Author Topic: HELP-- Broken Volume Pot -- wires disconnected -- how to fix? (Read 255 times)

grok · « **on:** October 15, 2006, 01:12:07 PM »

Help please! I have a gig on Thursday! I was having trouble with the sound cutting out, and I rotated the volume pot back and forth. Felt loose, but then -- nothing. I don't know how, but the wires disconnected on the volume pot. When I noticed the wires not connected, I removed the pot to examine the problem. I've attached a photo. I'm not sure what goes where.

What can I do?

Mark

grok · « **Reply #1 on:** October 15, 2006, 01:32:05 PM »

Would a replacement volume pot work here? It looks like the metal lugs are still there on 2 of the wires, the third is on the pot, but I'm not sure how I'd make the connections....

Mark

dadabass2001 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 15, 2006, 02:19:38 PM »

Hi Mark,
I'd suggest contacting the Help Desk at Alembic and mention this Troubleshooting link to be sure they see it quickly.
Mike

dfung60 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 15, 2006, 02:54:19 PM »

You're going to have to replace the pot. Two fo the lugs are completely torn off the body of the pot. There's no way to reliably connect the wires to the old pot now.

If you are really in a pinch, you might find a tech who can bypass the wiring for you until you get a replacement pot. You'd lose the volume control on your bass, but could still control it at the amp until it's replaced.

These blue pots are very high quality conductive plastic pots from Bourns. You aren't going to find these in any kind of regular guitar or electronic supply house. You can replace the pot with any pot of the same value, but I wouldn't recommend it. The Bourns pot isn't just higher quality, the pot body is physically much smaller than most, this one has a short threaded collar, and you'll probably find that your knob won't properly fit on a more generic pot. All those issues can be overcome, but you'll be better off ordering a real replacement from Alembic

grok · « **Reply #4 on:** October 15, 2006, 03:15:11 PM »

Thank you both. I did send an email to help, as well as a service request form, but it looks like I'll just need to order a new pot. From what you write, dfung, the pot comes with the lugs attached, is that right? Then the wires are somehow connected (I haven't removed the clear wrap from the ends of the wires, so I'm not sure what I'd do). I'm fine to solder, if necessary, but I'd rather not do that if that's not the proper way to replace the pot. I just hope they can get me one fedex'ed so I can install it and have it up for Thursday. Thanks again,

Mark

mica · « **Reply #5 on:** October 16, 2006, 12:06:42 PM »

Hi Mark,

I've got your new volume pot packed and waiting for UPS. Here's a key to how to reattach the wires:

Hopefully you'll be able to tell that from top to bottom, the wire colors are:
orange
violet
brown

I also threw in a short piece of shrink tubing so you won't have to hunt one down.

grok · « **Reply #6 on:** October 16, 2006, 01:40:12 PM »

Hi Mica,

Thanks for the diagram! Of course, I won't need it now since I just fedex'ed all the electronics to you for the RF upgrade, along with the replacement volume pot installed by a better solderer than I. Thanks for your quick reply and great help!

Regards,

Mark

(Message edited by grok on October 16, 2006)