help with Mules

[Yamhammer]

I can't understand why some 500K pots would read 450K or 530K in value. That isn't acceptable.

They have to be marked with 450K/530K (on the package or pot itself) if that's the true value. If I'm going to buy 500K CTS pots I expect it to be 500K and not something lower or higher. If the value isn't correct, than it should not be sold as '500K'.

[Fearhk213]

It worth checking the actually values of the pots with a multimeter. Pots are notoriously inaccurate. I have seen 500K pots read anywhere between 400K and 550K. If they read too low the guitar will appear dark, if they read too high it sound thin ,shrill and toppy.

I make sure that all my pots read close to the nomimal value. There are two way to achieve this.

If the pots reading too high,use Ohms law formula 1/R =1/R + 1/R ohms  to work out the resistor required to strap across the outer lugs of the pot to lower the value.

Or If the value is too low try the following:
http://www.lespaulforum.com/pots/potents2.html

My PRS Artist III sounded a bag of nail when I first acquired it, I could see why the bloke was getting rid of it.
However, lowering both Tone and Volume pots from 525K and 530K respectively to the nominal 500K value cured the problem.
The guitar has since been fitted with Rebel Yells and it has raised the playing experience yet again.

All my guitars have benefited from paying close attention to getting the pot values close to the 500K nominal. I have also rewired them with the 22AWG vintage cloth wire .
http://www.allparts.uk.com/electronics/wire-c-277_1_81_90.html

PRS Mahogany with Maple cap,   Rosewood Fretboard            Rebel Yells
PRS Mahogany with Maple cap,   Rosewood fretboard            Crawlers
Charvel Basswood,                      Rosewood Fretboard           Nailbomb, Irish Tours

Cheers
SJ

 

Good to info man.   PDT_003

[Yamhammer]

They should read and mark the exact pot values at the factory where they've been made. It's not up to the buyers, at least it shouldn't. I hate these things.

[Emperor]

I can't understand why some 500K pots would read 450K or 530K in value. That isn't acceptable.

They have to be marked with 450K/530K (on the package or pot itself) if that's the true value. If I'm going to buy 500K CTS pots I expect it to be 500K and not something lower or higher. If the value isn't correct, than it should not be sold as '500K'.

in the industry, you can have some with 20% tolerance, 10 % or 1%...   1% being the most expensives.

for sound/music it's usualy better to go closer to what's should be, but in some cases, it doesn't matter.
I agree that sometimes it's driving people's nuts..