Replacing Pots for Better Sound???

[64fx]

I've been rehousing some inexpensive pedals lately so they will fit better on my board, and I was wondering if replacing the 9mm PCB mounted pots with Alpha 16mm pots will help the sound?  I haven't A/B'd them, but in my mind it's a better quality part so therefore it should sound better.

Am I right?

Also, would using different value pots make any difference?

Thanks!

[darron]

it won't change the sound. we can't get away from the fact that the pots that we use in pedals all have a carbon taper/track. it's not the same as replacing a carbon resistor for a metal one.

alpha make some nice pots with a smooth range on them. the only benefit you'd get is possible durability and a nice 'feel' to the pot.

sometimes you can replace out different values, but in most cases that value has been chosen to be best suited for a reason. for example you can usually replace volume pots with almost any value and it will still work, but the frequency response might change a bit. the value of a gain pot will be proportionate to gain, you you could end up doubling or halving the gain. replacing a tone control pot might make it less useable. if you make it too large then you might find most of the travel on the pot are setting you'd never want to use. if you make it too small then  you might not be able to reach the values you wanted anymore.

[64fx]

That's what I figured, but I was hoping it was making it better. 

Thanks!

[petemoore]

  Pots are kind of like 2x4's, as long as they're the right length [value] and hold nails when/where you set them, they work. There are differences, but the circuit just sees the resistance values related to the lengths of wafer the wiper selects.
 

[Mark Hammer]

Virtually all differences between pots will fall into a few categories: better feel and dialability, durability, immunity to dust, compatibility with knob sizes/types, and ease of installation.  The first can certainly have an impact on how easy it is to get the sound you want when you want it, but it has no effect on sound quality.