When it rains it pours...

[the guy who invented fire]

I had to rewire my old Yamaha...again because I'd worn the pots out. I decided to replace all the electronics in my HW1 Telecaster too since the jack had been filed and cleaned a half dozen times, the 5 way switch was borderline toast and the pots were getting scratchy, shortly after that I had gremlins in my Esquire so I pulled it down and re wired it as well and I was thinking I'd be good for a while...no dice!

Now the pots in my Les Paul are starting to go...I guess 6-8 years is about the most I can get out of volume pots!

Considering how much I use them I guess it could be worse!

 

[Dr. Vegetable]

Re: When it rains it pours...

Your problem is that you aren't rocking out hard enough. If you don't have the volume cranked out, excess electrons back up in the pots and wear them out faster. It's basic science...

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: When it rains it pours...

I had a feeling about that but the truth is if I unload maximum rock on the crowd all night bad things happen...

Some folks just can't handle the rock!

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: When it rains it pours...

Some folks just can't handle the rock!

"Cause his evening's not complete
Without some meat
In the seat"

FZ

 

[d1dsj]

Re: When it rains it pours...

I had a feeling about that but the truth is if I unload maximum rock on the crowd all night bad things happen...

Some folks just can't handle the rock!

:laugh2:

 

[Ayrton]

Re: When it rains it pours...

I had something similar recently happen, and I said "screw it" and bought enough pots to cover all my guitars.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: When it rains it pours...

I had something similar recently happen, and I said "screw it" and bought enough pots to cover all my guitars.

Had I known they were going to start dropping like flies I might have done just that!

No worries...I'll just do them one at a time when they start to crap out on me.

I just hope the LP can make it a few more weeks as I have gigs coming up!

 

[Dr. Vegetable]

Re: When it rains it pours...

Some folks just can't handle the rock!

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Re: When it rains it pours...

I wonder how some can keep the same pots running in their guitars for decades. I'm thinking of Brian May's Red Special, which famously uses 220k Omeg pots (they suck really bad apparently), and which have never been replaced to my knowledge, perhaps just cleaned periodically. Think how many gigs and hard playing this guitar has seen in the past 40 years...

So, TGWIF, are you saying you rock harder than BM ?

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: When it rains it pours...

I wonder how some can keep the same pots running in their guitars for decades. I'm thinking of Brian May's Red Special, which famously uses 220k Omeg pots (they suck really bad apparently), and which have never been replaced to my knowledge, perhaps just cleaned periodically. Think how many gigs and hard playing this guitar has seen in the past 40 years...

So, TGWIF, are you saying you rock harder than BM ?

Ya know, I've been thinking about the same thing the past few days and the best I can come up with is this...

First, they don't make pots like they used to...at least CTS doesn't! I mean look at all the guys out there with guitars from the 50's that are still stock!

Second, I don't have a man working full time cleaning up my guitars after every gig...some gigs I end up sweating like you wouldn't believe and it's starting to show!

 

[Dr. Vegetable]

Re: When it rains it pours...

What kind of problems develop with your pots, anyway? Crackling? Dead spots?? Loose shafts???

I've never had one fail in any of my guitars, except from physical abuse.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: When it rains it pours...

What kind of problems develop with your pots, anyway? Crackling? Dead spots?? Loose shafts???

I've never had one fail in any of my guitars, except from physical abuse.

Scratchy and or cutting out completely...

Worst part is the switches which are just going to hell...real stuff and no distinct notches anymore.

I figure if I'm gonna pull it all the way down to put in a new switch I might as well replace the pots or I'll be doing it all over again when those go south!

 

[Dr. Vegetable]

Re: When it rains it pours...

Scratchy is usually caused by crud buildup inside. Cheap potentiometer cleaner sometimes has additives (like teflon lubricant) that will actually make the problem worse. Sometimes you can get a temporary clean just by rapidly rotating the pot full scale for a minute or two. Do not use "tuner cleaner" from Radio Shack. Someone else may have a good recommendation for a good type of cleaner; isopropyl alcohol may be suitable.

Cutting out could indicate a corroded connection or a break in the resistive element inside, which would mean that you need to replace the pot. But check all solder joints on the pot first, though, as the wiring harness can get stressed over time. I've had wiring failures happen when the nut is loose and the whole pot spins.

Worn switches also indicate replacement, as you know.

Be sure when replacing pots to avoid over-tightening the nut on the shaft, or the pot will bind up and will not turn freely.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: When it rains it pours...

I gave up on cleaning pots for the most part years ago...it gets better for a few days maybe a week...maybe a month but then it starts again!

I look at things like pots and switches like I look at strings and even nuts...wear and tear items and like frets after a while they need to be replaced.

No big deal at the end of the day!

 

[Ayrton]

Re: When it rains it pours...

I don't even bother with CTS anymore.

I ordered all Bourns pots

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: When it rains it pours...

I don't even bother with CTS anymore.

I ordered all Bourns pots

I just don't like the taper of the Bourns pots I've tried and as much as I hate to say it that includes the SD and SD/YJM Bourns pots.

They are VERY well made and feel GREAT but the taper bugs me.

I use special CTS pots that I really, really like so her'e hoping that they last longer than the stock CTS pots Fender and Gibson use!

 

[Ayrton]

Re: When it rains it pours...

Well nothing really wrong with CTS, just that the Bourns felt better.

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: When it rains it pours...

Aryton arent you a mod on some forum? I think i just joined and Im gonna go over there and give you a bunch of sh*t.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: When it rains it pours...

Aryton arent you a mod on some forum? I think i just joined and Im gonna go over there and give you a bunch of sh*t.

Yes, but I rarely post there anymore. I just respond to the post alerts.

I just opened up my big box from Mouser, and they sent me 250k long shaft pots.

Everything else was correct, so could be worse.

 

[Dr. Vegetable]

Re: When it rains it pours...

I just opened up my big box from Mouser, and they sent me 250k long shaft pots.

Oh, man, they gave you the shaft!