why replace your pots?

[wideyes]

This seems to be a fad around here, and I'm not sure I'm buying into it. Excluding pots that are not functioning properly, why replace your pots? For that matter, why replace your capacitor? I understand that different pots and caps have different values, but if I replace a functioning part with one of the same value, but of a higher build quality (or just more expensive ), will I get an improved tone?

I'm not talking theory here - I'd like to hear whether this makes any qualitative difference.

 

[Frettage]

If you put in a more expensive part, it sounds better. True.

 

[RobertPaulson]

If you put in a more expensive part, it sounds better. True.

says the guy with the apple avatar. lmao hahahaha.

 

[D.A.R.K.]

well,
a better designed part should be more reliable and sound different, at least.
wether that difference is better is subjective.

 

[wideyes]

well,
a better designed part should be more reliable and sound different, at least.
wether that difference is better is subjective.

"Should"... ok, but does it actually sound different?
Reliable, I can understand. But let's talk sound here.

Any testimonials?

 

[KramerBassFan]

if it isnt broken, then you don't accomplish very much of anything by replacing a pot in an amp.
now, if you start changing values, then it will respond differently.... but no point doing that unless you KNOW what you are doing.

 

[line6man]

If you replace with the same value, taper and tolerance, the sound will be exactly the same.

However, tolerances and tapers can vary widely amongst various pots.

The people that are claiming to hear a difference when they upgrade their pots likely got a slightly different tolerance and taper, and that's why it sounds different.

 

[Frettage]

With something like an equally rated capacitor, there should be no difference (from what I understand). But perceived value really does make a difference. If you could spend a couple of dollars and potentially make you believe your bass sounded better, why the heck not? I'm not being sarcastic.

 

[CapnSev]

I replaced my audio taper volume pot to a linear taper one, because the roll-off is even from start to finish on the linear pot.

 

[santucci218]

To be honest, i have the means of recording, and changing my pots in my jazz bass to a different value. It will take some time and work, but if you guys really want me to, ill do it.

 

[willsellout]

I just gutted my Ibanez and made it passive. I used regular old pots but I bought a bunch of different caps with different values. The caps were relatively cheap so I decided to do a experiment.

I swapped out cap's and swapped out where they were in the signal chain and you can indeed tell a difference. I wound up going with different caps for each pickup but they both have the same value .047. I got a bunch that were .022 but I didn't really like the way they sounded. I could definitely tell the difference between the cheap ceramic cap vs. the oil/paper cap that I ended up going with on one of the pickups.

It's a fun experiment.

 

[wideyes]

If you replace with the same value, taper and tolerance, the sound will be exactly the same.

This was my suspicion.

However, tolerances and tapers can vary widely amongst various pots.

This is an interesting point. What it seems to come down to is a matter of taste. Meaning I'll probably have as many possible reactions as there are pots out there. So why would I pay more than $2 for a pot?

I'll stick with my stock pots, thanks

 

[wideyes]

I just gutted my Ibanez and made it passive. I used regular old pots but I bought a bunch of different caps with different values. The caps were relatively cheap so I decided to do a experiment.

I swapped out cap's and swapped out where they were in the signal chain and you can indeed tell a difference. I wound up going with different caps for each pickup but they both have the same value .047. I got a bunch that were .022 but I didn't really like the way they sounded. I could definitely tell the difference between the cheap ceramic cap vs. the oil/paper cap that I ended up going with on one of the pickups.

It's a fun experiment.

This is intriguing. Would you be interested in going into further detail about which pickup got which cap? And which makes of cap you went with? I'm been developing the impression that your cap has more to do with your tone than your pots.

 

[onlyclave]

I replaced my audio taper volume pot to a linear taper one, because the roll-off is even from start to finish on the linear pot.

Yeah, that was the wrong thing to do. Audio taper pots are logarithmic to mimic human hearing's perception of sound and reaction to stimulus. It's the same reason it takes 10x the power to get 2x the decibels.

Linear taper pots are for things like tone controls.

So how smooth is that linear taper in the volume position anyway?

 

[D.A.R.K.]

your cap has more to do with your tone than your pots.

yes

 

[wideyes]

Yeah, that was the wrong thing to do.

Bad form :scowl: The only wrong choice is one that degrades the finished product in the eyes of the person using it.

 

[elgecko]

If you could spend a couple of dollars and potentially make you believe your bass sounded better, why the heck not? I'm not being sarcastic.

Because if you can believe it sounds better with new pots, then you surely believe it sounds better without.

Why stop there? I can just believe that my playing is better than it actually is...I could stop wasting time with all that practicing. Heck, I can just believe that I'm the Emperor of the World!

 

[wideyes]

Because if you can believe it sounds better with new pots, then you surely believe it sounds better without.

Why stop there? I can just believe that my playing is better than it actually is...I could stop wasting time with all that practicing. Heck, I can just believe that I'm the Emperor of the World!

No, I find his point well taken. Lots of folks labor under the impression that spending more on their gear will lead to better results. Sometimes it does. Other times, it's snake oil.

 

[willsellout]

This is intriguing. Would you be interested in going into further detail about which pickup got which cap? And which makes of cap you went with?

My P pickup got a Vitamin T .047uf cap and is wired to get the signal directly from the pickup.

The J pickup got a NOS poly pro foil and I was wrong the first time around, this one is .022uf not .047. It is wired to get its signal through leg 1 of the pot because leg 2 of the pot was damaged and I had to wire the J pickup directly to the jack.

So both tone controls work but I can't adjust the volume on the J pickup right now. I might be fixing that this week, although I never turn the bridge pickup down so it's not really a big deal to me.

I'm been developing the impression that your cap has more to do with your tone than your pots.

Yes, my post was in regards to your thoughts in this quote:

if I replace a functioning part with one of the same value, but of a higher build quality (or just more expensive ), will I get an improved tone?

In my recent experience caps will affect your tone, and although tone is subjective I found certain caps I loved and some that were just OK.

Now as far as pots go, I think when people swap out pots it is to get better build quality. Whether they are better or not I have no idea.

 

[elgecko]

No, I find his point well taken. Lots of folks labor under the impression that spending more on their gear will lead to better results. Sometimes it does. Other times, it's snake oil.

With something like an equally rated capacitor, there should be no difference (from what I understand). But perceived value really does make a difference. If you could spend a couple of dollars and potentially make you believe your bass sounded better, why the heck not? I'm not being sarcastic.

That point?