A REAL PAIN!!

dan321 · #1 03-27-2008, 04:37 PM

Hey

My pickup switcher is pretty is much screwed. It keeps cutting out and makes a crackly noise when ever i switch pups. Is it dirt thats the problem, if it is, is there any sort of cleaner i can use? Or do i just replace the switch?

Thanks

Algiman · #2 03-27-2008, 04:48 PM

A good blast with contact cleaner may well do the trick, this stuff for example:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...eaner&doy=27m3

You can get similar stuff in most hardware shops.

Alternatively, if it is just knackered, they're not worth fixing so time for a new one.

losgatosrg350dx · #3 03-27-2008, 10:00 PM

if you use the cleaner just be sure you dont get it on the wires becasue it does have solvents in it...but you cant use regular contact cleaner on the pots, so if you are going to spray it all over your guitars, it will ruin guitar pots.

keep regular contact cleaner over spray away from the pots too!

**elcid** · #4 03-27-2008, 10:07 PM

Just replace the switch. It wont cost much more than the cleaner, and if you buy cleaner first then need to buy a switch because the cleaner didnt fix it you will have wasted more time and money.

losgatosrg350dx · #5 03-27-2008, 10:25 PM

thats true elcid

dan321 · #6 03-28-2008, 07:20 AM

Hey

Thanks for the feedback...I just ordered the cleaner from maplins. Just wondering were do i spray it? Through the top or the back?

Algiman · #7 03-28-2008, 10:32 AM

In the back of the switch, and a can of contact cleaner is always worth having. It'll be enough to clean dozens of pots and switches, and giving them a blast every so often helps prevent the nasty crackling happening in the first place.
Don't worry about getting it on the wires etc, it evaporates off pretty quickly and wont do any damage, but I'd wipe any excess off the guitar's finish to prevent any residue.

losgatosrg350dx · #8 03-29-2008, 12:37 AM

are you kidding me.....algiman....you cant use regular contact cleaner like the one on the site on just pots....there is a completely differnt type of contact cleaner for pots!!! the solvent will ruin the conductors in the pot!!!

if you are going to clean your switch make sure you block off and protect all the pots or wires... that contact cleaner you go it just for metal to metal

torres engineering has a contact cleaner with no solvents and is safe for pots on your amp, and on your guitar

losgatosrg350dx · #9 03-29-2008, 12:38 AM

its a solvent...has anyone here taken apart a pot before....??

Algiman · #10 03-29-2008, 08:33 AM

losgatosrg350dx, occasionally you post things that make sense, the rest of the time you seem to post total bollocks for the sake of it. Your last 2 posts fall into the latter category.

But, if you think I'm the only one who cleans contacts with contact cleaner:

http://www.customguitars.com/pots.html

http://www.fretnotguitarrepair.com/E...nicsRepair.htm

http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/Dumm...bcat-ARTS.html

and they're just the first few results from a quick internet search.

losgatosrg350dx · #11 03-29-2008, 01:21 PM

in the custom guitar link the bottle showed there is the correct one

but the one in the site isseud earlier in the thread is not the right one and this is not crap at all this is serious bizz, dont give someone bad advice and claim it to be good

pots have little winding that are inductors, based on the amount and the mechanism the is working in a pot it varies

betweent he wraps in the pot there is a wire wich is insulated, and on top of that wound wire it is stripped of the insulator

there is a specific contact cleaner that is designed to work on pots and insulated parts

regular solvent bases contact cleaner for connections and bare metal is not suitable

i suggest you do some research before telling someone to do something bad

call torres engineering, this guy is one of the smarted amp techs there is, along with guitar techs ive ever met..

Phone (650) 571 6887

he will scientificaly explain to you why it is very important if you want to preserve the sound of the pot that you keep regular solvent based contact cleaner far away from the pots, since they CAN destroy your finish..wich is a poly based usually...what do you think the coating is betweent he conductors in the pot..POLY BASED TOO

the point being there is a reson why amp techs use a seperate cleaner for the pots, and use a regular cheapo comtacts cleaner on the terminals etc.....

this isnt crap this is real deal stuff, i suggest you think about your post
i would rather give someone legit advice than shoot someone down before id think about what advice and how revalant it is!

hey man keep that solvent based contact cleaner away from your pots if you dont wana cause them damage

they do make a contact cleaner for pots if you are interested

examples of pot cleaners

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electron...h_Cleaner.html

http://www.cpcares.com/TAE/puretronics/TAE-5000.html

the amp techs use a brand similar to the link agliman (the first one), the bottle looks like what my amp tech uses

but regular contact cleaner is not suitable for pots i repeat....

you need a conductor safe cleaner that uses no solvents that will not damage the insulators in the pots

the399 · #12 03-29-2008, 01:39 PM

.....

Algiman · #13 03-29-2008, 01:39 PM

I'm sure if you look hard enough you'll find something that is too strong, so yes, you could conceivably damage a guitar pot with contact cleaner if you went out of your way to be stupid.

Quote:

Originally Posted by losgatosrg350dx

pots have little winding that are inductors

Bollocks. They work by resistance, not inductance, and guitar pots are normally track based not coils.

Quote:

Originally Posted by losgatosrg350dx

based on the amount and the mechanism the is working in a pot it varies

betweent he wraps in the pot there is a wire wich is insulated, and on top of that wound wire it is stripped of the insulator

The bit of that that was intelligible enough to follow is rubbish too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by losgatosrg350dx

there is a specific contact cleaner that is designed to work on pots and insulated parts

Probably, but regular stuff is absolutely fine for guitars.

I could go on, but I doubt you're the sort of person who is going to back down on this. I'm sure you'll post something else pointless to worry Dan321 next, but I'll drop out of this thread. I've posted some advice based on repairing many, many guitars with dodgy electrics, not to mention my 15 years as an electronics engineer, but if you wish to carry on talking arse, be my guest.

the399 · #14 03-29-2008, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Algiman

I'm sure if you look hard enough you'll find something that is too strong, so yes, you could conceivably damage a guitar pot with contact cleaner if you went out of your way to be stupid.

Bollocks. The work by resistance, not inductance, and guitar pots are normally track based not coils.

The bit of that that was intelligible to follow is rubbish too.

Probably, but regular stuff is absolutely fine for guitars.

I could go on, but I doubt your the sort of person who is going to back down on this. I'm sure you'll post something else pointless to worry Dan321 next, but I'll drop out of this thread. I've posted some advice based on repairing many, many guitars with dodgy electrics, not to mention my 15 years as an electronics engineer, but if you wish to carry on talking arse, be my guest.

+1
Just get some EC cleaner.

losgatosrg350dx · #15 03-29-2008, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Algiman

............

i know its a track the point being that they are comprimised together and the entire unit the sealed between each conductor inbewteen and only a small portion is shaved off where the pole peice and the conductors touch
and i have ruined pots using regular solvent based cleaner

its your choice, but i tend not to be a ARSE on it..the point i made ealier, if the contact cleaner can damage your finish on the guitar, what do you think its doing on the inside of the pots...just destroying the coatings inbetween the wound "track" section, even that part is built at first strait , wound around a bar, then pressed into the track shape

ive taken them apart and ive seen what regular contact cleaner does, how can a electronics engineer boast this kind of non inteligent JUST SPRAY IT WITH SOLVENT type of attitude....

its ok, you can have 15+ years, but any doooot can read on the net about pots, and then about what solvents do to them..and make a better judgement than just spray it!

later dude.....