Rebuilding worn out vintage pots

[ebenezer]

I had to replace the pots on my 79 stingray, I still have the original and wondered if they could be rebuilt to keep the bass as original as possible?

[neepheid]

Is this a resale value question or are you actually looking to refurb the pots with a view to putting them back in the bass for your own use?

 

[bloke_zero]

I'd keep them on one side and if you sell it you can mention you still have them, then anyone with concerns about it could easily solder them in.

 

I would take quite a lot of convincing that replacing the new ones with the old ones would make a positive difference to the sound. I'd guess they were replaced as the conductive track had started to wear out meaning they were crackling or dropping out. Pots wear out over time.

[neepheid]

Some relevant chat here (and a video you might find interesting)

 

 

[Chienmortbb]

I have not seen the video but having disassembled a number of vintage pots, I would say put them to one side and fit new ones. The problem is that as the pots are used, the tracks become worn. The carbon tracks get a groove  worn in them and the pot wiper wears out. There is little that you can do to change this. My advice is to replace them with new, Conductive Plastic pots. These are much longer lasting. They cost more than carbon pots (although probably cheaper than CTS pots) but they will probably last  much longer.

[ebenezer]

It's a bass i have owned from new and will go to my death bed ..... will leave as is and just keep the old pots.......cheers guys

[Lfalex v1.1]

As a left-field idea;

 

Have you tried sourcing any NOS pots from the correct year or production era?

 

A long-shot, and doubtless expensive,  but you might get lucky. 

[Norris]

There is no magic mojo in pots. They are variable resistors. As long as you replace them with decent quality ones, they are consumables as far as I'm concerned.