Silver Sky 300k volume pot

[Billy Sullivan]

I just purchased a used 2021 Silver Sky. It’s in great shape,,, only issue is the volume pot,,, the issue that I’m having with it is that it’s very stiff and hard to turn. I tried pulling off the volume knob and slightly spray contact cleaner (that seemed to work on another guitar of mine with the same issue). My question is,,,, can the pot be replaced with any standard 300k volume pot? I tried contacting PRS and they came back telling me that they don’t sell 300k volume pots (which I find odd). Thank you!

 

[RickP]

I‘ve read that they add a resistor to the volume pot after testing it so that every control set yields the same total resistance to the signal, hence the very consistent sound guitar to guitar. You might see if a local tech can measure the resistance of yours and make one to match it from new parts.

I own a first-year model, but have never had the need to open it up and see what’s inside. I saw a matching one here, with interior pics:

https://guitar.com/review/prs-silver-sky/

If you think about how wide the variances are between even good pots, it’s a pretty ingenious way of getting the controls to be spot on in every Silver Sky. When JM talks about being able to pick one up at any music store and use it, this kind of thinking is what makes that possible.

 

[SinSir]

Why 300k? You can use it but single coil is typically 250k and humbucker 500k. Gibson has been known to use 300k. I don't have a SS to confirm what PRS uses.

 

[garrettb]

Yeah you can pick any 300k pot, which is what is spec for the Silver Sky. The extra resistor is there to adjust resistance down to 270k. At least that's my recollection from the launch.

Like Rick said the new pot is likely to vary in actual value to your current one, so if you want it to remain exact to your current guitar, you'll need to measure resistance and maybe change resistor value.

 

[docteurseb]

PRS pots have a very custom taper that makes the entire range of motion very smooth compared to most other pots.
I'm not 100% sure that is the case for the Silver Sky (I no longer have one), but that is definitely the case on USA CU22/24/594/etc.

Replacing it with any CTS/etc pot will affect that greatly; YMMV but I personally find most other pots to be nearly unusable taper-wise once you get a taste of the PRS-designed ones.

When you ask PRS make sure to say it's for a Silver Sky if you didn't do so; I can't image they wouldn't sell a replacement volume pot for that.

 

[SinSir]

I have to agree about PRS volume taper. All others are trash to me now besides RS guitarworks. I almost use the PRS pots exclusively in all guitars now.

 

[Rider1260]

I do find it odd that PRS will not sell you a Silver Sky Volume pot , try again send them a video of your issue.
with pics of the guitar and serial ## - PTC has always taken care of me in the past.
Have you tried loosing the pot perhaps it is just tightened down too much and binding.

 

[RC Mike]

This post from Shawn should throw some light on the subject.

Post in thread 'The "Official Silver Sky" Thread'
https://forums.prsguitars.com/threads/the-official-silver-sky-thread.29556/post-488560

 

[RickP]

This post from Shawn should throw some light on the subject.

Post in thread 'The "Official Silver Sky" Thread'
https://forums.prsguitars.com/threads/the-official-silver-sky-thread.29556/post-488560

This cover it. Contact them and request a volume pot for a Silver Sky. I’ll bet they can do that.

 

[dboudah]

I just purchased a used 2021 Silver Sky. It’s in great shape,,, only issue is the volume pot,,, the issue that I’m having with it is that it’s very stiff and hard to turn. I tried pulling off the volume knob and slightly spray contact cleaner (that seemed to work on another guitar of mine with the same issue). My question is,,,, can the pot be replaced with any standard 300k volume pot? I tried contacting PRS and they came back telling me that they don’t sell 300k volume pots (which I find odd). Thank you!

Here are pictures of the stock PRS Silver Sky SE volume pot (not showing the resistor). I thought my volume pot was bad but the problem turned out to be that the the grounding foil underneath was compromised. I replaced the stock pot with a 300k CTS pot that happened to measure 270 exactly - I left the resistor off. The stock pot was 312k with a 3.3m resistor yielding an effective resistance of approximately 285k. The tone did seem to be very slightly darker with the lower resistance.

Picture 1

Picture 2