Easy Turn Pots?

micpoc · January 20th, 2008, 12:30 AM

I just got a pair of CTS 250K pots and am somewhat dissapointed with the stiffness. Is there either a simple way to make them turn easier (to accomodate volume/tone swells) or another brand which has a looser feel to them?

micpoc · January 20th, 2008, 12:19 PM

I'm bumping this because I'm desparate for info.

mellecaster · January 20th, 2008, 02:24 PM

Try spritzin some Caig DeOxit down the shaft area...with Heavy Tele knobs, and some use...they will get sloppy soon enough.

Guitar_Ninja · January 20th, 2008, 06:08 PM

I've found Alpha pots to be looser feeling than CTS. They're good quality pots, though maybe not as good as CTS.

Jellecaster · January 20th, 2008, 06:57 PM

I was very surprised to find the same thing with CTS. Since then, I have always ordered my pots from Stew Mac and have been very happy.

(link)

mellecaster · January 20th, 2008, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jellecaster

I was very surprised to find the same thing with CTS. Since then, I have always ordered my pots from Stew Mac and have been very happy.

(link)

I always thought Stew-Mac pots used the smaller 5/16 dia. threaded shaft ..least they used to ??...not exactly interchangeable w/ 3/8" CTS

yegbert · January 20th, 2008, 08:09 PM

In my experience, the CTS pots that have a concave bottom with a dimple in the center turn more freely without any added lube, than the CTS pots with a flat bottom.

I took one of each of those apart. That dimple is the shaft, and the pot bottom is shaped so that where they connect forms the bearing surface. On the flat bottom ones, there is a piece of teflon or plastic looking material between the rotating parts and the flat bottom as the bearing. I think the bearing surface of the dimpled one is smaller and is metal touching metal, while the flat bottom style has bearing of teflon or plastic touching metal and the bearing surface covers a larger area.

I recently bought some Alpha pots from Antique Electronic Supply (aka www.tubesandmore.com). The good news is they are a great price at $1.85 each, they have an overall body size and appearance very similar to the CTS pots, and they have a 1/4" diameter solid shaft. The bad news is these are flat bottom and quite stiff to turn. I attached a stock photo of one of the Alpha 1/4" solid shaft pots below; it's the picture with a bare single pot from a side view. Not much to look at.

I used some spray lubricant and got the flat bottom CTS pots to turn a little more smoothly, but not as smoothly as the dimpled bottom ones. But then I forgot about the ease of turning and have just been playing the Teles they are in. Now that I have these stiffer turning Alpha pots I'm reckon I'm going to be comparing them after I get them installed to see if they loosen up some. Or maybe I'll just forget about them turning tighter and just play the Tele they are in too.

The 250K solid shaft CTS pot that is ubiquitous in many current production Fender Teles is a dimple-bottom CTS. The ones I've bought as a packaged accessory (see the picture below with the Fender package) have also been this same dimpled-bottom CTS.

Acme and Mojo each have a dimpled-bottom CTS made to their specs, which they advertise as made to 10% tolerance. See pictures below, they have Acme or Mojo stamped on the bottom.

The flat-bottomed 250K solid shaft CTS pots I've seen were apparently Allparts branded and the stamp begins with EP. I attached a picture of them below also.

micpoc · January 20th, 2008, 10:30 PM

The ones I got (from Callaham) are flat bottom. I was curious about the dimpled ones, and if there was any difference.

Has anyone tried Bourns or Clarostat pots? They tend to be pricier, but if they feel better, may be worth it.

6x47 · January 21st, 2008, 09:15 AM

Last year I found the Alphas move easier but I spun the shaft right off of 2 and a 3rd just died.

In the future I'll stick to CTS.

Jellecaster · January 21st, 2008, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mellecaster

I always thought Stew-Mac pots used the smaller 5/16 dia. threaded shaft ..least they used to ??...not exactly interchangeable w/ 3/8" CTS

I believe that you can get the smaller ones from them, but the ones that I linked to are standard...

mellecaster · January 21st, 2008, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jellecaster

I believe that you can get the smaller ones from them, but the ones that I linked to are standard...

Well here is a cut & paste...right from your link ?

The M8 x 0.75 threaded portion is 3/8" tall; 5/16"-diameter mounting hole is required. Split shaft has coarse knurling. Flat washer, lock washer and two mounting nuts included.

January 20th, 2008, 12:30 AM	#1 (permalink)
micpoc Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Louisiana Posts: 606	Easy Turn Pots? I just got a pair of CTS 250K pots and am somewhat dissapointed with the stiffness. Is there either a simple way to make them turn easier (to accomodate volume/tone swells) or another brand which has a looser feel to them?

January 20th, 2008, 02:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
mellecaster Friend of Leo's Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 4,446 17 Photos	Try spritzin some Caig DeOxit down the shaft area...with Heavy Tele knobs, and some use...they will get sloppy soon enough. __________________ Let's Not Forget the Other 75% of The Tone Equation...It's Called an AMP

January 20th, 2008, 06:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
Guitar_Ninja Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Kingston, Ontario Posts: 1,294 5 Photos	I've found Alpha pots to be looser feeling than CTS. They're good quality pots, though maybe not as good as CTS. __________________ Wicket KNOWS.

January 20th, 2008, 06:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
Jellecaster Friend of Leo's Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: New Hampshire, USA Age: 40 Posts: 2,079	I was very surprised to find the same thing with CTS. Since then, I have always ordered my pots from Stew Mac and have been very happy. (link) __________________ It was born at the junction of form and function...

January 20th, 2008, 12:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
micpoc Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Louisiana Posts: 606	I'm bumping this because I'm desparate for info.

January 20th, 2008, 10:30 PM	#8 (permalink)
micpoc Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Louisiana Posts: 606	The ones I got (from Callaham) are flat bottom. I was curious about the dimpled ones, and if there was any difference. Has anyone tried Bourns or Clarostat pots? They tend to be pricier, but if they feel better, may be worth it.

January 21st, 2008, 09:15 AM	#9 (permalink)
6x47 Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Northern ON - Northern MN Age: 64 Posts: 486	Last year I found the Alphas move easier but I spun the shaft right off of 2 and a 3rd just died. In the future I'll stick to CTS.