Almost embarassed....

[peter71]

Hey, I have a 93 Sil, and when I try and use the volume knob for that fun volume knob effect we all know and love, it gives me some pretty fierce crackles. The embarassing part is that though I love to play guitar, I know very little about maintaining it and repairing it. That was supposed to be my roadie's job.

Seeing as how I am not famous and have no roadies, except maybe my stupid cats, does anyone know what might be causing this noise and what I could do to remove said noise?

Thanks and please don't make fun...

 

[beej]

Hey Peter,

No worries- you're better off that way ... keeps you playing instead of taking 'em apart with your spare time

Looks like the pot is starting to go. (It could be amp related- first check if you have this same problem on other amps, but 99% it's the pot.)

Two choices: take the pot out, clean it with contact cleaner (a can of liquid you spray into it to removed debris, worn conductive material, etc.) or just replace it with a new pot. Since it's not a vintage guitar, I'd just replace the pot with a new one- it's just a standard 250k or 500k pot.

If you don't feel comfortable doing this yourself, it should be a relatively inexpensive fix for a local tech. Or you can find a buddy that's into electronics to do this for you.

 

[NorM]

I wish I were mercifully free from the ravages of intelligence.
NorM expresses concurrence with beej as I feel he got it in one.

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

All my guitars have gone like this, except the EVH, which still has its original pot!

 

[peter71]

You guys are the best! Thanks so much. Since intelligence waved bye bye to me a long time ago, I will definately find a good tech to help me out. I apparently don't like money either...

Thanks all! You = Keen!

 

[tommyindelaware]

i don't replace pots until they are worn out.
radio shack carries a product made by CAIG called D5...& it's a contact cleaner that works better than any i've ever used. although the CAIG GOLD is more expensive...it's not as strong . it's more a lube. get the D5.
spray it into the bottom of the volume control for about 3 seconds & turn the volume control back & forth...... all the way up & all the way down rapidly for about 15 seconds. the runoff is harmless..........just clean it up.
that should losen & desolve all the crud causing your scratching sound..
until i found this caig stuff...i used to simply replace the pots. but this is easier in the long run.......
works good on 3 & 5 way switches too.....

Hey, I have a 93 Sil, and when I try and use the volume knob for that fun volume knob effect we all know and love, it gives me some pretty fierce crackles. The embarassing part is that though I love to play guitar, I know very little about maintaining it and repairing it. That was supposed to be my roadie's job.

Seeing as how I am not famous and have no roadies, except maybe my stupid cats, does anyone know what might be causing this noise and what I could do to remove said noise?

Thanks and please don't make fun...

 

[kbaim]

Peter, back after a long absense, no?

 

[peter71]

Yeah, my forum presence is dictated by my financial and work situations. If I am broke, the site is too much of a tease for me to handle. I want everything that gets posted. Also, if I am super busy at work, my bosses tend to get pinchy faced about me writing on the forums. Right now I am at the perfect zenith of having a little bit of dough and wanting to quit my job, so I can chat away without a worry in the world.

Well, I guess I have some worries, but none that are guitar related. But thanks for remembering me! I am excited that you and Norm and John and some others are still around.

I will try and hang out more, unless you all get sick of me. Then I will leave.

 

[NorM]

Well, I guess I have some worries, but none that are guitar related. But thanks for remembering me! I am excited that you and Norm and John and some others are still around.

I will try and hang out more, unless you all get sick of me. Then I will leave.

Do I know you?

I'm just kidding! Good to see you back around here.
I still haven't been banned or seen any kind of court order so I'm still hanging around.