Low mileage Dunlop pot 'occasional' dead spots or silence anyone else experience this?

[Keith Bolog]

This is a near new pot. It has unpredictable periodic behavior, either nothing at all throughout the entire sweep then it suddenly comes to life and works perfectly, or there is a dead spot somewhere along the way, which comes and goes - mainly coming during a performance of course. Each event can last 5 minutes or 5 seconds. Not noisy or scratchy, just an absent signal.

All solder connections and mechanical parts/movements are smooth and solid, jacks tight, and no effects chain, its direct into an amp. I tried multiple cords, contact cleaner, and kicking it (not really).

I dread having to replace it a real pain IMO.