Dirty Amp Pots

[Katau]

I am thinking of buying a local used 5150 Combo. The preamp knob causes some crackling when being adjusted. It will also cause some crackling on its own and I have to wiggle and play with it until it stops. How easy will it be to replace this, or fix this? Also, anything else I should lookout for with this amp?

 

[Metaltastic]

Hmm, you know, now that you mention it, the "mid" pot on my old 5150 combo (which I've since sold to my suitemate/other guitarist in my band, so I still use it regularly!) was pretty fishy as well, and it'd be good to know for future reference anyway. So I too would be interested in how to remedy the pot problem!

But to answer your question Katau, Peaveys have such preposterously good build quality and reliability that the only thing to really worry about is the tubes (one of my power tubes actually popped out of my combo since they hang down, and I played with it that way for months before I noticed! Needless to say, I bought a pair of JJ's and made sure to check that they were secure after every time I moved it!)

 

[colonel kurtz]

head down to your local radio shack or whatever other electronics store and get some contact cleaner...take the knob off, spray it into the pot, and work it back and forth a few times. that'll most likely do the trick for you - if not, open it up and check the solder on the pot. if the cleaning doesn't work and everything's still solidly soldered, then you'll probably have to replace the pot itself, which will probably cost $10 at the most.

 

[Loren Littlejohn]

head down to your local radio shack or whatever other electronics store and get some contact cleaner...take the knob off, spray it into the pot, and work it back and forth a few times. that'll most likely do the trick for you - if not, open it up and check the solder on the pot. if the cleaning doesn't work and everything's still solidly soldered, then you'll probably have to replace the pot itself, which will probably cost $10 at the most.

+1