Fix scratchy Ernie Ball Volume Pot

[plaiming]

I have an old ernie ball volume pedal i pulled out of the closet. the pot was scratchy (i believe it was the 250k variety) I tried pulling it apart and spraying with cleaner. it seemed to immediately help but within a day the scratchyness is back. I see replacement pot kits for like $25 online. do any of you know if i can replace with a decent pot i can pick up locally at either ratshack or frys?

second, would it be possible to use and optical sensor instead of a mechanical pot to permanently fix this kind of problem. i have seen the other mod but i dont feel like building a whole board for this issue.

[Mark Hammer]

http://www.stabilant.com

[bwanasonic]

Q. Can I get my Ernie Ball volume pedal rebuilt/repaired? What is involved, and for what cost?
A. Yes, your Ernie Ball pedal can be rebuilt/repaired no matter how old or new. We replace the potentiometer, Kevlar cords, spring, feet, jacks, matting, bushings, and virtually everything except the outer casing. We even clean it for you! Lastly, we thoroughly test your pedal to ensure it once again works good as new!

If you wish to have your pedal rebuilt/repaired click here to download the pedal return form. Please be sure to completely fill out the form and send it in with your pedal and payment*.

The costs for rebuild/repair are as follows:

Stereo - Jacks on sides (P06159): US$65
Mono - Jacks on sides (P06160): US$45
Keyboard - Jacks on sides (P06163): US$55

Stereo/Pan - VP98 (P06165): US$65
Mono - VP98 (P06166): US$45
Stereo 25K - VP98 (P06167): US$55
Mono/Switch - VP98 (P06168): US$55

Mono - VPJR (P06180): US$45
25K - VPJR (P06181): US$45

*All pedal rebuilds under our 6 month warranty are free of charge, but a copy of the original receipt must be sent in with the pedal.

You pay shipping to us, and we pay shipping back (U.S. only).
We recommend shipping UPS.

Kerry M

[Roobin]

http://www.diyguitarist.com/DIYStompboxes/Vol-Pedal-Retro.htm

[Paul Marossy]

Sounds like my same experience with trying to clean the pot and stuff.

Yeah, the Craig Anderton "Volume Pedal De-Scratcher" circuit works pretty good. Took care of my scratchy pot.

[JimRayden]

Do it Vex style - put a "Crackle Okay" label on the pedal.

---------
Jimbo

[Mark Hammer]

When a pot wiper gets moved back and forth across the resistive element a couple of tens of thousands of times, a small amount of the resistive material rubs off from friction.  Only natural that it does this.  Unfortunately, when you amplify it a few hundred times (at least) the small perturbations in that resistive element result in very small momentary losses of contact, which are resumed as the wiper moves along.  Those momentary dropouts are heard as scratchiness..  Accumulated dirt on the pot can also do the same thing as well by preventing contact in a momentary manner as the wiper moves.  Unfortunately, by the time the dirt has accumulated inside the pot (especially a decent sealed pot, chances are pretty good that cleaning will be insufficient since you are essentially rmoving the scraped-off resistive material that was actually making the contact for you!

This is why I recommend unhesitatingly this Stabilant stuff.  Forms a nice little conductive surface over top of the existing resistive element and fills in those little micron-or-two gaps that produce the crackling in the first place.  Just pry the tabs up that hold the back of the pot on, move the wiper to the "start" of the resistive strip, dab a little drop on with the plastic applicator it comes with, and rotate the wiper to spread it out.  If the droplet doesn't do the whole resistive strip, set the wiper to the start of the "dry stretch", apply another droplet and continue spreading with the wiper.  I've found it to be an excellent de-scratcher.