Is the Super Pot worth the time and trouble?

  • Thread starter Thread starter TremoJem
  • Start date Start date
T

TremoJem

New member
After a disappointing conversation with a representative from RS Guitarworks I am less than impressed and not convinced about the "super pot"

Has anyone used these over priced pots made by CTS?

Can anyone really say that hands down it is worth my time and trouble to make this change from the new CTS pot I just installed?

Please be specific if possible, as my new CTS pot is an improvement over the Alpha pot I had been using, but there is not really a "smooth" taper and it is not usable in every spot, so I do see room for improvement. I just want to be sure that the next pot I install is the last one for awhile.

Thanks all.
 
...thought there was some new strain of super pot out there...

>_>

*leaves*
 
FWIW, my personal "Super Pot" is the DiMarzio branded CTS, it's got a taper I love. Feels very natural.
 
Allparts has the 1 meg listed as $6.50 ea and I only see the 500k at RS, but guitarelectronics.com has the 500k for $6.50 which is a little cheaper than RS . Now are you guys talking about 500k or 1 meg?
 
Blix":hbe7y6ay said:
FWIW, my personal "Super Pot" is the DiMarzio branded CTS, it's got a taper I love. Feels very natural.
Click to expand...

I agree. The Dimarzios have a nice taper and are built very nice. Compare one to a standard CTS pot and you'll see and feel the difference. FWIW I do like the standard CTS pots and have them in some guitars with treble bleed circuits and they work very well. Nice useful tapers.

The Dimarzios are only like $5 so if you don't like them you're not out much money.
 
I have RS Super Pots in my Les Pauls. I like the taper. That's the only difference from other pots.
 
I installed those in my guitar that replaced the standard CTS because of the audio tapering problem. As you stated, it isn't "usable" throughout the entire range. I would think it more accurately to put it that with the volume pot it appeared to have about three stages or drop-offs on the volume knob. Not what I was looking for. The RS certainly is smoother and provides a different response. As far as wear and tear goes, I have changed pups and grounded wires in that guitar several times with the solder gun since I installed them a few months ago and it is still responsive, not causing any scratching noises, has not gone dead yet. The original CTS pot in the guitar was in there for about 9 years before I had it replaced. I had placed one order at the same time under the recommendation of my guitar tech for those pots (he also recommended the Bjorn pot) and bought enough to be used on my strat build that a builder is doing for me. Hope that helps.
 
Most pots have up toa 20% tolerance. The only difference between the super pots and a generic cts pot is that only the onces that test within a specific range are markedted as super pots. I seen the generics range from 400k to 580k. I just take my multimeter into the local guitar store and they have a bin of them for $5 each. I just pick mine to be as close to 500k as possible. The whole taper thing is perception. The taper of a 400k pot will feel different than a 525k pot. These are not special pots, but rather specially screened pots
 
scottosan":1s3elb1v said:
Most pots have up toa 20% tolerance. The only difference between the super pots and a generic cts pot is that only the onces that test within a specific range are markedted as super pots. I seen the generics range from 400k to 580k. I just take my multimeter into the local guitar store and they have a bin of them for $5 each. I just pick mine to be as close to 500k as possible. The whole taper thing is perception. The taper of a 400k pot will feel different than a 525k pot. These are not special pots, but rather specially screened pots
Click to expand...

The taper is 100% different between an RS Super Pot of value X and a generic CTS pot of the same value X.
 
I still think the regular CTS pots are the best. I like pots that are a bit heavy to turn. Those expensive ones that are turn so easily are superhard to control in a live setting, I get no feel for the pot at all.
 
guitarnerd":1f44gsqm said:
I still think the regular CTS pots are the best. I like pots that are a bit heavy to turn. Those expensive ones that are turn so easily are superhard to control in a live setting, I get no feel for the pot at all.
Click to expand...

The RS pots I have turn less freely than the stock CTS pots that were in my Gibsons. So take that for what it's worth.
 
FourT6and2":13v3cp7s said:
guitarnerd":13v3cp7s said:
I still think the regular CTS pots are the best. I like pots that are a bit heavy to turn. Those expensive ones that are turn so easily are superhard to control in a live setting, I get no feel for the pot at all.
Click to expand...

The RS pots I have turn less freely than the stock CTS pots that were in my Gibsons. So take that for what it's worth.
Click to expand...

The stock pots in Gibson turn quite easily, so I can image then RS being similar to normal CTS. I haven't tried the RS though, so I'm just speculating.
 
No love here for the RS Super Pots. They have a weird taper to them.

PEC pots are the closest you will find to the original 50's Gibson pots in terms of taper. Nothing else compares in quality either. Be prepared to spend some dough though... These bad-boys are $24.99 per pot!

Screenshot2012-07-27at102434PM.png
 
I love my Bourns.

At first I was a little thrown off by the low friction pot because I am CONSTANTLY riding my volume. But after a week or so it felt so good that I cannot imagine going back to regular pots. :no:

I play slide a lot and I slide into notes quite a bit while swelling the volume up and these pots feel perfect when rolling them with my pinky.

My favorite pots so far. :yes:
 
Badronald":xwghi6qe said:
I love my Bourns.

At first I was a little thrown off by the low friction pot because I am CONSTANTLY riding my volume. But after a week or so it felt so good that I cannot imagine going back to regular pots. :no:

I play slide a lot and I slide into notes quite a bit while swelling the volume up and these pots feel perfect when rolling them with my pinky.

My favorite pots so far. :yes:
Click to expand...
Try a volume pedal instead. ;)
 
TrueTone500":3781wd0h said:
Badronald":3781wd0h said:
I love my Bourns.

At first I was a little thrown off by the low friction pot because I am CONSTANTLY riding my volume. But after a week or so it felt so good that I cannot imagine going back to regular pots. :no:

I play slide a lot and I slide into notes quite a bit while swelling the volume up and these pots feel perfect when rolling them with my pinky.

My favorite pots so far. :yes:
Click to expand...
Try a volume pedal instead. ;)
Click to expand...


Got one. Don't need it or use it. I've got good volume pots on my guitars.
 
I've been making the move gradually to Bourns. As I change out electronics I add them in, and they are really good.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top