How to fix my scratchy WAH pots?

80's_Metal

80's_Metal

Underglazed Hair Metalologist
Ok I have a Dunlop Crybaby that I love more than my Morley or my Danelectro wahs. . . . anyway my pots are a bit scratchy. How can I clean them out?

I imagine I can get some electronics cleaner spray and whatnot. . . but I want it fixed NOW!

Can I spray WD-40 into it for a quick fix?? Alcohol??
 
Re: How to fix my scratchy WAH pots?

80's_Metal said:
Ok I have a Dunlop Crybaby that I love more than my Morley or my Danelectro wahs. . . . anyway my pots are a bit scratchy. How can I clean them out?

I imagine I can get some electronics cleaner spray and whatnot. . . but I want it fixed NOW!

Can I spray WD-40 into it for a quick fix?? Alcohol??
Click to expand...

You can try that,but in most of my own experiences you're best to replace with a good quality Fulltone wah pot...A wah pot has a very short overall life span...The Fulltone has a coating over the track that gives it a longer life,but don't expect any wah pot to last years and years...
 
Re: How to fix my scratchy WAH pots?

I have beaten the living $#!^ out of it for 13 years now!
I expect her to perform for a few more ha ha ha!


I'm putting alcohol in my belly and WD in the pot! :banana:
 
Re: How to fix my scratchy WAH pots?

80's_Metal said:
I have beaten the living $#!^ out of it for 13 years now!
I expect her to perform for a few more ha ha ha!


I'm putting alcohol in my belly and WD in the pot! :banana:
Click to expand...

13 years? Awesome....Time to treat it to a new wah pot...:laugh2:
 
Re: How to fix my scratchy WAH pots?

Yeah It has outlasted three guitars LOL!!!!
I just bought a set of Detonators on ebay!
gonna slap them into my Epi Explorer. . . . gonna NEED my Wah to sound crisp again.....
 
Re: How to fix my scratchy WAH pots?

Just don't use WD-40 it attracts dust and debris and while it may help in the short term usually leads to premature failure in electrical parts. Especially Pots.
 
Re: How to fix my scratchy WAH pots?

just change the pot. try the Dunlop Hot Potz II. Low-noise, sealed for dust-free operation and can last upto 1 million cycles.
hotpotz_lg.jpg
 
Re: How to fix my scratchy WAH pots?

bryvincent said:
just change the pot. try the Dunlop Hot Potz II. Low-noise, sealed for dust-free operation and can last upto 1 million cycles.
hotpotz_lg.jpg
Click to expand...

This seems like a GREAT suggestion right here!!!
Sealed, dust free, 1million cycles..... Should outlast the C0ckroaches.
:27:
 
Re: How to fix my scratchy WAH pots?

loudriver23 said:
This seems like a GREAT suggestion right here!!!
Sealed, dust free, 1million cycles..... Should outlast the C0ckroaches.
:27:
Click to expand...

I Prefer the sweep better on the Fulltone pot but ymmv?
 
Re: How to fix my scratchy WAH pots?

STRATDELUXER97 said:
Depends on how much use that pot got over those 18 years though?
Click to expand...
Used,Abused and Reused!:laugh2: Playing in Dive barrooms it had every kinda beer & mixed drink spilled on it. I even had a Chick puke on it.:smack: Then the bar keep hosed it off for me with the seltzer water tap.:13: But I haven't gigged to often in the last 5 years, So I guess it got a well deserved break. I wish I'd would have replaced it with a Fulltone. The Sweep range on the one I got SUX! Only good thing about it... You couldn't get a Kirk Hammett wah sound from it if you tried!:chairfall :laugh2:
 
Re: How to fix my scratchy WAH pots?

Ha ha you guys were too late to post . . . I used WD-40. (And half a bottle of Bacardi)
Worked great! Sounded awesome!
My fingers are almost bleeding and I won't be able to hear a word my boss says tomorrow! I am stone deaf. . . . what a concert!
If the pot fails me soon, I'll repost and tell eveyone not to use WD-40 LOL! Now thats some funny stuff!
I really don't want to tear into her and replace a pot, I'll buy a new one before that.

thanks guys, keep it rockin and keep it loud!
 
Re: How to fix my scratchy WAH pots?

WD-40 is a BAD idea...

It's fukkin' oil dude...oil & electronics don't mix. It might work for a little while but if you repeat the process a couple three times or too much of it seeps in there it'll kill the electrical contacts in the pot and/or eat the plastic wiper...

In the future it's a hipper idea get some electronics cleaner like Pro Gold & shoot that stuff in there.
 
Re: How to fix my scratchy WAH pots?

ive replaced the pot on my early 80s crybaby (which sounds *great* btw) with the Hot Potz, a few times already. I don't know what they changed with the newer crybabys, but they just dont sound the same.
 
Re: How to fix my scratchy WAH pots?

If the pot is scratchy, then WD-40 will only fix the problem for a short while and then it'll be scartchy sounding again.

Best solution for this is to repalce the pot. The Full Tone ones are pretty good. Times to treat your wah for a new pot and your stomach for a beer :D


Cheers
 
Re: How to fix my scratchy WAH pots?

Yeah ya don't use WD 40! Bad idea....I still see a wah pot in your near future...LOL
 
Re: How to fix my scratchy WAH pots?

+1 on the hot potz

OK -get ready to drool: My Wah -
A THOMAS ORGAN COMPANY produced Stereo FUZZ/WAH/VOLUME

....traded a Peavy backstage 20 amp to get it! To quote Nigel Tufnel - "Don't even look at it"

And I was gonna ask - does your mom know you have that avatar!?!?!
 
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