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Author
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Topic: Noisy Vol. Ped. pot so soon??
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Nathan Delacretaz
Member From: Austin, Texas, USA
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posted 21 March 2006 08:04 PM
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I really love my Goodrich L120, but I've had it for less than a year and the pot is already super crackly. I've tried the compressed air and the relentless back-n-forth rocking to clear the dust, but it still crackles. What are the odds that I just got a bum pot? Are replacement pots readily available? |
BobbeSeymour
Member From: Hendersonville TN USA
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posted 21 March 2006 08:29 PM
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Welcome to the club. Pot life is way less than a year these days. This is one reason the proplayers are mostly all using the "Potless pedals".
A little more money in the begining, but indefinite lifetime.
Don't worry, even the new P.E.C. pot has a very short life.
The manufacturer claims 25000 cycles, we have found they last abot 3000 to 5000 cycles. Not very dependable for a serious steel player.
Oh yes, we have pots for sale, but we can't garrentee the life of them at the moment, or until something better comes along.
Bobbe Steel guitar Nashville |
John Bechtel
Member From: Nashville, Tennessee,U.S.A.
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posted 21 March 2006 11:59 PM
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I recently bought a brand new volume-pedal with a noisy-pot, right out of the box! Nowadays it's just ‘luck of the draw’ when it comes to Pots!------------------
“Big John”
a.k.a. {Keoni Nui}
n.t.s.g.a. #90
’05 D–10 Derby
’65 Re-Issue Fender Twin–Reverb Custom™ 15”
Current Equipment
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Frank Parish
Member From: Nashville,Tn. USA
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posted 22 March 2006 05:28 AM
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As Bobbe said, most pro players have went to the potless pedals. I still own two old Emmons pedals but until somebody comes up with a good pot, I'll stick to the Hilton or LDR pedals. |
Bill Hatcher
Member From: Atlanta Ga. USA
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posted 22 March 2006 05:44 AM
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If your Goodrich pedal has the Mexican made pot in it then that is the problem. They don't use that pot anymore because they go bad so fast.Great pedal--not so great pot. |
Jack Stoner
Sysop From: Inverness, Florida
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posted 22 March 2006 05:54 AM
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Many of us "non-pro" pickers also use the Hilton pedal. I've had one for two years.Although, as Bobbe mentioned, the initial cost is more in the long run an electronic pedal will pay for itself. No more pot to go bad and change (at $20 to $25 each just for the pot) and no string to break. In addition there is no signal loss through an electronic volume pedal and no tone loss - the tone is the same from low volume to full volume. |
Larry Strawn
Member From: Golden Valley, Arizona, USA
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posted 22 March 2006 06:36 AM
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My new Hilton pedal is under my steel, my L120 has a brand new pot in it and is in my warbag for a back up. Think that is where it will stay! Love my new Hilton!
Larry------------------
Emmons S/D-10, 3/5, Sessions 400 Ltd. Home Grown E/F Rack
"ROCKIN COUNTRY" |
John Steele
Member From: Renfrew, Ontario, Canada
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posted 22 March 2006 06:38 AM
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I finally got my hands on one of the higher grade Ohmite pots, and after one month I'd like to report no scratches or hisses. As a matter of fact it makes no sound at all - the thing is completely dead.
I'm not trying to tell anyone their business, but if I was the manufacturer of pot pedals, I'd be manufacturing my own pots, or be out of business.
-John |
Jay Ganz
Member From: Out Behind The Barn
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posted 22 March 2006 06:55 AM
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Lately I've been using plain old CTS 500K audio
taper pots in my Emmons pedals. They sound
great and are cheap (I get 'em for about
few bucks each.) Sure, they get scratchy once
in awhile, but they're open at the top, so I
just shoot in some contact cleaner & I'm good
to go for another month or so.
--------------------
 |
Nathan Delacretaz
Member From: Austin, Texas, USA
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posted 22 March 2006 08:54 AM
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Thanks, everyone - I guessed it'd probably be another fact of life to just deal with. Do you guys have a preferred source for replacement pots? |
Earnest Bovine
Member From: Los Angeles CA USA
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posted 22 March 2006 09:36 AM
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I get part number KA5041S28-ND from www.digkey.com . These are P.E.C. brand. Prices keep going up; now it is $92 for 10.
Some are scratchy right away or within a few minutes. Others last weeks or possibly months. These are the best that I have found. |
Earnest Bovine
Member From: Los Angeles CA USA
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posted 22 March 2006 09:47 AM
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Jay wrote quote:
I've been using plain old CTS 500K audio taper pots in my Emmons pedals
The shafts look really short. How long are they? I need almost a half inch for my Goodrich pulley. |
Rick Jolley
Member From: Heartland, USA
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posted 22 March 2006 12:26 PM
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I got a "million cycle" pot from Tom Bradshaw, and it's been wonderful, so far. The shaft is round, with a flat spot on one side, and is 3/4" long.RZ
See my post on replacing a pot over in the electronics section. |
Chris Schlotzhauer
Member From: Colleyville, Tx. USA
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posted 22 March 2006 12:40 PM
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I thought Mexican pot was the best. |
BobbeSeymour
Member From: Hendersonville TN USA
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posted 22 March 2006 12:56 PM
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Or Columbian? |
Mark Edwards
Member From: Weatherford,Texas, USA
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posted 22 March 2006 01:07 PM
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Nathan, same thing happened to me, bought a brand spankin new Goodrich pedal, in two months the pot went out, scratchy, scratchy, scratchy. However this was around about the time of the TSGA show 2005. I walked up to the Goodrich booth at the show, and explained what happened. No hesitation, no questions asked, they gave me a brand new pot, and told me if I had anymore problems, to please give them a call. In the day where customer service really sucks, this was a breath of fresh air, great product, and super customer service. Just because of that one action, I will always use Goodrich pedals, that's it and that's all. |
Curt Langston
Member From: ***In the shadows of Tulsa at Bixby, USA***
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posted 22 March 2006 01:19 PM
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quote:
but they're open at the top, so I
just shoot in some contact cleaner & I'm good
to go for another month or so.
Jay, that is exactly what I do as well. In fact, I have been known to drill a tiny hole in the top if they do not have an opening. (simply drill it while holding upside down to prevent the shavings from falling inside). Works great, and lasts a very long time. Contact cleaner from Radio Shack |
Ken Byng
Member From: Southampton, England
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posted 22 March 2006 01:20 PM
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quote:
Or Columbian
You keep these in stock Bobbe???. |
Uffe Edefuhr
Member From: Sweden
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posted 22 March 2006 01:25 PM
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Hi friends. I bought a new Goodrich pedal model L120 in October last eyar! Last week I found my pedal not working all right, no smooth working, it feels like walking on cold snow when I press the pedal! I looked it up and found the problem is in the pot!
When I played steel in the 80is the pot lasted a year or more! Todays quality??
Think I´ll buy myself a Bagpipe!------------------
GFI Ultra S-10, Nashville 400 and a new volumepedal soon |
Jay Ganz
Member From: Out Behind The Barn
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posted 22 March 2006 03:04 PM
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Ernest,
Yeah...that's the case with those shafts. They're kinda short. They just barely
clear the pedal housing on the Emmons pedals
but I don't think they'd be installable in other
type pedals. That's one draw back with 'em.
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Bo Borland
Member From: Cowtown NJ
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posted 22 March 2006 03:23 PM
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Columbian.. what about Maui Waui?
I am playing my 30 year old MSA volume pedal with the same pot that came with it .... I THINK.. maybe it was the trip to Maui .. I forget.. but
I bought a spare Allen Bradley locally and another from Bobbe a couple of years ago, that are still in my tool kit. I hope I can remember how to solder. |
Ernest Cawby
Member From: Lake City, Florida, USA
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posted 22 March 2006 04:22 PM
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If you have something in line before the pedal try by passing it, I had volume control in front of the goodrich and removed it and the pedal cleared up ,and is working fine, after I bought a Hilton from Bobbe, I use it now in the practice room. Stillclean.ernie |
Ricky Littleton
Member From: Steely-Eyed Missile Man from Orlando, Florida USA
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posted 22 March 2006 05:39 PM
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Jack Stoner!!!You ARE the PRO man!!! Anyone not ever hearing JS play is missing a treat! Ricky... ------------------
Emmons LeGrande - 8x4
Session 400 Ltd, Nashville 112,Hilton Volume pedal, Peterson VS-II Tuner
Dan-Echo, E-Bow, Ibanez Distortion, Bo-Bro, Ibanez Auto-Wah, Regal Dobro |
Ben Jones
Member From: Washington, USA
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posted 24 March 2006 04:37 PM
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got a brand new goodrich 120 in late Dec. POt is bad already. How do they stay in business? Guess I gotta spend a couple hundred bucks for a pedal that will last more than a few weeks? What a crock! super pissed off here. Everyone warned me, but I just couldnt see paying for the Hilton, now I see it woulda been money well spent. Goodrich: eat my shorts! |
Donny Hinson
Member From: Balto., Md. U.S.A.
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posted 24 March 2006 05:30 PM
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quote:
I really love my Goodrich L120, but I've had it for less than a year and the pot is already super crackly.
Did you oil the pot? Did you spray the inside with silicone? Yes, you should do that even with brand-new pots! I've fixed a lot of pots just by cleaning and oiling them, and they lasted for years. I also think most of the reason the new pots wear out faster because they aren't lubricating them at the factory. |
Tom Stolaski
Member From: Huntsville, AL, USA
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posted 24 March 2006 08:11 PM
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I bought a Zum Volume Pedal in 1989. It worked for ten years. It was rated at one million cycles. There are some good things about the good ol days. |
Chris Schlotzhauer
Member From: Colleyville, Tx. USA
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posted 25 March 2006 12:27 AM
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quote:
Did you oil the pot? Did you spray the inside with silicone?
OK, how do you spray INTO the pot? The pots are sealed right? |
Jay Ganz
Member From: Out Behind The Barn
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posted 25 March 2006 06:08 AM
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First of all, if you're going to spray, you
can't use silicon or WD40 or some other kind
of lubricant. You gotta use contact cleaner.
Second, this may help for awhile....it may not.
If the pot is just plain worn (and not just
dirty), spraying ain't gonna help it anyway.
For the sealed pots, you have to pry up the
little tabs that hold the thing together. Do
this just enough to get your spray inside. You
don't have to take it all apart.
---------------------
Play something we can dance to! |
John Billings
Member From: Northfield Center, Ohio, USA
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posted 25 March 2006 07:39 AM
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I came across some interesting pots the other day. The value is not the same as the old pots, but I'm thinkin' they might work anyway. They're 200k linear-taper pots, with a long shaft. They have a removable rubber dust cover, that when removed is supposed to allow access to a large cleaning port. They're a replacement pot for wah pedals, and are supposed to be very high quality. They're called North Star Audio Pro Pots, from
rogermayerusa.com. This was the sites address in 2004, not sure if it's the same today. Might have to do a search. |
Curt Langston
Member From: ***In the shadows of Tulsa at Bixby, USA***
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posted 25 March 2006 07:40 AM
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quote:
Jay, that is exactly what I do as well. In fact, I have been known to drill a tiny hole in the top if they do not have an opening. (simply drill it while holding upside down to prevent the shavings from falling inside). Works great, and lasts a very long time. Contact cleaner from Radio Shack
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BobbeSeymour
Member From: Hendersonville TN USA
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posted 25 March 2006 06:30 PM
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Jay Gantz is 100% correct. Believe him, he hath spaketh the truth! |
Jay Ganz
Member From: Out Behind The Barn
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posted 25 March 2006 07:22 PM
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John,
Linear taper pots come on too quick.
You can't bring the volume up gradually enough.
I'm sorta wondering why we haven't got switched
over to the Electronics section...aren't you?
Maybe we won't get caught!!!
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William Steward
Member From: Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
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posted 26 March 2006 06:30 PM
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As I understand it there are several types of volume pots (closed, open) with different 'tapers' available (audio, linear). I replaced the pot in my Goodrich 120(with some coaching from Jack Stoner)and it was pretty easy. It was an inexpensive 'closed' replacement pot I bought online from an electronics house with same specs as the original. I do end up using my old Ernie Ball pedal often though since it has an 'open' pot in it that I can spray with Radio Shack lubricant cleaner if it gets noisey. Spraying a 'closed' pot is a waste of time so don't bother trying to 'spray' your Goodrich pedal since it probably should not make a difference - someone correct me if I am wrong. If you attend the TSGA show, the Goodrich people are there to answer dumb questions or help with adjustments to their pedals. |
Nathan Delacretaz
Member From: Austin, Texas, USA
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posted 14 May 2006 09:01 PM
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Wanted to let you guys know that I took Jay Ganz's (and others who agreed) fine advice and have pryed the pot cover off slighty in order to shoot some contact cleaner in. It has worked quite well, although I've only had 12 hours/1 rehearsal to judge!...more later!Thanks again, Jay! |
Tony Davis
Member From: Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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posted 15 May 2006 04:29 AM
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I have been using A.B pots for years....getting my Buddy to bring me a new one now and again from the states..keeping the old ones and taking the cover right off and cleaning them...got down to I had no good pots left and my sound was pretty ordinary...so I bought a couple of pots from Goodrich at the Dallas show...I think they are made in Canada....no noise,,,feels great in my 32 year old Emmons Pedal.....the shafts are a bit short so I just turn he pulley around so the alen screw still contacts the shaft |
Jim Walker
Member From: Florida Panhandle
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posted 16 May 2006 09:23 PM
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I too bought a brand new Goodrich L120 from Harrison Music in January of this year with a Canadian pot from the factory. By the end of Febuary the pot was toast. I took it apart and sprayed it with contact cleaner, lasted a week. I took it apart again and cleaned it with Gibson String Cleaner And Lube, lasted a month...... I just bought a new PEC Canadian pot and installed it yesterday. I marked the calendar. Maybe I should have marked the clock.... I'm afraid the problem will not be addressed until people stop buying these products and the replacement parts. Somewhere inside, I feel I just threw my hard earned money out the window, but we'll see.signed, One PO'd Dude |
Bill Crook
Member From: Goodlettsville, TN , Spending my kid's inheritance
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posted 17 May 2006 04:15 PM
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Jay...... A friendly disagreement from a Electronics tech. quote:
Linear taper pots come on too quick.
You can't bring the volume up gradually enough.
A audio taper pot comes up hard and fast,untill the last 1/4 of the pot. A Linear pot is at a 45 degree from 0 to 100 %. Thats why they are called an "Audio Taper" Way too often, players have the wrong concept about the difference in the two types of volumne control pots. Put a omn meter across the wiper arm and either leg and you will see what I'm saying. The linear pot is constanly at a upward movement throught the travel, A "Audio Linear" pot go up fast and has no noticeable increase in volumne in the the last 1/4 travel. ------------------
http://home.comcast.net/~crookwf/
http://photobucket.com/albums/v479/billcrook/ [This message was edited by Bill Crook on 17 May 2006 at 04:17 PM.]
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Twayn Williams
Member From: Portland, OR
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posted 17 May 2006 09:47 PM
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If you use a passive volume pedal, it's a good idea to use a good buffer in front of it. Some Boss pedals have good buffers, or you could go with a higher end pedal like an Xotic RC Booster or a Klon. Or you could go the really cheap route and pick up one of the Dano Fab series pedals. They have fantastic buffers in 'em and they're only $15 a pop! |
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