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View Full Version : What height/size CTS pots for Epiphone SP Custom?



Duffy
January 11th, 2012, 10:38 PM
I'm installing some Gibson 490r and 498r pickups in my black Epi LP Custom.

What is the correct type of pots to get for that guitar, height and type? 500kOhm I guess, but what mfg?

Any suggestions on the cap values and mfg's?

I'm trying to get the classic LP sound, nothing extraordinary.

Will upgrading from the stock Epiphone pots and caps make a difference that is perciptible to the human ear, considering that I'm installing the Gibson pickup upgrades?

mapka
January 12th, 2012, 09:32 AM
Been gathering parts to do a pickup change in my Hagstrom Swede which is similare. I got 500K audio taper long shaft pots like these:

http://www.allparts.com/CTS-Long-Shaft-500K-Split-Shaft-Audio-Pot-p/ep-0686-000.htm

Capacitors are more of a personal choice. I got these:

http://www.allparts.com/022-inchOrange-Drop-inch-Capacitors-p/ep-4382-000.htm

I also decided to go with Switchcraft switches. Since the Epis are made offshore like my Hagstrom, you may run into the same headache I did when converting to the Switchcraft switches. In a nutshell, the threaded area on the Switchcrafts is much shorter then on the import ones used in my Hag. This is because Gibson uses a countersunk nut that has the threaded area inside the hole in the top of the guitar (hope this makes sense). Of course the holes in my Hag are just a tad smaller then the nuts, so I will have to oversize the holes.

As for tonal difference, can't really say. You may find that the pots are already CTS (which means good pots) and you may not want to change them. The caps may or may not change the tone, depending on what is already in there (value and style). You may want to add a tone bleed circuit in there which would help with the tone when you start to turn the volume down.

Bookkeeper's Son
January 12th, 2012, 09:59 AM
I redid my Epi with CTS 500k audio taper pots, Switchcraft 3-way & jack. One of the pots had been getting scratchy and the switch a bit dodgy. No tonal change as far as I could tell - didn't expect any. The original volume pot was a 300k linear, but I didn't notice any difference ther, either. I got the stuff at http://www.guitarnucleus.com/gnstore/elec.html - good prices and service.

BTW, what amp(s) are you playing through?