guitar pots with "clicks"

  • Thread starter Thread starter dstroud
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dstroud

dstroud

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I'm looking for a 250K pot with maybe like 5 or 10 clicks as opposed to a smooth roll. That way I can set a tone control and be less paranoid that it's been bumped and moved. Been searching and not finding anything. Anyone know of anybody who makes such a thing?
 
You're looking for a pot with detents. A 250K audio taper 11 detent pot to be specific. They're out there, not sure exactly where to get the specific one you want and it will probably end up being a smaller 16mm size pot with a solid shaft since detent pots are typically used in pedals and not guitars, but it should work ok in a guitar as a tone.
 
I had some that I got only because I needed a smaller sized pot (as XSSIVE mentioned) in those values when others without detents were out of stock. I went through my guitar supplies and they're gone. I probably threw them away a few years ago. I would've just sent them to you if I still had them. I then went looking at supplier sites I know of and I don't see any of them in stock (in useful values anyway, since 15K ohms won't help you).

There's another approach you can take. A rotary switch with the number of poles (1) and throws (5 to 10) you want, and you add various resistors to the switch. Since it's a tone pot and those are used as variable resistors for the application (one lug is unused, so it's not really being used like a potentiometer), this can easily be mimicked by switching among a bunch of resistor values. And having a cap in series of course. The added benefit of this: you can choose how many settings you want and make them very specific with the resistor values you use. You may have to experiment with different resistor values, but in the end you'd get a very specific setting for each position of the switch. For one position you can even have it be a "true bypass" with no resistor, so it's like completely removing the tone 'pot' from the circuit.

I'm looking at Mouser.com for rotary switches since they're inexpensive and also because I just ordered a few as series/split/parallel switches in my own guitars (so I'm familiar with the options). They'll cost about $4-$5 per switch. There are limits to their parameters though. For instance, the "deck" of the switch which has all the solder lugs (which goes inside the guitar's control cavity) is 25mm in diameter in the short direction, and 31mm in diameter in the long direction (it's an oblong shape). Bushing length (the area with the threads, that fit through the guitar's top) is going to be limited to strat or superstrat type guitars (not a thick Les Paul or other carved-top guitar) since 9.5mm seems to be the maximum bushing length. Also your choices of shaft type may be limited (knurled for normal guitar knob, flat for knobs with "D" inner shape or knobs with set screws, and round type which only work with set screw type knobs) depending on the number of positions you want for the switch (etc.)

So if you answer these questions, I can help you pick a switch:

-Do you have 31mm diameter overall inside your guitar's control cavity available for this kind of switch, where the tone pot would normally go?
-If the bushing for this sort of switch is a bit larger in diameter than your existing tone pot's hole are you willing to drill it out a bit (since the choices for bushing diameter are either 9mm or 3/8")?
-How many positions would you prefer? (And if it's not critical but you want it "between 5 and 10 settings" for instance.)
-What sort of knob do you want to use or are you flexible about that choice? (Set screw, knurled.)
-What length of bushing do you need (how thick is the guitar wood you need the bushing to fit through)?
-Is your guitar body really slim or is it at least a normal strat-size (since some resistors have to stand "down" in the cavity off the bottom of the switch's deck)?

If this kind of switch seems like a good idea, I can provide a part number and then draw up a diagram for how to put the resistors and capacitor on the switch.
 
JamesPeters":zv8zc8ji said:
I had some that I got only because I needed a smaller sized pot (as XSSIVE mentioned) in those values when others without detents were out of stock. I went through my guitar supplies and they're gone. I probably threw them away a few years ago. I would've just sent them to you if I still had them. I then went looking at supplier sites I know of and I don't see any of them in stock (in useful values anyway, since 15K ohms won't help you).

There's another approach you can take. A rotary switch with the number of poles (1) and throws (5 to 10) you want, and you add various resistors to the switch. Since it's a tone pot and those are used as variable resistors for the application (one lug is unused, so it's not really being used like a potentiometer), this can easily be mimicked by switching among a bunch of resistor values. And having a cap in series of course. The added benefit of this: you can choose how many settings you want and make them very specific with the resistor values you use. You may have to experiment with different resistor values, but in the end you'd get a very specific setting for each position of the switch. For one position you can even have it be a "true bypass" with no resistor, so it's like completely removing the tone 'pot' from the circuit.

I'm looking at Mouser.com for rotary switches since they're inexpensive and also because I just ordered a few as series/split/parallel switches in my own guitars (so I'm familiar with the options). They'll cost about $4-$5 per switch. There are limits to their parameters though. For instance, the "deck" of the switch which has all the solder lugs (which goes inside the guitar's control cavity) is 25mm in diameter in the short direction, and 31mm in diameter in the long direction (it's an oblong shape). Bushing length (the area with the threads, that fit through the guitar's top) is going to be limited to strat or superstrat type guitars (not a thick Les Paul or other carved-top guitar) since 9.5mm seems to be the maximum bushing length. Also your choices of shaft type may be limited (knurled for normal guitar knob, flat for knobs with "D" inner shape or knobs with set screws, and round type which only work with set screw type knobs) depending on the number of positions you want for the switch (etc.)

So if you answer these questions, I can help you pick a switch:

-Do you have 31mm diameter overall inside your guitar's control cavity available for this kind of switch, where the tone pot would normally go?
-If the bushing for this sort of switch is a bit larger in diameter than your existing tone pot's hole are you willing to drill it out a bit (since the choices for bushing diameter are either 9mm or 3/8")?
-How many positions would you prefer? (And if it's not critical but you want it "between 5 and 10 settings" for instance.)
-What sort of knob do you want to use or are you flexible about that choice? (Set screw, knurled.)
-What length of bushing do you need (how thick is the guitar wood you need the bushing to fit through)?
-Is your guitar body really slim or is it at least a normal strat-size (since some resistors have to stand "down" in the cavity off the bottom of the switch's deck)?

If this kind of switch seems like a good idea, I can provide a part number and then draw up a diagram for how to put the resistors and capacitor on the switch.

Hey thanks James! here are the answers - I think this is a pretty cool idea for a tone knob...


-Do you have 31mm diameter overall inside your guitar's control cavity available for this kind of switch, where the tone pot would normally go? YES
-If the bushing for this sort of switch is a bit larger in diameter than your existing tone pot's hole are you willing to drill it out a bit (since the choices for bushing diameter are either 9mm or 3/8")? YEAH NO PROBLEM
-How many positions would you prefer? (And if it's not critical but you want it "between 5 and 10 settings" for instance.)5-10 WOULD BE PLENTY
-What sort of knob do you want to use or are you flexible about that choice? (Set screw, knurled.)FLEXABLE I'LL FIND SOMETHING TO WORK
-What length of bushing do you need (how thick is the guitar wood you need the bushing to fit through)? PICKGUARD ON A STRAT
-Is your guitar body really slim or is it at least a normal strat-size (since some resistors have to stand "down" in the cavity off the bottom of the switch's deck)? NORMAL SIZE STRAT - I'LL MAKE IT FIT
 
XSSIVE":lfvv32su said:
You're looking for a pot with detents. A 250K audio taper 11 detent pot to be specific. They're out there, not sure exactly where to get the specific one you want and it will probably end up being a smaller 16mm size pot with a solid shaft since detent pots are typically used in pedals and not guitars, but it should work ok in a guitar as a tone.

THANKS! detent was the term I needed - I'm not finding anything currently that would work, but coming very close! Probably have to run with James' idea below.
 
Dave's solution is faster to install, and the cost is similar (compared to a switch and the resistors, plus a cap).

I looked up the switch which best suits your situation. It's a 6-position. If you want more info, let me know. I'm guessing you're going to use Dave's suggestion though. :)
 
JamesPeters":27olxtbn said:
Dave's solution is faster to install, and the cost is similar (compared to a switch and the resistors, plus a cap).

I looked up the switch which best suits your situation. It's a 6-position. If you want more info, let me know. I'm guessing you're going to use Dave's suggestion though. :)

thanks James! yeah, gonna give that loknob a try - I hadn't even thought about anything like that even existing lol
 
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