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Topic: Question For My Fellow Steel Builders Or Knowledgeable Other |
Rocky Hill
From:
Prairie Village,Kansas, USA
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Posted 24 Jan 2009 6:09 pm |
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I am in the process of building another steel and would like opinions from builders and the knowledgeable electronic folks.
The last steel I built I used a 250k pot on the volume and a 500k on the tone and I used a .047mfd cap, and the pup is a George L E-66.
I'm not so sure I'm completely happy with the tone and the way it rolls off. Would I be better to use a pair of 250k pots? Would it make the tone a tad brighter?
One last thing, if I used a pair 250k pots, what would a .033mfd or a .022mfd cap do.
If I use a 500k on the tone again, what would the aforementioned caps do to the tone? And please, if anyone has any other suggestions on other combinations let me know.
Rocky |
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Gary Stevenson
From:
Northern New York,USA
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Posted 24 Jan 2009 7:28 pm
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| It depends on if the 66 is considered a single coil or humbucker style. Single work with 250k and humbuckers usually are 500k.And both volume and tone are usually the same.I hope this helps. I am a builder also.I am on #13 at the moment.The wiring has been a challenge at times for me. |
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Tom Pettingill
From:
California, USA (deceased)
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Posted 24 Jan 2009 8:12 pm
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In general, with pot values the lower the resistance, the less high frequencies are let through. For instance, a 500k will start brighter than a 250k pot.
For caps, the higher the cap value, the more high frequency is bled to ground. For example, a .022uf cap is brighter than a .047uf cap.
What about the tone don't you like? If its too bright, try a 300k or 250k tone pot. If its the rate at which it rolls off, use an audio taper pot for a more even sounding roll off.
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Rocky Hill
From:
Prairie Village,Kansas, USA
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Posted 25 Jan 2009 6:47 am
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| Tom Pettingill wrote: |
In general, with pot values the lower the resistance, the less high frequencies are let through. For instance, a 500k will start brighter than a 250k pot.
For caps, the higher the cap value, the more high frequency is bled to ground. For example, a .022uf cap is brighter than a .047uf cap.
What about the tone don't you like? If its too bright, try a 300k or 250k tone pot. If its the rate at which it rolls off, use an audio taper pot for a more even sounding roll off. |
I would like it to be a bit brighter. Not a lot more but a little would be nice. I guess when I said the way it rolls off might not have been the correct meaning I was trying to convey. I use CTS audio taper pots.
The range and smoothness is OK, I would just like to start out a little brighter.
Caps? I currently have .033 and .022 what would be your recomendation.
Rocky |
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Tom Pettingill
From:
California, USA (deceased)
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Posted 25 Jan 2009 7:49 am
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If you want to start brighter, a brighter pot may be the answer, but caps are an easy enough swap, so it wouldn't hurt to quick try a .033 first and see if that gets you headed the right direction.
And just a note on pots, unless you are buying mill spec parts, even a 10% manufacturing tolerance can make a pretty big difference. A 250 pot could actually measure from 225K to 275K.
Its always a good idea to measure them first before you solder them in.
_________________
Some misc pics of my hand crafted steels
Follow me on Facebook here |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 26 Jan 2009 4:55 pm
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| You could always try a 500k audio pot for the volume and see if it gets what you want. That would let more highs through. |
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