cleaning amps - kind of newbie question

[Pirateking]

Hey
I just bought a used Sunn head and a huge Peavey cabinet. It sounds great and f'in loud. However, the head is pretty dirty, both the surface and the knobs. I'm assuming I can just clean the surface with a mildly damp rag and an old toothbrush. The knobs crackle very loudly at specific places, even if the volume isn't up very high. I've been told I need to use contact cleaner on the knobs, but am not sure what the technique is. Do I just take the knobs off and clean the part that they screw onto, or is it more complicated?

 

[Slackmaster2K]

Typically you just take the knob off to reveal the top side of the pot, then squirt the cleaner at the pot and twist the hell of out of it back & forth through its full range for a minute or so to work the stuff in. Oh, you should make sure the head is on its back, so the pots are facing upwards. Don't use a lot of cleaner, and make sure that you get the kind that is safe for electronics. Make sure you keep your head clear of the mist and crack a window, that shit will fry your brain real fast. Also make sure the amp is off while you're doing this. After one or two applications, the pot should stop crackling...although it might start up again in a couple weeks, in which case clean it more thoroughly.

P.S. You might be tempted to remove the nut that holds the pot to the shell; don't do it. The pots will most likely be pretty well sealed off anyways, and you just risk losing the pot in the cabinet.

Slackmaster 2000

 

[teknomike]

More effectively, it is a better idea to get right at the wipers of the pots themselves, which would involve opening up the cabinet.
There is usually an opening in the casing of the pot which allows you to spray the cleaner directly inside using a small tube (which will usually come with the contact cleaner).
One thing - Do not use WD-40. Don't laugh, I've seen people do that .
I must caution you, however, that if this is a tube amp, even though the unit may be unplugged, there are still hazardous voltages present (from charged capacitors), which may give you a nasty (potentially fatal) jolt. Proceed at your own risk.

Or take it into a reputable shop for a thorough cleaning. If the pots are extremely worn, they may need to be replaced.

mike

 

[records4u]

This is called ambiance...enjoy it....when it stops doing that...then you really will need to have it serviced.....lol

 

[hixmix]

Find out where them there pots are, and them nuke 'em with a 'lil' DeOxIt 6.