Pots, Jersen BKP caps - does it really make a difference?

[Dave Sloven]

Well, PUSH PUSH sounds easier and handier to use especially in live/mid song environment I suppose. No more sweaty fingers slipping off tapered knobs! :lol:

Someone recommended push-push Mojotone 500K pots to me a few months ago.  I didn't get to try them though as he had sold out of the short shaft version.  He only has the long shaft version now and the price seems to have really jumped this time, perhaps due the the shift in exchange rates.

ebay

[Lucas]

I've never heard of a guitarist who uses it, all the guitarists I know use audio taper on both tone and volume, the guy who posted it could even be a troll or guitar troll.

Funny enough it was written on this website:
http://www.axetec.co.uk/guitar_parts_uk_053.htm
But things what you write about audio tapers used as both VOLUME and AUDIO make more sense to me, to be honest. And definitely will go that direction.

And those MOJOTONES PUSH PUSH look interesting, will go for one no doubt, but Im afraid will have to do some drilling due to the fact that the guitar is Korean make, and pots are USA... well..

Thanks a lot to all of you, it has solved loads of confusion and truly helped a lot, THANKS!!!!

[Dave Sloven]

Have you removed your pots (at least enough to see the shaft, not necessary to desolder)?  You will need to be sure you have the right type.

The two main fitment variations are long/short shaft and solid/split shaft.

Solid shafts are the type where you attach the knobs with a screw into the side of the shaft.  Split shafts rely on pressure to hold the knob on.  If the knob is a bit loose you put a screwdriver tip into the split and spread it very slightly and then try again and see if you have a firmer fit (of course you have to be very careful).

If you have the solid type you will no doubt have problems finding push-push (or even push-pull) pots as those are generally intended for Fender guitars with selector switches.

Here's a page with quite a few 500K split shaft options: Mojotone

If you need to remove a push fit knob you can use a shoelace (wind it under the knob and then pull it up). When you do have the push-push installed you need to be careful to only remove and install knobs with the shaft in the 'down' position.

[Philly Q]

and the last thing.
Does anyone know a good quality PUSH PUSH pots (500k), `Ive read that they`re easier to use, but cannot find a decent ones,

WD sell push-push pots - I don't know how good they are, but I'm assuming they're decent quality purely because they're made to USA specs:-

http://www.wdmusic.co.uk/500k-pushpush-pot-with-us-specs-1124-p.asp

[Toe-Knee]

and the last thing.
Does anyone know a good quality PUSH PUSH pots (500k), `Ive read that they`re easier to use, but cannot find a decent ones,

WD sell push-push pots - I don't know how good they are, but I'm assuming they're decent quality purely because they're made to USA specs:-

http://www.wdmusic.co.uk/500k-pushpush-pot-with-us-specs-1124-p.asp

I've never understood why some people seem to think that the US make the best pots.

In my own personal experience the only ones that excel above the non US ones are Clarostat/Honeywell and the price shows why!

Whilst building amps i've noticed over and over that Alpha actually have the best tolerances and taper out of all of the pots i've used. They're pretty much always closer to the specified value too.

They're also constucted better than a lot too. Bourns i've found are the worst the tabs bend and snap very easily and the whole pot can actually fall apart with very little encouragement.

[Philly Q]

Yeah, it's a fair point Tony.

I tend to switch guitars over to US pots more out of force of habit than anything else, without even thinking how well the existing pots work.

I will say that the Asian pots, whatever they may be, usually feel better than US ones - CTS are too stiff.

Next time I rewire a Japanese guitar I'll try to remember to assess the existing pots first, and maybe just change the capacitors.

[Toe-Knee]

Yeah, it's a fair point Tony.

I tend to switch guitars over to US pots more out of force of habit than anything else, without even thinking how well the existing pots work.

I will say that the Asian pots, whatever they may be, usually feel better than US ones - CTS are too stiff.

Next time I rewire a Japanese guitar I'll try to remember to assess the existing pots first, and maybe just change the capacitors.

Some of the pots that come in jap guitars are terrible but occasionally you get a nice surprise

[Alex]

Well, PUSH PUSH sounds easier and handier to use especially in live/mid song environment I suppose. No more sweaty fingers slipping off tapered knobs! :lol:

http://www.axetec.co.uk/guitar_parts_uk_053.htm
That`s pretty much the only ones that I found but don`t even know what make they are and if they are worth of buying.

Somewhere on the internet I`ve ready very interesting thing:

Use LOG pots (aka audio tapers) for Volume controls, and, LINEAR pots for Tone

Does anyone have more info on that?

I had bad experience with Axetec pots. I ended up buying new CTS ones.