YOUR GUITAR ISNT BROKEN! How to Fix Scratchy Volume and Tone Knobs! 

Yay. Glad to help!!

Ya hate to see it. BUT it's such a quick fix with deoxit F5. Should be right as rain in no time :]

BOOM! Love to see it. I’m glad it’s all better and you’re rock-n-rollin again!!

Just make sure it's lubricated! Normal contact cleaner will strip out the lubricant, and your potentiometer will need some just like a fader does. Disclaimer though, I'm not an expert on electronics, I just know this stuff works for its intended purpose. Regular contact cleaner may actually work fine in a pot, but I personally have only ever used the lubricated kind.

thank you for the kind comment!

ooh, that sounds odd. There may be some bits of conductive material that has kinda shaved off while rolling it up and down, and it is now sorta "floating" or "stuck" in there giving you inconsistent volume changes. This method of flushing out the pot with F5 should get that gunk out of there. If it doesn't work, you may need to change out the pot as it may have just gone bad. :\

yo! thanks man. I haven’t experienced any grinding in pots after use at all. This stuff is the bomb. :)

@@miguelangelcolon1345 yep. Every one! Except the ones that hold the pick ups, of course.

@@Plant_Based_Riffs thanks.

it could! If you have a dirty enough connection in the pot, you may need to clean it. It could just be a bad pot. I would probably just take it to a guitar tech and have them diagnose it

Love the question, thanks for reaching out. So... What is your entire rig? My suspicion is that you’re using a modeler or amp sim of some kind, and the “tone phasing” you’re experiencing is not caused by the guitar pots as much as the modeler’s inability to create a decent tone with such a low input volume. To answer your specific question: No, I don’t think you’re at risk of causing a short using this method. I think fouler forces are at play.

@@Plant_Based_Riffsthanks for replying so fast. So this setup is a straight guitar to amp set up. Normally I run the same guitar to a Boss GT-10 multi effects processor then to the amp but lately I've just been wanting to plug in and play so I go directly from the guitar on a single 5 foot live wire advantage cord. The amp is a Orangr Crush 35RT small combo. And I'm operating on the dirty channel only using amp reverb at about 60% level. I'm now maybe thinking that the pickups are doing it cuz the prophecy line runs fishman influence active pickups. May e I just need to switch the battery. I've only had the guitar about a month and this is my first time using active pickups. Idk but that's the whole rig. Les Paul Prophacy to amp. Think it might be the pickups running out of battery juice maybe? That's the only other think incan thinking since I have no external preamps or effects chains or loops lined in.

@@jamesparker384 Hmm. I’ve had students with Fluence pickups and they’ve indeed behaved very strangely when the battery is going out. If you have an instagram, send me a video of the problem if you can recreate it. @plant_based_riffs

@@Plant_Based_Riffs So I figured it out, it was the battery for the pickups. Gonna have to keep an eye on that in the future. It lasts pretty long though with constant use. Anyway we can still instagram follow each other if you want also. Thanks for your help.

@@jamesparker384 glad you figured it out!

Amazing. I accept this happily. 😂😂😂

Yep, you sure can! This is safe for all electronics and plastics. Spray some in there, move it around, and then wait about 2 or 3 minutes. Plug it in, and you should hear a much better sounding pickup switch. If it works, post a video of it on instagram and tag me in it so I can see! @plant_based_riffs

@@Plant_Based_Riffs will do and I was wondering on this video when you open the pickgarud do you have access to the other knobs as well if you need to get those ? Or is it just the one you did that you can get to

@@jboy8735 Yeah I can access all the knobs! It’s MUCH easier if you take the strings off first haha

@@Plant_Based_Riffs I have a strat as well that’s why I asked it has the locking tunner knobs wich always makes string changes easy to do

just the plate screws:)

@@captainzyte4476 Nope! WD-40 is oil, not cleaner. Oil will attract dust, hair, fuzzies, etc and make the issue even worse! Contact cleaner is safe for electronics and evaporates very quickly. It flushes out debris and dust and leaves behind a protective layer on the track and sweeper of your pot. :) You’re not even supposed to use WD-40 on your tuners for the same reason. It will just always collect more and more gunk and gross stuff and make your tuner action feel horrible. I’ll have a video coming soon about how to save your tuners when they’re feeling disgusting, and how to properly lubricate them.

You can use the WD40 contact cleaner (not the lubricant) Im using it and it works great.

Serious question though, fader lube .. so it would also work on crossfaders on dj mixers right because those are just as fickle?

Yeah I would totally use it for mixers as well. :]

I think I understand. You’re not getting any volume from some pickups, BUT, when the knobs are all at zero, they will crackle when you wiggle them side to side?

Based on the symptoms you've described, it seems like there may be an issue with the wiring or connections in your guitar's electronics. Here are a few potential causes for the problem: 1. Loose or faulty connections: Over time, the solder joints connecting the wires to the pots or switch may become loose or break. This can result in intermittent or non-functional pickups. The crackling sound you hear when wiggling the pots suggests that there may be a loose connection. 2. Dirty or worn components: The crackling sound could also indicate dirty or worn potentiometers (pots). Dust, debris, or oxidation can accumulate inside the potentiometers, leading to poor electrical contact. Turning the pots might temporarily restore the connection, causing the pickups to work again. 3. Switch issues: The switch itself could be faulty or dirty. A malfunctioning switch may not properly engage the pickups, resulting in their failure to work when the switch is activated. To diagnose and fix the problem, you can try the following steps: 1. Inspect the wiring: Carefully examine the wiring inside your guitar, paying close attention to the connections between the pickups, pots, and switch. Look for any loose or disconnected wires. Resoldering any faulty joints may solve the issue. 2. Clean the pots and switch: If you suspect dirty or worn components, you can try cleaning them. Use an electronics cleaner or contact cleaner specifically designed for guitars like Deoxit F5 like I demonstrate in this video. Spray a small amount into the potentiometer or switch and then rotate or toggle them multiple times to distribute the cleaner and remove any dirt or debris. 3. Check the switch: If the issue persists, you may need to investigate the switch more closely. Inspect it for any visible damage or signs of wear. If necessary, you might consider replacing the switch with a new one. If you're unsure about performing these repairs yourself, it's recommended to take your guitar to a professional guitar technician or luthier. Don’t break your guitar trying to solve the issue :) Remember, working on the internal electronics of a guitar requires knowledge and a fair bit of skill, so if you're not confident in your abilities, it's best to seek professional help to avoid causing further damage.