Norlin maple-neck Les Paul Custom - 300k or 500k pots?

El Gringo · Mar 25, 2022

The one major difference to me is if a Gibson guitar is weight relieved and if it is I would suggest the 300k pots, if you use the 500k pots it will be a very harsh treble tone that will not be pleasant in the least . Now for a solidbody Gibson 500k pots every day of the year .

charliechitlins · Mar 26, 2022

I've never heard of this correlation.
Now we're only a very small step a way from correlating pot value to neck wood.

CK6 · Mar 26, 2022

charliechitlins said:
I've never heard of this correlation.
Now we're only a very small step a way from correlating pot value to neck wood.

Nobody said anything about comparing pot value to neck wood. Maple is brighter/snappier and paired with an ebony fingerboard, the guitar may sound bright with 550k+ pots.

El Gringo said:
The one major difference to me is if a Gibson guitar is weight relieved and if it is I would suggest the 300k pots, if you use the 500k pots it will be a very harsh treble tone that will not be pleasant in the least . Now for a solidbody Gibson 500k pots every day of the year .

I have 550K pots in my 2002 standard, and it does not sound unpleasant or harsh. Keep in mind that if you swap out the Nashville bridge for an ABR1 and swap the SS thumbwheels for brass it helps.

stratology · Mar 26, 2022

CK6 said:
I have 550K pots

One thing to remember is tolerances. A 500k pot can easily be between ~ 440k and 560k. It's always a good idea to measure pots with an Ohm meter before using them. I write the actual value of the pot onto the casing, with a thin marker pen.

Lower Ohm value means less top end. That's why Strats use 250k pots for single coils - the pickups are brighter, more high cut works for them.

So if you have new '500k' volume pots for the LP, and one measures 480k, the other measures 520k, I'd use the first one for the bridge pickup.

CK6 · Mar 26, 2022

stratology said:
One thing to remember is tolerances. A 500k pot can easily be between ~ 440k and 560k. It's always a good idea to measure pots with an Ohm meter before using them. I write the actual value of the pot onto the casing, with a thin marker pen.

Lower Ohm value means less top end. That's why Strats use 250k pots for single coils - the pickups are brighter, more high cut works for them.

So if you have new '500k' volume pots for the LP, and one measures 480k, the other measures 520k, I'd use the first one for the bridge pickup.

Thanks, the pots are measured.

stratology · Mar 26, 2022

CK6 said:
Thanks, the pots are measured.

Cool. BTW, when I quoted you, my intention was not to address what you do personally, just take what you said as a welcome starting point for sharing general ideas...

stratology · Mar 26, 2022

For anyone interested in digging deeper into guitar electronics, the new book 'Complete Guitar Wiring' by Gerry Hayes is fantastic.

Here's a review from Highline Guitars:

charliechitlins · Mar 26, 2022

CK6 said:
Nobody said anything about comparing pot value to neck wood. Maple is brighter/snappier and paired with an ebony fingerboard, the guitar may sound bright with 550k+ pots.

I have 550K pots in my 2002 standard, and it does not sound unpleasant or harsh. Keep in mind that if you swap out the Nashville bridge for an ABR1 and swap the SS thumbwheels for brass it helps.

Actually...the OP is specifically trying to find out what pots will go with his maple neck.
And now that thumbwheels have entered the conversation, it's getting way too esoteric for me.

CK6 · Mar 26, 2022

charliechitlins said:
Actually...the OP is specifically trying to find out what pots will go with his maple neck.
And now that thumbwheels have entered the conversation, it's getting way too esoteric for me.

I revived a 14 year old post because I had a question! I’m sure that the OP has figured things out since

CK6 · Mar 26, 2022

stratology said:
Cool. BTW, when I quoted you, my intention was not to address what you do personally, just take what you said as a welcome starting point for sharing general ideas...

No worries! I agree with you, it really depends on what you’re going for and rig etc

tjdjr1 · Mar 28, 2022

I like 300k pots. I have 78 and 80 standards with them. I have tried 500s in the 80 and went back to 300s.

charliechitlins · Mar 28, 2022

CK6 said:
I revived a 14 year old post because I had a question! I’m sure that the OP has figured things out since

Oy!
I never check the date.
The internet all exists at the same time in my twisted old brain.

CK6 · Mar 28, 2022

charliechitlins said:
Oy!
I never check the date.
The internet all exists at the same time in my twisted old brain.

Hehe no worries!

CK6 · Mar 28, 2022

tjdjr1 said:
I like 300k pots. I have 78 and 80 standards with them. I have tried 500s in the 80 and went back to 300s.

Cool, thanks!

Tim · Apr 2, 2022

If you use 500 and it's too bright you can always roll it down to 300 or somewhere in between. If you use 300 and it's too dark your only option is to change it.

Reddart · Apr 3, 2022

Just remember, LPF guru Papersoul preferred the 300K pots. Let’s not forget that in our haste.

CK6 · Apr 5, 2022

Reddart said:
Just remember, LPF guru Papersoul preferred the 300K pots. Let’s not forget that in our haste.

No clue who that is

… I have a preference for 500K

CK6 · Apr 8, 2022

Pots installed, and it is 1000% better! For me, anyway.

TxMack · Sep 1, 2022

charliechitlins said:
I'm pretty sure nobody has yet made the correlation between neck wood and pot resistance.
Pots and caps are relatively inexpensive.
For 50 bucks you can try every imaginable combination.
Unless you start buying pre-made harnesses, which is like paying somebody to slice your steak for you.

If I was as crappy with a steak knife as I am with a soldering iron, I might have to call RS Cutlery Works....

Wilko · Sep 3, 2022

You can always reduce highs, go ahead and put in the 500. You can use your tone control if it's too bright. Or use the tone controls on the amp.

Higher value tone cap will lower the cutoff frequency so you can roll off more of the high/mids treble. .01 will let more mids though

Norlin maple-neck Les Paul Custom - 300k or 500k pots?

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