Scratchy Pots

[Robert]

My Lexicon reverb has scratchy pots. How to fix this?

I have heard of a product called DeOxit - http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Supplies:_Cleaners_and_lubricants.html

I am not sure where I actually would spray this stuff.

 

[duhvoodooman]

I am not sure where I actually would spray this stuff.

Under your armpits. Not too much, though, or it will remove the hair.

Seriously, spray it right inside the pots themselves. There's generally a space right near where the solder lugs attach on the bottom side that you can get in there through.

 

[aeolian]

Deoxit will do it. If you look at the back of the pot it looks like a cup (mouth facing the shaft side). On the side of the cup you may find one or two small square holes, that's where you spray the Deoxit. Then turn the shaft clockwise and counterclockwise a few times and that should clear up the scratchy sound.

 

[Robert]

Anything else that would work just as good as Deoxit? In case I can't find it around here.

 

[aeolian]

Around here I have to go to an electronics components place to get it, that's a place that sells integrated circuits, op amps, and stuff, not your BestBuy store. I only read people saying not to use the equivalent stuff from Radio Shack, but I have no personal experience with what you can get from Radio Shack.

 

[Ch0jin]

If I'm being honest, I've used everything from machine oil and CRC5.5/RP7 spray lubes through to specialist pot cleaners and even isopropanol to clean pots.

They all work, it's just a question of how long for. The oily ones like CRC and RP7 are great, but the lubricant attracts dust and grime, whereas the residue free options like isopropyle alcohol and so on dont attracr grime, but can make the pot feel rougher and can accelerate wear of the resistive component of the pot meaning pot replacement.

Anyway.

I really wanted to offer this little heads up just in case.

In rare cases a "scratchy" pot can be caused by electronic phenomenon rather than physical.

I've seen a couple of old amps where a degraded bypass or filter cap has been allowing a small dc voltage through to a pot in the audio circuit and that has resulted in a very harsh scratching sound as the pot is turned. So if anyone has scratchy pot issues that aren't noticably improved by cleaning, then I'd be looking for rogue DC's

 

[SuperSwede]

Anything else that would work just as good as Deoxit? In case I can't find it around here.

Pretty much any contact cleaner.. I´ve used several brands on my gear over the years, and it works just fine.

You can also spray a little into the tele socket of the guitar.

 

[ShortBuSX]

A cost free and chemical free way to fix scratchy pots, which is also working well with my used Deville's scratchy pots...turn the pot back and forth through its range, if its on an amp do this while its off.
If used this technique with favorable results for years and never had to replace a pot...I was originally shown this on an old home stereo.

 

[Spudman]

I've used ShortBuSX's method with good results too but if your problem persists Deoxit is worth having.

For what it's worth - CRC Lectramotive will melt insect wings.

 

[just strum]

A cost free and chemical free way to fix scratchy pots, which is also working well with my used Deville's scratchy pots...turn the pot back and forth through its range, if its on an amp do this while its off.
If used this technique with favorable results for years and never had to replace a pot...I was originally shown this on an old home stereo.

Makes sense, I noticed with the SG I had if I moved them them a few times while playing, it would stop.