Scratchy Volume Pedal

Ian · Post by **Ian** » 13 Feb 2002 10:52 am

My old Ernie Ball volume pedal has been sounding kind of scratchy lately. I blew out some of the dust but the problem keeps reoccuring. I'm under the impression that the "pot" needs to be replaced every so often. Is this a relatively easy procceedure? What are some recommended replacement pots? Where can I get them?

Thanks a lot,
Ian

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 13 Feb 2002 1:03 pm

Ian:
Before you go to the trouble of replacing the pot, have you ever tried contact cleaner?
You can get this at Radio Shack. Just spray a little in the pot and work the pedal up and down. Sometimes it works and some times it doesn't, but it's worth a try.

Uff-da!

Bobby Snell · Post by **Bobby Snell** » 13 Feb 2002 3:02 pm

Ernie Ball replacement pots can be had at your local music store...they cost about 25 bucks, I believe, and are relatively easy to install.

I've noticed my pots get pretty unacceptable after 6 months (any brand). I try to keep a few pedals around, and a couple spare pots to throw in so there's always a studio friendly one available.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 13 Feb 2002 6:37 pm

You may have to remove or loosen the back cover of the pot for the spray to penetrate where it's needed. (Remember to replace/tighten it.) If my pots only lasted 6 months, I'd take the cover off and spray them before I installed them. Could be they're not lubing them at the factory anymore when they're made.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 14 Feb 2002 3:15 am

Pot life has a lot to do with how often it's used. I see guys that are constantly (and I mean constantly) up and down on the volume pedal. Those types probably don't get much life out of a pot.

I can usually get several years out of a pot.

If you look at the specs on the Clarostat (or any pot), you will see it's rated for "n" operations. The resistance "wafer" will eventually wear out from the friction of the mechanical wiper constantly moving.

Bruce Derr · Post by **Bruce Derr** » 14 Feb 2002 7:10 am

If you're a tinkerer, you might try taking the back off of a new pot and using a pair of needlenose pliers to reduce the spring pressure of the wiper a bit. I used to do this back when I played full time and I think it helped the pots last longer. I got the idea from an article in the PSGA newsletter back in the '70s. (It won't help a pot that's already scratchy.)[This message was edited by Bruce Derr on 14 February 2002 at 07:12 AM.]

gary darr · Post by **gary darr** » 14 Feb 2002 7:14 pm

If you could take the back off,why could'nt a person drill a small hole in it while it was out and then use the hole as a "service point" later. PS one should probably use a small piece of duck tape or something to seal off the hole.....any thoughts on that idea?

------------------
sho-bud,session 500,american standard strat,shecter tele,peavy classic 50

Russ Wever · Post by **Russ Wever** » 14 Feb 2002 8:47 pm

gary,
I've done that before to gain access to the inside, but without removing the cover (often once the cover is removed by bending the tabs, it is difficult to get back on properly sealed). Drill slowly and drill upward so that the 'shavings' will fall away from the pot rather than into the pot.
~ Russ[This message was edited by Russ Wever on 14 February 2002 at 08:49 PM.][This message was edited by Russ Wever on 14 February 2002 at 08:51 PM.]

Robert Thomas · Post by **Robert Thomas** » 15 Feb 2002 5:09 am

I use a Bigsby pedal and have since about 1952. My volume pot was replaced in 1968 an has been in use since. No scratch or problem whatsoever. I can't imagine how many thousands of hours it has been in use. I use a product called Deoxit D5. It is made by Caig, website: www.caig.com. This product actually restores your pot to like new condition. It is my understanding that a pot seldom wears out but becomes noisy because of contamination. The last time I had to use this stuff was about a year ago. The pot works really fine. Just thought I'd let you know.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 15 Feb 2002 5:32 am

You can clean a pot and sometimes get extended use from it but eventually the thin resistance layer in it WILL wear out. Maybe not the full length of the pot but in spots will eventually wear through.

A pot lasting 20 or more years must get very little use or it's being used and is bad and you don't notice it. I don't remember what the "number of turns" rating is for the Allen Bradley/Clarostat J pot but the pot made by another company that was talked about on here about 6 months ago is "mil std" and rated at 25,000 operations.

The bottom line, if you use the volume pedal the pot WILL ultimately fail. How long it will take depends on the manufacture of the particular pot and how much it's used.

Glenn Austin · Post by **Glenn Austin** » 15 Feb 2002 8:41 am

I'll second the use of Caig Deoxit. It works wonders on Molex connectors in Peavey amps too. I'd try that before changing the pot. It's real handy stuff to have.

Ian · Post by **Ian** » 15 Feb 2002 10:37 am

Thanks everyone. I'll look into some of these solutions this weekend.

Ian

Robert Thomas · Post by **Robert Thomas** » 16 Feb 2002 2:05 pm

The pot in my Bigsby pedal is allen bradley.
I play 4 to 5 times a week (that involves hours of playing). I do not have a problem with variation in sound. I think it is probably going to outlast me. I agrre that it will probably wear out at some time and when it does I have 1 spare allen bradley volume pot, so that should do me the rest of my life.