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I wanted to start this thread to discuss pots, I know very little about them... and want to learn. I know there is google but I'm sure I'll have a few questions along the way too.

What do each type do ? When is it appropriate to use such and such ? Where is best to buy ? Audio, Linear, Log and their ratings ? capacitor relevance ? etc etc.

I know it's a can of worms but would be cool to use basic speak as possible - the less technical the better for me and those other noobs. I guess only pots that are relevant to guitars really.

It seems like it's a subject that is always touched upon but never really discussed in that much detail.

thanks
Owen

[youtube][/youtube]

This guys youtube channel will teach you everything you will ever need to know.

My personal preference is CTS Linear pots.

Less techy answers. Audio is designed to work with how your ear hears sound. Linear is a straight line. I believe iirc Linear is used on volume a lot so that 5 is middle. Audio is sometimes used for tone pots were it is adjusted by ear? I normally just use linear.

250k normal for single coils like strats and such. (Normally less bright)
500k normal on Gibbys and humbucker guitars. (Middle ground.)
1meg (1000k) normal on Jazzmasters and Jaguars. (Normally more bright.)

Pots are a matter of taste. Even though humbuckers normally would use 500k pots, I normally like 1meg pots. Best thing is to experiment with them. Pots are fairly cheap. Try them out and see what you like. If you have a pickup that just doesn't sound how you want it, sometimes changing the pot value will do the trick.

I prefer a higher value pot (500k or 1 meg) for more range - if a high value pot sounds too bright when used as a tone control, I always find there's enough 'turn' left which allows me to roll it off a bit. It beats the alternative of a lower value pot which bleeds too much treble away, with no 'room' to go higher.

I like linear taper for volume. For tone I'm undecided; I've used log taper for tone pots, but didn't feel comfortable with them. Dimarzio pots have a 'custom' taper that's fairly smooth and intuitive though.

I've tried Dimarzios and liked them. I've tried CTS and liked them (linear taper, anyway). When I get the pots replaced in my Jazzmaster I ought to have more info to share.

Can anyone reccomend what cap to use for 1M pots?

I like to have different pot values on different guitars in my arsenal.
I had a hot rails strat with 250K pots that sounded really warm in the bridge position (I'm hesitating to use the term 'muddy' cos it was bassy, but not undefined).
Pretty much like Kurt Cobains Mustangs on the In Utero tour.
I also had a musicmaster style guitar that I had 500K pots that was really bright, but was actually amazingly versatile with a tweak of the tone control.

Overall, I think it's better to go up a value and wind it back in with the tone control.

On a slight tangent, in a multi guitar band situation, IMHO, it's good to occupy your own sonic space, changing pots could help with this.

Thanks guys, really helpful.

What would be the best 500k pots for Les Paul ? Linear / audio / log ? or a mix ?