Centralab Pots Are Being Reissued (Update: Don't Buy Them)

[NickiC]

There have been numerous “buyer beware” posts about Jackson Electronics on the LP forums for quite a while. In short, bait & switch and orders aren’t fulfilled. Buyer Beware!, as you would Cream Tone. 2 month wait for a harness?

 

[Tone Ranger Audio]

There have been numerous “buyer beware” posts about Jackson Electronics on Reverb. In short, orders aren’t honored. Buyer Beware
as would Cream Tone.

My experience exactly. Got a different excuse each week and ended up not having the VIP pots I wanted.

 

[NickiC]

I would love to find some VIP’s. But I tend to ride the volume, tone, and hot, humid environment wears them out. Frequently.

 

[garywright]

I have an extra quad that I bought and never used ..might sell but usually when I do I acquire a guitar that needs what I just sold haha

 

[bern1]

VIP seem to have nailed it and do a good job with customer service.. I have them in a couple of guitars and they are exactly what I am used to. I’m not going anywhere else.

 

[garywright]

errr you may need too

 

[c_wester]

Isnt the catch the "carbonstrip" that was used is illegal today?
So it will have the name but not the same tone....

I might be wrong of course.

 

[bern1]

errr you may need too

Why? I’m not in the know.

Isnt the catch the "carbonstrip" that was used is illegal today?
So it will have the name but not the same tone....

I might be wrong of course.

??

 

[garywright]

they seem to be having availability issues

 

[deytookerjaabs]

Isnt the catch the "carbonstrip" that was used is illegal today?
So it will have the name but not the same tone....

I might be wrong of course.

An illegal carbon strip?

No, they still make pots like this, just not the same spec as the old ones used by Gibson. I imagine you'd have to order a lot to get them built properly, but it might be possible to purchase separate parts and assemble in house.

 

[ScumbackSpeakers]

If you can't wait, these are what I've been using for the last several years. They have the old taper, respond just like my 59 Jr, 60's SG's, etc.

CTS 500K Vintage-style Split Audio Potentiometer

500K ohm audio pot, CTS, vintage style, split knurled shaft with nut, lock & dress washer.

www.allparts.com

 

[Big Al]

I would love to find some VIP’s. But I tend to ride the volume, tone, and hot, humid environment wears them out. Frequently.

The VIPs are excellent. How many VIP pots have you worn out? I ride my volume and adjust the tone frequently, yet decades of touring, club work and recording and still excellent working pots, in my case on multiple guitars.

 

[NickiC]

The VIPs are excellent. How many VIP pots have you worn out? I ride my volume and adjust the tone frequently, yet decades of touring, club work and recording and still excellent working pots, in my case on multiple guitars.

I had to replace 2, They were excellent, then one lost most of the taper. The other one did same, just lasted a year longer, till the next
summer. Definitely no over heating with the iron at install.

 

[NickiC]

Bridge volume first, then neck volume. I didn’t replace them because I could not find them. So, back to the R&S super pots.

 

[G3sal]

My experience exactly. Got a different excuse each week and ended up not having the VIP pots I wanted.

After reading a few of your posts regarding Jackson, I canceled my order and just got the refund.

He told me "VIP went out of business". They didn't, they just don't have the 550k pots. He also mentioned the Centralab reissue. Not gonna wait around to find out.

I've had it up to here with vendors in the guitar community taking money for advertised products and don't deliver. My harness was supposed to ship 3 weeks ago.

 

[Dave P]

Just looking at the picture it looks like a relabeled import Bourns pot. Doesn't look anything like an old Centralab.

 

[Big Al]

I had to replace 2, They were excellent, then one lost most of the taper. The other one did same, just lasted a year longer, till the next
summer. Definitely no over heating with the iron at install.

Wow! That is not good. I have not had that happen to me, I have worn out a Centralab and a few CTS pots, but they were pretty old. The 90's and early 2000s Gibson stamped pots didn't last longer than a couple years and the taper on my 2013 CS R9s wasn't. More like on off switch. That is why I used the VIP Vintage taper. They have been excellent.

 

[garywright]

Wow! That is not good. I have not had that happen to me, I have worn out a Centralab and a few CTS pots, but they were pretty old. The 90's and early 2000s Gibson stamped pots didn't last longer than a couple years and the taper on my 2013 CS R9s wasn't. More like on off switch. That is why I used the VIP Vintage taper. They have been excellent.

ViPots have been out for only a couple years ..good to hear you’re back to playing with that intensity

 

[ReWind James]

It's a Chinese Alpha pot.

They will put whatever logo you pay for on the back. China doesn't recognize trademarks.

HOWEVER - the one in the photo the OP posted is Photoshopped. Look at the "R in a circle" at the end of the text. It's going right over the rounded over edge of the pot and perfectly straight and crisp, not to mention higher resolution than the actual image of the pot. Just photo editing. Pretty sweet use of Photoshop's "emboss" feature.

 

[ReWind James]

Just looking at the picture it looks like a relabeled import Bourns pot. Doesn't look anything like an old Centralab.

Similar, but the Bourns pots are a little different, mechanically. These are all different options from Bourns....