like that I know the knobs are attached with a screw and will never loosen up.

Much less stress on the pot if you need to remove the knobs as well.

 

[The Dave]

When I switched up the controls on my Jazz to Master Vol/Blend/Tone, the only blend pot I could find was split shaft. That's cool, except, when I lined up the pointer on the the knob where it needed to be, the set screw was perfectly aligned with the split in the shaft. It wasn't really a big deal though - I just slipped a brass sleeve (not hard to find) over the split shaft and now it's a solid shaft. Happy happy.

 

[JGR]

Solid shafts - the knobs always seem to seat better and not wobble when you turn them compared to split ones, even if you are using set-screw knobs designed for split shaft. You can also get little collars to go over the split shaft so that you can put solid shaft pots on them, but I would just go for the solid shaft.

 

[Thangfish]

Thanks, so it is OK to put a knob intened for solid shafts on a split shaft pot?

Yes.
The "correct" way is to use a sleeve like this.