How to Clean a Guitar Potentiometer

When you play an electric guitar, nothing is worse than the sound of scratchy, noisy volume and tone pots. Don't fret though (no pun intended) because they don't necessarily have to be replaced. All they need is a good cleaning, which can usually be done without even removing them from the guitar

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver Contact cleaner

Instructions

1. Remove the access panel from the guitar to allow you to get to the affected pot. This is accomplished on most guitars with a Phillips head screwdriver.

2. Spray cleaner. Once the access panel has been removed, there should be two slots on the backside of the pot that will allow you to spray the contact cleaner into the pot itself. If there are no slots on the back, then the contact cleaner can be sprayed down the shaft so that it penetrates the pot.

3. Turn the knob repeatedly for a period of time. Five minutes is sufficient, then let it dry.

4. Repeat Step 3. Remember to let it dry thoroughly.

5. Listen for scratchiness. There should no longer be any scratchiness to the pot upon turning. If the scratch persists, replace the pot unless it is a vintage instrument, in which case it should be taken to a luthier for a pot cleaning that involves disassembling the pot and cleaning it by hand. It is not recommended that this be tried by an amateur on a vintage instrument.

6. Close up the access panel. Provided that the pot sounds new again, use the screwdriver to close the access panel.

Tips & Warnings

• It is not recommend skimping on the cost of the contact cleaner. The old adage that you get what you pay for rings true in this arena as well.

• It is not recommend that anything other than contact cleaner be used on a vintage instrument due to their delicate nature and the lack of original parts. Nothing is worse than ruining a part that is irreplaceable. Make sure that the contact cleaner you choose is plastic safe, but note this could ruin certain parts of the pot itself. Some contact cleaners are fairly caustic, so be careful when using them.