noisy pots

[ebenezer]

The pots on my bass are very noisy ! sprayed WD 40 on the pots in the control
cavity but little better....would switch cleaner be better?

it is an active bass.

[discreet]

WD40 isn't a good idea as it attracts clag and goit. Servisol Super 10 is a much better bet. A quick squirt and move the controls through their full travel about twenty times, and you should be good to go.

Edited April 27, 2015 by discreet

[Andytre]

Servisol is good stuff, iv been using colclene PCS for while now, according to the can they use it on missle guidence systems! i thought that was a good omen haha!

[Grangur]

Have you guys tried Maplin's contact cleaner spray?

It's what I have. It seems ok to me, but not over impressed. Just wondered how it compares.

[CamdenRob]

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1430141135' post='2758311']
Have you guys tried Maplin's contact cleaner spray?

It's what I have. It seems ok to me, but not over impressed. Just wondered how it compares.
[/quote]

I was going to buy some of this on the way home today so would be interested in this as well...

[Truckstop]

Servisol every day of the week!

[pfretrock]

WD40 and Loctite should never be allowed on the same planet as electric guitars.

[alembic1989]

If your pots are noisy...change them.
You are just delaying the inevitable by using contact cleaners.

[Dandelion]

Clag and goit...

[Bassassin]

Got a can of Servisol Super 10 sitting right here on my desk - great stuff.

Don't use WD40 on pots. Or bike chains.

Jon.

[ebenezer]

I promise, I will never use that WD 40 stuff on my guitar ever again...there, I said it I tell ya.
I shall go out and buy some servisol and that should last till I drop off my mortal coil.

[Grangur]

[quote name='alembic1989' timestamp='1430143867' post='2758347']
If your pots are noisy...change them.
You are just delaying the inevitable by using contact cleaners.
[/quote]
Agreed, it delays, or it papers over the cracks while you try to sell the bass.... if you're inclined to do that terrible sort of thing.

[discreet]

[quote name='alembic1989' timestamp='1430143867' post='2758347']
If your pots are noisy...change them. You are just delaying the inevitable by using contact cleaners.
[/quote]

I've used contact cleaners precisely three times on my bass pots, they are nearly 40 years old.
I can't change them - my bass wouldn't be original then, would it? *Gasp of horror*

[Paul S]

[quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1430146596' post='2758372']
Don't use WD40 on pots. Or bike chains.

Jon.
[/quote]

I never use bike chains on my pots. Not since the first time...

[mcnach]

[quote name='alembic1989' timestamp='1430143867' post='2758347']
If your pots are noisy...change them.
You are just delaying the inevitable by using contact cleaners.
[/quote]

hmmm, define "delay".

If they're really bad, sure, it'll only be a short-lived cure. But I have guitars that I have owned a couple of decades and I've sprayed the pots once or twice when I heard a little scratch... and they're ok.

[danny-79]

[quote name='alembic1989' timestamp='1430143867' post='2758347']
If your pots are noisy...change them.
You are just delaying the inevitable by using contact cleaners.
[/quote]

+1 vote
Any form of cleaner is just a quick fix in my experience, just change them and be done with it

[Byo]

Cleaning the pots just extends their usable life and it is a way of maintaining your instrument (like cleaning it, changing strings, setups...)

Pots normally have an "x" amount of turns until they start failing unless they are being abused or stored in bad conditions (damp, dust, etc...) which will make them go "caput" even sooner.

I normally use Servisol and if a pot is giving serious issues, I whack a new quality replacement in.

I am tempted to use the bike chains method though... LOLOL

Edited May 4, 2015 by Byo

[Grangur]

At the risk of going off topic here; how much do you actually use/operate the pot?

When you think of how little they're used, in my case at least, their life they give isn't impressive compare to the volume knob on a hi-fi for example. Maybe to extend their life we should give them more "exercise"?

[Conan]

[quote name='alembic1989' timestamp='1430143867' post='2758347']
If your pots are noisy...change them.
You are just delaying the inevitable by using contact cleaners.
[/quote]

Unless the noise is caused simply by dirt? In which case the problem has been dealt with

Do you change your car when it gets dirty?

Edited May 11, 2015 by Conan

[yorks5stringer]

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1431339630' post='2770078']
Unless the noise is caused simply by dirt? In which case the problem has been dealt with

[b]Do you change your car when it gets dirty?[/b]
[/quote]

That would be silly, I usually send the Chauffeur to buy another one....

[Skybone]

Servisol or A N Other electrical contact cleaner.

[ebenezer]

just to clarify, the bass has had little use so surely the pots should not be worn!
this circuit was fitted by overwater...it is a bart bc5 pickup and bart tct circuit
fitted with, I assume good quality pots!...but then again!!

[mrn1989]

Servisol +10000000!!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Servisol-Super-10-Switch-Contact-Cleaner-Solvent-Spray-200ml-/351332573738?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item51cd0da22a

[Jono Bolton]

I've never had to deal with crackly pots until recently; all three pots on my Peavey crackle when I turn them. Having never cleaned pots before, what do I do? Do I have to take the pots out and spray them from the front?

Edited May 16, 2015 by Jono Bolton

[Grangur]

[quote name='Jono Bolton' timestamp='1431816410' post='2775340']
I've never had to deal with crackly pots until recently; all three pots on my Peavey crackle when I turn them. Having never cleaned pots before, what do I do? Do I have to take the pots out and spray them from the front?
[/quote]

Contact cleaner spray comes with a long, thin tube That attaches to the nozzle. Use this to poke into an opening in the pot cover and spray about to get it to wash the inside parts. After this then keep winding the pot back and forth and do it again.

That usually works.