Tone Pot values

[Thom]

Can someone please explain to me what different tone pots do to the sound of the guitar?
I've read a lot of different things, and haven't found one definitive answer to this.
Initially I thought that lowering the value of the pot would give a warmer sound (with 250k pots letting through less top end than 1meg posts say). However I have also read that the different values will only dictate the sweep of the pot, and when on full pots will make no difference as to sound.

If anyone could clear this up for me I'd be really grateful

[Mike]

It's a low-pass filter.

the frequency cut-off point is defined by 1/RC. So the smaller the cap value the higher the cutoff frequency will be and the brighter the sound, bigger cap, more roll off.

A higher value pot will load down the pickups less and therefore less treble will bleed out and the guitar will sound brighter. Strats and teles use 250K to benefit from this, cutting some of the edge out, LesPauls have 500Ks to coax more brights.

Always use Log/Audio taper pots.

[Thom]

Thanks Mike.