My go-to's for any axe build with coil splitting/ switching involved. Always easy to solder. They have smooth movement and a reliable signal sweep.
If your guitar wiring diagram has a weird component drawing for a round potentiometer
that also has a rectangle with six lugs.. this most-likely is the doo-hickey.
This manufacturer/part was recommended by the host of one of my favorite luthier podcasts, and I picked this version and the fender version to compare and I went with this one based on the push/pull click.
I am that vacuous.
Can’t go wrong with Bourns electric guitar parts! 🤘😈
Bourn is usually a pretty reliable source for potentiometers of all sorts, so I was surprised to have had a issue with these.
Electrically, they are fine. Proper resistance, proper taper, smooth operation, pre-tinned terminals -- everything you could want.
The problem is with the push-pull switch. After installing two of these as Tone pots on a Stratocaster guitar, when pulling to activate the switch, on one pot the shaft pulled completely out of the pot, without activating the switch. Nor does there seem to be any way to get in back in there permanently -- every time I pull up on the knob, the entire shaft detaches from the pot, and comes out of the guitar with the knob..
Needless to say, on a pot where the main feature is the push-pull switch, this is a bit of an issue. Now I have to re-open the guitar, desolder a dozen wires, replace the pot/switch, and resolder all the wires.
Not something I had expected to have to do, especially with a name-brand control.
I've installed these (250 and 500k variants) on five of my guitars. I've had one in an HSS Strat for over ten years and have never had a problem. I did have to replace one in another guitar; that one lasted about 10-12 years. The other guitars have only been recently done. They've got a good taper, and turn quick and smooth. I haven't noticed any popping noises when operating the switch. It pulls and pushes easily, though some knobs may offer better grip than others.