Pots for SE Tremonti Custom?

[Opunaesala]

I have a 2018 PRS SE Tremonti Custom (which I love) that I plan to slowly upgrade to be closer to its American counterpart. So far I have installed locking tuners and the core PRS nut on it. Next up in about a month or so I will be installing the Tremonti Signature pickups (well, my shop will do the installing). It strikes me that upgrading the pots at the same time might not be a bad idea.

I've heard good things about CTS pots, but I don't really know much about pots in general, except that I am looking for 500k ones. Does anyone have recommendations for which CTS pots or other brand would be a good fit? What about a capacitor?

Thanks in advance for any help for this electronics noob!

 

[Eddie kim]

Why not the tremonti core pots?

 

[Opunaesala]

Why not the tremonti core pots?

Well, mostly because I don't know which are the correct ones. The PRS store isn't particularly descriptive, so I don't know if these are correct.

https://us.prsaccessories.com/collections/parts/products/volume-pot
https://us.prsaccessories.com/collections/parts/products/tone-pot

Also, if the CTS or other brand pot are better or longer lasting, I'd much rather go with them.

 

[garrett]

I like the PRS branded pots for volume. They are made by CTS. Compared to standard CTS pots they turn very easily and smoothly.

 

[Sillyak]

There are several makers of pre wired kits that include pots, switch, jack, caps ect.

I would either buy one of those or the components themselves and just upgrade everything in one go.

 

[Eddie kim]

Well, mostly because I don't know which are the correct ones. The PRS store isn't particularly descriptive, so I don't know if these are correct.

https://us.prsaccessories.com/collections/parts/products/volume-pot
https://us.prsaccessories.com/collections/parts/products/tone-pot

Also, if the CTS or other brand pot are better or longer lasting, I'd much rather go with them.

Call prs store or customer service. They can tell you the exact parts your looking for.

 

[JimmyDee]

Check these out:
https://reverb.com/ca/item/6101136-...-orange-drop-switchcraft-treble-bleed-circuit

Used them on my Tremonti SE Custom Rebuild:
https://forums.prsguitars.com/threads/ngd-tremonti-se-full-rebuild.30507/#post-390748

 

[Opunaesala]

Check these out:
https://reverb.com/ca/item/6101136-...-orange-drop-switchcraft-treble-bleed-circuit

Used them on my Tremonti SE Custom Rebuild:
https://forums.prsguitars.com/threads/ngd-tremonti-se-full-rebuild.30507/#post-390748

Wow, cool. Thanks, that seems to include everything I was looking for.

 

[JimmyDee]

A couple things you need to remember, when upgrading the pots in an SE:

1. The original SE pots have a narrow shaft, so you'll need to ream-out the holes to accomadate the CTS (or any American) pots. DO NOT use a drill to make the holes bigger, as this has potential to crack/chip the clear coat on the guitar. Use a proper reamer, they're fairly inexpensive. https://reverb.com/ca/item/5827822-luthier-tool-guitar-reamer-enlarge-holes-for-3-8-american-pots

2. The original knobs on the SE are also too small, and won't fit on the new pots. You'll need to get a new set of knobs, with a larger spline diameter, when you upgrade the pots. I used PRS core lampshade knobs. https://reverb.com/item/9558177-prs-spare-513-knobs-clear-black-acc-4246

I referred to Reverb, in the above postings (which is where I bought the Pot Kit from). But I actually bought all my other parts from John Mann (Guitar Vault): https://store.guitarvaultusa.com/Guitar_Parts_s/7012.htm

 

[Opunaesala]

A couple things you need to remember, when upgrading the pots in an SE:

1. The original SE pots have a narrow shaft, so you'll need to ream-out the holes to accomadate the CTS (or any American) pots. DO NOT use a drill to make the holes bigger, as this has potential to crack/chip the clear coat on the guitar. Use a proper reamer, they're fairly inexpensive. https://reverb.com/ca/item/5827822-luthier-tool-guitar-reamer-enlarge-holes-for-3-8-american-pots

2. The original knobs on the SE are also too small, and won't fit on the new pots. You'll need to get a new set of knobs, with a larger spline diameter, when you upgrade the pots. I used PRS core lampshade knobs. https://reverb.com/item/9558177-prs-spare-513-knobs-clear-black-acc-4246

I referred to Reverb, in the above postings (which is where I bought the Pot Kit from). But I actually bought all my other parts from John Mann (Guitar Vault): https://store.guitarvaultusa.com/Guitar_Parts_s/7012.htm

I saw that in the Reverb post, but I'll make sure my shop can do it all before I order anything. Thanks for the additional info!

 

[Mark Ray]

A couple things you need to remember, when upgrading the pots in an SE:

1. The original SE pots have a narrow shaft, so you'll need to ream-out the holes to accomadate the CTS (or any American) pots. DO NOT use a drill to make the holes bigger, as this has potential to crack/chip the clear coat on the guitar. Use a proper reamer, they're fairly inexpensive. https://reverb.com/ca/item/5827822-luthier-tool-guitar-reamer-enlarge-holes-for-3-8-american-pots

2. The original knobs on the SE are also too small, and won't fit on the new pots. You'll need to get a new set of knobs, with a larger spline diameter, when you upgrade the pots. I used PRS core lampshade knobs. https://reverb.com/item/9558177-prs-spare-513-knobs-clear-black-acc-4246

I referred to Reverb, in the above postings (which is where I bought the Pot Kit from). But I actually bought all my other parts from John Mann (Guitar Vault): https://store.guitarvaultusa.com/Guitar_Parts_s/7012.htm

Excellent post/info! I just went through this entire process with 2 guitars (non-PRS, name starts with "Z"). These were both from their Korean shop, thus all the same changes due to shaft size, knobs, the whole bit. Definitely worth the investment!

 

[AdenM]

I added a push-pull tone knob to my SE Singlecut and didn't want to route the holes, so I used the drop-in Alpha pots from StewMac. Alpha is pretty standard on most Korean guitars. That said, the resistance on a 500KOhm Alpha can certainly vary (could end up with a 400K pot) as the QC is a bit lower - CTS or the PRS USA will definitely be more stringent in this regard, but you will have to route.