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Set of Four (4X) Bourns 500K SHORT Split Shaft Audio Taper Low Friction Potentiometers

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$15.94

$ 7 .99 $7.99

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The PDB241-GTR01-504A2 is a high-quality potentiometer from Bourns Inc., designed for precision and durability. This potentiometer features a resistance of 500k Ohms and a power rating of 0.25W (1/4W), making it ideal for various applications, including audio equipment and electronic circuits. Key Features: Resistance: 500k Ohms Power Rating: 0.25W (1/4W) Taper: Logarithmic Number of Turns: 1.0 Termination Style: Solder Lug Actuator Type: Knurled and Slotted Actuator Length: 19.00mm Actuator Diameter: 6.00mm Mounting Type: Panel Mount Resistive Material: Carbon Operating Temperature Range: -10°C to +70°C RoHS Compliant


Blue Sage
2025-09-07 12:39:35
If you use your guitar's controls a lot and like a super smooth, easy touch, then this is a great potentiometer for you. This is a high quality pot, suitable for installation in any guitar from bargain to boutique. I installed four of these in a old Les Paul to replace the custom CTS Super-Pots that were in it, which were fine except they were so hard to turn it felt like molasses got on the shafts. I like when I can feather the volume with no effort and these Bourne pots are made to be low torque, smooth, and quiet and they deliver. The taper is excellent and very usable across the entire range. Don't confuse its smoothness or low force needed with cheapness. Bournes also makes a guitar potentiometer with high torgue if you prefer that that's provides longer life but this one will last for years. This is the model that EVH and Seymour Duncan sell with their name on them for double the price. The "looseness" (not really loose--it's low torque) is by design and signifies a high quality component. Regarding the resistance values the ones I've received have been well within the specified tolerance of ±20% and actually averaged out overall to within ±2% with the furthest out (457K) being about 9% under. The others in the most recent set measure 505K, 505K, and 492K. I've got bags of CTS and Alpha pots that are not this consistent or as near to nominal value so as far as these being "all over the place" that is no more so than with any make or model and well within specifications. Even a ±10% pot can range from 450K-550K and be within specs. It's not that important as long as they're in the ballpark. Use whatever slight variance to your advantage. There's no such thing as a "matched set" unless somebody picks through them and doubles the price. The wipers are quiet. If you're hearing noise it's being caused by something else. I'm very glad I changed to these pots and only wish I'd done so sooner. Highly recommended unless you want more drag in the rotation and then you can go with the other Bournes model available. These are as pleasure to use.
Professional Engineer
2025-09-04 11:16:23
These specific pots are being used in a mod of a Fender Stratocaster and Fender Telecaster guitar. Humbuckers were installed, so 500k ohm pots and a 0.047uF capacitor are needed. I am a Certified Fender Guitar Tech. The short shaft versions are for mounting to the thin strat pickguard and tele control panel and not too deep so that the pot will fit within the body route. I use a Soviet paper in oil (PIO) cap for better tone. These pots are noiseless and smooth with good control and tone. They have very low friction, so they turn readily. They have a history of high quality in vintage radios. I like them in my guitar builds and mods. They have provided years of noiseless (i.e., No pops, scratching, hiss, or other white noise) control of tone and volume. They solder easily, are durable, are designed against dust and dirt intrusion and tend to last without need for cleaning or other maintenance. They are a staple in my guitar repair shop inventory. They predate CTS pots and are every bit the quality of CTS pots. I prefer them over CTS: they tend to last longer, have a better 'feel' when operating on the guitar, and are relatively 'unknown' outside of audiophile circles, so they often cost less than similar CTS pots.
Ryan
2025-08-31 11:41:54
This guy whole left a very long explanation of why these are good pots are great and also a fender cert tech. Well I’m no fender cert tech. Ut I build custom guitars for fun and the statement these are better then CTS just is not true. If you prefer something about a brand be sure you know what your talking about. Fender uses these in squier. Models mainly and they are not as good as CTS going by your own thinking why does fender use CTs in all myvstrats and teles that are made I. America? Why does Gibson only use CTS now ? Well it’s not bc bourn is better. These are good alt to CTS and you save a little $$ I use them for builds I am trying to save a little on. When I measure the output they can be way off so can CTS but the TAOT typically are matched well when you buy. That’s like saying Mooer is the best keyboard bc a guy named Mooer invented synths. Cmon
Gregory M. Andrade
2025-06-17 16:24:56
I bought these Bourn 500K pots for a Billy Bo Guitar I'm building. In the mean time I was upgrading my Gibson Les Paul Junior, and so I bought some CTS Audio Taper 500K and 250K pots to match the vintage specifications. Then it was time to measure the pots; the 500k measured at 461K and the 250K measured at 238K. I decided to break open the Bourns I had. The measurements on the four pots were 500K, 498K, 505K, 488K. I installed two in my Junior with a Jupitor .022 Bumble Bee capacitor, and it was tremendous! Yes! Very smooth. Need I say more.
Steve
2025-05-31 17:26:32
Good value
M Tomaselli
2025-05-29 18:43:33
I purchased these based on the abundance of positive reviews and thought I'd give something new a try, Unfortunately, I haven't been satisfied with the quality or the feel. The "low friction" is indeed low friction. It feels cheap, unsatisfying, and imprecise. I'm using them as volume pots-mistake. They're too easily moved out of position. Two of the four pots don't work properly. On one of them, turning to full volume kills the sound completely. You have to slightly roll back on it from the 10 to the 9 position to get the volume back. With the second, the sound would cut in and out depending on whether or not there's downward pressure being placed on the shaft. I haven't tested the other two. I'm new to these particular pots, but not to working on guitars, and I've never experienced this before. Maybe it's a quality control issue with the batch I received, but either way the feel probably isn't for everyone. I would not recommend them.
Jim on the Coast
2025-05-23 15:39:46
Great little pots, nice and fast with very little resistance. I put them in my 335 back in March of 2016 and sure am glad I haven't had to fish them out. I'm a daily player.
Abnv
2025-05-16 14:56:20
"Bourns 500K SHORT Split Shaft Audio Taper Low Friction" potentiometers lived up to their name and my expectations.Yes, they're smooth to turn, have decent tolerances for my purposes (two 470 kOhm, two 460 kOhm; as measured on a digital multimeter), and they fit well in my Squier Bullet Mustang as volume and tone pots.Audio taper is smooth and just as it should be. My one complaint is regarding the wide tolerance.TheGlobalGenie seller is good. I was surprised as the package arrived well before the estimated delivery date.
Tim Windler
2025-04-19 18:02:24
I wouldn't buy these pots. These have to b the cheapest feeling pots I've ever bought. Very loose. All four felt the same. I had to replace them with new one's. I'm not sure if these are actually Bourns pots so be aware
Denis
2025-01-01 11:30:55
Don't know if this are Bourns, noting on the back, they feel very light and cheap,second review, after a 2 week of play, all pot are not working anymore u wigal the Nov it work then not it all full of static ,it our garbage don't buy