making a prototype rig. suggested pots?

[jlullo]

hey guys,
i'm in the middle of putting together a proto-rig somewhat like this-
http://geofex.com/FX_images/protofx5.gif

i just got a fantastic breadboard with a triple power supply through craigslist, and want to se up a backplate with a whole mess of pots.  What values would you guys reccomend having?  I was just going to order all of them, but then thought that was stupid since some effects use multiple pots of the same value.

What do you guys think i should have on it?

[zyxwyvu]

I would go with a bunch of high value pots - that way you can parallel resistors with them to get any value you need. Can't do that with the smaller values. 100k pots seems to be pretty common. A log 100k will do as a volume control for almost any effect.

[John Lyons]

I would just have enough space and holes for a few pots. The values depend on what you are going to build but at least you have the space for the pots. It's unlikely you will have the exact value pots you need for everything on you proto rig.
As long as you have 5 or 6 pot holes drilled, two jacks and a DC jack for power you will be in good shape.

John

[petemoore]

  100k audio taper for volume control
 100k linear, stick a 100k across the pot to reduce it to 50k, if you don't like the taper then you'll know it.
 20k for biasing between 0k-20k, stick a fixed 15k resistor off it to increase the range to between 15k through 15k - 35k.
 1meg unless you can find a bigger one, having some big values switchable might be a nice option for biasing with high input impedance circuits
 5k
 1k
 You can always put a different value there.
 Cool breadboard, nice having the PS's right there ! You're gonna love it!

[jlullo]

awesome.  thank you for the responses guys!  i didn't even think about the fact that i can vary them with resistors, so i'm sure that will really help.

as usual, you are all much appreciated

[JonFrum]

I just got my first breadboard as well. I soldered up some 6" lead wires to the lugs of two jacks, and did the same for the pot values I needed for my first build. I'm saving one of each pot value until I have enough to use for general prototyping. Whenever I buy new pots, I'll just get one extra for the breadboard. That way, I'll know what I need when a new value shows up in a build. Pretty soon, I'll have all potential values covered.

[zachomega]

Word of warning about breadboards...Things seem to work really well on my breadboards and then when put on vero don't sound quite the same.  They work and all, but the stray capacitances in the breadboard can sometimes tame a circuit and give somewhat less accurate ideas of what the circuit will do.  I'm not saying don't use a breadboard, just something to keep in mind...Anyway, that is my personal experience. 

-Zach Omega

[choklitlove]

i would make a ruby w/ a speaker and stick it on there too.  eliminate output jacks, amps, a cord and all that mess.

[sfr]

I use small trimpots in all my breadboard builds, simply because they're cheap and for whatever I reason I have bunches of them.

[zjokka]

When I started out I made a frontpanel with the same idea, to mount all sort of pots. But most of all because of the loose jacks.



PeterMoore's suggestions make a lot of sense, but my personal experience is different.
I ended up using only in and output jacks, because like many people said, you need different pots for different projects, but most of all because of the alligator clip madness you get:



And if you're breadboarding anyway, I would just mount the pots on the breadboard. At least that's how I do it with etched pcb projects - I just use a breadboard for hooking up the pots in the testing phase. My trimpots don't fit in the breadboard, but don't use them much. I build a Dumble and biased it with breadboard mounted pots: pot madness!  (isn't that a movie of some sort? 



still, everybody has to finds his own way...
good luck,
zj

[dachshund]

I keep a few pots soldered with solid 22 gauge wire, about 4" long. I poke them into the breadboard where needed. The solid wire holds its position, so they stand straight up. They hold still well enough that I can adjust them with one hand. I started using trimpots, but it's a pain to fiddle with a screwdriver... especially the 20-turn variety

[petemoore]

  If the breadboarded circuit is intended for a lid mounting type box, you  could make/drill the top of the box that'll hold the pots, mount the pots in it, mount that to the BB, tweek, then when done the pot's'll all be in place in the box for final assbly.

[Mark F]

I agree with BASICAUDIO. Make sure you have enough holes drilled for pots and change the value and number of pots depending on what you are working on. It only takes seconds to change pots. That's my approach to it anyway.  Have Fun