One 250k = Two 500k ?

[WhiteRam]

Does anyone know if it's a fact...that using just one volume pot only on a guitar at 250k (no other pots) is the same as two pots (volume & tone) at 500k?

In other words, would a pickup be "seeing" one 250k pot the same as it would see two 500k pots?  Would a pickup deliver the same output and tonal spectrum in both cases?

I've researched this off and on for over 2 years and read many different opinions, and would like to get this sorted.

Sincerly appreciate any and all experience and knowledge. :)

Edit: grammer correction.

[Ratrod]

I don't think so.

One pot less will make it brighter but that's just because there's one obsticale less in the signal chain.

[darkbluemurder]

It's not the same - the capacitor is in the way.

Cheers Stephan

[WhiteRam]

It's not the same - the capacitor is in the way.

Cheers Stephan

Thank you Stephan, sorted. I was aware of that, but it's the factor I needed to re-realize in the perspective of all. Reading your reply caused to me to see the simplicity of what I sought. :)

[SabreStrike]

Actually, I think it would be the reverse in this case. A 250k ohm pot has less ohms than a 500k pot, which the 250k will require two 250s in order for it to work like a regular 500, volume-wise. Tonally, however, it sounds different.

I myself have thought of an idea that involves two volume controls on a single humbucker, one 250k and one 500k. The 250k is placed before the 500k, and acts as a "signal choke" for hot humbuckers to roll off the volume of the signal, before using the 500k as a master volume. Has this been done before? I don't know if it has or not.

[HTH AMPS]

Actually, I think it would be the reverse in this case. A 250k ohm pot has less ohms than a 500k pot, which the 250k will require two 250s in order for it to work like a regular 500, volume-wise. Tonally, however, it sounds different.

I myself have thought of an idea that involves two volume controls on a single humbucker, one 250k and one 500k. The 250k is placed before the 500k, and acts as a "signal choke" for hot humbuckers to roll off the volume of the signal, before using the 500k as a master volume. Has this been done before? I don't know if it has or not.

look at some Gretsch wiring diagrams, they use a master volume on some of their guitars.

[darkbluemurder]

I myself have thought of an idea that involves two volume controls on a single humbucker, one 250k and one 500k. The 250k is placed before the 500k, and acts as a "signal choke" for hot humbuckers to roll off the volume of the signal, before using the 500k as a master volume. Has this been done before? I don't know if it has or not.

In that case the two pots are in parallel, decreasing the total load on the pickup to (250K x 500K)/(250k + 500k) = 166.67k.

BTW - this is basically what happens when you play your Les Paul in the middle position. Turn back the volume on the neck pickup and you will have a load of approx. 100k to 150k on the bridge pickup - very effective to get a smooth woody tone out of brighter bridge pickups. Of course this works the same way with the neck pickup if you turn down the bridge pickup volume a bit.

Cheers Stephan