What would be the proper volume/tone pots for Madeira dual humbuckers

[PakRatJR]

My first post was trying to properly ID my old guitar. Big thanks to all that helped.

Madeira EG-61, dual humbucker pickups with three way, volume, tone and phase switch.
Many years ago I replaced the volume pot as it quit working. I don't remember anymore what "size" I put in. My best recollection is basically what ever was on the shelf at the store at the time for a Strat. But being they are generally three single pickups, I'm thinking it may not have been technically the correct one.

I am now planning on replace the three way and tone pot as well as they are not working great anymore. I have a stock Fender 3 way that I assume will be fine but now I don't know what size pot i would really need for the tone, and I am guessing maybe changing the volume again to match as well.

From my digging around it seems 500k on both would be the technically correct size for humbuckers, but what kind of difference would I see if they were 250k, or possibly one of each??

 

[GAD]

Generally humbuckers get 500k and single coils get 250k, but there are plenty of exceptions out there.

The higher the resistance of the pot, the more highs you'll hear. That's why 500k is used on the usually darker-sounding humbuckers. Single coils are already really bright, so 250k filter more of the highs away to keep them from sounding harsh.

It's also worth measuring any pots you buy. Good ones are usually +/-10% and on a 500k pot that could mean you got a 450k pot. Some cheaper pots are +/-20% which means your "500k" pot could actually be 400k! I have an Historic Les Paul that came from the factory with the pots reading 450-470k and it sounded like crap. I put 525k pots in it to get that extra bit of treble out of the pickups and it's an absolute monster now.

 

[PakRatJR]

Cool thank you. I will look for the 500k.

 

[Guildedagain]

Guilds use/d lower value pots on their weaker than humbuckers, as low as 250KΩ maybe.

It is very easy to read the DC resistance of a pot, preferably not in a circuit.

Those pickups might benefit from some darkening, they're generally not high powered, they just have that look because they look like a DiMarzio.

 

[PakRatJR]

Thanks. I haven't bought any replacements yet. I guess I will just wait till I need a string change to pull the pickguard off and see what the tone pot is

 

[PakRatJR]

I broke down and pulled the pickguard. I did put a 250k on the volume. The stock tone is A500k and really teeny lol.
Now I don't know what I want to do. Being the pain that it is to change them I don't really want to mess around experimenting. Assuming the stock volume was 500k I am leaning twords going back to that. Decisions decisions lol