Scratchy Knobs? How To Clean Amplifier Pots with Contact Cleaner Video ✔

I got an old Yamaha G100-410 100 watt 4x10 guitar amp that had some scratchy pots. I took apart the amp and used contact cleaner to spray the dirt and crud from the pot's. If you don't know "pots" is short for "potentiometer", they are basically the knobs that control volume, bass, treble, distortion, etc. This technique works on pots on guitars or other gear as well.

[ferabra]

My life changed when I discovered contact cleaner. I thought all my stuff was malfunctioning, but it was just dirty as hell. A couple of squirts and all my pedals, guitars, basses, preamps, compressor, came to life again. It was exciting to actually hear my oldest instruments sounding again as if they were new.

[betweenthebars]

Literally found the same exact amp someone put at the end of their driveway with a sign that said "free, works, pots need to be cleaned" great score for me especially now that I know how to fix it! Thank you

[devilboydc]

Thank you for this! I am not a tech guy. But following these steps I was able to resurrect my 20 year old SWR workingman combo. I now have a functioning bass amp again. Cheers, man!

[TelecasterMaster]

I've just got to say that my Fender Eighty Five had this problem, and so I tried this out after watching this video and it sounds WAAAY better. Works like a charm now. Thanks for the great video!

[garycooks]

Thank you so much for making this video - I was able to confidently spray my pots from the front without removing the control panel from the cabinet - now I just have to wait 24 hours before testing to see if it worked!

[PilferMusic]

One of the VERY best solid state amps out there... was the one that Mike Stern used for many years!  Love these amps!

[DrKavan]

Thank you! Not only I enjoyed the video but also was really useful. I did everything as mentioned and was able to recover the pots on my Digitech RP3 that had been malfunctioning since 2005.

[shotguncomedy]

Just want to say thanks! I bought an old used combo amp on eBay and had no idea how to bring it back to life. Found your video, used some contact cleaner on the pots like you showed and the thing works like new! I had no idea you could do that. Thanks for the tip!

[alfredbellanti]

Thank you for this Alex. My rhythm guitarist sent me here because a Fender amp he tried to use had so much scratchiness it needed an overhaul! God bless.

[status-danielho]

Thanks for the vid. I was able to save a mid-90's Mirage subwoofer that had some scratchy knobs for years but eventually decided they wanted to screech non-stop last week. Subs ought to make bass, but this was midrange and howling. I was able to remove the amplifier from the enclosure and spray the crossover and volume pots with contact cleaner. Works just like new now.

[kendoglarson]

i fixed my input selector with a quick and easy fix...i took the straw for my canned air and crushed it in a vice. This allowed me the clearance needed to get in those spaces behind the knobs and dials without opening up the unit. I just sprayed it in there while turning the knob a few times. Spray from different angles so you crosss-spray the potentiometer. Good Luck. Worked great for me.

[r.a.fiallos]

I'm so glad I came across your video. I have a yamaha G50 410 as well as a G50 112 of the same kind you have in this video! I thought my 150 was dust from the noise...but I'll try to revive it following your video. These are great warm sounding SS amps! The cleans are awesome.

[scottbulmer]

Hey, thanks for the video. I have a 1975 Yamaha G100 412 . I thought the the bass pot was broken or shorted out because the sound would have this loud "crack" and then no sound at all. I contemplated replacing the pot but it was an integrated style of pot and I had never done that style before. So I wired two of the speakers in parallel and the other two in series and used it as a 4 or 16 ohm ext. cabinet. I gotta say I really like the sound of the vintage speakers. Then I saw your video and your Yamaha was doing basically the same thing. Long story short, I cleaned all the pots like you did and wow I now have a great sounding vintage SS amp. The brand I used was MG Chemical "Electrosolve Contact Cleaner"...made in Canada. One suggestion..wear safety glasses...Thanks again.

[PontifGrinder]

It's a mouse nest! Some mouse spent a cold winter in there, and probably reared some baby mice.

[charlieecho]

Nice. Didn't think it was that simple. Great video as usual bro!

[jaysmixtapes]

Thank you so much for this video. I resurrected a couple of very scratchy amps from the early 90’s

[auxpower]

Great job, man! Good instruction and safety tips about the power board.

[kuksybee]

I'm gonna give it a try. Thanks for posting this clip. I'm a total novice to the guitar world. Bought an acoustic and bass. Wish me well. It's time to pop my guitar cherry

[jkbsdasf]

Spot on!
Tried this on my Crate amp and all the noise went away. Thanks for the video

[greglivingston]

Alex, my trusty pre-CBS Fender Bassman head had terribly noisy and scratchy pots, and I just couldn't afford to have it all redone; besides, I like doing things myself.  I watched your video and the next day, I bought some contact cleaner and did the ol' Bassman myself.  It sounds great, and I am very grateful to you!  Thank you for posting this informative and encouraging video.