Worth swapping out non-US Fender pots?

[H K]

Hey all!
So I recently acquired a Modern Telecaster bass from Fender. For those not familiar, this series was "Crafted in China" from 2012-2013 or so.
I've heard varying things throughout the years, about swapping out the pots on "cheaper" models from Fender, to increase the useability etc. By that I mean, that cheap pots have a tendency to work more like on/off switches, and not the gradual adjustment you'd get from quality potmeters.

Is there any truth to this?

The pots on this particular model are all 500k, controlling the volume of 2 humbuckers, and tone. And at the moment I feel like the knobs do very little, like 80% of the "turning" of it does nothing, and the last 10% (at the max. and min. sides) is where actual differences can be heard.

I'd love for the controls to be more responsive/sensitive. Will this be achieved by swapping the pots for US fender pots? Or am I way off here?

Thanks for all answers and input. Here's a pic just because.

 

[ctmullins]

You’re experiencing the effect of the taper: logarithmic (audio) versus linear. There is no right or wrong, just personal preference, and it sounds like you would prefer what you don’t currently have. What are the markings on the back of your current pots?

Resistance is resistance, so there’s little to be gained in swapping one pot with another of the same resistance and taper, although the better pots will often be smoother and perhaps last a bit longer.

 

[kodiakblair]

@H K

All Fenders have non-US pots, the CTS pots found in their Corona built instruments come from a factory in Taiwan

It's been this way for years, CTS started overseas production by opening the Taiwan place back in 67 or 68.

 

[dwizum]

cheap pots have a tendency to work more like on/off switches, and not the gradual adjustment you'd get from quality potmeters.

Is there any truth to this?

Just to make it crystal clear, there is no truth at all to this statement. A pot with XYZ specs doesn't care what the brand name stamped on the case is. It'll behave the same as any other XYZ pot. Changing pots to try different parameters (i.e. taper or resistance) makes sense. Swapping a 250k audio taper pot from brand A with a 250k audio taper pot from brand B won't make a difference.

 

[H K]

Just to make it crystal clear, there is no truth at all to this statement. A pot with XYZ specs doesn't care what the brand name stamped on the case is. It'll behave the same as any other XYZ pot. Changing pots to try different parameters (i.e. taper or resistance) makes sense. Swapping a 250k audio taper pot from brand A with a 250k audio taper pot from brand B won't make a difference.

Thanks alot m8

 

[alex1fly]

Yep its the taper. Quality of pot doesn't affect what you're hearing. Nice pots can get scratchy, cheap pots can last forever, there are generalities but its kind of a gamble. The only time I've ever swapped pots is when the resistance is all screwy. I figure if I can get the sound I want, that's all I need!

 

[andare]

Expensive pots have the same large tolerance as cheap pots so if you get a 250k that is actually 210k your bass will be darker.

And every pedal out there uses 16mm Alpha pots or cheaper.

For volume you want audio aka logarithmic taper. For Tone as well and this is standard on P basses but YMMV.