Re: Best potentiometer brand - Alpha, CTS or PEC?
Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 9:58 am
In my 67 I prefered the sound of the alphas. they sounded warmer and gives a little more complex clean sound. it sounds more like CCs
Old thread resurrection time, new guy here. ( hi doug h, ed g).
I am not an amp guy, pedals, but i have some opinions and questions.
I like all of the cts i've used in the last 11 years. I got quite a few from new sensor, nylon shaft, brass bushing.
I boycott alpha because of the crapmetal bushings.
I have used over a hundred PECs for wah pots with no problems, i grind a d into the shaft on a bench grinder before gluing a wah gear on them.
Can someone tell me what exactly is physically going wrong when cutting the shafts? Is it heat? Is it somehow letting the bearings rattle around, goring the shaft or the bearing/ mating surfaces? It seems to me that simply cutting the end to length would be less invasive than what i do.
I control the heat by cutting precisely and fast with a quick water cooldown (on shaft only) doesn't let the heat ride up into the pot. I hold the shaft firmly in vicegrips. The pot is turned to full treble side so that the wiper isnt sitting out in mid trace during cutting. Haven't experienced any grindy feelings despite being put into foot action use. I sound test them after machining for smooth action and proper sound.
In 14 months i have not had one go scratchy, i believe they are extremely durable.
The slick metal enclosure has trouble getting tight from the factory however. Before selling them i carefully retension the tabs. I say carefully because it is easy to crush them past the shoulder if too much pressure is applied.
I have been wanting to try the westlab 250k for wah, any thoughts on them?
Any thoughts appreciated.