Boomerang Builders - 25K Pots on ebay!

[Paul Marossy]

I just happened to notice that there are several Clarostat and Allen Bradley (A/B) 25K pots on ebay at the moment for $6.95 each, and they look suitable for use in the Boomerang wah with a little bit of work.

Just an FYI. 

[zachomega]

I can't speak for old AB pots, but I bought a new Allen Bradley pot and it lasted less than a day in my Boomerang.  Total piece of garbage.  The entire thing locked up. 

-Zach Omega

[Shepherd]

Are the new ones visibly different?

[Paul Marossy]

I can't speak for old AB pots, but I bought a new Allen Bradley pot and it lasted less than a day in my Boomerang.  Total piece of garbage.

Huh. I have an 80's CryBaby with an AB that is still going strong. Yeah, maybe the new ones are like that - in keeping with most manufacturer's philosophies of giving you a less superior product while charging you more for it. 

[stobiepole]

Question is, which shaft: 1 3/4" or 1 1/2"? What's the standard for wah pots?

Chris

[zachomega]

Not really.  I have a bunch of older AB pots and they looks about the same.  I've been told they switched manufacturers or something.  I don't know all of the details.  I just know that the AB pot failed in under a day.  Lovely since I had spent about 12$ after shipping and a bunch of time.  I'm just happy I didn't buy more than 1 when I had the chance. 

-Zach Omega

Are the new ones visibly different?

[John Lyons]

I'd say that it was a fluke. Even the crappiest pot will last for some time before then fail or get scratchy.

John

[zachomega]

May have been a fluke but it is a fluke that will cause me never to buy an Allen Bradley pot again.  It isn't that is got scratchy or anything.  The pot refused to turn at all.  I mean even with pliers, this thing was locked.  Pretty pathetic since the seller was listing this as "military quality". 

I'll probably just have a go at cleaning up the original pot again.  I wasn't too thorough the first time...and also, a word on pots for Boomerang owners...Over time as the carbon traces are worn, the pot's resistance goes up (plus the regular loose tolerances of pots).  Mine measures around 30k or so.  Anyway, I'd think anything from 20k to 30k would work perfectly fine.

-Zach Omega

I'd say that it was a fluke. Even the crappiest pot will last for some time before then fail or get scratchy.

John

[Shepherd]

Wah treadles can have tremendous torque in relation to a pot and it's easy to misalign them.  How did you affix the pinion gear?

[John Lyons]

I think you are on to something Shepard.
In order for the Pot to lock up the wipers would have had to get twisted beyond their normal rotation and or the internal stops were tweaked somehow.
Inside the pot there are tabs and notches that keep the pot from turning beyond it's normal degree of rotation. There is nothing else to stop the pot from working (rotating). Clarostat and AB pots are easy to get into as well. Flip up those tabs with a blade screwdriver and take a look inside. I really think something beyond normal use going on here. Not saying you tweaked it on purpose or through intentional misuse Zackomega...just that this is the exception and not the norm. AB pots are the good stuff.

John

[Paul Marossy]

I'd say that it was a fluke. Even the crappiest pot will last for some time before then fail or get scratchy.

+1

[zachomega]

Anything is possible...Unfortunately it is a little too late to diagnose the problem as I decided to take out 12$ worth of frustration with a hammer on the pot once it was completely seized up.  I know, not terribly mature, but I have to say, it did make me feel quite a bit better.

-Zach Omega

[Paul Marossy]

I decided to take out 12$ worth of frustration with a hammer on the pot once it was completely seized up.  I know, not terribly mature, but I have to say, it did make me feel quite a bit better.

I can relate!