Linear Pots for Tone Control? What Size Capacitor?

[HutHutHuda]

Hey,

I am a lefty and it's hard for me to get reverse audio taper pots, but it is possible. I know it's generally recommended to use audio taper pots for tone to flatten out the curve, but I was wondering if it would make a difference what size capacitor I would use. If I use a bigger capacitor, would it make more sense to use a linear pot for tone as well? What size capacitor would you recommend?
I would like to use these for Yamaha BBP34 pickups.

Thanks!

 

[eniac]

No, a change in pot taper only is unrelated to capacitor value. You'll still get the same tones, they'll just occur at rotational points that are different from what you have now.

 

[eniac]

Here are two graphs from a CTS 450G datasheet that might help explain how the different tapers work:

 

[jmlee]

A linear 250 kohm pot would work fine with the typical 47 pf (.047 nf) capacitor in your BBP34. If you want a greater overall rolloff of the high frequencies, try doubling up two of those capacitors in parallel. If you change your mind you can just clip out the second one.

 

[iiipopes]

My experiences of 48+ years of playing bass with various values of tone caps (values in microfarads), with a conventional volume-tone circuit with 250 kohm pots:
.01 - hardly any noticable rolloff at all.
.022 - the typical guitar tone capacitor, some rolloff of the top end.
.033 - my preferred - retains some mids when rolled off.
.047 - the typical bass capacitor, versatile, easy to control the rolloff to a foundational, but present tone.
.068 - even more rolloff, getting into dub territory when rolled off.
.10 - the original capacitor on single coil Fender basses, rolls almost everything off.

 

[BassLife77]

Tone capacitors are subjective because everybody has different ears and set ups. I prefer .022 because of the resonant frequencies