Grandfunkfan
Friend of Leo's
I'm getting ready to upgrade my pickups for my Squire CV 50s . Do I need to change the pots to get the full benefit of the new pickups. How much difference does it make?
New pots for pickup upgrade?
- Thread starter Grandfunkfan
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somebodyelseuk
Tele-Afflicted
If you haven't got one, get a multimeter and measure the pot resistances.
Pots have a wide manufacturing tolerance, and bottom of spec sounds significantly different to top of spec - regardless of what brand they are. It can make a bigger difference than changing the pickups.
Pots have a wide manufacturing tolerance, and bottom of spec sounds significantly different to top of spec - regardless of what brand they are. It can make a bigger difference than changing the pickups.
johnniegoat
Tele-Meister
broadly, yes. the CV pickups and wiring are not bad, but can always be improved
decent pots, caps and wire is relatively inexpensive and do make a difference
i tend to buy older japanese guitars - though they are sound build wise, the electronics are often trash
i tend to use Bourns pots, though used CTS in the past. if you measure them with a multimeter, use the one with the highest reading as the volume
also - a good cap makes a difference. i get PIOs from ebay, but sprauge orange drops are good as well
BrokenTele
Tele-Meister
Not unless you’re changing the values of the capacitor or potentiometers.
If you’re fine with the sweep of your pots and their value (250k), then leave it at that. Changing the wiring won’t make a difference if you’re just swapping around parts based off of brand.
If you’re fine with the sweep of your pots and their value (250k), then leave it at that. Changing the wiring won’t make a difference if you’re just swapping around parts based off of brand.
Leave the wiring, try your new pickups first so you can get a direct comparison of the new vs old sound on that guitar...
then you can address the wiring afterwards, if you think it might change anything.
then you can address the wiring afterwards, if you think it might change anything.
as listed above , when I get a new guitar of Asian decent I will swap out the terrible wiring with Gibson pull back wire , the pots with CTS , the green chicklet caps with orange drops and the switching with switchcraft or true fender replacement , it usually makes no difference to the sound , just better quality components that may last longer , if I want to change the sound then its a pickup upgrade , but that's just me
Do one thing at a time so you will know where you messed up. 
Always consider shielded wiring.
I would leave the pots unless you want different values. They are fine.
Depending on the switch supplied, you may be better off replacing it. The cheaper Squiers have junk switches.
Always consider shielded wiring.
I would leave the pots unless you want different values. They are fine.
Depending on the switch supplied, you may be better off replacing it. The cheaper Squiers have junk switches.
Grandfunkfan
Friend of Leo's
I forgot to mention that in the o.p. but really my.only concern was the sweep. These are fine as far as sweep goes. Thanks
Make sure to try the new pickups at various heights to understand how they react, then dial in to your preference. It is good to write down the height along with impressions as you go for both clean and dirty tones. I find it best to do this over multiple days rather than just set and forget.
Grandfunkfan
Friend of Leo's
I'm with you on the pickup adjustment. I've done it a bunch of times. I think I got it and the I'll go back with fresh ears and realize it off, and readjust. It usually takes a few days. I'm good for about a half hour or so and then I lose perspective. I' eventually get there though. I'm going with Porter classics and luckily he's right down road and has teles set up with his pickups so I can try em out and with any luck the demo guitar will have the pickups where I like em and I can measure.
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