SCRATCHY POTS

 ↓ btm    #0
2009-10-22 06:06
RAFL
new member
From: FLORIDA
Registered: 2009-10-20
Posts: 7

Budget is a big key here, if anyone can help it would be appreciated/  both my peavey chorus amp and my guitar
have slightly scratchy pots.  If I move them back and forth rapidly it seems to temporarily get a little better but
returns.  Can I remove or access the pot and use an electrical contact cleaner to spray into pot or do they have to
be taken apart and manually cleaned?  Thanks again

8256
↑ top  ↓ btm    #1
2009-10-22 07:58
69 jaguar
senior member
From: Wherever I happen to be
Registered: 2007-12-12
Posts: 858

RAFL,

The pots cannot be taken apart.  You should be able to dissasemble the amp to a point as to be able to access the pots from the inside and spray them with a good contact/tuner cleaner, turning them while spraying.  As far as the guitar, the same would apply except you must be carefull not to get any of the cleaner on the guitar. It may harm the finish.

Jim

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8257
↑ top  ↓ btm    #2
2009-10-22 10:58
RAFL
new member
From: FLORIDA
Registered: 2009-10-20
Posts: 7

Thanks alot Jim, that really helps the wallet.  That'll be an easy fix.

8260
↑ top  ↓ btm    #3
2009-10-22 19:30
69 jaguar
senior member
From: Wherever I happen to be
Registered: 2007-12-12
Posts: 858

RAFL,

Let me know how things work out..
If ya still have the same problem, the offending pots may be worn out, in which case replacement is easy if you can solder well...
The parts are not expensive at all.  You just have to have a source for the parts, and know what the specs are... IE: Ohms, Linear taper, or Audio taper, etc...Most pots in this type of gear for audio applications will be "Audio Taper".
If you have any ?'s, give me a yell

Jim

If someone with multiple personalites threatens suicide, Is it considered a 'Hostage Situation'?
8266
↑ top  ↓ btm    #4
2010-08-14 09:41
bonarro
member
Registered: 2010-02-07
Posts: 45

Hey man this may sound crazy but I had nothing left to loose and my scratch pots renderd my amp useless so I grab the WD-4 and soaked em down really good while turning the volume pots waited a few hours and its like brand new so far don't know what the long term effects will be, so far so good!!!!!!!

10505
↑ top  ↓ btm    #5
2010-08-14 10:27
GuitarZen
senior member
From: Pacific Northwest
Registered: 2006-11-18
Posts: 2160

Bon, i'm going to go out on a limb here and make a guess at what Jag is going to say. Having worked with WD a lot, i've found that while it will work for a number of purposes for a while, eventually it will have attracted enough dirt (airborne particulates, dust etc) as to create an even bigger problem than the 'scratchies'. Reason for the contact cleaner is that it's totally evaporating while the WD is not meant to evaporate. Hope this saves you some grief...unless of course you're already years into the fix, then in that case i'm outta my tree...heh, heh...

Cheers,

GuitarZen

10509
↑ top  ↓ btm    #6
2010-08-15 12:10
bonarro
member
Registered: 2010-02-07
Posts: 45

Hey GZ, I have had this amp for 15 years or more and never have been able to get the sound I wanted and then when I did add effects and found what I was looking for I got scratchy pots and couldn't even use the amp, so I tried the electonics cleaner which lasted about 2 days and it was scratchy again, so I had nothing to loose. It is still sounding excellent a few days into the experiment. I will let you know how it goes from here I am curious too!!!!

10521
↑ top  ↓ btm    #7
2010-08-15 16:01
69 jaguar
senior member
From: Wherever I happen to be
Registered: 2007-12-12
Posts: 858

Bon
As GZ says wd is a moisture displacer/ lubricant. (WD= water displacer).
The wd may have gotten the dirt out of the pot but as a lube it will sooner or later attract more dirt.
What you might try now since the pot is clean, hit it hard with a good tuner/contact cleaner to clear
away any residual wd thats sticking around.

Jim

If someone with multiple personalites threatens suicide, Is it considered a 'Hostage Situation'?
10522
↑ top  ↓ btm    #8
2010-08-16 09:05
bonarro
member
Registered: 2010-02-07
Posts: 45

Hey Jim,I have a half a can of the contact cleaner left if I need it,man I am still amazed at how that pot is working, I read on the bottle that wd is a metal cleaner too.Although it is an oil I'm hoping that the dirt won't make it into the pot again. I will let you know how it goes!!

thanks

Kevin

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