Ernie Ball volume pedal pot... repairable?

[BDuguay]

I've been able to disassemble the pots, clean them, and re-assemble with great sucess until recently I had one that still emits that scratchy noise. Is it possible the resistive material has become damaged beyond repair? If so, does anyone know where replacement pots can be found? I'm refering to the older pedal versions with the jacks on the side. The 250k type'j' clarostats pots.
Thanks all!
B.

[al3151]

SmallBear has got them.
http://www.smallbearelec.com/Search.bok?start=9&total=13&searchpath=4167977110240252d965f&category=Parts+For+Wah+and+Swell+Pedals

[BDuguay]

Well what do you know?, so they do. Thanks for that. It's too bad there isn't a picture to confirm they are the same ones I'm looking for.

[Paul Marossy]

I did the same thing - took the pot apart, cleaned it up, etc. The scratchiness came back not long after that exercise.  
And, it wasn't due to being worn, either. There was absolutely no signs of wear on the pot that I could see. So, I decided against buying a new pot and built Craig Anderton's "Volume Pedal De-Scratcher" circuit instead. It cost about the same amount of money and it got rid of the unwanted noises permanently. And, I'm glad that I did! No more scratchy sounds whatsoever.  

If you're interested, here's how I did mine: http://www.diyguitarist.com/DIYStompboxes/Vol-Pedal-Retro.htm

[LP Hovercraft]

The thing that I find painful about the pot install is the cord that wraps around the pot.  It is very hard to put that in just right without doubling over.  The Small Bear vol pot kit works just great-it's OEM Ernie Ball stuff.

[BDuguay]

Thanks Paul, I'm aware of the mod you did to your pedal and I might try that on my own when it's necessary. These other pedals I've been maintaining belong to a guitar player friend of mine who really likes the taper of those pots and they way feel and react. Would the volume pedal still react the same after the de-scratch mod?
If your interested, my friend will be on the Late Show with David Letterman tonight playing wife his wife Kathleen Edwards. Check out the tone he's getting with a single 10" 18 watt amp. Un-becredible.
B.

[Paul Marossy]

I haven't noticed any real change in the behaviour of the volume pedal as far as how it functions - it still sounds the same to me. The only thing I haven't tackled yet is getting the sound to completely be off when it's in the down position. It's not very loud in that position, but you can hear it still. I think it can be fixed by tweaking a couple of resistor values. I haven't tried this yet, though. Some people have reported that it also kind of boosts the guitar, too. There's also a fix for that.

Here's the thread on making the sound go off completely: http://www.diystompboxes.com/sboxforum/viewtopic.php?t=29825&highlight=descratcher

Anyhow, since this is for someone else, you may want to just replace the pot. Buy a few, though, they'll probably start the scratchy thing not long after you put them in (within a few months)...   :wink:

I would like to see your friend, but I don't stay up that late - I get up at 4:00 AM every morning to practice, have to be at work at 7:00 AM.  

[dr]

.....does your pot have a contact block on the wiper, or just a bent metal contact?....I've been successful in replacing the contact block type by harvesting the blocks from other pots of different values; if it is the carbon ring itself, you may want to read about "The secret life of Pots" on RG's Geo site.......he mentions how to repair some of the pots...

[BDuguay]

Yup, it's got the contact block, which seems to have quite a bit left to it.
I'll read the GEO article again and see if there is anything that can help me.
Thanks!

[dr]

....the last few times I cleaned my wah pot(which is getting pretty worn out) I sprayed Prestone Silicone lube (the non- petroleum type) and it sounded like most of the scratchiness was gone- the time before that, I took 2000 grit sandpaper and placed some between the wiper block and the wafer, and that helped take out a lot of the scratch that may have been caused by the block itself......now I'm eyeing some pots on Ebay to see if I can harvest the wafers....

[Paul Marossy]

I didn't know about the contact block trick. That's going into the mental Rolodex.  :wink:

[BDuguay]

Say dr, a guy I work with mentioned this silicone lube. Please elaborate on your experience with it.
B.

[J. Luja]

I've had some success with a product called gunslick, which is a solution of graphite suspended in oil. messy, but it works.

-Jeremy

[dr]

.....I'm at work right now;when I get home I'll look at the can to clarify, but this is the Prestone Silicone spray in aerosol can; it says it's a non- petroleum base-I used to take apart pots in my equipment as well as my bandmates.I originally used the stuff to put a bit of the spray onto the pot shaft so it wouildn't lock up or attract dust (like some fine grease- type lube does)..I would take it completely apart and "resurface" all the contact points with 2000 grit sandpaper (dry) then spray all the parts with the silicone lube (after first blowing off surface dust with air) and re-assemble it.....it just seems to work best with me...I got it at WalMart's in the aerosol can-can't remember how much it cost; I also use it to refresh my Fast Fret (remember that stuff?) wand by saturating it and putting the wand back in the can felt end up.....