• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Witch pot value do I need??

#3
Muaguana said:
Whichever you want; different pot values give different sounds. In simplest terms, 250k has less high end than 500k. Manufacturers typically pair single coils with 250k and humbuckers with 500k, but I use 500k pots in my jazz and it sounds great.

Here's a demonstration I did recently on how pot values affect tone: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=671456&highlight=pot+shootout
Click to expand...

Interesting...well Dimarzio J's are humcanceling, does it mean then that I need 500k? I'm affraid that sound would be too dark maybe otherwise?
 
#4
I have:
- a P/J with these pickups - 500k
- a J with these pickups - 250k

I'm changing the 250k out and putting in 500k.
250k pots with these pickups sound too 'muffled', if you will.

My P/J has much more articulation of notes, not so much 'high end' sounding, but each note doesn't sound so 'strangled' with the 500k pots, as they do with the 250's.

I suggest 500k with these DiMarzio's. Ultra J's and 250k pots go together nicely enough - Model J's need that 500k breathing space I think.
 
#5
MrSandman said:
Interesting...well Dimarzio J's are humcanceling, does it mean then that I need 500k? I'm affraid that sound would be too dark maybe otherwise?
Click to expand...

I don't have any experience in using them, so I can't say off hand.

Do you have a functional bass right now that you're thinking of doing a pickup replacement on, or are you building one? If it's the former, then just try the pickups with the pots you have currently, and see if you like it. If you find that they're too dark, and if you have 250k pots installed, then try 500k's. Pots shouldn't cost you more than $5 a piece, and swapping them out is a pretty quick and easy solder job you can do yourself.
 
#6
tlr1293 said:
I have:
- a P/J with these pickups - 500k
- a J with these pickups - 250k

I'm changing the 250k out and putting in 500k.
250k pots with these pickups sound too 'muffled', if you will.

My P/J has much more articulation of notes, not so much 'high end' sounding, but each note doesn't sound so 'strangled' with the 500k pots, as they do with the 250's.

I suggest 500k with these DiMarzio's. Ultra J's and 250k pots go together nicely enough - Model J's need that 500k breathing space I think.
Click to expand...

Kind of like my jazz - I changed my pots to 500k's when I had SD Basslines installed. The pickups were just too dark for my tastes with 250k's, and the higher rating helped open up the tone more. Now I have a Tesla VR-B4 in the bridge and while it doesn't need help in the bright department, I like the added highs anyway.
 
#8
What are effects of wiring straight to jack or a volume control without using pots? I currently have one of my basses wired straight to jack, cos I didn't like the way my balance/tone pot (no volume cos there was no room for one and wanted some way to mess about with the sound) made the whole thing sound. Seems to sound deep and present regardless, doesn't seem overly bright or anything and I assume what the caps do is make your pickups less bright.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back