Fixing a volume pot... can it be done?

Xaios · 07-03-2008, 11:45 PM

So, I was about to play a show on Saturday with my RG1527, and literally 5 minutes before we start, my volume knob just completely seizes up, like it lost lubrication or something like that. I fiddle with it, and feel something snap inside the guitar. I open the control cavity and find that, in the process of trying to get it unstuck, I yanked the ground wire loose from my bridge pickup. Plate back on, guitar in case, into car trunk. It's a good thing I had my 321MH with me or I would have been completely hooped, but I missed having my 7 string that evening.

But I digress, has this happened to anyone else? Is it possible to repair this kind of thing? Or am I gonna have to shell to have another one shipped up here (no chance in hell of getting one locally). I imagine they can't be expensive, but the car is costing me a bloody mint this week ($800 in brake work

), so I'm feeling kind of frugal. Also, who can I buy them from? The people at the local shop seem a little inept when it comes to ordering (3 months for a bag of picks

), so I really don't want to deal with them, can I get the part online?

Why me?

Zepp88 · 07-03-2008, 11:47 PM

I guess you could try to spray some WD-40 in there, but replacing it would be your best bet.

Xaios · 07-03-2008, 11:56 PM

Hmm, looking on the interweb, they're pretty cheap, I'm just not sure *which* 500K pot to get...

Mattayus · 07-04-2008, 04:12 AM

get a dimarzio one, then at least you know it's good quality

Zepp88 · 07-04-2008, 04:18 AM

Yeah, I use the DiMarzio 3 way switches and they're good quality, I would assume the pots would be as well.

MrJack · 07-04-2008, 05:58 AM

My former guitar teacher bought a brand new UV777P a few months ago and within about 2 weeks the volume pot did the same thing. He couldn't move it no matter what, so eventually he had to take it to the store he bought the guitar from to get the pot replaced. No problems since it was replaced.

7 Dying Trees · 07-04-2008, 08:26 AM

Replace it. Don't bother fixing it as it's not worth it, and will only break/screw up again. Pots are pretty cheap, and this way you can even experiment with using a 1Meg one if you want

Xaios · 07-04-2008, 10:42 AM

Curious, exactly what would I achieve if I used a 1Meg pot?

neoclassical · 07-04-2008, 11:14 AM

Do NOT spray WD-40 into pots. Contact cleaner yes, but NEVER WD-40 it ruins them. Don't use it on/in amps either. Check this site: Potentiometers First 2 at the top are your most common types. They have great customer service and quick shipping.

Adam

7 Dying Trees · 07-04-2008, 11:46 AM

1M will add brightness

some guitars work better with 250k, some with 500k

07-03-2008, 11:45 PM	#1
Xaios Foolish Mortal Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada Posts: 951 Real Name: Rob Main Seven: Ibanez RG1527 Rig: Marshall AVT100X Thanked: 25	Fixing a volume pot... can it be done? So, I was about to play a show on Saturday with my RG1527, and literally 5 minutes before we start, my volume knob just completely seizes up, like it lost lubrication or something like that. I fiddle with it, and feel something snap inside the guitar. I open the control cavity and find that, in the process of trying to get it unstuck, I yanked the ground wire loose from my bridge pickup. Plate back on, guitar in case, into car trunk. It's a good thing I had my 321MH with me or I would have been completely hooped, but I missed having my 7 string that evening. But I digress, has this happened to anyone else? Is it possible to repair this kind of thing? Or am I gonna have to shell to have another one shipped up here (no chance in hell of getting one locally). I imagine they can't be expensive, but the car is costing me a bloody mint this week ($800 in brake work ), so I'm feeling kind of frugal. Also, who can I buy them from? The people at the local shop seem a little inept when it comes to ordering (3 months for a bag of picks ), so I really don't want to deal with them, can I get the part online? Why me?

07-03-2008, 11:47 PM	#2
Zepp88 hates fanboys. Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: A Technological Deadzone Posts: 8,763 Real Name: Mike Main Seven: Schecter C7 Blackjack Main ERG: I haven't felt the need.. Rig: MP-1>50/50>Vader Thanked: 66	I guess you could try to spray some WD-40 in there, but replacing it would be your best bet. Withersoul - Monolithic Epic Doom Metal M.W. Tremblay.com

07-04-2008, 04:12 AM	#4
Mattayus Sir Groove-A-Lot Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Cambridgeshire, UK Posts: 2,361 Real Name: Matt Main Seven: Ibanez RG7620GN Rig: Peavey Banditt 112 Thanked: 60	get a dimarzio one, then at least you know it's good quality www.soundclick.com/mattayus http://www.mysoundclinic.com

07-04-2008, 08:26 AM	#7
7 Dying Trees Sarcy English Twat Join Date: May 2004 Location: 7th Ethereal Plane of interstellar hell, Innit Bruv, Safe, London, UK Posts: 6,552 Real Name: James Main Seven: UV7PWH / UV7BK / RG2027 Main ERG: 10 fingers of metal death Rig: VHT UL->Orange 4x12 Thanked: 82	Replace it. Don't bother fixing it as it's not worth it, and will only break/screw up again. Pots are pretty cheap, and this way you can even experiment with using a 1Meg one if you want The Chaos has come: www.chaosanct.com

07-04-2008, 11:14 AM	#9
neoclassical ss.org Regular Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: NY, inside a house. Posts: 239 Real Name: Adam Main Seven: Ibanez 1527 Rig: Engl GMaj BBE Thanked: 4	Do NOT spray WD-40 into pots. Contact cleaner yes, but NEVER WD-40 it ruins them. Don't use it on/in amps either. Check this site: Potentiometers First 2 at the top are your most common types. They have great customer service and quick shipping. Adam How will I laugh tomorrow when I can't even smile today?

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07-03-2008, 11:56 PM	#3
Xaios Foolish Mortal Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada Posts: 951 Real Name: Rob Main Seven: Ibanez RG1527 Rig: Marshall AVT100X Thanked: 25	Hmm, looking on the interweb, they're pretty cheap, I'm just not sure which 500K pot to get...

07-04-2008, 04:18 AM	#5
Zepp88 hates fanboys. Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: A Technological Deadzone Posts: 8,763 Real Name: Mike Main Seven: Schecter C7 Blackjack Main ERG: I haven't felt the need.. Rig: MP-1>50/50>Vader Thanked: 66	Yeah, I use the DiMarzio 3 way switches and they're good quality, I would assume the pots would be as well.

07-04-2008, 05:58 AM	#6
MrJack Paha Arkkitehti Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Finland Posts: 286 Main Seven: ESP LTD SC-207 Rig: Line 6 HD147 Thanked: 3 / 1	My former guitar teacher bought a brand new UV777P a few months ago and within about 2 weeks the volume pot did the same thing. He couldn't move it no matter what, so eventually he had to take it to the store he bought the guitar from to get the pot replaced. No problems since it was replaced.

07-04-2008, 10:42 AM	#8
Xaios Foolish Mortal Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada Posts: 951 Real Name: Rob Main Seven: Ibanez RG1527 Rig: Marshall AVT100X Thanked: 25	Curious, exactly what would I achieve if I used a 1Meg pot?

07-04-2008, 11:46 AM	#10
7 Dying Trees Sarcy English Twat Join Date: May 2004 Location: 7th Ethereal Plane of interstellar hell, Innit Bruv, Safe, London, UK Posts: 6,552 Real Name: James Main Seven: UV7PWH / UV7BK / RG2027 Main ERG: 10 fingers of metal death Rig: VHT UL->Orange 4x12 Thanked: 82	1M will add brightness some guitars work better with 250k, some with 500k

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Fixing a volume pot... can it be done?