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1 meg vs 500k for tone pots

Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 3:49 pm
by Bogo
So I was curious what those of you who have changed the jazzmaster's main circuit tone pot from the traditional 1 meg to the 500k have thought of the tone difference? I understand, in general and barring a cap change, it would be slightly "darker". 'That about right?

Re: 1 meg vs 500k for tone pots

Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2010 6:01 pm
by Bogo
Nobody?

Re: 1 meg vs 500k for tone pots

Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2010 9:20 pm
by Brock the Mod
Ive been juggling the thought of switching it to 300K Volume and 500K Tone pots but I just havent had the heart to actually act on it.

Re: 1 meg vs 500k for tone pots

Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2010 4:28 am
by MLC
I'm curious to hear from the voices of experience, myself.
I'm seriously considering replacing both 1M pots with 500K pots which I believe will result in a slighly less bright tone, overall.

At least that's the typical result when one moves to a lower value pot with the same pickups.

Re: 1 meg vs 500k for tone pots

Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2010 5:58 am
by ohm-men
I have replaced pots from 1 meg K to 500 k in a CIJ Jm. the difference is notable. Less trebly. Though, you have asimelar result when you roll the 1 K pot back.
But, having 500K is far easier, since most of us don't need/want the 'icepickyness" . I also lowered the value on a stock CIJ jag to 250K pots, simelar results.
(I found 250K pots far more usable then 500K in the jag, ofcourse personal preference.

Though the above is regarding talking stock japanese pu's. Imho, the pu's themselves are part of the "problem" imho. It's just they seam to act better with a lower value of pots.

As a test I also did the 500 K pot "mod" (if you prefer to call it a mod) with some AVRI pu's, simelar result, less treble, less range. Wouldn't call in an improvement.
I know some prefer to roll the pots back, recalibrate the amp (tone, treble, mid, bass, etc...) but in the end it's like a never ending search to a "thicker" tone, usually associated with the Jazzmaster. If that's your goal, go with a nice set of aftermarket pu's and keep the stock pots.

ofcourse, just my humble opinion ;)

Re: 1 meg vs 500k for tone pots

Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2010 7:34 am
by curiousgeorge
Oh I did this on my Jaguar! Didn't feel need to on Jazzmaster.

I always found bridge sound way thin too so changing from 1M to 500K was easy choice. Got better midrange, slight less plinky/high-treble which was what I was after. Also, I find the rhythm circuit more useful now cos before if amp was EQ'd for darker lead circuits sound the rhythm circuit was all wool. Better balance this way.

I'd recommend trying, as is pretty easy mod.

Re: 1 meg vs 500k for tone pots

Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2010 6:09 pm
by Bogo
I just bit the bullet and picked up a bourns 500k audio taper for the tone. I will be sure to give my impressions of it once it's all wired up.

Re: 1 meg vs 500k for tone pots

Posted: Thu Oct 14, 2010 7:22 am
by mynameisjonas
i have a single 250k volume pot in my jazzmasters (which i think would give a similar sound to using two 500k pots) and i love it. i found that it made them much easier to match with other guitars without having to change all the amp/pedal settings. and they're still bright guitars, just not ice-picky.

Re: 1 meg vs 500k for tone pots

Posted: Thu Oct 14, 2010 9:36 am
by curiousgeorge
mynameisjonas wrote:i have a single 250k volume pot in my jazzmasters (which i think would give a similar sound to using two 500k pots) and i love it. i found that it made them much easier to match with other guitars without having to change all the amp/pedal settings. and they're still bright guitars, just not ice-picky.
That's the beauty of it. Nice signature sound, just not as thin/ear=piercing.

Re: 1 meg vs 500k for tone pots

Posted: Thu Oct 14, 2010 9:47 am
by AWSchmit
I have 250k CTS pots in mine with a .047 orange drop cap. It's sounds like a fat tele. I can't really give a compare and contrast though, because mine never had 1 meg pots in it. My pickups also have alnico 3 magnets. I don't think that I would call my guitar too dark though. Again, like I said, I don't have an alnico 5, 1 meg pot equipped jazzy to compare it too. But I love my Jazzy, It's the best playing and sounding guitar I've owned yet.

Re: 1 meg vs 500k for tone pots

Posted: Thu Oct 14, 2010 3:37 pm
by MLC
This is great info - thanks to all.

One more question - were those replacement volume pots audio or linear taper?

Re: 1 meg vs 500k for tone pots

Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 4:00 pm
by MLC
AWSchmit wrote:I have 250k CTS pots in mine with a .047 orange drop cap. It's sounds like a fat tele.
I just finished my own experiment with 250K pots in my Thinskin Jazzmaster.
You're right, AW - it's definitely got a fat-sounding Tele thing going on, now.

I love this new setup. The neck pickup is warm and clear, the bridge pickup sounds like a meaty Telecaster, and the 2-pickups together have that piano-like ring that the Jazzy is so good with. I plugged into my Mission 5E3 after I got things put back together and I'm REALLY happy with the results.

I'm going to be playing this rig (250K-modded JM Thinskin -> Peterson StroboStomp Tuner -> Dano PB&J Delay -> Mission 5E3) a lot!

8)

Re: 1 meg vs 500k for tone pots

Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 4:05 pm
by AWSchmit
MLC wrote:
AWSchmit wrote:I have 250k CTS pots in mine with a .047 orange drop cap. It's sounds like a fat tele.
I just finished my own experiment with 250K pots in my Thinskin Jazzmaster.
You're right, AW - it's definitely got a fat-sounding Tele thing going on, now.

I love this new setup. The neck pickup is warm and clear, the bridge pickup sounds like a meaty Telecaster, and the 2-pickups together have that piano-like ring that the Jazzy is so good with. I plugged into my Mission 5E3 after I got things put back together and I'm REALLY happy with the results.

I'm going to be playing this rig (250K-modded JM Thinskin -> Peterson StroboStomp Tuner -> Dano PB&J Delay -> Mission 5E3) a lot!

8)
Great! Glad you like the new set-up.

Re: 1 meg vs 500k for tone pots

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2013 11:20 pm
by Lee
I know this an old thread but thought I would add an idea here. If is just for a test I take a 470k resistor and clip it across the 500k which would bring it down to 250.
Going from 250 k to 500 k is a bit harder but you can unsolder the low volume end and put a 270 k or 240 k in series. It will unfortunately limit the volume range from about half to full, but again you can check if is worth all of the hassle of rewiring a pot

Re: 1 meg vs 500k for tone pots

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2013 12:39 pm
by Grizz_Lee
sorry for the noob question, i know my way around pedals and stuff but I haven't messed around much with guitar electronics. If I was gonna change out the pots on my squier JMJM anybody want to post a link to some good quality ones i should buy? thanks...