dedidio
Rookie Solder Flinger
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Post by dedidio on Apr 8, 2006 5:32:03 GMT -5
Hi,
New to guitar modding, but looking forward to it!
I'm going to be performing the 'Strat lovers strat' (http://http://guitarnuts2.proboards.com/page/gn1-pages/wiring/stratlovers.php) mod on my old squire strat and was just wondering how to pick pots.
Having read another post here I have decided to go with log pots for all 3 (probably), however I don't know how to decide between 250k and 500k (for example).
Info would be appreciated!
Cheers, DedIdio
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Post by Mini-Strat_Maine on Apr 8, 2006 9:38:04 GMT -5
Having read another post here I have decided to go with log pots for all 3 (probably), however I don't know how to decide between 250k and 500k (for example). Welcome to GN2. " As a general rule," 250K pots for singlecoils, 500K for humbuckers. Someone may pop in and point out that there are exceptions to every rule, and I wouldn't disagree with that, but 250K will probably work just fine for the "common S-S-S Strat." Somebody else will have to supply the scientific explanation of it all, but now I've shared the little bit I know about the subject. ;D
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Post by sumgai on Apr 8, 2006 13:51:51 GMT -5
dedidio, to these here Forums! What Doug just shared with you is correct, the rule is very, very general. In fact, it's just a starting guideline. After all, the first few decades of Fender's guitars used 1 meg pots, so there is room for experimentation. One of the things you can do beforehand is to wire up a "test bench" using some short lenghts of guitar cord and a few alligator clips. Plugged up between your guitar and amp, you can experiment with different pot values while not having to take the guitar apart at all. Just be aware that the controls inside the guitar that are currently hooked up do have some effect on the overall sound. When you find a pot you like on the "test bench", installing it into the final modded axe might sound a tiny bit different - this would be why that is so. I wouldn't worry overly much though, the difference should be exceedingly small, and probably not noticible at all. In fact, I'd be more worried about the value of the tone pot's capacitor. Again, "test bench" to the rescue. Find what pleases your ear, and set it aside for the mods. ;D HTH sumgai
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Post by JohnH on Apr 8, 2006 16:49:54 GMT -5
dedIdio - just to check if youve seen my post on the Strat Lovers Strat, in the Schematics section. guitarnuts2.proboards45.com/index.cgi?board=schem&action=display&thread=1144451491It was new yesterday, so I wasnt sure if that was where you saw it or just coincidence.. My choice of pots would be 500k for the SLS, because they will put less load on the series options on that design, keeping them brighter. Series wiring adds to the impedance of the pickups, and so a higher value pot is appropriate, for the same reason that 500k rather than 250k is more common on humbuckers, which are also two coils in series. It is a matter of choice however, it will work with what ever value you chose, as with the tone caps. John
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dedidio
Rookie Solder Flinger
Posts: 6
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Post by dedidio on Apr 8, 2006 20:16:57 GMT -5
Thanks for the replies folks! I actually hadn't realised until after my post was made but my existing pots had a very faint inscription of what they were so I've gone with the same - 1x500kpotA and 1x500kpotB I figured replacing like for like I wasn't going to go too far wrong - but now I have switches! Weirdly the B was the volume and the A was the tone - reading the other thread it seemed like this is the wrong way around, however this particular beast is a bit old, so maybe it's from before the switchover. JohnH - I hadn't seen your post when I made mine, however I have now - I have to say it's only confused me further though - as if a schematic wasn't bad enough I now have to figure where my 7 point switch comes into play. I've taken it apart now to take a look at it's innards, but being new to the game maybe I am confusing a 'ground' for a pin in your diagram(?) I'm probably going to act on your 'enhancements' though and get the required caps tomorrow. That is as long as I figure this switch out! Thanks again everyone. DedIdio P.S. Just as an aside: it was funny going out to buy the pots - first shop I go into (the respectable one in the area): me: do you stock potentiometers? them: pots? sure do! me: ones with a push pull switch? them: sorry, no. I learned my lesson - even in the trade they're know as 'pots'. .... Shop 2 (more of a 'mom and pop 'store): Me: Got any pots? Them: <wide-eyed look> Me: Potentiometers .... for a guitar .... Them: <Look of relief> ..... erm no The look on her face was fantastic - try walking into your local newsagent and asking for crack - you'll probably get a similar look! ((third shop sorted me out nicely))
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Post by JohnH on Apr 8, 2006 21:54:35 GMT -5
Theres a catch with my version - it needs a switch with 8 lugs, ie two lots of . Some no-Fenderr Strat switches have 7 lugs, and with that you can do the original schematics, but not the part in my version where it uses both sides of the switch. A new 8 lug switch woudl not be many $, and it would probably come from a music shop or guitar parts supplier rather than a general electronics store.
To use a your switch in any case, youll need to figure out what each lug of your switch does, and a multimeter on a resistance setting will help this. You could, if you wish, do the other additions I made, with the treble bleed cap and seperate tone caps, and bridge phase switch.
John
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