Amp volume pots?
- Thread starter tyzjames
- Start date
valentinik_15
New member
You can pretty much DIY. You'll need to open up the amp and locate the faulty pot first. Snap a few pics so you won't forget the wiring. Have a real close look at the pot and write down the resistance. (be it 250K, 500K so on and so forth) also take note that the pot is probably a linear pot. (non linear pots are prefixed with an 'A' before the resistance and 'B' for linear, i can't really remember) Take note of the size of the pot as well so you can get one that fits.
Take a trip down to Sim Lim Tower and look for them pots. Go back, monkey see monkey do and you're done! BTW what amp are you using, cos newer amps have pots directly soldered to PCBs which could be a bit more risky to desolder.
I'm no amp tech but i've done my fair share of DIY amp repairs, be sure not to leave the amp plugged in and stay away from the radial capacitors otherwise your hair will be standing on ends like a mad scientist.
Take a trip down to Sim Lim Tower and look for them pots. Go back, monkey see monkey do and you're done! BTW what amp are you using, cos newer amps have pots directly soldered to PCBs which could be a bit more risky to desolder.
I'm no amp tech but i've done my fair share of DIY amp repairs, be sure not to leave the amp plugged in and stay away from the radial capacitors otherwise your hair will be standing on ends like a mad scientist.
Dongara
New member
Can I ask what you mean by 'konked out'? I have repaired many amps and never heard of that problem before. Is there no sound, does the volume knob turn all the way around, is it broken off or is it scratchy/intermittent? The problem may not be the pot, but something else.
Mark.
Mark.
tyzjames
New member
Hi there,
By konked out I mean not working as it should. Basically, I think the full signal passes through the pot as you turn it up, which means lets say I turn the volume up from 0 to 5, there will be intermittent loud sounds coming through the amp. So most of the time I'm getting a super loud volume coming through, and the tone sounds somewhat bad.
By konked out I mean not working as it should. Basically, I think the full signal passes through the pot as you turn it up, which means lets say I turn the volume up from 0 to 5, there will be intermittent loud sounds coming through the amp. So most of the time I'm getting a super loud volume coming through, and the tone sounds somewhat bad.
Dongara
New member
This doesn't sound like a problem with the volume knob, but a more serious one with the amp itself.
Just to check if the pot is the problem, get a can of contact cleaner from a hardware shop, turn off the amp, spray the pot and then rotate it back and forth a few times. Let it dry for ten minutes or so and turn the amp on. Make sure to turn on the power switch and then wait a couple of minutes to turn on the standby (if it's a tube head).
If this is a 120 watt amp then it will be LOUD. I'd leave it on at home with no input for a couple of hours at 5 to warm up and it may just sort itself out. Are the connections to the speaker or speaker cab good? try cleaning these with the contact cleaner and spraying the contact cleaner on the guitar cable and pushing in in and out of the jack on the amp a few times to clean it. Singapore is a terrible place for electrics due to the moisture.
Try these steps first and then get back to me and we might be able to work it out without any major surgery!
cheers,
Mark.
Just to check if the pot is the problem, get a can of contact cleaner from a hardware shop, turn off the amp, spray the pot and then rotate it back and forth a few times. Let it dry for ten minutes or so and turn the amp on. Make sure to turn on the power switch and then wait a couple of minutes to turn on the standby (if it's a tube head).
If this is a 120 watt amp then it will be LOUD. I'd leave it on at home with no input for a couple of hours at 5 to warm up and it may just sort itself out. Are the connections to the speaker or speaker cab good? try cleaning these with the contact cleaner and spraying the contact cleaner on the guitar cable and pushing in in and out of the jack on the amp a few times to clean it. Singapore is a terrible place for electrics due to the moisture.
Try these steps first and then get back to me and we might be able to work it out without any major surgery!
cheers,
Mark.
tyzjames
New member
Dongara: I'm pretty sure its the pot.. the amp works fine on its crunch channel.. Its a solid state amp. I've sprayed contact cleaner on the pot before but the problem still remains.. I've got 2 of the same heads, the Laney ones, and both have got the same problem.
Hmm, if its a simple changing of pots and resoldering, I'm pretty sure I can do it.. I dont think I'll be touching any other parts if theres a problem elsewhere..
Hmm, if its a simple changing of pots and resoldering, I'm pretty sure I can do it.. I dont think I'll be touching any other parts if theres a problem elsewhere..
Dongara
New member
Sounds like a design flaw! Maybe they are allergic to Singapore!
You are right about the changing of the pots. It is straightforward as log as you don't have to remove the PC board. Just leave the amp off for half an hour and that will discharge the capacitors, then take the cover off and have a look at hpw the pot is connected. Once you have removed it, head off to Sim Lim Tower with it and get a handful of them that match - then you can repair the others.
Wish you the best of luck.
Mark.
You are right about the changing of the pots. It is straightforward as log as you don't have to remove the PC board. Just leave the amp off for half an hour and that will discharge the capacitors, then take the cover off and have a look at hpw the pot is connected. Once you have removed it, head off to Sim Lim Tower with it and get a handful of them that match - then you can repair the others.
Wish you the best of luck.
Mark.
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