The Steel Guitar Forum Store 

Post new topic Puzzling pot distortion
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  Puzzling pot distortion
Anders Brundell


From:
Falun, Sweden
Post  Posted 8 Jun 2004 10:51 am    
Reply with quote

I have a Clarostat (I couldn’t find any Allen-Bradley) logarithmic pot that distorts only when there’s a signal thru it. I can run it from zero to full throttle without a scratch if I don’t pick any strings, but when I pick it scratches badly when I move the volume pedal. The pot is just a few months old and didn’t scratch at all when it was new.
I can’t remember any trouble like this with the AB pots I used earlier.
Any ideas what to do?
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

John Daugherty


From:
Rolla, Missouri, USA
Post  Posted 8 Jun 2004 12:02 pm    
Reply with quote

That pot needs cleaning, a solder joint is bad,a jack needs cleaning or the plug has a bad connection.
Try different cables to eliminate them from the picture.
Wiggle the plugs in the jacks to see if that will make noise. If that doesn't cause the noise, you can resolder the wires from the pot to the jacks and clean the pot (unless it is a sealed pot).
Sometimes new pots are scratchy until they get rotated a few times.
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Yahoo Messenger

Earnest Bovine


From:
Los Angeles CA USA
Post  Posted 8 Jun 2004 2:09 pm    
Reply with quote

Sometimes the pot is OK, but the moving pedal touches a wire and makes a noise.
View user's profile Send private message

Anders Brundell


From:
Falun, Sweden
Post  Posted 10 Jun 2004 12:08 pm    
Reply with quote

Thanks a lot for all advices!
Changing to a new pot fixed it. Surprisingly short life span of the previous one means time for a Hilton pedal, I guess, since good pots are history by now.

View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Earnest Bovine


From:
Los Angeles CA USA
Post  Posted 10 Jun 2004 12:15 pm    
Reply with quote

I have had good luck with the Canadian pots recommended by Karlis in this thread: http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum11/HTML/004699.html
and for me the Goodrich pot pedal sounds better than the Hilton pedal (and much cheaper too).
View user's profile Send private message

Anders Brundell


From:
Falun, Sweden
Post  Posted 11 Jun 2004 2:05 am    
Reply with quote

I thought that Hilton's pedal didn't color the sound at all. What's the Hilton owners experiences? Now I'm getting confused.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website


All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  

Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction,
steel guitars & accessories

www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

Please review our Forum Rules and Policies

Steel Guitar Forum LLC
PO Box 237
Mount Horeb, WI 53572 USA


Click Here to Send a Donation

Email admin@steelguitarforum.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for
Band-in-a-Box

by Jim Baron
HTTP