Swapping volume pot

[tarbender]

Hi, I'm having a problem with the volume pot on my PRS Custom 24. The pot is a little scratchy and will conk out on me if I tap on it, so I've decided to swap it out. So, I called the local PRS dealer to see it they had a replacement pot. They only carried generic parts, so I thought that I would be just as good to go to the local electronics store (right around the corner), to pick up a pot. Problem is, I never knew that there were so many different pots out there. They have Audio and Linear pots, they have long shafts and regular shafts, they have mini's and regular, they have 250K and 500K. Does anybody know for certain which pot I should use? Many thanks.

[Mini-Strat_Maine]

tarbender said:

So, I called the local PRS dealer to see it they had a replacement pot. They only carried generic parts, so I thought that I would be just as good to go to the local electronics store (right around the corner), to pick up a pot.

"Generic" is okay, if they're the same size/taper/etc. as what's already in there. I dunno how many different types PRS might use for different models.

Problem is, I never knew that there were so many different pots out there. They have Audio and Linear pots, they have long shafts and regular shafts, they have mini's and regular, they have 250K and 500K. Does anybody know for certain which pot I should use?

Mind bogglin', ain't it?
Once you pull the old one, you can get a better idea of what you need as far as shaft length and other "size considerations." The underside of the pot may also be stamped with its ohms value and other information, e.g., "A500K.". Trouble is, 'A' could mean linear taper on older pots, or audio taper under the new system. Take a look here, sound.westhost.com/pots.htm under "Pot Markings."
If you have a multimeter, that can help you determine the value and the taper, to be most sure of what you've got.
Looking at pics of that PRS model, I see humbuckers, so I'd guess 500K pots. Anther guess would be audio-taper, but I could be wrong.
Best bet: get a look at the old one first. We'll be right here when you get back.

[JohnH]

Good answer M S-M
Another factor is to get a pot that works with your control knob. If you have push-on knobs as on a Strat, then you need a pot with a split shaft that has teeth. If your knob fixes with a screw, then a solid shaft is better.

[tarbender]

Thanks for the info. I know that if I pull it first, I could probably get more info from the old pot....I was just hoping to do it all in one sitting.

[Mini-Strat_Maine]

tarbender said:

I know that if I pull it first, I could probably get more info from the old pot....I was just hoping to do it all in one sitting.

Hey, if this stuff was too easy, it wouldn't be any fun. ;D
Actually, you could just see if the bottom markings are readable without removing it. Then again, I have one project where some of the old ones have blobs of solder for ground wires right over the lettering. They're all going bye-bye anyway, so it's no biggie.
I forgot about splined shafts and all that other stuff, too.

[tarbender]

I checked the bottom first - no markings. And not too many blobs either - pretty good job actually.

[Mini-Strat_Maine]

tarbender said:

I checked the bottom first - no markings. And not too many blobs either - pretty good job actually.

My Jay Turser Hawk-12 has Alpha mini-pots in it, so those don't have a lot of room for soldering on the tops of the cases. Having the lettering covered up on those is almost inevitable. The other one is my Memphis LP copy, with some brand of pots that I've never seen before; looks like "JP," in some kind of Tolkien font. Best I can tell, two are audio and two are linear taper, but they're all probably going to get swapped for CTS A500K push/pulls.

I s'pose you could put the multimeter to the one you're replacing and check it without removing it, but it would probably be simpler to just haul it outta there. Having it still in the circuit might or might not result in some funky readings.

[eljib]

Tarbender: I've never had scratchy pots before, but maybe someone out there who has had your same problem could tell us if this is something that could clean up with a little contact cleaner spray stuff-in-a-can (I don't know what exactly to call it, but it's mentioned quite often for pot/switch problems, so I am surprised to not see it here yet).

You might save yourself the trouble of replacing parts altogether.


-Aaron


M-S-M: And now for something totally unrelated to this thread: What do you plan to do with all those push/pulls? I have yet to decide how I will wire my own HH axe, so I am picking as many brains as I can.