Poti swap - 500s instead of 250s

R.P.V. · January 27th, 2008, 07:34 AM

Can anybody tell me what the result would be if I swap the 250s CTS volume and tone potis out of my Tele against 500s?
Anybody here who did that?

Bogo · January 27th, 2008, 07:50 AM

You'll get several answers and opinions. Generally, you can expect a somewhat louder brighter tone that ranges from hardly noticed to harsh dependent on the pickups, tone cap value and critical ear of the listener.
Use Advanced Search function to search in titles only for 500K Pot and start reading away.

Sir Jon · January 27th, 2008, 07:54 AM

Did try that, but found that the tone was a little high on the treble side, and not a great sound.

yegbert · January 27th, 2008, 08:18 AM

The Classic Series MIM '69 Thinline comes with 1M pots for both volume and tone, that's what Fender was using in 1969 and for a range of years around that.

Most if not all current production Squier Teles use 500k pots in both positions.

Given the wiring scheme Fender has been using on Teles since late '67...

I believe if you put a larger value pot in just the tone position, you could still turn it down and at some point on the control the Tele would sound just like it did with the smaller value pot at wide open (full clockwise position).

The effect on volume is different, I think generally it makes the tone brighter at any volume level.

The value of the tone cap in that wiring scheme also affects the tonal result. Fender usually uses a .047 or .05 value cap. Generally speaking, a smaller one like .022 will brighten the tone and a larger one like .1 will darken the tone.

This is just a lame-man's answer. tdowns can explain this stuff much better.

tdowns · January 27th, 2008, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yegbert

......
I believe if you put a larger value pot in just the tone position, you could still turn it down and at some point on the control the Tele would sound just like it did with the did at wide open (full clockwise position).

The effect on volume is different, I think generally it makes the tone brighter at any volume level.

The value of the tone cap in that wiring scheme also affects the tonal result. Fender usually uses a .047 or .05 value cap. Generally speaking, a smaller one like .022 will brighten the tone and a larger one like .1 will darken the tone.

This is just a lame-man's answer. tdowns can explain this stuff much better.

yegbert,
I looks to me like you answered that very well. You are right-on about the tone control. Rasing the resistance of the voulme pot as you said, generally makes the tone brighter.

An electrical resonance exists between the inductance of the pickup, and the capacitance of the load (the total capacitance of the amp, cable, and tone network). If you were to use let's say a 100K or lower pot, it would completely damp out the resonance. Raising it will let this resonance peak rise. The frequency of the resonance peak depends on the inductance of the pickup, and the capacitance of the load. If the resonance is in the treble region (which it most always is), you will get a more trebley sound with a 500K pot.

If you like the older Ron Rich bright Tele sound, try 1 megohm pots. If you like a smoother, darker tone, the 250Ks are probably more to your liking. 500K is a nice compromise.

yegbert · January 27th, 2008, 04:17 PM

Re the thread title...

Do you like those smaller flush volume American Standard potties? Or are they just not worth crap?

January 27th, 2008, 07:34 AM	#1 (permalink)
R.P.V. TDPRI Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 73	Poti swap - 500s instead of 250s Can anybody tell me what the result would be if I swap the 250s CTS volume and tone potis out of my Tele against 500s? Anybody here who did that?

January 27th, 2008, 07:50 AM	#2 (permalink)
Bogo Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Poughkeepsie, NY Age: 53 Posts: 361	You'll get several answers and opinions. Generally, you can expect a somewhat louder brighter tone that ranges from hardly noticed to harsh dependent on the pickups, tone cap value and critical ear of the listener. Use Advanced Search function to search in titles only for 500K Pot and start reading away. __________________ Just when you think you know the answer, they change the question. -- Roddy Piper

January 27th, 2008, 07:54 AM	#3 (permalink)
Sir Jon TDPRI Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ireland Posts: 31	Did try that, but found that the tone was a little high on the treble side, and not a great sound. __________________ Broadly speaking, the short words are the best, and the old words best of all.

January 27th, 2008, 08:18 AM	#4 (permalink)
yegbert Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Clinton, Maryland (US) Age: 54 Posts: 4,667 77 Photos	The Classic Series MIM '69 Thinline comes with 1M pots for both volume and tone, that's what Fender was using in 1969 and for a range of years around that. Most if not all current production Squier Teles use 500k pots in both positions. Given the wiring scheme Fender has been using on Teles since late '67... I believe if you put a larger value pot in just the tone position, you could still turn it down and at some point on the control the Tele would sound just like it did with the smaller value pot at wide open (full clockwise position). The effect on volume is different, I think generally it makes the tone brighter at any volume level. The value of the tone cap in that wiring scheme also affects the tonal result. Fender usually uses a .047 or .05 value cap. Generally speaking, a smaller one like .022 will brighten the tone and a larger one like .1 will darken the tone. This is just a lame-man's answer. tdowns can explain this stuff much better. Last edited by yegbert; January 27th, 2008 at 03:48 PM. Reason: typo

January 27th, 2008, 04:17 PM	#6 (permalink)
yegbert Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Clinton, Maryland (US) Age: 54 Posts: 4,667 77 Photos	Re the thread title... Do you like those smaller flush volume American Standard potties? Or are they just not worth crap?