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Post by rosewoodash on Oct 2, 2017 11:07:13 GMT -5
Hello forum,
This is my first post here, really appreciate any help or suggestions you can offer.
I'm wondering what people's opinions are on what value pot to use for the blender pot in the Dan Armstrong Strat mod as seen here: (http://ashbass.com/AshBassGuitar/index.html?armstrongstratvers.html)?
The options would be 1) regular 250k pot 2) "No-Load" Blender Pot 3) 500k Pot as seen in this video: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWF1L7GBYfU)
Is one of these options necessarily better than the others? Will there be any noticeable differences in which pot is used for the blender? This is for a SSS Strat with 3 Lace Sensors (Red, Silver, Blue)
Thank you
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Post by JohnH on Oct 2, 2017 15:28:31 GMT -5
Welcome to GN2.
Dan Armstrong cetainlt did some classic mod designs.
On that one, the blender cant be a no-load, but the other options are not an obvious choice, at least to me. If this is a mod to an existing build, then Id suggest starting with what is there eg 250k. The main issues are the added loading and resistance at positions 2 to 4, at various knob settings. There's possibly a tendency for them to be not quite as sparkly as standard wiring. At the ends of the pot travel, high-value pots may sound purer, but in-between, all signal needs to find its way through pot resistance and low values may sound better or blend smoother.
Personally I usually prefer designs that use an extra switch to get the added tones, for no compromise.
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Post by rosewoodash on Oct 3, 2017 8:53:42 GMT -5
John, thanks for the clarification and insight into the differences between the 250k and 500k pot.
I'm going to start with the 250k pot since it is already in the guitar and it sounds like a good compromise from your description.
Are there any existing diagrams on the site showing the use of the switch as you mentioned? I already have a Strat with the S1 Switch wired in the manner of the American deluxe Stratocaster, so I have a basic idea of how some of these options sound - just getting more into wiring now and checking out the nuances of the different schemes.
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Post by reTrEaD on Oct 3, 2017 10:51:35 GMT -5
I'm going to start with the 250k pot since it is already in the guitar and it sounds like a good compromise from your description. In this case, I believe taper will matter far more than 250k vs 500k. A cursor check of the DA diagram show the (-) connection of Neck and Bridge pickups go to the wiper of the blend pot. I believe that will ultimately be used as a series link. I think the design is such that you can sweep gradually from one pickup | to a series pair | to the other pickup. An audio taper pot will make the transition from one pickup (at the counter-clockwise end) to the series pair, very abruptly. As you continue rotating clockwise, the transition from a series pair to just the other pickup will be more gradual. If you aren't averse to trial and error, you should just use the 250k pot you already have. But if it's an audio taper pot and you see the effect I've noted and dislike it, change to a linear. Personally I think a 500k linear might be appropriate, as it will not load the series pair as much, but maybe John will disagree.
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Post by JohnH on Oct 3, 2017 16:25:25 GMT -5
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