CTS Pot Identification

Alright Folks,

I'm never without 8 Teles... 5 U.S. Fenders and 3 U.S. Partscasters. For 34 years of using these babies, I've always used OEM stock pots or, when modifying, I've always sworn by CTS.

You always knew a CTS Pot because those letters were always on the back as well as the value (250K 0r 500K) and the letter 'A' to indicate audio taper or the letter 'B' to indicate linear taper.

Recently, I ordered 4 what were supposed to be CTS pots from a popular online retailer. I got bent outta shape when I saw other I.D. letters and numbers and no 'CTS' logo at all. :shock:

When I called and asked what was going on, they said that's the way CTS pots come. I said what I had to say and guaranteed them problems :twisted: if they screwed me.

Can anyone verify what these are? Here is what's written on the back on the pots:

EP886 500K 9910

(I have a USACG Partscaster where I'm using a pair of Gibson P-94's... that's why I'm using 500K.)
Has anyone seen these and can you verify that they are CTS? :D

I don't have any CTS 500k pots but I do have some AllParts marketed 250K CTS pots that use the same pattern markings without "CTS". And the first part of your number, EP886, is consistent with the AllParts web site for a 500k pot advertised as CTS.

Do the pots seem to be appropriate for your needs other than the unexpected marking?

sounds just like these ones sitting in front of me, which were at least sold to me at CTS.

I don't have any CTS 500k pots but I do have some AllParts marketed 250K CTS pots that use the same pattern markings without "CTS". And the first part of your number, EP886, is consistent with the AllParts web site for a 500k pot advertised as CTS.

Do the pots seem to be appropriate for your needs other than the unexpected marking?

The action of the pots seems to be of lower quality with a slight 'scratchy' feel when rotating. I have what I call 'genuine' CTS pots to compare these with... no 'scratchiness' - just a smooth, 'weighted' feel on turning.

Since I'm always experimenting with different pups and caps all the time, I do change my pots quite often. I will not use these new pots because I have had better CTS product and of course any 'deal' you may have got by buying online is blown to heck because of return shipping charges... peez me off!

What I call my 'real' CTS pots have an 'indent' or recess cavity in the center back of pot. I have 4 different values of these genuine CTS pots and this is how they're marked;

- 013446 250K A 0401 CTS
- 013446 250K B 0401 CTS
- 013448 500K A 0401 CTS
- 013448 500K B 0401 CTS

Yes, the pots in question are of ALLPARTS origin. So, might CTS have a 'Made In Srilanka' branch for ALLPARTS? :(
I simply don't want to be paying premium price for a knock off. The resistance measurements come in within a plus or minus 10%... but so do Epiphone's pots . :roll:

I found the CTS web site this morning. So, throughout the course of the day, I will call them and will post back to this thread as to what their answer was. :!:

The action of the pots seems to be of lower quality with a slight 'scratchy' feel when rotating. I have what I call 'genuine' CTS pots to compare these with... no 'scratchiness' - just a smooth, 'weighted' feel on turning.

What I call my 'real' CTS pots have an 'indent' or recess cavity in the center back of pot.

Yes, the pots in question are of ALLPARTS origin. So, might CTS have a 'Made In Srilanka' branch for ALLPARTS? :(
I simply don't want to be paying premium price for a knock off. The resistance measurements come in within a plus or minus 10%... but so do Epiphone's pots . :roll:

I found the CTS web site this morning. So, throughout the course of the day, I will call them and will post back to this thread as to what their answer was. :!:

I haven't looked thoroughly for 500k solid shaft pots, which seem to be the type you ordered and wanted for this application.

I know what you mean about the turning feel, and here's what I've surmised from taking a couple apart. It is related to the shape because the Fender-style with the recessed back, used that as part of the "bearing" design. The little dimple in the center is actually the end of the shaft sticking through a hole. The flat bottom ones don't have that, and the one I took apart appeared to have something I'm guessing is a teflon bushing and some grease, so that bushing seems to ride against the pot's inside surface. So I think they inherently need a little more friction to not get sloppy. In fact, one I sprayed liberally with cleaner/lube became loose. In other words the shaft isn't supported on both ends like the recessed/dimpled ones, so as it gets loose it can wobble laterally and rattle.

I think all these are made by CTS to various companies' specs. I don't know where they are made.

At least for one's 250K solid shaft needs, the good news is that Acme (http://www.acmeguitarworks.com/250K-POTS-C14.aspx) makes what I believe, from having purchased and inspected a couple, is an equivalent to the Fender 250k solid shaft pots for Teles. It's item #450S2587 on that page. The price is as good and better than most sources for the Fender branded ones, and they are in stock; several online sources have been backordered on the equivalent Fender branded ones for a while.

Looking at Acme's 500k pot selection (http://www.acmeguitarworks.com/500K-POTS-C15.aspx), the only one there with the recess/dimple pot body design is a split shaft pot.

I don't know what the Fender branded 500k solid shaft pots are like on the bottom, and whether they therefore will be smooth or stiffer turning.

I did get one of the flat bottom CTS pots that was scratchy new, and spraying the lube/cleaner didn't clear the scratchiness.

Another potential concern is the length of the shaft. For Teles the .250 " shaft that's on the Fender branded and those Acme equivalent ones, work better IMHO. The longer shaft ones need extra flat washers to get the pot farther down into the rout under the control plate, or else the knob will sit up too high. Not a showstopper unless you have an unusually shallow rout, but an unnecessary feature.

OK Folks... my paranoia and mistrust in some American establishments related to guitar electronics can now be put to rest.

Ron Kaylor is one of the engineers of these CTS pots and was a pleasure to speak to. Turns out that AllParts is the biggest seller of CTS pots and has them I.D.'d to their own code.
The text on the back of the housings 'EP886' is AllParts own identifier followed by the pot value followed by the date stamp which reads as follows:
'9910' means it was manufactured in 1999 on the 10th month.

My other CTS pots, which I've been accustomed to using since dirt was invented (the ones that start with '013446'), are made exclusively for Fender.

CTS pots are all made in Taiwan - BUT - specs still remain the same and have never been changed. They are still one of the best for out beloved guitar market!!!

Now I can go back to sleep.

-I thought the same thing before when I bought replacement CTS pots for my Epi Les Paul Classic. The ones in my Strat have the 'dimple' or whatever it is in the center of the pot casing. The new ones I received from Black Rose Customs had a standard flat case just like the stock Epi pots. I thought I was screwed with at first too. But Black Rose comfirmed that they were definitely CTS pots. And they've been matched too. All four pots range between 510k to 514k. Now that's close.

L8R,
Matt D.