Electronic cleaner

[Mlazarus]

This may be a siily question: Is it safe to heavily spray the electronics with electonic cleaner? of course unplugged and let sit for a while until you play again.

What is the best way to clean the pots? Open the back and spray or take the knobs of and let the spray sink in?

[edwardofhuncote]

NOOOO!

[edwardofhuncote]

Exercise them, 40-50 times fully. Shoot, go 100 times. And throw that can of cleaner as far as your arm will allow.

[keith_h]

The pots on Alembic instruments are sealed and self cleaning. As Greg says to clean the pots you would exercise them. The same goes for the front switches and pickup selector. Exercise them and that should clear up any noise but with the switches 5 to 10 times is usually sufficient for me.

[KR]

This may be a siily question: Is it safe to heavily spray the electronics with electonic cleaner? of course unplugged and let sit for a while until you play again.

What is the best way to clean the pots? Open the back and spray or take the knobs of and let the spray sink in?

Alembic pots don't require it as E of H stated. --Only use Deoxit Fader F5 in any other device where you have a noisy pot. General cleaners only temporarily quiet a pot, and will usually compromise the internal lube within the pot. Many a guitar pot has been messed up with cleaner.

[gtrguy]

Depends on the electronics. Alembics pots are sealed but most others are not. There are lubricating cleaners and non lubricating cleaners and times when you want to use one but not the other.

[Mlazarus]

I think its best not to use that cleaner spray. I'm glad i contacted this forum first.

[KR]

For sure. My '77 Series 1 had some noise until I rotated the pots 100 times or so. Using a cleaner lube isn't a maintenance thing for me, and I only use it if I have to.

[Mlazarus]

I guess the self-cleaning shakes dust and dirt out. There must be a built-in brush inside the pots?

[keith_h]

It does a couple of things. By rotating the pot through its full range oxidation and/or debris is moved outside of the resistive area of the pot. Also over time if a lubricated pot is used in a small area the lubricant can build up on either side of the range of movement. Rotating the pot will redistribute the lubricant evenly across the resistive area of the pot.

[bigredbass]

De-Oxit and the like guarantee the electronics repairman will have job security until they decide to retire.  You can use A LITTLE BIT, but you GOT to know WHERE and HOW.  Often, it only cleans your wallet.

[lbpesq]

On lesser expensive 60s and 70s instruments that are now 50-60 years old, the old open pots (that weren't the best to start with), are often in terrible shape.   I’m thinking about guitars like old Hagstroms, Ekos, Nationals, Dan Electros, and a host of others of the era.  A little lubricating De-Oxit is often helpful, after exercising has failed, of course.

Bill, tgo

[Mlazarus]

i did the 100-turn method on each pot today. I haven't plugged in yet though.

[gtrguy]

Personally I wouldn't exercise a vintage open pot if it was noisy, as there is often some kind of small grit in there that will act as sandpaper on the pots dry track when turned. I would first spray the inside of the pot a quick shot of lubricating pot cleaner with the pot all the way off and then turn it 30 times and then test it. Once in a while I will instead shoot a super quick shot on the inside of the pot with it all the way off and then another super quick one with it all the way on to get to the entire track. Sometimes I also have to shoot an tiny bit into the shaft to loosen that up. Less is better, as the lube can easily become too much lube. I also usually put some king of cloth 'dam' around the pot to keep the surrounding area cleaner. On vintage instruments having the original dated pots adds a lot to the value and mojo.


But hey, that's just my way of doing things.

[gtrguy]

Also, a 9mm pistol brass cleaning brush is perfect the clean the output jack with!