Another Small Bear Marketing Survey - Alpha Pots

[smallbearelec]

As you know from long experience, many items that show up on my Stock List are there because they were suggested by people like you in this Forum. I'm putting together another order for Alpha, so I'm asking:

Do any of you use Alpha's 12mm pots (Mouser 313-1200F and 1220F)? If not, is it because of the relatively high catalog price? It looks like that style would make it possible to get more knobs on the face of a B or BB enclosure. Comments?

Regards
SD

[Earthscum]

I was gonna post a reply, but I realized I thought you sold 12mm pots, but was actually thinking of the 9mm's. Are the 12mm's gonna be about the same price as the 9mm's? Those are kinda hefty priced, but also more special purpose. I'd probably use 12's often if they were only about $1.50. Quarter more per pot isn't too bad if you're making a little more room, like putting 6 pots in a 125B.

I would like to see maybe a smaller size of slide pot, personally. Something like what is used in the DOD FX40 eq's... but I do have an awkward fascination with slide pots. I like them. I would use slide pots on all my builds if I could. I get touchy about letting someone else near the sound boards. I own a Dart (Japanese) soundboard I won't use because it's all rotational pots. I want a microsynth just because I like all the sliders...   

[Taylor]

I don't feel strongly about those pots - I don't think I can use knobs that are closer spaced than 16mm anyway.

But while you're watching this and we're talking Alpha pots, I have been wanting to get the little plastic Alpha pot covers for a while. Apparently they come on the pots you get from Tayda, but I don't use the kind of pots they carry.

If you could start carrying these little plastic covers at a reasonable price, I would buy quite a few.

[Scruffie]

Some of the Right Angle PCB Mount 9MM Pots with the Full Black Shaft & White Dot Indicators Might be quite useful as then you can certainly fit more pots onto a pedal without worrying about knob space.

Also while on the subject of small pots, the knobs that you can stick into trimmers to make them external would be a nice addition too, don't know if they're made by Alpha or not.

[bean]

I use the 12mm and like them. I would take advantage of SB stocking them as long as the price is competitive.

[deadastronaut]

the knobs that you can stick into trimmers to make them external would be a nice addition too, don't know if they're made by Alpha or not.

they sound good?...any pic or link?

scratch that..found em...

[caress]

more right angle PCB mount pots with the shorter length pins!

[CynicalMan]

If you could start carrying these little plastic covers at a reasonable price, I would buy quite a few.

+1 They are great.

Also while on the subject of small pots, the knobs that you can stick into trimmers to make them external would be a nice addition too, don't know if they're made by Alpha or not.

+1

Some upright trimmers would be nice. They're good for shrinking layouts.
www.alphapotentiometers.net/html/8mm_sf_pot_2.html

[smallbearelec]

Thanks for the replies! They help me to know where to invest! This will take awhile but you'll start to see 9mm right-angle pots and 12mm with solder terms next year.

Regards
SD

[zombiwoof]

I've suggested this before, but I'd like to see a 20k-B knurled pc-mount 9mm pot at your store.  It's one of those little green square-case ones.  Boss uses it in modern DS-1's (the ones in the last few years, before that they had a 16mm pot in the vintage DS-1's) for a Tone pot, and ordering from Boss is a PITA, and they charge outrageous shipping prices.

I've needed these twice for DS-1's, both times I had to fit a 16mm pot and do some re-wiring (the 9mm Tone pot is on it's own separate board in there, so the larger pot's pins don't fit the board).

I've heard of other guys looking for this pot, so I think you'd sell some.  Boss might have used it in other pedals, but I'm not sure.

Thanks,
Al

[smallbearelec]

20k-B knurled pc-mount 9mm pot...Boss uses it in modern DS-1's

Any time I can offer a way to get around Roland's stupid policy on spares, I'm happy to. We'll have it next year. Please e-mail me a pic so that I can show Alpha exactly what I want.

SD

[zombiwoof]

20k-B knurled pc-mount 9mm pot...Boss uses it in modern DS-1's

Any time I can offer a way to get around Roland's stupid policy on spares, I'm happy to. We'll have it next year. Please e-mail me a pic so that I can show Alpha exactly what I want.

SD

I'll see if I can find one of the pots I took out, I think I still have at least one of them.  It's just one of those green 9mm pots like you sell, only it has a knurled shaft.  The pc-pins stick straight out from the pot, not bent down at 90 degrees.  I'm pretty sure it's an Alpha that they use.  I'll send a pic if I can find the pot.

Thanks,
Al

[blooze_man]

My Blues Driver had 3 of those same pots. If you cant find one, I'll post a pic of it.

[MoltenVoltage]

We use them all the time, esp. B5K.

If the price is lower than Mouser, count me in.

[zombiwoof]

My Blues Driver had 3 of those same pots. If you cant find one, I'll post a pic of it.

If you have a pic handy, go ahead and post it.  I'd have to rummage through my junk to find the pot I took out of the DS-1.  I'll do it if I have to, though.

Thanks,
Al

[zombiwoof]

20k-B knurled pc-mount 9mm pot...Boss uses it in modern DS-1's

Any time I can offer a way to get around Roland's stupid policy on spares, I'm happy to. We'll have it next year. Please e-mail me a pic so that I can show Alpha exactly what I want.

SD

Steve, the Boss DS-1 tone pot I'm talking about is just like this one you sell, except it has a 6mm knurled shaft (fits the Boss knobs with no set-screw), and is 20k-B (linear taper).  Is that enough info, or do you still need a pic?:

http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=693

Thanks,
Al

[Mike Burgundy]

Steve - does Alpha also support minute quantities per item as long as your entire order is large?
My bass needs "repotting" but has a very uncommon sizes (very large neck around the shaft to accomodate thick wooden top, mix of regular, balance, and dual pots with and without mid detent) and I *think* it's all alpha. Have to get to the studio and open her up again to be sure though.

If they do still carry something like that it might be cool to stock some dual concentrics too, even if they are geared more towards instruments more than stompboxes. Although, would be brilliant for eq's  - frequency plus boost/cut in one knob! Especially tiny ones with matching knobs are yummy!

[Scruffie]

Steve - does Alpha also support minute quantities per item as long as your entire order is large?

That's a good point, I still haven't got round to getting the correct on-board pots for the latest A/DA Flanger Boards as they require a Mouser order (£14 shipping for me!) as quite a few boards have been ordered, the order could probably be reasonably sized. I'm sure they're probably good for other repairs too (I think the pin spacing is simmilar to that of the old EHX onboard pots).

[smallbearelec]

Steve - does Alpha also support minute quantities per item as long as your entire order is large?
....it might be cool to stock some dual concentrics too, even if they are geared more towards instruments more than stompboxes

Hi Mike--
Alpha will do samples for me...they have a shop for that. But I measure my requests by the need so that they know that when I ask, it's serious. Their MOQ for production runs is 1,000 pieces per line item.

I will get some 100K linear dual-concentrics done for pedals; thanks for the reminder! I have to sit down with their catalog and see what style would make sense. You can also give me suggestions or pictures. As far as doing such for guitars, I have to beg off...I have to maintain the focus on pedal parts ias part controlling the growth of the "beast."

SD

[cloudscapes]

When you squeeze 16mm pots together, it doesn't give you much breathing room between even narrow knobs. While my reaction is normally "yes! more shapes and sizes, more veriety!", I don't know how often I'd need them. My guess is not very.