Best cheap 500k pots

[djford]

I am redoing my Gibson sg do I need long or shot shafts, also what are good. Cheap tone capastors?

[CowboyFromHell]

I can't answer the first part of your question but in regards to the second part, considering the long lifetime you'll get from good quality parts and the relatively low expense of them, don't skimp on pots and caps. Spend the lil bit extra it would cost to get the top shelf stuff and you'll be much happier in the long run.

[Devotee]

You need short shafts since SGs don't have a carved top, but don't take my word for it. CTS pots are good.

[DonP]

CTS pots can be had for $5 or less.

[DalyTek]

I second the CTS pots. Use 500K short shaft pots for your SG.
If it's a Gibson, they should fit right in. If it's an Epiphone or other import, you might have to enlarge the holes a bit.

[BigE13]

CTS are great and I have also had very good results with Dimarzio 500K pots...

[straycat]

Check with RSguitarworks and get a pre wired kit for your SG.The kit will come with CTS/RS 500+ pots quality caps and extra wire.
Quality pots and caps make a huge difference.If you are going for a mellow sound opt for the vintage caps and if you are going more for a modern tone go with the modern caps.
I usually use 550 k in the vol and 490-500k tone.
The wiring and electronics is not an area where you want to cut corners.
Your SG takes short shafts.

[Hamner1]

250k or 500k pot... when/why would you use one over the other? Is there a benefit of one over the other?

[Tricky]

250K work well for bright single coils. 500K for warmer sounding humbuckers.

[DonP]

250K are typically for singles which are bright already. They tame the highs.

500K are to keep humbuckers with higher output from getting muddy.

There is no right or wrong way, just what sounds best. For example, Setmour Duncan recommends a 250K pot on a JB to tame the highs.

[straycat]

I use 300k on a JB and I like the way it smooths them out plus you can get some bite when you need it.
Just roll the vol down a little is all you need.
Plus you need to learn to use tone knobs to thats why they are there.
Always makes me laugh when people complain about a pick up being shrill and won't take the controls off 10.

[Amerturk]

I have searched high and low through the years for pots that actually spin well without using two hands. Sure you can buy a EVH pot for $12.00, but that gets spendy on a 3 pot guitar or for a few guitars.

Believe it or not, the best pot I have found is a Proline 500k mini pot found at Guitar Center. I'm not trying to pump up GC, but they have the ones that work very well and spin easily. So with a Gibson Explorer where the room to work is very limited in the cavity, I'd go with the mini pot. Same thing as the larger ones, just smaller on the inside of the cavity. BTW, the pots only cost $5.00

New Pot Tip: The pots come new with wax or grease on them. When attempting to solder on this, it doesn't work and makes a huge mess. Scratch the top of the pot with steel wool or a fine sandpaper so the solder will adhere. Prior to placing the pot in the guitar, pre-solder what you need. Example: If you need 3 areas for wires, pre solder 3 tiny dots of solder and if you need the 3rd lug against the body, take care of that too.

[mr426]

The EVH pots are made by Bournes. The low friction ones. You can find those online for like $3-4

[javert]

After having used mostly CTS (and whatever I could find), I recently bought a whole bunch of Bournes as I found a good place to buy them. I like them. Out of curiousity (and because it was hard to read the inscription), I measured the resistance of the CTS pots I had lying around and they were all over the place. The Bournes, at least the ones I received, were far more consistent.

[groverj3]

CTS are great and I have also had very good results with Dimarzio 500K pots...

Probably because CTS makes the Dimarzio pots