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DIY Stompboxes => Building your own stompbox => Topic started by: Bluesgeetar on January 30, 2004, 06:02:20 AM

Title: Hey mates!!! Any of you Brits use Omeg pots?
Post by: Bluesgeetar on January 30, 2004, 06:02:20 AM
Any of you British folks use Omeg pots?  How are they?  They sound good?  Are you happy with them?

http://www.omeg.co.uk/p16typ1.htm
Title: Hey mates!!! Any of you Brits use Omeg pots?
Post by: drew on January 30, 2004, 07:51:20 AM
I'm not british (well, maybe 6th generation or so!) but have used omeg pots before... The ones I had were PCB-mount with plastic shafts. I am not a big fan of moving parts that use plastic, but they seemed to hold up okay.


drew
www.toothpastefordinner.com
Title: Omeg
Post by: uncle boko on January 30, 2004, 08:59:05 AM
I can't say I've ever noticed the difference between the sound produced(???) between different pots - ah except when I was experimenting with different caps in my triple EH fuzz-wah.
Title: Hey mates!!! Any of you Brits use Omeg pots?
Post by: gez on January 30, 2004, 06:03:39 PM
I have some of these but have never used them:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/media/largeimages/12701i0.jpg
 
Although they're described as mini, they're anything but.  The bases are square and take up quite a lot of room, plus the shafts are longer than in the picture and need cutting down to size.  The pins (PCB mount) are larger than alpha ones so would require larger pads.  

The ones you linked to are different though, so they might be more appropriate.  I'm sure they function fine, they have a good reputation...just not my cup of tea!
Title: Re: Hey mates!!! Any of you Brits use Omeg pots?
Post by: Ammscray on January 30, 2004, 08:49:33 PM
Quote from: BluesgeetarAny of you British folks use Omeg pots?  How are they?  They sound good?  Are you happy with them?

http://www.omeg.co.uk/p16typ1.htm

Hey BG, don't waste your time with them, there's NO mojo there believe me...they are cheaply made as hell, very often way off tolerance, and I've had them snap right off the top of a pedal on more than one occasion...the shaft is plastic!
Why do you think so many original FF's have replaced pots??

AB all the way, even the mouser alpha pots are light years ahead of the omeg and citecs (same factory)
Title: Hey mates!!! Any of you Brits use Omeg pots?
Post by: keninverse on January 30, 2004, 10:44:04 PM
Well, I guess I'm the only one that likes these.  I think the rotational torque required to move these suit me very well.  Just the right amount of stiffness and smooth as silk.  Alpha/Xicon's feel like you're moving the shaft over sandpaper...  As long as you don't over-tighten the nuts there's nothing to worry about.

uh...I think I just made a nasty inuendo...
Title: Hey mates!!! Any of you Brits use Omeg pots?
Post by: keninverse on January 30, 2004, 10:45:17 PM
BTW...I was referring to the ECO series...
Title: Hey mates!!! Any of you Brits use Omeg pots?
Post by: J Gagan on January 31, 2004, 03:47:46 AM
contrary to Ammscray's experience ( no offense ), I have used approx. 900 of them for almost 2 years with no pot failures to date.

When I first tried them, I was concerned about the nylon shaft, so I plugged one in the hole in an actual enclosure and repeatedly stomped as hard as I could with the heel of a good size cowboy boot ( I can kick pretty good).  the only thing that happened was a bending of the shaft, but it still operated and gave correct readings! This test was without a knob installed, I am sure it would hold up even better with a knob on there.

I actually prefer the nylon shaft for  2 reasons:
1.If someone actually does stomp one hard enough to bend the shaft, the pedal will still work , instead of a metal shaft pot ramming the back end off the pot as happens with that type.

2.The set screw for the knob takes a positive 'bite' into the shaft, my knobs rarely come loose on these.

they are slightly smaller/ shallower than the 24 MM alpha pots, so I can fit things in a little neater.

The feel is really nice on them, very consistent and just about perfect resistance to turning for my taste.

They can be ordered in many different configurations, which suits me well.

The nuts that come with them are the same size as the nuts on the 3pdt switches, making my assembly time a little simpler.

The tabs and back of pot are very easy to solder to ( unlike that strange coating on the alphas ).

A few downsides:

the values are strange, like 220 k vs 250, and 470k vs 500 etc.

I had to buy a lot of them and wait for them to be made to my specs.

The pot metal body for the threaded area can be cracked if overtightened.

there is a lot of thick grease the oozes around the base of the shaft making your fingers greasy if you turn them by hand without a knob.

The solder tabs have flimsy little clamping tabs to the phenolic ( or whatever it is), so if you bend the tabs around carelessly you can lose contact.

despite the downsides, I still think they are great if treated properly.

Ken Fischer hipped me to them a  while back , I think he said Paul Crowther of Hotcake fame liked them.
I ordered them from Brian at Vimex, the sole US importer.
Title: Hey mates!!! Any of you Brits use Omeg pots?
Post by: J Gagan on January 31, 2004, 03:49:49 AM
not sure what series mine are but they look exactly like the ones in all the old Ff pictures. Ancient assembly line eh?
Title: Hey mates!!! Any of you Brits use Omeg pots?
Post by: blabj on January 31, 2004, 04:01:25 AM
i have a couple of those pots in the part bin, not exactly the greatest things since sliced bread, but they work. 4 hanged pot any one?   :shock: lol
callum
Title: Hey mates!!! Any of you Brits use Omeg pots?
Post by: Paul Perry (Frostwave) on January 31, 2004, 09:02:36 PM
www.oakleysound.co.uk make a range of very high quality DIY analog synth modules (available as kits or pre-populated boards which you case yourself). He uses Omeg, whihc is a great vote in their favor.. Phil is a pretty fussy guy.