Sweating the small stuff

[Ron]

I got a pre-wired 335 harness to install in my ‘89 335. Wired “50s” style the pots measure:

Neck Volume = 541k — Neck Tone = 439k

Bridge Volume = 527k — Bridge Tone = 445k

Should I even concern myself with the value variances? Is it better to use pots that are closer to 500k and closer in value to each other? Is this just sweating the small stuff? I ask because I’d prefer to only have to do the install once.

I’m changing the harness because even though the guitar sounds good with the stock 300k volume pots I just can’t hang with the linear taper.

[renderit]

Some people would switch the volumes. I would not.

However, I am slightly concerned about the tone readings.

+- 10% is the standard i.e. down to 450.

It might indicate something is wrong there.

Probably no worries, but as it is a pain in the BUTT getting them in and out through the bridge hole I would be more comfy with higher readings.

I HAVE used ones that low before though.

I also might suggest the Collings method of wiring them if you don't have to use the standard method. Makes it easier to install and remove and hides the wires better. And it IS the standard as far as what goes where (i.e.: everything is wired the same way, it just uses differing lengths to make them wired in one line.




The little break in the wire there next to the first pot is right next to the bridge pickup cavity and is where the ground wire from the bridge attaches so you can get it on and off easier.

[Triplet]

You, of course, un-soldered your pre-wired kit to take these readings?

[Ron]

I didn’t unsolder anything. There are no pickups attached to the harness so I took the readings directly from the pots.

[gnappi]

Reality check... every off the shelf component on the planet has a 10-20% +/- tolerance spec and few would pay for a 1% to 5% sorted part.