Just had to get this one off my chest. Whilst there are many variables to consider, the traditional volume pot values appear to be the best choice in most …
48 Comments
Listen lads — the first one is 250k then down is 500k. So 1st 250, 2nd 500, 3rd 250, etc etc. Now do you have it? 🙂
He didn't say which was which so that we would just LISTEN for any differences. When you are told what you're listening to, you can trick yourself into hearing what you want to hear.
Just the video I was looking for! Thank you so much. For those confused, the single coil clips go 250k, then 500k. The humbucker clips starts with 500k, and then 250k. Pay attention to where he flicks the switch 😉 Visuals on the screen could have helped, but we're all adults who are hopefully attentive enough to figure it out on our own.
The difference is more subtle than i expected but you can hear it. When using a good ear monitor, on single coils, the 500k pot seems to emphasize pick attack, a bit more ice picky. Maybe not so noticable to the Listener but may annoy the player. The whole shape of the tone doesn't really get brighter but thatd could be due to the amps compression (drive). I prefer 250k, it just works
Thank you for this demonstration! Just what I wanted to hear. I could even tell a difference on my shitty little laptop speakers. Tried and true seems to be for me.
I can hear a very subtle high end boost when he uses the 500k pot on the single coils, but just barely. The difference to me was slightly greater on the humbucker.
Would have been nice to actually be told which pot you were switching to each time. just verbally saying it in between or text. Otherwise all we're doing is watching you play guitar. Regarding having both single and double coil in the same guitar, would it work to use a 250k pot but on the wire coming out of the humbucker attach a 250k resistor before it gets in the tone circuit (so the single coil just gets the 250k and the humbucker gets 250k + 250k with the same volume pot)? curious if anyone has tried that.
Now that needs a stereo output jack with either pot wired to either channel so you can breakout later and give me one in either ear or keep it like it is when a Mono jack is connected
Absolutely great demo. The difference was much more dramatic than I thought it would be. Every electric guitarist should watch this video. Nice work James.👍🏼
This was useless as far as I can tell. Why didn't you label what you were testing? Have no clue which was 250k or 500k single coils nor which was 250k & 500k humbucker. That, makes the entire video useless. As far as I could tell, you used the same setting the entire time? 🤷♂️👎👎👎👎
It’s pretty simple; he’s using the 250k pot first each time he plays a new riff. You can clearly hear the repeat of each new riff being brighter indicating the use of 500k
I thought by your title that you were testing the actual VOLUME of the pickups of the two guitars, vintage vs reissue. Why don't you do that? I have yet to find THAT type of test anyhwere, between old and new guitars. The legend has it that the copper in the windings was more pure in the vintage models, and there were more windings on the pick up which resulted in more volume and better tone at the same amp setting for both guitars. I've yet to fine anyone who's done that actual test, at least with a DB meter. I don't have a vintage axe or a DB meter, or i'd do it.
I literally couldn’t tell the difference between the 250k and 500k pots.
If you put, for example, 1k ohms of resistance between your pickups and your output jack, it doesn’t matter whether it’s being put there by a 250k pot or a 500k pot or a 1k resistor or two 500 ohm resistor in series or two 2k resistors in parallel. 1k ohms = 1k ohms = 1k ohms.
But thanks for doing this test. I appreciate it. It is exactly the video I was looking for!
Listen lads — the first one is 250k then down is 500k. So 1st 250, 2nd 500, 3rd 250, etc etc. Now do you have it? 🙂
Didn’t know Dana Carvey could pluck the git fiddle 🎸👍🎸👍🎸
When I said "more bollocular reflex" I meant without spending more $$$… a.k.a. the "more-bang-for-buck" equation… you know… that old chestnut.
He didn't say which was which so that we would just LISTEN for any differences. When you are told what you're listening to, you can trick yourself into hearing what you want to hear.
There are tons of wankers on YouTube and you're not one of them.
Great playing but I’m totally lost for the switched transition points
it all sounds the same on an ipad.
It's good to see that John Lydon isn't pissed off any more.
Just the video I was looking for! Thank you so much. For those confused, the single coil clips go 250k, then 500k. The humbucker clips starts with 500k, and then 250k. Pay attention to where he flicks the switch 😉 Visuals on the screen could have helped, but we're all adults who are hopefully attentive enough to figure it out on our own.
Humbuckah
The difference is more subtle than i expected but you can hear it. When using a good ear monitor, on single coils, the 500k pot seems to emphasize pick attack, a bit more ice picky. Maybe not so noticable to the Listener but may annoy the player. The whole shape of the tone doesn't really get brighter but thatd could be due to the amps compression (drive). I prefer 250k, it just works
Thank you for this demonstration! Just what I wanted to hear. I could even tell a difference on my shitty little laptop speakers. Tried and true seems to be for me.
say 250 / 500 when u switch ! u 'look how i can play rock riffs' showoff twat !
Would have been nice to know which is which .
I was lost
Nice playing!
Solid playing James!!! May I ask…what gauge of strings are you using? Thanks!
Watching both comparisons back to back, Capacitor size makes way more difference that Pot size does.
I can hear a very subtle high end boost when he uses the 500k pot on the single coils, but just barely. The difference to me was slightly greater on the humbucker.
thanks mate! did the sh-4 / 250k feel wimpier when shredding in comparison?
Would have been nice to actually be told which pot you were switching to each time. just verbally saying it in between or text. Otherwise all we're doing is watching you play guitar. Regarding having both single and double coil in the same guitar, would it work to use a 250k pot but on the wire coming out of the humbucker attach a 250k resistor before it gets in the tone circuit (so the single coil just gets the 250k and the humbucker gets 250k + 250k with the same volume pot)? curious if anyone has tried that.
Now that needs a stereo output jack with either pot wired to either channel so you can breakout later and give me one in either ear or keep it like it is when a Mono jack is connected
tchau! kkkkkkkk
This kind of renewed my love for Floyd Rose bridges on Strats. My experience is they always get too squawky on Strats.
Absolutely great demo. The difference was much more dramatic than I thought it would be. Every electric guitarist should watch this video. Nice work James.👍🏼
Great video. I think everything sounded better with 250k. Even the humbucker.
Bad tutorial and video👎💤😠
They do make double pots, that combine a 500 stacked on a 250. Also, you can get in-between values. 450K and 300K pots are available. Just saying….
500k Audio pot and a 500k Tone pot, gives a wider frequency range for my Hot bridge single coil! Screams like crazy with overdrive!
This was useless as far as I can tell. Why didn't you label what you were testing? Have no clue which was 250k or 500k single coils nor which was 250k & 500k humbucker. That, makes the entire video useless. As far as I could tell, you used the same setting the entire time? 🤷♂️👎👎👎👎
Couldn't follow which setting was being used when.
Wow, a bunch of random playing with no idea what pots are being used. Bravo.
No chance of posting a wiring diagram?
interesting idea, someone should make a cap changing guitar aswell
Great video James! Thank you!
Great video
THX for this great video & test !!!
Can't you get the same sound from a single coil with 500K pots by rolling back down the tone knob?
It’s pretty simple; he’s using the 250k pot first each time he plays a new riff. You can clearly hear the repeat of each new riff being brighter indicating the use of 500k
I guess they'll (fender or whoever) come up with a dual gang pot. 500k and 250k.Stereo pots are dual gang, but the same value.
01:17 click here to skip the fucking blablabla
"gonna start at Single Coil on the 250k pot, then flick it down to 500k"
Hey bro… 500k u used o47 caps or o22?
Difference is quite clear, you just need good headphones and a bit of volume.
Okay.. whatever pot is at 3:30–3:40 I love that tone. Anybody knows- let me know. Thanks!
Very nice comparison! Thanks for posting.
This video is exactly what I was looking for! Great idea, fantastically executed. Thanks.
I thought by your title that you were testing the actual VOLUME of the pickups of the two guitars, vintage vs reissue. Why don't you do that? I have yet to find THAT type of test anyhwere, between old and new guitars. The legend has it that the copper in the windings was more pure in the vintage models, and there were more windings on the pick up which resulted in more volume and better tone at the same amp setting for both guitars. I've yet to fine anyone who's done that actual test, at least with a DB meter. I don't have a vintage axe or a DB meter, or i'd do it.
Fantastic video! I generally prefer 500k pots. If it gets too shrill, I turn down the tone control.
I literally couldn’t tell the difference between the 250k and 500k pots.
If you put, for example, 1k ohms of resistance between your pickups and your output jack, it doesn’t matter whether it’s being put there by a 250k pot or a 500k pot or a 1k resistor or two 500 ohm resistor in series or two 2k resistors in parallel. 1k ohms = 1k ohms = 1k ohms.
But thanks for doing this test. I appreciate it. It is exactly the video I was looking for!