Busting the MYTH of matched pots!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mookakian]

Yeah this thread did not give info as to the fact you can match the pots to suit your guitar/set up. Its miss-leading and fails to deliver the information players need when taking on the task.

“MATCHING ELECTRONICS MUST MAKE FOR A BETTER TONE.....RIGHT?”

In most cases that's right, and matching pots isn't a BAD thing, it's just not necessary. Okay, here's why. As soon as we turn that volume knob or tone knob just a little bit that matched value is gone!!! Matching guitar pots only matters for a full volume situation.

This comment got me, of course the pots are going to be miss matched when you roll the knobs, but as I stated earlier its about control, and the pots responding at an even scale when rolling up or down. I wont repeat it all but...

A lot of this post is...well you know

 

[snaredrum]

OP quotes a Seymour Duncan wiring page (god help us) and gets it wrong.


that's what, wrong squared? CUBED?

 

[tazzboy]

It really doesn't matter to me if Pots are matched or not. As long as they read 500K or above that's all that matters.

 

[captcoolaid]

I do not always match my pots but when I do the freaking volume so the taper is the same. Look if you run say a set of 550k super pots and the the Volumes are matched which I prefer you get the same roll off and the same dead spots. However if say my bridge 438 and my neck is 416 the roll off is quite different. The clean tone is at 4 for the bridge but way down at 2 and most likely with a dead spot at around 5-3. Why does this matter I wind high output pickups and when my customers ask do they clean up I have to be able to say yeah neck and bridge right around 4 not one at 4 and the other at 2. Besides the volume drop trying to get a usable clean in the middle position just became a beotch live.

 

[captcoolaid]

Silliness.

Are your neck and bridge pickups always supposed to be matched, wound exactly the same? Do they pick up anywhere close to the same signal from the strings? Are they supposed to fulfill the same rolls or deliver similar tones?

Is your volume control wired anything like the tone control electronically? Do you need the same taper or value on each? Even if your pickups are identical to one another, does everyone really want the tone rolled back to deliver the same resonant peak on the bridge pickup as on the neck?



The best sound for one player's needs may be a 300k volume and 500k tone on one pickup with a .022 cap, and a 550k volume with a 400k and .015 cap for tone. For another guitar or player it may be entirely different. There is absolutely no logic to presume that any arrangement will work or sound more ideal by matching values of pots or caps between different pickups in different positions though.

No sense whatsoever.

Um Really. First off yes you want your neck and bridge matched. I mean really you wouldn't want the volume between the 2 to be different would you! And by this I would like my volumes to match for roll off reasons and my tones as well. Maybe you like to sit a screw with the knobs on stage but me, Well I like to know that in the middle position both knobs get the same turn. Or even in different positions the same gain drop to clean via the volumes and the same tone change for both pots.

 

[Guitar Garage]

I do not always match my pots but when I do the freaking volume so the taper is the same. Look if you run say a set of 550k super pots and the the Volumes are matched which I prefer you get the same roll off and the same dead spots. However if say my bridge 438 and my neck is 416 the roll off is quite different. The clean tone is at 4 for the bridge but way down at 2 and most likely with a dead spot at around 5-3. Why does this matter I wind high output pickups and when my customers ask do they clean up I have to be able to say yeah neck and bridge right around 4 not one at 4 and the other at 2. Besides the volume drop trying to get a usable clean in the middle position just became a beotch live.

I agree 100%. If you have a set of really hot pots, you wouldn't want to pair them with your stock pots. On the general whole... and this post was intended for the DIYer, buying extra pots to get a matched set is a waste of time and money. A matched set is obviously a bonus, and the benefit that is derived from taking your guitar to a luthier or buying a pre-made wiring harness such as the ones for sale from vendors on this site, or our own from the Guitar Garage. All the attention that is paid to the pot, can more cost effectively be put to buying a few extra caps and testing them before install. This article is not so much negating pot matching.... because it IS good, it's just not necessary. Of course the Guitar Garage harnesses are built with matching pots... but they are also built with matching caps. THAT'S how we roll.
Rock On, Gentlemen
Jimmi

 

[captcoolaid]

Seymour Duncan Jimmy Page wiring diagram 50's style.... Which are all over the internet... Show the bridge cap as .022 and the neck at .015. That's my SOURCE. So... If it's wrong blame Seymour.... Not me.
Google it.

Isn't funny how "google it" is the new "ask my mom"

Don't believe me? Ask my mom.

ROCK ON

Jimmi

Ummmm really all over the webzzzzzz. You sir need knew sources. Look I am not trying to be a dick here at all. I just take offence at the ridiculousness of your statements. Then you pull a full on check the wed snob move and you are wrong. You did not even bother to go to the source. Most of us here are very easy going and a lot of us have been around the block more than a few times. So when we see someone trying to preach as gospel this or that and we know better from are you ready for this 35 years of playing and modding and yes touring live, well than shite is going to get stirred.


And by the way for the most part my mom is Google.

 

[captcoolaid]

I agree 100%. If you have a set of really hot pots, you wouldn't want to pair them with your stock pots. On the general whole... and this post was intended for the DIYer, buying extra pots to get a matched set is a waste of time and money. A matched set is obviously a bonus, and the benefit that is derived from taking your guitar to a luthier or buying a pre-made wiring harness such as the ones for sale from vendors on this site, or our own from the Guitar Garage. All the attention that is paid to the pot, can more cost effectively be put to buying a few extra caps and testing them before install. This article is not so much negating pot matching.... because it IS good, it's just not necessary. Of course the Guitar Garage harnesses are built with matching pots... but they are also built with matching caps. THAT'S how we roll.
Rock On, Gentlemen
Jimmi:rock

Um if you call the vender they will match them for you. And as far as a few extra caps. potentiometers roughly 6-8 bucks a pop if you do not have a dealer license. last time I priced K40y, Aerovox, Sprague, Bees, Mullard ghey were wuite a bit more. Sorry man mis info again.


By the way you do build a good harness I got to play one hell I think 4 months ago or so. Nice work.

 

[captcoolaid]

I am outie I gots some thingas to do.

Peace and tone all.

 

[Guitar Garage]

I buy from Mouser... they don't match pots. WHICH vendor matches pots again?
Orange drop caps are 1.17 ea..... again from Mouser. I'm... stating my sources.... Also I sourced the diagram from RIGHT HERE on myllespaul.com. so.....

But thank you for the compliment, I'm glad you enjoyed our harness. How did you come across it? On a customer install or a friend, if you don't mind me asking.

 

[chasenblues]

 

[tazzboy]

I buy from Mouser... they don't match pots. WHICH vendor matches pots again?
Orange drop caps are 1.17 ea..... again from Mouser. I'm... stating my sources.... Also I sourced the diagram from RIGHT HERE on myllespaul.com. so.....

But thank you for the compliment, I'm glad you enjoyed our harness. How did you come across it? On a customer install or a friend, if you don't mind me asking.

Vision Guitar Works I know does match pots

Cts Matched Set of 4 True 500K 10 Tolerance Audio Pots Long Shaft Les Paul Pot | eBay

WD Music I know does not.

* WD Music Products - CTS® 550K AUDIO TAPER POT ± 9% TOLERANCE

 

[Guitar Garage]

Vision Guitar Works I know does match pots

Cts Matched Set of 4 True 500K 10 Tolerance Audio Pots Long Shaft Les Paul Pot | eBay

WD Music I know does not.

* WD Music Products - CTS® 550K AUDIO TAPER POT ± 9% TOLERANCE

Yeah I buy em 250 at a time..... Can't pay that much.... tell ya what though.... Ill sell you a matched set!!!!!

 

[ReWind James]

Welcome to MLP, Jimmi.

If you want to buy matched (or any) pots in bulk, consider going to the manufacturers and specifying your own tolerances, rather than buying through a reseller like Mouser.

If you just want to buy a few pots, I think most of us vendors here and elsewhere would gladly pull a handful from our stock in whatever value a customer needs without an upcharge. Probably most guitar, amp, pedal and pickup builders, too. I doubt I'm the only one who meters every part that comes through receiving. At that point, the work is already done so pulling a customer's desired values doesn't really take any more time. ...which I think is what you are already doing, so I guess we are in agreement. ...but your posts are a little confusing to me so forgive me if I'm stating the obvious.


btw - I wouldn't quote MLP as a reputable source of info. Think about how many people post here daily!
- Threads: 279,931, Posts: 5,836,702, Members: 82,513
It must all be correct and in universal agreement, right?

 

[Alligatorbling]

but that font though

 

[Lipinhu]

Vision Guitar Works I know does match pots

Cts Matched Set of 4 True 500K 10 Tolerance Audio Pots Long Shaft Les Paul Pot | eBay

WD Music I know does not.

* WD Music Products - CTS® 550K AUDIO TAPER POT ± 9% TOLERANCE

Dealt with both before, both excellent in different departments. Vision guitar is my go to shop for electronics. They match the pots and ship them to europe at a very reasonable price.

 

[Thunderlove]

I never do. People don't see them under my pants legs so what's the point?

Bro, srsly? If you match your socks you run soooo much faster!

 

[Guitar Garage]

Welcome to MLP, Jimmi.

If you want to buy matched (or any) pots in bulk, consider going to the manufacturers and specifying your own tolerances, rather than buying through a reseller like Mouser.

If you just want to buy a few pots, I think most of us vendors here and elsewhere would gladly pull a handful from our stock in whatever value a customer needs without an upcharge. Probably most guitar, amp, pedal and pickup builders, too. I doubt I'm the only one who meters every part that comes through receiving. At that point, the work is already done so pulling a customer's desired values doesn't really take any more time. ...which I think is what you are already doing, so I guess we are in agreement. ...but your posts are a little confusing to me so forgive me if I'm stating the obvious.


btw - I wouldn't quote MLP as a reputable source of info. Think about how many people post here daily!
- Threads: 279,931, Posts: 5,836,702, Members: 82,513
It must all be correct and in universal agreement, right?

Thanks for the welcome. I am new to MLP but not to guitar building by any means. I do meter every part that comes through my door, and it's to produce the best product... and also due to my OCD.
If any of you vendors on here would like to sell me Bourns 500K long shaft push/pull pots (matched) for 4 bucks a piece (that's what I pay now) I would gladly buy them and keep the business in the family. But if not I gotta go through the big-dog, you understand. I have been building all my wiring harnesses for 11 years and I'm pretty good at it. If any of my post was confusing I will surely explain my thoughts during writing, and we can discuss from there.

ROCK ON

Jimmi

 

[kevinpaul]

The only thing that can pick up on such a tiny thing is a O scope! No one will care.

 

[jamman]

I always mismatch my pots . I also find it gets the effect I want , Less from the bridge and more from the neck . I started playing the TVT (thanks James) pots (for the volume pots) which IIRC have a 3-5% tolerence .

I don't want anything over 510K-520K with either pots . The regular 500K CTS pots for tone work just fine . Still , I don't like a brighter/higher value 500K pot there either . But that's what I like. I think those who get deep into it, find what works best for them .

Matching a pot to the guitar itself can be a big help in getting what 1 may want . A brighter toned guitar ,Imo should use a lesser valued pot so it isn 't overly bright . Just as a Darker toned guitar can take higher vaue pots to brighten it up some . The Pickups need to be taken into consideration too .