Best pots for Strat

[thesjkexperienc]

I know... do a search

Who makes the best pots for a single coil Strat and where to get them?

Thanks!

[EADGBE]

CTS 250K audio at www.allparts.com

[testing1two]

Since you're not going to do a search then my opinion will reign supreme. The absolute best pots are by Allesandro. You simply cannot play dynamically without them. Buy them here and you won't have to not search for them: http://www.alessandro-products.com/parts.html

They are $50 each + shipping but they are the very best for those who can't be bothered to search for an alternative.

[thesjkexperienc]

$50? BOL!

I was looking at the RS kits everyone raves about, but I couldn't find anything for 250K pots.

Do the CTS pots last longer than the stuff Fender puts in their guitars?

Audio taper for Volume, but which is best for Tone control?

[testing1two]

Don't over think this. Just go to Acme Guitar Works and order the tight tolerance CTS pots. Or go for broke and have them pre-wire an entire harness for you.

Fender uses all sorts of different pots depending on what guitar you're talking about. US models use decent quality stuff while the import models use various pots of lower quality.

To learn more you'd need to do...a search.

[sixstringslut]

I have some CTS pots in Fender that are over 50 years old. You need something that lasts longer than that? I also have cheap guitars that the crappy pot has lasted 20 years and still going strong. My point, you may abuse them but is doughtfull you will wear any out soon. They get dirty and scratchy from non-use more than anything.

Generaly Audios in everything guitarwise. Make sure it is splined shaft your knob will fit on and roll with it.

This is not a science project

[SamBooka]

This is near and dear to my heart so I have to ask. How do you define best?

I "thought" I didnt like the taper of CTS pots in my Jazzmaster/Es125. They are fender replacements. I put a pair of CTS pots from allparts in a Fender Lead I and they are perfect.. great feel and taper. Sooooo.. is there a diff between allparts CTS pots and Fender's? Dunno but I doubt it. WalterW has given me some good pointers and I really need to play with them more.

What I DO say is, CTS pots are 7$ a throw. Try one and if you dont like it you are out the price of a Guinness.

[thesjkexperienc]

I must be hard on pots or something. I seem to wear out a volume control in about 5- 6 years and tone controls last a bit longer, but get scratchy. I work the volume knobs all the time on my Tele, Strat and Jazzmaster and often use the tone as a tone or as a Wah-Wah.

I noticed the zero load pots and am considering using those for the tone controls.

I guess in the short run I should just get the pot cleaner out and see if I can limp by a little longer.

[Jamster]

+1 for alessandro.
They're $37.5 with free shipping if you buy online.

[Dr. Jimmy]

I like the Dimarzio pots.....

[SonicBlue61]

If you want to spent $50 per pot and that makes you happy, Rock on!

Fender custom shop guitars use CTS. So did the old ones. I think it's fine. Much more fun things to spend $150 on than 3 pots IMO.

[jimshine]

Guitar parts suppliers just buy and repackage pots. In the case of RS, they buy them direct and have very specific specs laid out in terms of resistor values, tapers, loads, tolerances, etc. CTS makes a decent potentiometer, though they seem to be getting cheapened up over the years. Clarostat, Bourns, and Centralab are currently the OEM for really good pots. If you can look at old surplus, Stackpole is great and used to be what most all of the major manufacturers used in the 50's to the early 70's (Fender included).

[D Rhinehart]

CTS 250s , I use them on all my S guitars...

[santellan]

RS Guitar works super pots are CTS pots.

[Mike9]

If you are short of money then get a 300K CTS audio pot for volume and 250k CTS audio pots for tone. Wire the first tone for the neck pickup and the last tone for the bridge pickup and let the middle fly - use good PIO caps like the cheap Russian ones and you'll have a nice set up. :aok Oh and don't forget to shield your cavities and pickguard - :beer

[walterw]

there's cts, and then there's cts.

the regular flat-back ones from allparts are fine, but stiff to turn. (so are the RS versions i've tried).

the allparts "vintage" with the spindle poking through a recessed back turn a good bit easier. their 250ks in this series are made for pickguards only, and have a very short threaded part. their 500ks have a bad habit of only reading in the high 300ks, though!

fender's own cts pots (as used in all USA and mexi stuff) are very good, easy-turning and long-lasting.

i just got a batch of dimarzio cts pots, and i really like them. easy-turning (a theme i've noticed with all "vintage styled" pots with the axle poking through), brass shafts, a little c-clip so the shaft can't get pushed out the back of the pot, very close to rated specs, and a very nice audio taper.

my only complaint is the shaft stands a bit taller out of the threaded part, so some knobs might be a little high off the body of the guitar.

prs's cts pots are the nicest, easiest-turning and best taper pots i've ever tried. they're also like $30 each.

[tooter007]

This guitar has the best pot you can buy.......

http://www.guitarsite.com/news/images/guitar/potleafguitar.jpg

[Eagle1]

there's cts, and then there's cts.

the regular flat-back ones from allparts are fine, but stiff to turn. (so are the RS versions i've tried).

the allparts "vintage" with the spindle poking through a recessed back turn a good bit easier. their 250ks in this series are made for pickguards only, and have a very short threaded part. their 500ks have a bad habit of only reading in the high 300ks, though!

fender's own cts pots (as used in all USA and mexi stuff) are very good, easy-turning and long-lasting.

i just got a batch of dimarzio cts pots, and i really like them. easy-turning (a theme i've noticed with all "vintage styled" pots with the axle poking through), brass shafts, a little c-clip so the shaft can't get pushed out the back of the pot, very close to rated specs, and a very nice audio taper.

my only complaint is the shaft stands a bit taller out of the threaded part, so some knobs might be a little high off the body of the guitar.

prs's cts pots are the nicest, easiest-turning and best taper pots i've ever tried. they're also like $30 each.

This is my experience too.