Guild Rhythm Chief 1100 - Potentiometer question

[Musgo Real]

Since I'm dissatisfied with the mini humbucker pickup which came with my 2015 Korean made D'Angelico EXL 1, the bass is too powerful and the highs are jangling, I would like to have it replaced with the Rhythm Chief 1100 made by Guild. Because the 1100 is a single coil and I have read several times that you need 250 logarithmic potentiometers for tone and volume, I wanted to ask what your experiences are with this very nice sounding pickup. What kind of potentiometers are you using and what is the effect in tone.

[sgosnell]

I use 500k pots. I've tried 250k, but I prefer the 500k ohm models, usually the Schatten thumbwheels. IME the Rhythm Chief is not an especially bright pickup. 500k pots are used to get more brightness from humbuckers. If your guitar is too bright, you can change to 250k pots, or just roll the volume and tone off. It's not difficult nor expensive to change pots, but I would advise just changing the pickup and see if you like it. If you decide you can't live with it as it is, you can always change the pots later. OTOH, it's cheaper to just change the pots instead of the pickup, unless you already have one on hand.

[Cunamara]

IIRC, the original controls (in the metal boxes) for those pickups had a 1 meg Ohm volume control, 250k tone control and .047 cap. But the originals were also 15K Ohm pickups so this recipe may not work with the reissues. More information:

https://www.gitec-forum-eng.de/wp-co...armond-pus.pdf

[gitman]

Read about the company, the pickups+their construction+electronic parts here : https://www.musicpickups.com/company-history/

Diagrams : DeArmond Rhythm Chief Wiring Diagrams - S. Nathaniel Adams

Then you'll know what options you have - experimenting with different values and tapers in pots and caps is cheap and fun, too.
Just be organized so that you can weed out the ones you don't like.

[sgosnell]

The reissue pickups from Guild do not come with control boxes, nor anything else. Just the pickup with a coaxial lead, in a box. The wiring and pots will be whatever the installer desires, usually the same as any other guitar. For convenience, I use Schatten thumbwheel pots, which come on a small circuit board and require only minimal soldering. The hot wire from the pickup goes to one pad, the hot wire to the output jack goes to another, and both grounds go to a third. The provided capacitor goes to two eyelets, and everything is pre-tinned. It also comes with mounting tape, ready to mount to a pickguard or inside an f hole. I've wired the Rhythm Chief using individual thumbwheel pots, which is a PITA but it works. If you can find a control box it's possible to wire the pickup just like the original, but then you have a big, heavy box you have to hang onto the guitar. It might look cool, but it won't work any better, if as well, and requires major efforts to get everything in. The question needs to be asked - what is more important, looks or utility. I've never been that concerned with style. YMMV.

[Musgo Real]

Hi sgosnell, thank you very much for your great input.
Two 500 mini potentiometers are already installed on the pickguard of the EXL 1 by the company.



But both are now seven years old. The potentiometer for the volume scratched terribly with every movement and there were breaks in the transmission to the amp. But I got it back with contact spray 601. However, the potentiometer for the tone now only reacts from halfway to the end. So both have to be replaced anyway. The shadow thumb wheels are 500 potentiometers from what I've read. But they don't make sense on my EXL 1 because of the two existing holes for the mini potentiometers on the pickguard.

[sgosnell]

Yes, if you already have a pickguard with pots on it, it makes sense to use the same, or similar. The bigger pots are also cheaper than the Schatten thumbwheels. If you want, and can find them, you can try a 1 meg and 250k like the originals, or whatever resistances you want. Higher resistance pots will be brighter.

[Musgo Real]

IIRC, the original controls (in the metal boxes) for those pickups had a 1 meg Ohm volume control, 250k tone control and .047 cap. But the originals were also 15K Ohm pickups so this recipe may not work with the reissues. More information:

https://www.gitec-forum-eng.de/wp-co...armond-pus.pdf

Thank you for the information.

[Musgo Real]

Read about the company, the pickups+their construction+electronic parts here : https://www.musicpickups.com/company-history/

Diagrams : DeArmond Rhythm Chief Wiring Diagrams - S. Nathaniel Adams

Then you'll know what options you have - experimenting with different values and tapers in pots and caps is cheap and fun, too.
Just be organized so that you can weed out the ones you don't like.

Thank you for the information.