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Let's talk about pot(s)

PostPosted: Tue Jun 22, 2010 11:15 am
by DreamTheaterRules
I'm getting ready to do a few projects and was somewhat interested in trying to make a couple of them very small. Just a few styles of boosts, and several overdrives. Having a flashback to my audiophile days, I thought "hmmm, I wonder if those little trim pots sound as good as the standard size pots do."

Now, I have no intention of putting carbon Penny and Giles pots in my guitar pedals. However I do wonder if there is a difference in sound in different size pots. What about 16mm vs 24mm? Any difference? And what about going from a standard 16 or 24, down to a trimpot? I would think there would be a loss there. Just don't know if it's enough to be evident in these type circuits.

What do you think?

Re: Let's talk about pot(s)

PostPosted: Fri Jul 09, 2010 10:04 am
by DreamTheaterRules
And that was "Crickets In The Night" by the Woodsmen Quartet

Re: Let's talk about pot(s)

PostPosted: Fri Jul 09, 2010 1:07 pm
by David Barber
DreamTheaterRules wrote:I'm getting ready to do a few projects and was somewhat interested in trying to make a couple of them very small. Just a few styles of boosts, and several overdrives. Having a flashback to my audiophile days, I thought "hmmm, I wonder if those little trim pots sound as good as the standard size pots do."

Now, I have no intention of putting carbon Penny and Giles pots in my guitar pedals. However I do wonder if there is a difference in sound in different size pots. What about 16mm vs 24mm? Any difference? And what about going from a standard 16 or 24, down to a trimpot? I would think there would be a loss there. Just don't know if it's enough to be evident in these type circuits.

What do you think?


Loss of audio quality should not be an issue in a pedal going from 24mm to 16mm. The smaller pots are a little less robust, make sure you are happy with the taper.