MOTM

No, I'm not interested in discussing the (de)merits of taking up
recreational smoking, I'm trying to find a reasonable substitute for
Spectrol pots.  The prices on these in small quantities has gone out
of range ($11 - ow!).  The 248 series is not all that much cheaper and
tough to get in some values. 
The  Bourns 91/95 series are nice,  but still >$7.

Does anybody have a suggestion for a pot that:
1) has the same PCB footprint/pin spacing as the Spectrol
2) has a reasonable price (<$4))
3) has a similar rotation to the Spectrol (265 degrees)
4) isn't utter crap

I'll start hunting, but if someone has solved this problem already,
I'd appreciate a tip.

clickmrmike

At 11:29 PM 12/6/2008, clickmrmike wrote:
>No, I'm not interested in discussing the (de)merits of taking up
>recreational smoking, I'm trying to find a reasonable substitute for
>Spectrol pots....

Well, the following was on the Oakley list, just a few days ago. (I'm 
guessing that the prices are in Pounds.)

John


To: oakley-synths@yahoogroups.com

From: Oakley Sound <oakleylist@...>
Subject: Re: [oakley-synths] Spectrol Alternative?

  > I was wondering if anyone had any experience with these 'TT
Electronics' potentiometers... http://tinyurl.com/639n8m (Rapid part
68-1180).

These I think have just arrived. Thanks for the heads up. I'm going to
be ordering some very shortly.

They have 5mm gap between the front face and the pins. Spectrol/Vishay
248 has 5.08mm [200thou]. This should be close enough to fit without any
strain on the pot's pins. Everything else perfect match. They are
clearly going for a second source for the 248s - and its about time.

I'll let folk know but these look to be very good indeed.

Right now, Farnell have the best price on the 248s if you aren't buying
them from Oakley Modular.

Tony

>  > I was wondering if anyone had any experience with these 'TT
> Electronics' potentiometers... http://tinyurl.com/639n8m (Rapid part
> 68-1180).
>

I think I'm in love :)

I would still want cermet pots for VCO Coarse/Fine, but conductive plastic 
is *fine* everywhere else in MOTM-land.

I'm going to ping my local distributor first thing Monday and see if I can 
get them in the US

a) without a 600pc minimum (Bourns)
b) less than 16 week (Bourns) or 36 week (Spectrol 248 log pots) lead time

Paul S.

FYI Paul,

BI Technologies distributes these pots in the USA. Here is their list of
dealers (even includes Mouser but they are all non-stocked items so  . .):
http://www.bitechnologies.com/salesnet/sales3.html

Are you going to NAMM this year? BI Technologies is going to have a booth
there:
http://www.bitechnologies.com/ProAudio/ProAudio/index.htm


John L Rice 

-----Original Message-----
From: motm@yahoogroups.com [mailto:motm@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Paul
Schreiber
Sent: Saturday, December 06, 2008 9:15 PM
To: motm@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [motm] Pot debate...

>  > I was wondering if anyone had any experience with these 'TT
> Electronics' potentiometers... http://tinyurl.com/639n8m (Rapid part
> 68-1180).
>

I think I'm in love :)

I would still want cermet pots for VCO Coarse/Fine, but conductive plastic 
is *fine* everywhere else in MOTM-land.

I'm going to ping my local distributor first thing Monday and see if I can 
get them in the US

a) without a 600pc minimum (Bourns)
b) less than 16 week (Bourns) or 36 week (Spectrol 248 log pots) lead time

Paul S.


------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links

At 12:15 AM 12/7/2008, Paul Schreiber wrote:
> >  > I was wondering if anyone had any experience with these 'TT
> > Electronics' potentiometers... http://tinyurl.com/639n8m (Rapid part
> > 68-1180).
> >
>
>I think I'm in love :)

Excellent! I was planning to wait for Tony Allgood's feedback before 
passing this on, but since someone asked, the time seemed right. 
Besides, you need to do your own evaluation, anyway.

John

> BI Technologies distributes these pots in the USA. Here is their list of
> dealers (even includes Mouser but they are all non-stocked items so  . .):
> http://www.bitechnologies.com/salesnet/sales3.html
>

I can tell you right now that USA distribution will not stock the pc board 
mount parts. They will stock the solder lugs style.
In fact the only reason Mouser stock(ed) the Spectrol 148/149 pots was 
because of *me*. I've been buying them
so long that there is an established 'order history', and that is how US 
distributors work off of. Sure, any of them can
quote a factory price, and that is probably what I will have to do.

It's just like the Bourns 1M log pots on the '800. I have to order them 
"custom made" from a distributor (usually Newark)
and 14 weeks later they show up :) Which I am about to do because I'm about 
out of them. The worrisome thing is how long
(if ever) will it take to get my $$$ back from the $1700 I have to spend on 
just the pots?

I'll keep y'all posted.

Paul S.

So buy enough that we can buy smaller quantities from you!  Maybe a 
1X deal unless it fits with your 2.0 operation.

--- In motm@yahoogroups.com, "Paul Schreiber" <synth1@...> wrote:
> I can tell you right now that USA distribution will not stock the 
pc board 

> mount parts. They will stock the solder lugs style.
> 
> I'll keep y'all posted.
> 
> Paul S.
>

>It's just like the Bourns 1M log pots on the '800. I have to order them
>"custom made" from a distributor (usually Newark)
>and 14 weeks later they show up :) Which I am about to do because I'm about
>out of them. The worrisome thing is how long
>(if ever) will it take to get my $$$ back from the $1700 I have to spend on
>just the pots?

i notice the 100k spectrols in the accessories section. how about 
bunging the 1m log bournses up there (and any other rare pots maybe) 
so that people needing them for building 800s or whatever can perhaps 
lessen your stock a bit?

>I'll keep y'all posted.

please do, thanks...