New pots on an old guitar

Neito

Neito

Pouty-face
Are pots difficult to install? I just bought a 50's Kingston Swinga and the pots are all crackley. I know it's possible to clean them, but I'd rather buy new ones, install them, and have new knobbies for them and everything, as opposed to twisting the a couple million times. Do I need to worry about what kind I get, or should I just order some?
 
Neito said:
Are pots difficult to install? I just bought a 50's Kingston Swinga and the pots are all crackley. I know it's possible to clean them, but I'd rather buy new ones, install them, and have new knobbies for them and everything, as opposed to twisting the a couple million times. Do I need to worry about what kind I get, or should I just order some?
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I would personally try the cleaning route first before replacement. A good contact cleaner squirted into the openings in the back will work wonders, and new pots are really lousy quality these days-I work in electronics so I see it every day! If you really want to replace them go to stewmac.com they carry good stuff.
 
Anfontan said:
I would personally try the cleaning route first before replacement. A good contact cleaner squirted into the openings in the back will work wonders, and new pots are really lousy quality these days-I work in electronics so I see it every day! If you really want to replace them go to stewmac.com they carry good stuff.
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Also seems like the easier, less labor-intensive route. I'll try it. Thanks. :)
 
Tuner cleaner will help, a product like Deoxit-5 will work wonders. It not only removes dirt and grime but also gets rid of corrosion and on old pots corrosion is often more of the problem than dirt.
 
Neito said:
Are pots difficult to install? I just bought a 50's Kingston Swinga and the pots are all crackley. I know it's possible to clean them, but I'd rather buy new ones, install them, and have new knobbies for them and everything, as opposed to twisting the a couple million times. Do I need to worry about what kind I get, or should I just order some?
Click to expand...
I have never heard of a Kingston Swinga, how about a picture?
Clive
 
I vote just clean them and keep it original. The ones on it could be better quality than what your likely to find on ebay. The only time I would ever consider replacing would be for a different tone or because it wouldn't work at all.
 
"A good contact cleaner squirted into the openings in the back will work"

Can you be more specific? I've got an old Epiphone Casino with pots that are very noisy. I can remove the knobs, but I can't access the back because it's a hollow body.

Any help is appreciated.
 
Tulago said:
"A good contact cleaner squirted into the openings in the back will work"

Can you be more specific? I've got an old Epiphone Casino with pots that are very noisy. I can remove the knobs, but I can't access the back because it's a hollow body.

Any help is appreciated.
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You will probably need to pull the knobs, undo the nuts holding the volume & tone pots-very carefully so you don't damage the top-and pull them out through the f holes. The back of the pots should have a small hole that the cleaner can be sprayed into and rotate the pots to work out the grime and gunk.
What you should do first is send a Private message to Light to see if he knows of an easier way to do this.
 
Dani Pace said:
Tuner cleaner will help, a product like Deoxit-5 will work wonders. It not only removes dirt and grime but also gets rid of corrosion and on old pots corrosion is often more of the problem than dirt.
Click to expand...

Excellent, I'll look for it. Do you know a good place to buy some? I'll check Home Despot and my local hardware store.

As for a pic, gimme a sec and I'll take one. My room is a mess, though. :D
 
Bee Tee Double You (BTW), I like the tone of it a lot more than the guy who did the Harmony Central review. And I love playing it. So he can go... well, you know. Play something else.
 
New pot is so much stronger today, I'd go with something beyond mid-range the high will be lots better. :)

I've never had luck cleaning pots, not much to them but once the corrosion sets in the crackle will be ever apparent. If you pry it apart it will never be the same.

Oh, don't fuck up your finish with some caustic crap.
 
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