How do I get inside my Dickerson?

Vick Griffin · Post by **Vick Griffin** » 22 Feb 2012 3:02 pm

Getting an annoying buzz in my old Dickerson. I wouldn't mind cleaning up and maybe replacing some of the electronics, but I have no idea how to get in it. I've seen this same lap steel with a kidney shaped opening on the underneath but that's not the case here. I've included a pic of the bottom. Any ideas?

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 22 Feb 2012 3:51 pm

It's doubtful you can without damaging/compromising the finish.

Vick Griffin · Post by **Vick Griffin** » 22 Feb 2012 5:18 pm

Hell it's on the bottom. If I knew where to cut I'd just make a cover for the hole.

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 22 Feb 2012 7:00 pm

Don't let me stop you.

Roger Kelly · Post by **Roger Kelly** » 22 Feb 2012 7:30 pm

Vick if your Dickerson is like this one....just look under the felt under the volume and tone controls.
Hope this helps.

Steve Wilson · Post by **Steve Wilson** » 22 Feb 2012 11:51 pm

Vick,
I have never seen a Dickerson/Magnatone without an access cover. What does that one look like on the top side?
I was thinking you might get enough access to clean the pots if you took off the jack plate. Maybe you could get a little Deoxit contact cleaner in there with the long tube??? Also clean the grounding tube of the jack itself.

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 22 Feb 2012 11:53 pm

Interesting, I wonder if that cavity is on all the Mag/Dickerson pearlies? Odd that they'd cover them up, no doubt many were tossed after not knowing how to fix something like Vick faces.

John Dahms · Post by **John Dahms** » 23 Feb 2012 3:18 am

On the early models with tulip shaped headstocks the access is through the input jack or the volume pot mounting plate only. The pickup is under the MOTS and to access it you would have to razor blade it off and reseal it later.
They were not meant to be worked on 70 years later.

David Matzenik · Post by **David Matzenik** » 23 Feb 2012 6:02 am

Is the cleaning of old pots really worthwhile? Wouldn't you be better off replacing them?

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 23 Feb 2012 6:14 am

Steve Wilson wrote:Vick,
I have never seen a Dickerson/Magnatone without an access cover. What does that one look like on the top side?
I was thinking you might get enough access to clean the pots if you took off the jack plate. Maybe you could get a little Deoxit contact cleaner in there with the long tube??? Also clean the grounding tube of the jack itself.

I'm guessing that he made it himself after cutting away the material on the back.

Bruce Terrell · Post by **Bruce Terrell** » 23 Feb 2012 10:28 am

It does look like it may have been messed with. Usually the MOTS wraps around the corner to the bottom and this one looks like the bottom material laps the MOTS. I could be imagining, but is there a slight indentation where the cavity should be? (also a little hole).

John Dahms · Post by **John Dahms** » 23 Feb 2012 3:02 pm

Access to the pots depends on the year.
Early (ca '38- 46ish) have no back cover. Later ones '46 through '55 all have the kidney shaped cover with 2 screws.
The one Vick posted is early and the one Rodger posted is circa '51-55 (although it looks like the cover is a home-made replacement.

Vick Griffin · Post by **Vick Griffin** » 23 Feb 2012 5:46 pm

Thanks for the feedback guys. Here's the crazy thing - it's not felt - instead, it's some sort of texture (the closest thing I can compare to the like the aftermarket spray-on truck bedliner. So it's not like I can pull felt back - typically that's what's on the bottom of these things. Of course I noticed the couple of small holes as well but they don't indicate a solution for access. I removed the jack plate and pulled out the input jack just to look around. I reckon I can just give it a good cleaning and do the same for the volume pot and hope for the best...

John Dahms · Post by **John Dahms** » 23 Feb 2012 6:21 pm

It was probably spray-on flocking. It was used on early Fenders as well.

Vick Griffin · Post by **Vick Griffin** » 28 Feb 2012 5:07 am

The pup is nice and strong. It really sounds like a ground problem. I'm thinking if I simply replace the volume pot that may do the trick - the jack looks to be in pretty good shape. It looks a tad ragged in there.

Any suggestions on a replacement?

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 28 Feb 2012 9:17 am

What are the values of the current potentiometer you have in there? You want an audio taper, not linear taper pot. Here's a pretty good explanation:
http://sound.westhost.com/pots.htm

Vick Griffin · Post by **Vick Griffin** » 28 Feb 2012 11:52 am

Thanks for the info, Brad. How would I discover the value of the current pot?

Vick Griffin · Post by **Vick Griffin** » 28 Feb 2012 11:53 am

Maybe if I read the link first before asking I'll find out on my own

Jonathan Stuart · Post by **Jonathan Stuart** » 28 Feb 2012 8:24 pm

Just out of curiosity, does your tone pot work backwards - get darker clockwise?
That is the way my Dickerson is...

Vick Griffin · Post by **Vick Griffin** » 29 Feb 2012 5:45 pm

@Jonathan - no tone pot, just volume.