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Topic: Emmons S10 push pull volume knob crackle |
Marcus Provis
From:
Christchurch, New Zealand
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Posted 27 Aug 2016 1:02 am |
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Hi guys,
I have recently started to notice a problem with the volume knob on my S10 Emmons push pull. It has been crackling and cutting out a bit when I'm playing, (my right hand bumps into it) and it seems to cause the tone to get thinner. I never noticed anything wrong with it up until about a month ago. What I wondered was, is there some time of lubricant that I should apply somewhere that will settle this issue, or possibly a cracking pot in the volume knob itself? (I know very little about electronics!) Any help would be much appreciated. The tone knob next to it seems to be okay.
All the best;
Marcus
_________________
Emmons Black Rock S-10, Hilton Volume, Peavey Nashville 400, Fender Steel King, Fender Champion 40, Line 6 Echo Park Delay, Bullet Tone Bar. |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 27 Aug 2016 4:53 am
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It's POSSIBLE that the pot is loose, remove the knob and tighten the retaining nut.
It's likely that the pot worn out.
If you have a music store nearby, take the guitar to them and they can replace the pot.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 27 Aug 2016 5:56 am
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That is a "Tone" control, not "Volume" on Emmons guitars. You should have a toggle switch to bypass the Tone control (at least on my PP Emmons and every one I've seen).
But, considering the age of a PP, the pot could be dirty and spraying cleaner in it may take care of it. If not, time for a new one. |
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Steven Paris
From:
Los Angeles
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Marcus Provis
From:
Christchurch, New Zealand
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Posted 28 Aug 2016 12:23 am Thank you
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Hi Lane, Jack, and Steven,
Thank you all for your advice.
When removing the knob, do I just apply some pressure up-wards and it will pop off? I hope to have a go at it tomorrow. It's interesting that it could be a loose pot. On my steel there is no toggle switch just the two knobs side by side, it's a Black Rock Emmons model, so maybe the same knob controls that the student model has. Thank you for the help, I will have to get some cleaner into it. A bit of a long shot, but I have some Kyser Dr Stringfellow Lubricant / Cleaner, for strings etc, would that do the trick for this sort of application? Thanks for the link all the same Steven, it may well come in handy yet. 
Thank you all;
Kind regards
Marcus
_________________
Emmons Black Rock S-10, Hilton Volume, Peavey Nashville 400, Fender Steel King, Fender Champion 40, Line 6 Echo Park Delay, Bullet Tone Bar. |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 28 Aug 2016 3:50 am
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I haven't seen my Emmons in years (damn burglars), but before you pull on the knob, look all the way around it, see if there's a set screw.
Most knobs sit on the pot by friction, but many are secured with a set screw.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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John Brabant
From:
Calais, VT, USA
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Posted 28 Aug 2016 6:52 am
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Marcus:
I would not use a string cleaner/lubricant in your pot. If you can't find Caig DeOxit, look for an electrical contact cleaner at a store that sell musical equipment (amplifiers) or at an electronics store. I am betting that the pot is simply dirty. There should be a set screw on the side of the knob that holds it in place. Removes with a small flat blade screwdriver.
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John Brabant
1978 Emmons D-10 P-P |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 28 Aug 2016 7:51 am
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Removing the knob won't help you to clean the pot. All of the Emmons I've seen have a pot with an access hole on the bottom or open where the connections are that you can spray cleaner into.
Spray control cleaner into the pot then operate the pot from 0 to max back and forth several times. |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 28 Aug 2016 9:33 am
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Jack, the reason I suggested removing the knob was that he said it crackles and cuts out when he bumps the knob.
I know I lack your experience (so I appreciate it when you point out where my logic leads me astray), but I had thought that tells me there might be some corrosion or looseness in the mounting of the pot, so that bumping it disrupts the ground. So I'd drop the pot, clean both mating surfaces and put it back together.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Marcus Provis
From:
Christchurch, New Zealand
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Posted 28 Aug 2016 10:16 pm Thank you all!
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Hi guys,
I thank you all for your help! The problem is now fixed thanks to you.
Firstly I went out and bought some electrical clean and lube spray, the name of it is Servisol, I think it is an Australian product. I couldn't get the Caig one, so thought I'd give this one a go. I then removed the knob, it had a little set screw on the side as you had mentioned, although to loosen it needed a small torx head screw driver. I'm not sure on the exact size, but it was the smallest that we had. (actually turns out to be the second smallest size one)
Once I had the knob off, I used a crescent, and tested the thin nut for looseness, and it appeared to be pretty tight, although there was a bit of movement in the shaft. slight side to side sort of movement. I took off the nut, and the washer underneath, which was a little corroded on the underside, I gave it a good clean, and tightened it all up. I then gave the base of the thread area a little spurt of the spray using a small application tube. I turned the steel upside down, and gave the base of the pot where the connectors join into it, a dose of spray.
After sitting the behind steel again, I turned the knob from full on to off several times, made sure it was tight. Then switched it on, and not the slightest of crackling or breaking up! Thanks again Lane, Jack, Steven, and John!
All the best regards;
Marcus
_________________
Emmons Black Rock S-10, Hilton Volume, Peavey Nashville 400, Fender Steel King, Fender Champion 40, Line 6 Echo Park Delay, Bullet Tone Bar.
Last edited by Marcus Provis on 29 Aug 2016 1:26 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 29 Aug 2016 3:43 am
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If the shaft moves and the pot doesn't, I suspect something has gone wrong in the pot.
Since they don't get used as much as volume pedal pots, I don't think you'll need the thirty dollar (US) pots, but the cheap Chinese pots should be adequate.
I just googled, there are several electronics supply stores in Christchurch, you'll be able to get one tomorrow if you want to solder one in yourself.
If you don't want to solder, any music store tech can fix this in minutes.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Marcus Provis
From:
Christchurch, New Zealand
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Posted 29 Aug 2016 1:23 pm Thank you
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Hi Lane,
That is very helpful, thank you. And thanks for doing that research on the stores for me. I think it's not as loose as it was now, only very slightly if I put a bit of pressure from side to side on it.
I think that I'll go down to one of the electronics supply stores and get a replacement pot to have on hand all the same. One other question though...
Which type of pot should I be looking for out of these ones here: http://www.jaycar.co.nz/search?q=potentiometer
Many thanks
Marcus
_________________
Emmons Black Rock S-10, Hilton Volume, Peavey Nashville 400, Fender Steel King, Fender Champion 40, Line 6 Echo Park Delay, Bullet Tone Bar. |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Marcus Provis
From:
Christchurch, New Zealand
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Posted 29 Aug 2016 11:30 pm
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Hi Lane,
Thank you for looking into that for me, and providing me with that information, I much appreciate it.
That's great, I will take note of these two, and make a purchase on one soon.
Thanks again,
Best regards;
Marcus
_________________
Emmons Black Rock S-10, Hilton Volume, Peavey Nashville 400, Fender Steel King, Fender Champion 40, Line 6 Echo Park Delay, Bullet Tone Bar. |
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