What are the differences between a5k and b5k potentiometers?

Question

I'm replacing the pots (A5K Ohm) in my guitar with B5K Ohm pots I bought from Radioshack, are they interchangeable?

Answer 1

The A5k pot has an audio taper on it.  The B5k pot is linear.  They do the same thing but you may have trouble using a linear pot.  It's due to the way the ear works.  The audio taper makes a greater change toward the high end of the control than the lower end.  The linear pot makes the same change.  It will sound funny as you try to adjust the linear pot and you may have problems finding the right spot where it will sound right.