Author Topic: pot advice (Read 3186 times)

stringfanatic · « **on:** September 26, 2007, 01:32:15 PM »

my '06 mim strat still has the original middle and neck single pickups and i don't know if i'll ever have the funds to replace them right away. anyway i bought and installed a bkp vhII humbuck for the bridge.

the strat has original 250k pots and the vhII isn't sounding as good as it should. my question is what value pots should i use throughout the guitar to make it sound like eddies frankenstrat? i think 500k for the vhII but what about the single coils that are in there?

i would like advice on capacitor values too since i'll be in there working on it.

oh yeah if you guys can suggest a kick ass wiring scheme that's simple while playing but versatile for my setup that would be great! i'm open to not using either or both of the single pups if you think it's basically useless.

Twinfan · « **Reply #1 on:** September 26, 2007, 02:29:58 PM »

I'd use a 500k volume and leave the two tone pots alone (assuming you don't have the VHII wired up for tone control as on a standard strat).

If you've got 250k tone pots, then a 0.047 cap is good middle of the road option.

Are you splitting the VHII when mixed with the middle single coil? If not, I'd use this diagram to wire it up, but you'll need to swap the wires like this:

VHII green/white togther (in place of red/white on diagram)
VHII black/bare to ground (in place of green/bare on diagram)
VHII red to selector switch (in place of black on diagram)

stringfanatic · « **Reply #2 on:** September 26, 2007, 05:28:55 PM »

hey thanks for the diagram!

i didn't notice if the bridge pup was wired to tone, i just replaced it stock wiring using the vhII. which way would give me the best result?

you said .047 for middle of the road but what if i want it to be the best road? i'm more concerned about making the vhII sounding its ultimate than to worry about the el cheapo single coils, even though i might use the single coils sometimes but very rarely.

how can i tell if the coil is splitting with the single coil? again i just wired the vhII in as a direct replacement (it used to be a single coil bridge). i would like to wire it up and use the best value capacitor for the best possible tone for the vhII.

you guys are great so any additional help i give a big thanks!

Twinfan · « **Reply #3 on:** September 26, 2007, 05:54:21 PM »

If you replaced it with the stock wiring, then the VHII does not go through a tone control. This is what you want for the best EVH-type tone.

As your VHII isn't going through the tone controls, the capacitor is irrelevant. It will only have an effect on your single coils when you use their tone controls. I'd leave it as it is if you're not too bothered about single coil tone.

How have you wired the green/white leads from your VHII? If they're taped together doing nothing then you're NOT splitting the coils. It's fine as it is, but you could wire it as above for a more strat like tone when mixed with the middle single coil.

Philly Q · « **Reply #4 on:** September 26, 2007, 07:19:55 PM »

Quote from: Twinfan

If you replaced it with the stock wiring, then the VHII does not go through a tone control. This is what you want for the best EVH-type tone.

Agreed.

But don't forget to replace the 250K volume control with a 500K, as mentioned in Twinfan's first reply. That should give all 3 pickups a little more brightness and presence.

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #5 on:** September 26, 2007, 08:05:03 PM »

Definately use a 500k pot - you'll get the best out of your Nailbomb that way. You could get a 500k resistor and put it between the hot connection of the middle pickup and ground. Do the same for the neck pickup as well.

This will give you a 500k pot in the bridge position, but the 500k resistors on the neck/middle positions will effectively give you a 250k pot on those positions.

:twisted: