upgrading Gibson pots

[djpatb]

How much of an impact is there to upgrading tone pots in a Gibson SG or Les paul? I've been upgrading my Gibsons, and I've done full 4 pot upgrades with RS Guitarworks parts. Would I be just as well off if I only changed the stock volume pots to RS Superpots? I'm just thinking of leaving the tone pots alone to save some money. Are the Gibson stock tone pots that much worse than a standard 500k CTS? Thanks.

 

[Gooseman]

Do you use your volume knob often or your tone knobs? If so, then yes, swapping them out can be beneficial.

If you mainly play wide open, then don't worry about it. Older players relied more heavily on their guitar knobs for eq changes and such, where a swap could be a good thing.

 

[Chris6870]

I just swapped out my gibson pots to 500K CTS pots. I really didn't notice a difference. I noticed more of a difference with pickup swaps.

 

[Mudder]

I like good pots but would piece the parts together instead of buying an RS kit. Way cheaper for the same stuff.

 

[djpatb]

I just swapped out my gibson pots to 500K CTS pots. I really didn't notice a difference. I noticed more of a difference with pickup swaps.

I've changed out the pots on a couple of my SG's, and I definitely noticed a difference. I measured the stock volume pots around 280k...the RS Superpots are around 570k.

 

[djpatb]

I like good pots but would piece the parts together instead of buying an RS kit. Way cheaper for the same stuff.

I'm willing to spend the extra money for the RS Superpots for volumes, but yeah, the regular 500k CTS pots and other parts in the kits are cheaper elsewhere.
So...can I get away with just upgrading the volumes pots to Superpots? Am I missing out if I leave the tone pots stock?

 

[Nico]

I like good pots but would piece the parts together instead of buying an RS kit. Way cheaper for the same stuff.

I'm willing to spend the extra money for the RS Superpots for volumes, but yeah, the regular 500k CTS pots and other parts in the kits are cheaper elsewhere.
So...can I get away with just upgrading the volumes pots to Superpots? Am I missing out if I leave the tone pots stock?

Not at all!

 

[Giga]

I just swapped out my gibson pots to 500K CTS pots. I really didn't notice a difference. I noticed more of a difference with pickup swaps.

I've changed out the pots on a couple of my SG's, and I definitely noticed a difference. I measured the stock volume pots around 280k...the RS Superpots are around 570k.

Haha, not to make fun of you but what you're hearing aren't the pots but the different resistance values. I bet you got more treble/presence ? A lot of older Gibson's had 300k pots. It's a trick to tame the highs.

Giga

 

[djpatb]

Of course I'm hearing the difference in resistance, that's the reason for doing it. The 300k linear volume pots are pretty much stock on standard Gibson models. Older Gibsons had 500k's all the way around. That's why I've done the upgrade to 570k audio tapers.

 

[hthomas]

I have 2 LPs and have upgraded pots in both. Jim at WCR makes some awesome pre wired kits. check em out!