middleaudio.com

Bourns recently introduced a high quality guitar pot, the 95 series, in the two common values of 500K and 250K.
Of course, I had to bring some in for stock, as well as try them out.
I have found that a lot of "economy" pots tend to be noisy when used in guitars which are then used with high gain amps, so these puppies had better perform...

I'll post my results soon.

I'm also looking at their standard line...the PDB241-GTR series. I would like to believe that these will still out-perform the typical stock pots found in most low to middle quality instruments, but I'll have to try them before I comment further.

The pots in question. I will be replacing the originals in my Yamaha SG700 to start....

Well, I went to do the pot swap, and was stopped dead in my tracks.
The new Bourns pots have fine knurled shafts. Every single guitar I've owned or worked on in my entire life has had coarse knurled shafts.
I now need to get a complete new set of knobs. No real issue for me, as the originals are on the cusp of 30 years old, and have seen a lot of action, but still...if this was a vintage instument and I was trying to keep it as "stock" as possible by re-using the original knobs, I would be SOL...

...strike one.

...and they only come supplied with one nut and washer. No prob for a Les Paul, but if you are mounting in a pickguard as with a Strat, it would really be nice to have a second nut for height adjustment.

Revisited the PDB241 spec page as well....again no reference to fine or coarse knurling.

Once bitten...

I am now waiting for some sort of response on this issue from Bourns. I emailed them last week, and will follow again in another day or so. I realize these things can be slow in coming.
I still can't understand what prompted their decision to go with the fine knurling? Am I missing something?

I always found the worst part of knurled pot was keeping it lit.

Sure you're not thinking of smoked Salmon?

Well That just smells a little phishie!

It is now June 1st....
I have contacted Bourns twice in the week prior, but no reply. I know I'm merely a little fish in a big pond, but I don't think I'm alone with this complaint.
An answer, even if it's "Fuck off you're wasting our precious time." would be appreciated.

Still no reply from Bourns. My support of thier products is waning to say the least.
....and "yes" this affect my industrial purchasing decisions as well...

As a token of protest, I have removed the links from my initial posts.