I am making progress on a mod project to convert my late 90s MIJ Ibanez SR800 to fully passive. I've ordered parts, and now that some have arrived, I'm realizing that they are the wrong size. In researching this I've also come across some other factors that I hadn't initially considered when selecting them. I've tried searching a few of the usual places (Allparts, Mouser, Sweetwater, Amazon) but not having much luck finding what I need.
Potentiometer specs that I am seeking:
-500k value preferred, but willing to go 250K if every other condition is satisfied
-narrow/mini/8mm or 5/16" bushing diameter
-10mm or 3/8" bushing length (I think this is called a 'long shaft'?)
-just regular old pots, no push/pull or stacked concentric. These are for volume (x2) and tone (x1)
-not too loose feeling - I have pots on another bass that turn themselves if you breathe on them or look at them funny and it annoys me. They're next up for replacement after this project.
-I don't need boutique quality and would prefer not to spend more than $10 per pot, but obviously a cheapo piece of crap pot isn't worth the time and effort.
-Linear? Audio? I am uncertain!
-I would really like to avoid any drilling/widening of the holes on this bass
I did find a set of four (I only need 3, but pots are cheap enough that an extra one or two isn't a problem) on Amazon from a Chinese manufacturer I don't recognize called "gazechimp". I've no idea if these are at all reliable, and furthermore, this is a set of two linear and two audio pots. I've done some reading on this site and there are differences of opinion on which type is better for each purpose though the opinions tend to skew in the direction that audio is better for volume and linear better for tone.
Also on Amazon by an unrecognized Chinese manufacturer is this set of 5 audio 500k pots that appear to fit my specifications.
How much of a risk am I taking by getting cheap pots from a random Chinese manufacturer? I know a lot of these factories in Shenzhen make the exact same component to sell to different distributors who each put their own name on them, but I've had inconsistent results buying stuff like this from Amazon in recent years. These are cheap enough that I'm a little leery of the quality. Can I find pots that meet my specs from a more reliable/reputable manufacturer?
One last question about switches. I am planning to use a DPDT switch to do a series/parallel switch. I know I can get this in a push/pull pot but I've got four holes to fill, and I'd rather not leave any empty so a discrete switch is my preference. It will be going in the same size hole as the pots, however switches don't appear to come in that exact diameter. I will probably have to get a 1/4" diameter bushing and wrap a couple layers of tape around it, or something like that. The problem is that I am having trouble finding one with a long enough bushing to fit in the hole. I ordered this one but it's too short. And most of the listings on Amazon don't specify the length of the bushing. Is there somewhere else I can look for these that will be more specific? Is it even possible to make a toggle switch with a shaft that narrow and long?
Potentiometer specs that I am seeking:
-500k value preferred, but willing to go 250K if every other condition is satisfied
-narrow/mini/8mm or 5/16" bushing diameter
-10mm or 3/8" bushing length (I think this is called a 'long shaft'?)
-just regular old pots, no push/pull or stacked concentric. These are for volume (x2) and tone (x1)
-not too loose feeling - I have pots on another bass that turn themselves if you breathe on them or look at them funny and it annoys me. They're next up for replacement after this project.
-I don't need boutique quality and would prefer not to spend more than $10 per pot, but obviously a cheapo piece of crap pot isn't worth the time and effort.
-Linear? Audio? I am uncertain!
-I would really like to avoid any drilling/widening of the holes on this bass
I did find a set of four (I only need 3, but pots are cheap enough that an extra one or two isn't a problem) on Amazon from a Chinese manufacturer I don't recognize called "gazechimp". I've no idea if these are at all reliable, and furthermore, this is a set of two linear and two audio pots. I've done some reading on this site and there are differences of opinion on which type is better for each purpose though the opinions tend to skew in the direction that audio is better for volume and linear better for tone.
Also on Amazon by an unrecognized Chinese manufacturer is this set of 5 audio 500k pots that appear to fit my specifications.
How much of a risk am I taking by getting cheap pots from a random Chinese manufacturer? I know a lot of these factories in Shenzhen make the exact same component to sell to different distributors who each put their own name on them, but I've had inconsistent results buying stuff like this from Amazon in recent years. These are cheap enough that I'm a little leery of the quality. Can I find pots that meet my specs from a more reliable/reputable manufacturer?
One last question about switches. I am planning to use a DPDT switch to do a series/parallel switch. I know I can get this in a push/pull pot but I've got four holes to fill, and I'd rather not leave any empty so a discrete switch is my preference. It will be going in the same size hole as the pots, however switches don't appear to come in that exact diameter. I will probably have to get a 1/4" diameter bushing and wrap a couple layers of tape around it, or something like that. The problem is that I am having trouble finding one with a long enough bushing to fit in the hole. I ordered this one but it's too short. And most of the listings on Amazon don't specify the length of the bushing. Is there somewhere else I can look for these that will be more specific? Is it even possible to make a toggle switch with a shaft that narrow and long?
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