Non-shite pots?

[stickyfiddle]

I'm after some new pots for my Tele as the old ones are getting crackly and they're split-shaft, which means the knobs are wobbly. I ordered some solid-shaft 250K CTS jobs from Axesrus, but frankly they're shite, and none of the knobs I have fit. These new pots are also mega-stiff compared to any on my other guitars, which is a bit worrying.

I like the custom BKP CTS ones in my SG, but they don't do those with solid shafts.

So where can I get 250K audio pots that are nice and smooth and won't give me wobbly knobs?

[ESchap]

Don't normally regard CTS pots as "shite" ... Could be there is something wrong with them? However, you said you couldn't get any of your knobs to fit, so I assume you are turning the pot using just the spindle? .... if so, they all feel very stiff that way. When you put a knob that fits on, it should feel as normal. CTS are imperial diameter shafts, suspect that the knobs you have will be metric and therefore not fit. If you want to use the CTS pots then you'll need to get Knobs made to Fit US shafts. Alternatively if the CTS are not doing it for you should be able to get Alpha pots with a metric shaft which your knobs will fit. However they are not as good pots IMHO.

[WezV]

CTS produce pots at many price points - the ones from axesrus are not the best. although generally i dont mind a new pot to be a little stiff, they often wear in quite nicely and I like a bit of (physical) resistance when turning the pot

[stickyfiddle]

Don't normally regard CTS pots as "shite" ... Could be there is something wrong with them? However, you said you couldn't get any of your knobs to fit, so I assume you are turning the pot using just the spindle? .... if so, they all feel very stiff that way. When you put a knob that fits on, it should feel as normal. CTS are imperial diameter shafts, suspect that the knobs you have will be metric and therefore not fit. If you want to use the CTS pots then you'll need to get Knobs made to Fit US shafts. Alternatively if the CTS are not doing it for you should be able to get Alpha pots with a metric shaft which your knobs will fit. However they are not as good pots IMHO.

Yeh, I know they'll get easier with a knob on, but they're crazy stiff compared to the BKP customs without their knobs as well. The CTS pots I had in the SG before the BKPs were similarly stiff. it's not that they're low quality, just that the force required makes quick changes with the side of my little finger in the space of a couple of beats all but impossible. The pots in my other Tele (stock Fender, also CTS) are much easier in comparison.

As for knobs, if I have to buy new knobs that's no big deal, I just want to make sure I get the pots sorted first before thinking about knobs.

[Guitarmonkey]

So where can I get 250K audio pots that are nice and smooth and won't give me wobbly knobs?

It sounds like you have imperial 1/4" knobs and metric 6mm shafts. CTS make pots in both sizes.

Regular CTS pots do tend to be on the stiff side but they do stay put. DiMarzio supplied CTS pots tend to be slippier but I don't know if they come with solid shafts. You could always convert with those brass sleeves that pack out to 1/4".

[frankus]

Surely a squirt of servisol will loosen the pots a little?

[ESBlonde]

Surely a squirt of servisol will loosen the pots a little?

It will but be very careful, all the lub (white grease or vasaline) in the pot will turn to sludge and leak all over the place over time, then the protection it offers to long term durability is then gone.

[wolf5150]

I've got a few fantastic 250k pots that are exactly what you're after mate.
They're all within 5% tolerance.

£5 each ?

[stickyfiddle]

Cheers, but I've actually got some on the way from Shugz

[axisus]

I get fed up with pots. Bought loads over the years, all sorts that should have been good but quite frankly I haven't liked any of them! No-one it seems will sell you what I would consider a really top notch well engineered pot. The best I've seen so far was one that came out of my PRS CU22, but no bugger sells them.