Weird bass problem

[misterwhizzy]

Sometimes when I put my bass pot in a certain position between 3 and 4, the bass cuts out almost completely. Could this problem have to do with anything other than the pot itself? I have been dorking around a bit with the tone stack, namely installing a switchable slope resistor, but if that were not working, I would expect the position of the knob to have very little to do with it.

The only other thing I can think of is the tubes, but I swapped them all out, and it didn't appear to make any difference. Suggestions? By the way, replacing the pot is pretty difficult, because it's board-mounted.

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: Weird bass problem

So when it cuts out, does the tone of the amp revert back to how it would be at one extreme or the other (presumably turned right down)? If so, it's possible that the wiper isn't making contact with the resistor track at that point; could be dirt, could be the track is warped, perhaps something else making the wiper lose contact. The simplest thing to try might be some contact cleaner - give the pot a quick spray and see if it improves things.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Weird bass problem

+1

dirty pot

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: Weird bass problem

Thanks, guys. De-oxit? Something like that? Local hardware store?

 

[CTN]

Re: Weird bass problem

compressed air first to blow out any dry particles, then de oxit or whatever to clean up whatever's remaining. good idea to do a couple flushes while turning the shaft to make sure it gets out all the dirt.