I got lucky! AB 500K pot!

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 26 Jul 2005 1:52 pm

I went to a going out of business sale at Stars Music and didn't see anything that I was interested. I was just about to walk out and I saw a bag hanging on a rack with a couple of pots with long shafts. The price tag said $7 and the sale sale price was $1.41. One of the pots was 250K but the other one was 500K with the AB logo which I haven't seen for quite awhile. I was thrilled!

Bored at work. Just sharing!

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 27 Jul 2005 2:23 am

But what is the part number on the pot? There are lot of "NOS" AB pots around but none of the "504AA" pots.

Carl Williams · Post by **Carl Williams** » 27 Jul 2005 3:14 am

Dave, hope your AB pot works for you--this sounds like the same type of AB Pot I bought a couple of months ago---paid approx $7 for mine and she's working just fine thanks--regardless of the serial number

[This message was edited by Carl Williams on 27 July 2005 at 08:10 AM.]

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 27 Jul 2005 5:29 am

It had an "A" at the end of the number, which means audio taper. Right? I don't have the rest of the number since it's already soldered up in my pedal and working. It did say Made in Mexico and had the AB logo. At least I didn't pay $27 for a Clarostat. It sounds fine.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 27 Jul 2005 6:10 am

No. It's the next-to-last letter that has to be an "A". Thus, a part number ending in "UA" wouldn't be an audio taper, and wouldn't work as well.

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 27 Jul 2005 6:45 am

So what would the non audio tapered 500K pot with a long shaft be used for and why would they be selling it a music store? I guess I'm glad I only paid $1.41.

Thanks, Dave[This message was edited by Dave Zirbel on 27 July 2005 at 07:59 AM.]

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 27 Jul 2005 9:07 am

Why? Because they came from a distributor! Distributors often know very little about the components they sell. Some distributor probably said..."I have a 504UA pot that's the same thing as a 504AA, it's a manufacturer's equivalent", which is true. It's also a 2-watt, 2" shaft, 1/2 meg, MIL-R-94 hot-molded pot...BUT IT'S A DIFFERENT TAPER!

I've had 2 different (very big) distributors give me that same line, but I was smart enough to know the difference.

Apparently, they weren't.

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 27 Jul 2005 9:11 am

Thanks for educating me. I'll double check the serial number. It doesn't sound bad. I can't compare because I'm so used to the potless Goodrich I've been using.

Thanks, Dave Z