Solid or Split Shaft?

[kylef]

Whats the most popular on tele's?

I flipped out the old controls on my CIJ (which were very small), and installed a no-load and new 250k pot for volume.

I realised after i installed them that my other knob's werent going to fit. Then i realised how hard it was to find split shaft knobs that fit properly.

Was i wrong to go for split shaft, and are solid shaft more popular? Or is it really just a personal chcoice thing?

PS the poll is for what you have on your tele/tele's to see what's popular.

Thanks

[milocj]

I don't think that it has to do with one being better or more popular than another bit it's based more on what kind of knobs a guitar used.

Telecasters and Fender basses used barrel knobs that had a set screw so they needed a solid shaft pot to push the screw against being as the split shaft variety would collapse. Les Pauls and Strats had the press on knobs so they used the split shaft pots to retain the knobs.

They do make little sleeves that fit over a split shaft pot and allow you to use your original set screw type knobs.

[jwells393]

Are you saying your original small pots had solid shafts? That seems odd based on my experience. All the small Asian pots I've seen were split shaft.

I'd say solid shaft pots are used on all American and Mexican Telecasters. Split shaft pots are often found on Asian guitars.

[Amby]

If you have to use a split shaft pot with a Tele knob, then line up the small set-screw in the knob with the split in the shaft.

[woodman]

Originally Posted by Amby

If you have to use a split shaft pot with a Tele knob, then line up the small set-screw in the knob with the split in the shaft.

an excellent trick, one i just discovered this year. the set-screw spreads the split shaft and the knobs stay on securely.

i've always used solid-shaft, but on my recent build, StewMac sent me split shafts (though i thought i'd ordered solid), and i didn't wanna hassle with sending them back -- i wanted to finish the dang build! TDPRI'er GiantGuitars showed me the set-screw-into-split trick. no problems so far.

[RumorsofsurF]

Personally, I prefer solid shaft CTS pots over pretty much anything. That's what I have in all my Teles. My Jazzmasters and Jag have split shaft pots, because CTS doesn't make solid shaft linear-taper 1 meg pots.

[PhatTele]

I like solid shafts because I like to use the set screw as a position indicator (I usually put the set screw forward when the volume or tone is wide open). Since I can't always count on the split shaft gaps to line up the way I like it, I go with the solid shafts.

[yegbert]

Originally Posted by PhatTele

I like solid shafts because I like to use the set screw as a position indicator (I usually put the set screw forward when the volume or tone is wide open).

I like the solid shaft pots for two reasons.

One is the same as what PhatTele said, I use the set screw as an indicator. I can see and feel it. I set mine so that when the pot is wide open, the screw is facing the switch. I think that's the same as PhatTele's "forward".

The second is because I like the grip of the sharp knurl on the Fender knobs that are made with the set screw and the 1/4" hole, which is the size of the shaft on the solid shaft pots.

[surfoverb]

Solid...I didn't know I had a choice really.

[KevinB]

I have solid shaft on my Esquire (with metal Tele dome knobs) and split shaft on my '73-74 Custom (with black Strat-style knobs).

Which is all as it should be

RS Guitar Works pots (made for them by CTS but to to mil. spec and with brass shafts) are my favourites.

[Jeremy Palmer]

On both of my teles I have done a small mod I hope will be useful for someone else. I use solid shaft pots, and I have found that drilling a small hole in the shaft where the set screw makes contact really keeps the knob from moving around. The screw kind of "bites" into the metal, and stays set. Hope this helps!

[6942]

I just upgraded the pots on my Squier Affinity BSB Tele.
250K solid shaft CGE pots.
Anything other than CTS is Fender heresy I know.

Steve

[yegbert]

Originally Posted by KevinB

...split shaft on my '73-74 Custom (with black Strat-style knobs).

Which is all as it should be

I don't know what the originals used, but the reissue Fender Classic Series MIM '72 Custom and Deluxe Telecaster models use 1/4" shaft, solid shaft pots, and knobs with set screws. I put a set of those Fender knobs and solid shaft pots on my Squier Tele Custom, replacing the stock split shaft pots and stock knobs.

[boris bubbanov]

I even put solid shaft pots on my Strat builds.

Sounds better, don't you find?

[e-merlin]

I prefer solid shafts but I have one Tele, my 80s MIJ Squier, that has split shafts.

[yegbert]

Originally Posted by boris bubbanov

I even put solid shaft pots on my Strat builds.

Sounds better, don't you find?

I hope you're kidding.

You're at least as likely to get tonal improvements using different knobs. Instead of the stock knobs that go to 10, use knobs that go to 12.

[GuitarJonz]

Often, when you use split shaft pots with a standard screw-down tele knob, you end up with wobbly-knob syndrome, they wobble when you spin em. Short of replacing them with solid shaft (best solution), you can fill the split in the shaft with folded up tin foil, or I've even heard of guys filling the slot with dripped in solder. The solder seems like alot of work, when solid shaft pots ar usually easily available. But every once in a while, I've encountered a tele with a really nice, easy-spinning MIJ pot that has split shaft, so I've used the tin foil trick successfully.

[yegbert]

Originally Posted by GuitarJonz

Often, when you use split shaft pots with a standard screw-down tele knob, you end up with wobbly-knob syndrome, they wobble when you spin em. Short of replacing them with solid shaft (best solution), you can fill the split in the shaft with folded up tin foil, or I've even heard of guys filling the slot with dripped in solder. The solder seems like alot of work, when solid shaft pots ar usually easily available. But every once in a while, I've encountered a tele with a really nice, easy-spinning MIJ pot that has split shaft, so I've used the tin foil trick successfully.

I've found the stock split shaft pots on CII Squier Teles to be really smooth turning. What I've done for a short term solution to use get screw knobs to fit square on them was this: The first trick was to use the method someone posted here about putting a guitar pick flat on either side flat on the the control plate to hold the knob level while tightening. The second trick was to tighten just enough to hold the knob but not overtight.

I used that for just a short period (maybe two months) because ultimately I wanted different spec pots, 250K instead of 500K. But the knobs seemed to stay on well enough and were not wobbly for my use during that time.

[KevinB]

Originally Posted by yegbert

I don't know what the originals used, but the reissue Fender Classic Series MIM '72 Custom and Deluxe Telecaster models use 1/4" shaft, solid shaft pots, and knobs with set screws. I put a set of those Fender knobs and solid shaft pots on my Squier Tele Custom, replacing the stock split shaft pots and stock knobs.

Yegbert,

You're quite correct. For some reason I thought all the skirted knobs use split shafts but I was obviously wrong. My Custom has aluminum solid shafts.

[red57strat]

Solid shaft pots are mandatory on Teles.