Loose Pots

[Michael P.]

Hi. This is my first posting. Great site.

Can anyone recommend a brand of pot that will turn REALLY easily, with no effort at all - almost loose enough to spin?

If not, is there anyway to significantly loosen pots that are too stiff?

Thanks in advance, Michael

[sir_modulus]

Alpha pots usually are easier to turn. Use contact cleaner for more lubrication.

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

The problem is, ther eis always going to be friction from the wiper contact. But the (expensive) Dunlop "HotPotz" might be worth trying.
You could always make a "frictionless" pot (with the bonus of spinning endlessly!) from a light dependant resistor and led, with a shaped piece of black plastic disc on a shaft. Like an extension of the optical wah idea. If you weighted the disc, you could spin for ages.!

[stm]

I'm curious: What do you need a loose pot for?

By the way, the larger the knob, the easier to turn a pot. Try a 1-1/2" or 4cm knob and you'll see.

If the pot is acted by a mechanism, apply the same principle: a large wheel or lever acting on the axis.

[Michael P.]

Thanks, sir_modulus, I'll take a look at Alpha pots.

stm: I'd like a loose turn for a couple of reasons. First, I just rewired an old guitar and the pots I got - I forget the brand now - are just uncomfortable to turn. I've played old guitars where doing volume and tone swells are like spinning a feather. (Alright, it'd actually be kinda difficult to spin a feather, but you get the idea.) So for guitar, some of it is functional, and some of it is feel. EZ-turn pots (hey, there's a marketing strategy!) just feel more broken in to me. Of course, I've also experienced increased stiffness in older pots as well, so maybe it's a crapshoot. (Can we say "crap" here?)

I also really liked the old MXR idea of turning a pedal's pot with your foot, but despite having tried large knobs, I've always found it difficult with Mousers.

I've heard of the Hot Potz, but I thought they were some kind of pot-activated switching mechanism. Thanks Paul

[sir_modulus]

Don't get Hot Potz, as a set for an LP is like $100. Get some good guitar pots (CTS or Alpha) from smallbear or Ebay. Also get bigger knobs(they work well for my finger swells (I'm too cheap to buy a reverse delay imitation pedal, so that's my reverse delay))/

[Fret Wire]

If all you wanted is pots for guitars, go with CTS.

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Components:_Control_pots_and_knobs/Control_Pots.html

[sir_modulus]

If you want a good pinky swell guitar, go and get some high value pots and a switch. When you switch the signal, the volume is only on that pot, and you just move it about 1/2 way to get the volume cut off, and push it back to get it back on.

ex.) for a 500K pot guitar, get a 1 MEG pot and poisition it so it is convenient to do pinky swells. Then switch between that and normal pot with a switch.

[Fret Wire]

BTW, for pedals, Stew-Mac also has good prices on Tele-type dome knobs.

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Components:_Control_pots_and_knobs/Dome_Knobs.html

[niftydog]

you could try wire wound or multi turn pots. pricey though

[J Gagan]

the CTS workalikes ( made in china ) that Weber VST sells are the easiest turning pots I have ever seen.

the tabs that hold the bushing plate to the drum come loose on them , so if you get these, make sure you tighten the tabs a little