Scratchy Pots

[ptuner1]

best and most careful way to fix a noisy volume pot on an L5 Wes? thanks

[bluenote61]

best and most careful way to fix a noisy volume pot on an L5 Wes? thanks

Changing the pot. The only treatment that will last.

[bluejaybill]

I use a very light spray with Dioxit, usually fixes it for a long time, make sure you use the one for potentiometers. D5 IIRC?

Make sure you don't get any on the finish!

Others may have another/better idea. This is just what has worked for me.

[rpjazzguitar]

Some of that spray on the shaft (meaning pull off the knob and wet the shaft). Not a permanent fix (that's changing the pot), but way easier.

[sgosnell]

My first try is almost always just twisting the knob briskly back and forth, for awhile, to see if that helps. It often does. If not, Deoxit may help. Getting the Deoxit into the right places in the pot can be difficult though, without removing it from the guitar. Going down the shaft isn't the most efficient way to get the liquid onto the wiper.

[stevo58]

Whatever you do, DON’T USE WD40.

If you pull the pot to clean it, you might as well replace it. I use sealed pots in any guitar with a hole. Generally Bourns type 82 if I can get them, type 95 if not, but there are other sealed pots. A sealed pot is a permanent fix.

steven

[wintermoon]

I got one of these when they came out, but like most Stew Mac tools is a bit expensive for what it is. And like many Stew Mac tools has been copied and selling elsewhere for less on places like eBay, though I can't vouch for the quality of the knock offs.
But the original works great and eliminates any excess mess and directs the spray where it belongs.

https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-tool...-cleaning-cap/

[garybaldy]

Whatever you do, DON’T USE WD40.

If you pull the pot to clean it, you might as well replace it. I use sealed pots in any guitar with a hole. Generally Bourns type 82 if I can get them, type 95 if not, but there are other sealed pots. A sealed pot is a permanent fix.

steven

What about this one, the contact cleaner?

[jazzloverfat]

What about this one, the contact cleaner?

I had good results with a contact cleaner type spray. What I did was remove the knob, spray the shaft, twist it a few times then spray it some more until the scratchy-ness went away. It was on a guitar with a poly finish though, so maybe cover the area around the shaft with something that can absorb the over-spray?

[BBGuitar]

I worked as an electronic technician for 39 years in one of the largest research centers in the world.

In our shop squirt cans of cleaners were not allowed.

Dirty switches and pots were replaced.

If replacements were not available, they were disassembled cleaned and lightly greased with a special contact grease.

[sgosnell]

Most jazz guitarists are not playing in large research centers.

[bluejaybill]

Most jazz guitarists are not playing in large research centers.

And also, some of us have vintage guitars, where we hope to not have to replace the original pot. Some even think they sound different.

However, the point is well taken, replacement is the option that will be the longest lasting.

[stevo58]

What about this one, the contact cleaner?

Don’t know, I suppose it’s ok. You see the original recommended by various people, but it’s fish or vegetable based oil, and it cleans it out ok, then coagulates and gums everything up forever. Since I switched to sealed pots I haven’t needed any contact cleaner.