S2 volume pot question?

[GT Custom]

Do you guys know if the S2's use the same volume pots as the core line guitars? I have noticed that the volume drops significantly once you go below 5 and hate it! Any thoughts??? I was planning to upgrade the volume/tone pots and also getting the 5 way switch as well. I got kind of used to the 5 way switch with my old guitar. Have you guys used a Non PRS volume/tone pots? any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[Drew]

Do you guys know if the S2's use the same volume pots as the core line guitars? I have noticed that the volume drops significantly once you go below 5 and hate it! Any thoughts??? I was planning to upgrade the volume/tone pots and also getting the 5 way switch as well. I got kind of used to the 5 way switch with my old guitar. Have you guys used a Non PRS volume/tone pots? any suggestions? Thanks!

All S2s use SE electronics.

A pot is a pot. Any CTS, Alpha, or Bourns pots will work fine. If you want to get all fancy the Duncan YJM high speed volume is something as are the EVH friction free pots. None are particularly expensive. You can use the PRS core pots but they are expensive as heck and not worth the cost in my opinion.

As for the 5 way, I recommend the Schaller Megaswitches. The Model P megaswitch will do standard 2HB PRS configuration. The great thing about the megaswitches is there are only as many lugs as wires that need to be connected. No need for jumpers from one lug to another or other stuff or wondering which wire goes on which lug.

 

[DHW]

That's an audio taper pot and the way they work. My SE had linear pots for volume so I assume the s2 must have the US pots unless mine was a fluke. If you want an even sweep then you need a linear pot. Not sure if the US tone pots are linear or audio but could be made to work by swaping the cap with your current one(if it has one) if they are linear.

 

[DHW]

All S2s use SE electronics.

A pot is a pot. Any CTS, Alpha, or Bourns pots will work fine. If you want to get all fancy the Duncan YJM high speed volume is something as are the EVH friction free pots. None are particularly expensive. You can use the PRS core pots but they are expensive as heck and not worth the cost in my opinion.

As for the 5 way, I recommend the Schaller Megaswitches. The Model P megaswitch will do standard 2HB PRS configuration. The great thing about the megaswitches is there are only as many lugs as wires that need to be connected. No need for jumpers from one lug to another or other stuff or wondering which wire goes on which lug.

If this is true then you need to be careful since the mounting hole size is different with some of these. If you go to a standard CTS pot then you need to ream the hole out to 3/8". Alpha uses 5/16". If they are SE electronics then you will also need to make sure you get a short shaft.

One thing to watch is the turning resistance if you want it to match the tone pot. There's endless choices. Of course, you could just swap both.

 

[gball]

The volume pot in my S2 Mira was not the same as the Alphas in my SE, and it definitely was not the Core-spec CTS. It was an unmarked, unidentifiable piece that went bad very quickly - I'd say within the first 2-3 months it already sounded weird and basically Sh_t the bed after 6 months. Mine too had the awful taper when new, which the Alphas don't seem to have.

I replaced it with a Gibson Historic pot that I had in my toolbox (they are CTS), which dropped right in, no reaming necessary. The Gibson pot is very firm, much more so than the CTS pots that PRS uses in the core guitars, but I like that feel personally and I use the volume pot a lot. Has an awesome taper as well.

The tone pot looks identical to the core-spec pot that PRS sells in their web store but I couldn't tell if you if it is actually the same. I have had no issues with it though. The feel of the two is dramatically different - the CTS/Gibson one is very firm and feels almost damped while the stock tone pot turns very easily (too easily IMO). I don't care about the different, but you may.

 

[GT Custom]

The volume pot in my S2 Mira was not the same as the Alphas in my SE, and it definitely was not the Core-spec CTS. It was an unmarked, unidentifiable piece that went bad very quickly - I'd say within the first 2-3 months it already sounded weird and basically Sh_t the bed after 6 months. Mine too had the awful taper when new, which the Alphas don't seem to have.

I replaced it with a Gibson Historic pot that I had in my toolbox (they are CTS), which dropped right in, no reaming necessary. The Gibson pot is very firm, much more so than the CTS pots that PRS uses in the core guitars, but I like that feel personally and I use the volume pot a lot. Has an awesome taper as well.

The tone pot looks identical to the core-spec pot that PRS sells in their web store but I couldn't tell if you if it is actually the same. I have had no issues with it though. The feel of the two is dramatically different - the CTS/Gibson one is very firm and feels almost damped while the stock tone pot turns very easily (too easily IMO). I don't care about the different, but you may.

Totally agree, the tone pot turns way to easily... I thought I was the only one having that issue.

 

[gball]

Totally agree, the tone pot turns way to easily... I thought I was the only one having that issue.

All the ones I have played have been that way. There is a new Starla (a month maybe) at my local pusher that I pick up every time I am in there and it is the same as well.

 

[Chiliphil1]

I noticed this too but I never thought about it. The tone pot on my s2 turns with almost no resistance and it sometimes turns itself down while playing.

 

[dogrocketp]

Do you guys know if the S2's use the same volume pots as the core line guitars? I have noticed that the volume drops significantly once you go below 5 and hate it! Any thoughts??? I was planning to upgrade the volume/tone pots and also getting the 5 way switch as well. I got kind of used to the 5 way switch with my old guitar. Have you guys used a Non PRS volume/tone pots? any suggestions? Thanks!

At the suggestion of my luthier, I started getting RS Guitarworks 550 posts for the volume controls. Work great, no problems, all the high end in the world, and clean up nicely. I've replaced them in all my SE's with these. I never use the tone pots, so I don't change them.