scratchy pot!

[spkirby]

My Axis has developed a slightly scratchy vol pot...probably due to playing Van Halens song Cathedral too much which is constant volume knob abuse! Its not too bad and only noticable when playing clean...but still...

Is it time for a replacement or is there a trick to cleaning it up?

Thanks
SteveK

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

Replace it!

If you get a tech like Charlie Chandler to do it, should cost about £25.

If you are handy with a soldering iron, the pots are about a fiver.

They are so cheap - replace!

 

[Dodgeball]

I would try giving it a quick blast with some contact cleaner first. It's equally cheap and less labour intensive than warming up the soldering gun. Plus you can use it on other axes.

If that doesn't work then you can still replace it.

For the record I use my volume control all the time as I don't switch channels to get clean/dirt and have had no problems. You must play cathedral a HELLUVA lot if you think that is the cause!

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

The only reason I said replace it that the last time I cleaned a pot, the contact cleaner I used killed the carbon track!

 

[spkirby]

You must play cathedral a HELLUVA lot if you think that is the cause!

I really dont play it that often, although when I do, I feel sorry for my vol pot...

 

[DaveB]

Get some decent contact cleaner from a reputable electronics store - RS Components, Maplin may stock it.

Do NOT do what a local guitar shop told me and use WD40 - it will just gunk up the carbon track.

Dave

 

[tommyindelaware]

My Axis has developed a slightly scratchy vol pot...probably due to playing Van Halens song Cathedral too much which is constant volume knob abuse! Its not too bad and only noticable when playing clean...but still...

Is it time for a replacement or is there a trick to cleaning it up?

Thanks
SteveK

this stuff is far and away the best i've found . been using it for MANY years.....& it has saved me MANY vintage pots that no other brand could clean to a quite operation. one can will last ya 4ever .
http://store.caig.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.188/it.A/id.1602/.f

 

[Guitarburetor]

Options for scratch pots..

My Axis has developed a slightly scratchy vol pot...probably due to playing Van Halens song Cathedral too much which is constant volume knob abuse! Its not too bad and only noticable when playing clean...but still...

Is it time for a replacement or is there a trick to cleaning it up?

Thanks
SteveK

It's entirely possible that your pot is worn, and the best solution is to replace, but here are some other steps you may want to try:

1. As the pot is used, the element gets worn, and dust is produced. This can cause the scratchy sound. Try blowing out the pot with compressed air. This can be purchased in a spray can at electronic, computer, and craft stores if you don't have a compressor.

2. Control cleaner, as has been mentioned. Does much the same thing as compressed air, and may or may not contain a lubricant. Probably costs as much as a new pot, but there's no installation, of course.

3. If you are running the guitar directly into a tube amp, sometimes the input stage tube can leak a DC voltage that will cause the pot to sound scratchy. Best way to diagnose this is to try another guitar into the amp and see if you get the same results, also try your guitar into a different amp to see if you get similar results. Remedy for this problem is replace the bad tube.

 

[SteveB]

3. If you are running the guitar directly into a tube amp, sometimes the input stage tube can leak a DC voltage that will cause the pot to sound scratchy. Best way to diagnose this is to try another guitar into the amp and see if you get the same results, also try your guitar into a different amp to see if you get similar results. Remedy for this problem is replace the bad tube.

Wow. Great info in there Dudley. I learned something new. Thanks for taking the time.

 

[Adwex]

I used some contact cleaner on my scratchy volume pot, worked for a while, but the scratchiness came back a couple months later. That's a good sign that the pot should be replaced. It's worth a try though, much easier than replacing it first.

 

[jongitarz]

Wow. Great info in there Dudley. I learned something new. Thanks for taking the time.

Dudley rocks!

 

[Mick]

3. If you are running the guitar directly into a tube amp, sometimes the input stage tube can leak a DC voltage that will cause the pot to sound scratchy. Best way to diagnose this is to try another guitar into the amp and see if you get the same results, also try your guitar into a different amp to see if you get similar results. Remedy for this problem is replace the bad tube.


Yes , I had that with my 1967 Plexi Superlead and only with my EMG equipped guitar and it drove me nuts. Was a coupling cap.
Mick