• Ernie Ball
  • MusicMan
  • Sterling by MusicMan

B2D

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 19, 2005
Messages
644
Location
Orange County, CA
First and foremost, the number of Ohms in your pots is nothing more than a tone choice. Generally the higher the K value the brilliant the tone is, especially for humbuckers. This is why 500k pots are a bit too much for most Strat and Tele players, Icepick central. Some people, a good friend of mine, prefers the PAF Pro with 250k pots cos he says it makes the tone darker and more "mysterious" :p

General rule of thumb, if you have 3 pickups and two are 'humbucker' sounding pickups 300k - 500k pots are a good choice.

if you have 3 pickups and only one is humbucker sounding, you can go either way depending on what vibe you're going for - aggressive or vintage.

3 pickups and no humbucker is bright central lol.

I find that changing pot values not only results in a tonal change, but a response change as well. 500k pots always feel tighter and brighter to me, while 250k pots are smoother and feel a little softer.

It's a tonal decision about what works best with your pickups, really. I tend to prefer 500Ks with darker, humbuckers and 250's with brighter buckers and single coils.
 

Andrew Whitmore

Active member
Joined
Mar 3, 2010
Messages
44
Location
Melbourne, Australia.
I find that changing pot values not only results in a tonal change, but a response change as well. 500k pots always feel tighter and brighter to me, while 250k pots are smoother and feel a little softer.

It's a tonal decision about what works best with your pickups, really. I tend to prefer 500Ks with darker, humbuckers and 250's with brighter buckers and single coils.

This man speaks the truth! :D:cool:
 

e.mate

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 31, 2009
Messages
745
Location
Bremen, Germany
Interesting read. I'm thinking of a pickup swap also, but might go for a new pick guard assembly to keep the stock tones intact.

That's what I'm upt to with my SUB....I am planning to have different pickguards with different setups, that will all be equipped with Molex (in my case Tamyia) connectors to the output, so that swapping PGs will be easy.

Originally I didn't want to tamper with the Silo, as it is piezo loaded, and as I said, I don't want to spoil the integrity of this wonderful instrument. I just wanted a little more "progressive bite" from the bridge pup, that's all. So I guess I'm gonna follow the advice of Mr. Andrew "Doc DiMarzio" Whitmore, and give an F-spaced Liquifire a try. And if I don't like the outcome, I'm maybe gonna reinstall the Virtual PAF...and keep the Silo as is.

I'm currently a little low on funds, as otherwise I would get an used Silo and have a completely customized PG installed. But that has to wait....the SUB will be my playground for testing :cool:
 

Andrew Whitmore

Active member
Joined
Mar 3, 2010
Messages
44
Location
Melbourne, Australia.
So I guess I'm gonna follow the advice of Mr. Andrew "Doc DiMarzio" Whitmore, and give an F-spaced Liquifire a try. And if I don't like the outcome, I'm maybe gonna reinstall the Virtual PAF...and keep the Silo as is.

Haha, you flatter me!

But I can't wait to hear how it goes! Any chance of getting some soundclips or a video to us? I'm soo interested!

Oh, and hang on to that Virtual PAF, there has been a market for them ever since DiMarzio discontinued them. You've got a collector's pickup right there, courtesy of Music Man :cool:
 

e.mate

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 31, 2009
Messages
745
Location
Bremen, Germany
Oh, and hang on to that Virtual PAF, there has been a market for them ever since DiMarzio discontinued them. You've got a collector's pickup right there, courtesy of Music Man :cool:

I know, brother, I'm pretty sure that my tech is trying to get hold of it after the swap.....but no way, I'm gonna keep that one :p
 
Top Bottom