Pots or Potentiometers

These are the Volume or Tone knobs on your guitar.  There are many different Brands and Values and reasons why you might want one over the other.  

#1 Taper – Every company is different. The taper is the perceived volume increase/decrease as you turn the pot. Some pots have tapers that are more gradual at the beginning or at the end, and they can be easier/more difficult to use to roll off the volume for your clean tone. 

#2 Tolerance – how close is it to what it's supposed to be. Some pots are +/- 20%. That means they can be as much as 600k or as little as 400k and still be listed as 500k. When I replace your pots, I will measure the ones I am removing, and then choose pots that will give you what you are after. Higher resistance will give a brighter tone, a lower value will give a duller tone. Every pot that comes in the shop gets measured and the number written on the back so I can choose the proper one for each customer.

#3 Turning Stiffness – Stiff or spins freely. CTS pots are usually pretty stiff. Bourns are usually very free. If you are the type of player who uses their volume for swells etc... Bourns pots are better. If you are the type of player that accidentally hits the volume knob and moves it.... CTS pots are a better choice. 

#4 Sealed/Open – Lock out dirt to stay crackle free.

#5 Conductive/Resistive Material – Bourns conductive polymers won't corrode.   They are a wonderful "permanent" pot.  Expensive but for a guitar that you love and will keep forever, they are well worth the money.   Cheaper Carbon films will corrode over time.

Solid shaft is for Metal knobs with a set-screw like Telecasters or Ibanez

25k - Active Electronics

250k - Single Coil Pickups

500k - Humbucking Pickups