Malkav
So I'm going to be replacing the pots in my guitars with 500k dimarzio full size solid core pots and I was thinking that it just made sense to use a linear taper pot for tone instead of audio taper so that I can have an even control over my tone parameters. So now I'm thinking that the audio taper ones were used for a specific reason and I'm wanting to know if using a linear taper will make a difference to my actual tone or only change how the roll off functions?
andrewjbryson
hmmm interesting question....
*waits for Alan's reply*
AlanRatcliffe
It only affects the rolloff. However, the DiMarzio pots have a very nice "custom" taper which works well for both - it's an 18% taper (IIRC) instead of the more common 10% "log" taper or the 50% "linear". Pots used to come in a special 15% "Audio" taper, but these days you'll find that most pots labelled "Audio" are actually "log".
Malkav
Thank you Alan.
Well then I rate I should just go for the dimarzio pots and get the "audio" taper tone pot cause it sounds like it'll actually be okay. I just really dislike how you can roll off your tone gently and then woop it all drops away on shitty pots. >☹
Now lets talk shielding, what would be the best way to shield a guitars cavity, not in terms of expense but actual function what is the best thing to use. i know there's paint and tape and i was wondering what the pros and cons are of the various methods ?
AlanRatcliffe
Copper tape is the only way to go, IMO - the stuff with the conductive glue. Gives you a little EMI shielding as well as RF and is low resistance, which gives you a bit more leeway with wiring earth paths. The carbon paint only really helps with RF. The silver or copper paints used for marine electronics are a good too, and are somewhere in-between, but with the easy application of paint. Expensive though. Another downside to any of the paints is the damn smell - it's nasty and lasts for months. Pickup cavities in a rear rout body are about the only place I will consent to shielding paint.
Nothing is perfect, as it would take massive amounts of mu-metal shielding to stop everything bombarding the guitar.
