How Do you clean "dirty" pots?

GuitaristOfHell · 09-26-2010, 10:06 AM

I was told My amp has dirty pots, and all I was told is I need a can of compressed air. I need to open the back and whatnot but what to aim at specifically? Sorry if this a dumb question I don't know crap about fixing amps and shit. So what exactly do I do??

Rook · 09-26-2010, 10:44 AM

I would suggest contact cleaner, servisol or something, but if you've not done it before it's easy to make a mess.

Compressed air won't do jack, lol.

bostjan · 09-26-2010, 10:56 AM

Aerosol electrical contact cleaner. Make sure it's residue-free.

Remove the knobs, spray the cleaner on the post, turn the post a couple times and voila, you have a clean pot.

MrRedRaider · 09-26-2010, 01:47 PM

Never done this before either, but just a word of warning, you better be careful if you decide to open up your amp. Touch the wrong thing and you are in for a crazy trip.. and not in a good way! Do some searching in the forum before you try it. GL

Mordacain · 09-26-2010, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bostjan

Aerosol electrical contact cleaner. Make sure it's residue-free.

Remove the knobs, spray the cleaner on the post, turn the post a couple times and voila, you have a clean pot.

This is the simplest method. If you gain access to the rear of the pots, there is usually a port on the back to inject contact cleaner as well. Only a very small amount is needed (quarter second press will do).

GuitaristOfHell · 09-26-2010, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrRedRaider

Never done this before either, but just a word of warning, you better be careful if you decide to open up your amp. Touch the wrong thing and you are in for a crazy trip.. and not in a good way! Do some searching in the forum before you try it. GL

I opened it up earlier...what to you mean by "crazy trip"? (I had it un-plugged)

Mordacain · 09-26-2010, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitaristOfHell

I opened it up earlier...what to you mean by "crazy trip"? (I had it un-plugged)

The capacitors continue to hold potentially lethal charges and if you accidentally discharge them into yourself you can stop your heart. I'll see if I can't find a good explanation online for you to peruse.

Mordacain · 09-26-2010, 03:45 PM

Here's a good overview:

http://tubenexus.com/?p=36

That being said, don't poke at things with metal and only use one hand (leave the other one in a pocket). The problem with using both hands is that if you discharge a lethal voltage it can travel through your arms, hitting your heart in the process.

GuitaristOfHell · 09-26-2010, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mordacain

The capacitors continue to hold potentially lethal charges and if you accidentally discharge them into yourself you can stop your heart. I'll see if I can't find a good explanation online for you to peruse.

oh shit!!!!!!!!. Those look like????. I also got the compressed air idea from this video cause it's mainly my volume.

( oh wait that's contact cleaner lol)

GuitaristOfHell · 09-26-2010, 03:53 PM

what do the capacitors look like? I tried googling "Capacitors in guitar amp" and just got a bunch of stuff.

7slinger · 09-26-2010, 03:57 PM

if you don't know just don't touch shit inside the amp...you'll be okay just cleaning the pots.
if you look and they don't have the little port to spray directly into them, then close the amp back up,
take the knob off the outside of the pot, spray some contact cleaner (small amount) at the base of the part
that turns and turn it full range a bunch of times. that should clean it. be sure you have a rag handy to clean
up overspray, dripping and such

GuitaristOfHell · 09-26-2010, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7slinger

if you don't know just don't touch shit inside the amp...you'll be okay just cleaning the pots.
if you look and they don't have the little port to spray directly into them, then close the amp back up,
take the knob off the outside of the pot, spray some contact cleaner (small amount) at the base of the part
that turns and turn it full range a bunch of times. that should clean it. be sure you have a rag handy to clean
up overspray, dripping and such

Good Idea.

7slinger · 09-26-2010, 04:02 PM

BTW just give it a few minutes to dry (the stuff evaporates pretty quick) and you're fine to
turn the amp on and see if it worked/helped.

if it helped but didn't fix the problem completely, repeat the process

GuitaristOfHell · 09-26-2010, 04:04 PM

Thanks!. What kind of contact cleaner do you recommend? ( I already know it has to be electrical)

Mordacain · 09-26-2010, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitaristOfHell

what do the capacitors look like? I tried googling "Capacitors in guitar amp" and just got a bunch of stuff.

Well the caps are the largish cylinders to the left of the tubes in this picture:

You also have to beware the output transformers which is the large cube behind the caps in the left rear of the pic.

Please don't be offended by what I'm about to say, but the fact you have to ask what the caps look like is a good indicator that you shouldn't be poking around inside an amp at the present. Do some reading and research if you'd like to learn how to work on amplifiers yourself, maybe take a course on electronics. There are ways of working on this safely, but its better to have someone show you rather than try to learn online. This stuff is seriously lethal so, be seriously wary of it.

Mordacain · 09-26-2010, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitaristOfHell

Thanks!. What kind of contact cleaner do you recommend? ( I already know it has to be electrical)

Servisol is good and usually pretty easy to find:

SERVISOL AERO KLENE 50 - FADER CLEANER- EACH

GuitaristOfHell · 09-26-2010, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mordacain

Well the caps are the largish cylinders to the left of the tubes in this picture:

You also have to beware the output transformers which is the large cube behind the caps in the left rear of the pic.

Please don't be offended by what I'm about to say, but the fact you have to ask what the caps look like is a good indicator that you shouldn't be poking around inside an amp at the present. Do some reading and research if you'd like to learn how to work on amplifiers yourself, maybe take a course on electronics. There are ways of working on this safely, but its better to have someone show you rather than try to learn online. This stuff is seriously lethal so, be seriously wary of it.

Not offended. I wouldn't want to be "poking around" mainly for breaking something. My amp had no tubes like that tho (solid state)

GuitaristOfHell · 09-26-2010, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mordacain

Servisol is good and usually pretty easy to find:

SERVISOL AERO KLENE 50 - FADER CLEANER- EACH

Sweet, what else is good? ( just in case a place doesn't have that) http://www.buy.com/prod/deoxit-conta...211131179.html that looks good.

Mordacain · 09-26-2010, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitaristOfHell

Sweet, what else is good? ( just in case a place doesn't have that) Buy.com - Deoxit Contact Cleaner Mini Spray, UPS Ground Only that looks good.

Deoxit should work fine for this purpose I'd think.

7slinger · 09-26-2010, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mordacain

Deoxit should work fine for this purpose I'd think.

sold at Radio Shack, if you want to go pick some up today...you may need to bring your ID to prove you're over 18yrs old

GuitaristOfHell · 09-26-2010, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mordacain

Deoxit should work fine for this purpose I'd think.

sweet. It was used in the video I posted above. It has a design that is like some compressed air cans so my fingers and hands can be further away from the board.

GuitaristOfHell · 09-26-2010, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7slinger

sold at Radio Shack, if you want to go pick some up today...you may need to bring your ID to prove you're over 18yrs old

why would I need an ID for contact cleaner?

7slinger · 09-26-2010, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitaristOfHell

why would I need an ID for contact cleaner?

not kidding, they carded me a few years ago when I bought some at Rshack...kids huff it

I'm 34, but dressed up in minnesota winter clothes perhaps I looked younger

GuitaristOfHell · 09-26-2010, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7slinger

not kidding, they carded me a few years ago when I bought some at Rshack...kids huff it

I'm 34, but dressed up in minnesota winter clothes perhaps I looked younger

A lot of people say I look 18, but I am almost 17. Maybe it's because I'm going scruffy?

7slinger · 09-26-2010, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitaristOfHell

A lot of people say I look 18, but I am almost 17. Maybe it's because I'm going scruffy?

serious about the ID thing though, I wouldn't want you trekin out to the store and then gettin shut down cause you're not 18, scruffy or not

	sevenstring guitars		sevenstring registry		photo gallery		subscription		spy

09-26-2010, 10:06 AM	#1
GuitaristOfHell The Optimist Prime. Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Long Beach or Saugerties Posts: 4,160 Thanked: 129 Feedback Score: 2 reviews	How Do you clean "dirty" pots? I was told My amp has dirty pots, and all I was told is I need a can of compressed air. I need to open the back and whatnot but what to aim at specifically? Sorry if this a dumb question I don't know crap about fixing amps and shit. So what exactly do I do??

09-26-2010, 10:44 AM	#2
Rook Electrifying Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: London Posts: 7,328 Thanked: 108 Feedback Score: 18 reviews	I would suggest contact cleaner, servisol or something, but if you've not done it before it's easy to make a mess. Compressed air won't do jack, lol. Formerly known as Fun111, don't be thrown off by the avatar!!!!!! My Soundcloud My project on Facebook: Rook

09-26-2010, 10:56 AM	#3
bostjan Spastic Kitchen! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: St. Johnsbury, VT USA Posts: 7,561 Thanked: 15 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Aerosol electrical contact cleaner. Make sure it's residue-free. Remove the knobs, spray the cleaner on the post, turn the post a couple times and voila, you have a clean pot. [URL="http://sites.google.com/site/bostjanzupancickhereb/"[/URL]

09-26-2010, 03:45 PM	#8
Mordacain Rockin' the Quad! Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Lexington, SC Posts: 4,074 Thanked: 38 Feedback Score: 28 reviews	Here's a good overview: http://tubenexus.com/?p=36 That being said, don't poke at things with metal and only use one hand (leave the other one in a pocket). The problem with using both hands is that if you discharge a lethal voltage it can travel through your arms, hitting your heart in the process. Currently in progress of replacing every guitar I have...piece by piece - "Unfortunately, our ability for rational thinking is inversely proportionate to our desire to stick our dicks into orifices." - pink freud - "I don't have all the answers to everything, I'm not God, when I get girls pregnant they aren't virgins anymore." - scottro202

Today
Seven String	Sponsored Links __________________ This advertising will not be shown in this way to registered members. Register your free account today and become a member on Sevenstring.org

09-26-2010, 01:47 PM	#4
MrRedRaider SS.org Regular Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Lubbock, Tx Posts: 326 Thanked: 9 Feedback Score: 2 reviews	Never done this before either, but just a word of warning, you better be careful if you decide to open up your amp. Touch the wrong thing and you are in for a crazy trip.. and not in a good way! Do some searching in the forum before you try it. GL

09-26-2010, 03:53 PM	#10
GuitaristOfHell The Optimist Prime. Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Long Beach or Saugerties Posts: 4,160 Thanked: 129 Feedback Score: 2 reviews	what do the capacitors look like? I tried googling "Capacitors in guitar amp" and just got a bunch of stuff.

09-26-2010, 03:57 PM	#11
7slinger wake up dead Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: work...in St. Paul Posts: 3,637 Thanked: 10 Feedback Score: 18 reviews	if you don't know just don't touch shit inside the amp...you'll be okay just cleaning the pots. if you look and they don't have the little port to spray directly into them, then close the amp back up, take the knob off the outside of the pot, spray some contact cleaner (small amount) at the base of the part that turns and turn it full range a bunch of times. that should clean it. be sure you have a rag handy to clean up overspray, dripping and such DenyThyNature

09-26-2010, 04:02 PM	#13
7slinger wake up dead Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: work...in St. Paul Posts: 3,637 Thanked: 10 Feedback Score: 18 reviews	BTW just give it a few minutes to dry (the stuff evaporates pretty quick) and you're fine to turn the amp on and see if it worked/helped. if it helped but didn't fix the problem completely, repeat the process DenyThyNature

09-26-2010, 04:04 PM	#14
GuitaristOfHell The Optimist Prime. Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Long Beach or Saugerties Posts: 4,160 Thanked: 129 Feedback Score: 2 reviews	Thanks!. What kind of contact cleaner do you recommend? ( I already know it has to be electrical)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode