volume control knob never gets to completely off

[spitalny]

I Have a TA Cobra Special S.
M1 M1 M2, with kickback.

The volume knob never really can completely turn-off the guitar volume. What could cause this, and, how to fix it?

Thanks!

Paul

[tom]

sometimes spraying with contact cleaner will do it, sometimes they just need to be replaced. let me know if you need a replacement.

[pipedwho]

Another common thing that happens (usually when someone has played inside the guitar) is the volume pot has its ground terminal lifted (more likely) or is internally broken (less likely).

You could also check the soldering/connection of the volume pot to make sure all the terminals look properly soldered - and that all the ground connections going to the volume pot are intact.

[tom]

if it's lifted it will not turn down at all.

[pipedwho]

if it's lifted it will not turn down at all.
Depending on the input impedance of the amp, it will turn down a little.

[tom]

i think what he's seeing is a slight bit of end resistance, a pretty common problem.

[pipedwho]

i think what he's seeing is a slight bit of end resistance, a pretty common problem.
I was wondering how the contact cleaner was going to work, but that makes perfect sense!

BTW, I wasn't in any way suggesting that there was some dodgy construction inside spitalny's Cobra. :eek: Just covering the possibility that he had put in the kickback, or changed a pickup and was troubleshooting the aftermath. I probably made that assumption after reading the thread where someone else asked for VA booster wiring help. ;)
.

[tom]

pots are one of the places where there really isn't a "premium" model available that works and feels better than the common ones. we've tried all the brands and had trouble with all of them at some point or another. the alpha's have been the most consistent for us. it's a very fine line at the come on point of a pot as to smooth or abrupt. sometimes in an effort to get smooth you end up with a little end resistance. that makes it not quite turn all the way off. sometimes just a bit of dirt can make them not quite turn off, so cleaning sometimes works.

[Rupe]

Can anyone explain this one? I have a volume pot that that when rolled back will completely kill the signal at around "2", but when rolled all the way off, the signal comes back to a level of approximately "2". When it is run wide open, it is the same as it ever was but recently developed this other phenomena.

[tom]

could be dirt down low in the taper, it could be the wiper is getting lifted off the trace, spraying might help. we saw lots of cts pots that had end resistance, meaning that they never really went to zero, but that usually shows up all the time.

[spitalny]

Hi Tom,
Thanks! I shall try to open it up and give it a spray of contact cleaner. if it's not cured, ask you for a pot. Thanks!

Paul

[tom]

that'll work.

[Rupe]

could be dirt down low in the taper, it could be the wiper is getting lifted off the trace, spraying might help. we saw lots of cts pots that had end resistance, meaning that they never really went to zero, but that usually shows up all the time.

OK, spraying didn't help...but changing the pot did ;)

Thanks for the advice though!

[spitalny]

Tom - can you recommend a contact cleanerr spray?

How about one of these??
http://www.amazon.com/Hosa-DeOxit-Cleaning-Solution-Spray/dp/B0002BBV4G/ref=pd_sim_e_1 (http://www.amazon.com/Hosa-DeOxit-Cleaning-Solution-Spray/dp/B0002BBV4G/ref=pd_bxgy_e_img_b)

http://www.amazon.com/Deoxit-Contact-Cleaner-Spray-Ground/dp/B000RGD9PK

Paul

[tom]

the d5 is what we use.

[spitalny]

thanks Tom!

Paul

[spitalny]

Hi Tom,
Thanks for talking me though fixing (cleaning) my Cobra volume pot today. A pleasure to talk with you, and, guitar working perfectly!

Many thanks!

Paul