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Gallien-Krueger '89 400rb

Aug 7, 2014
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I was recently handed down a Gallien-Krueger '89 400rb amp head. It works great other than the pots are a little messy. I was wondering if anyone had any knowledge on how to clean the pots on something like this. Thank you.
 
When I looked up the 400rb mine is a little different. Mine has a foot switch and the lay out is a little different from other I saw. The only think I can see that's not in good shape is some bent fins.
 

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The white gunk is supppsed to be there, it's thermal grease, an electronics thing, leave it alone.

You see the little square holes in the top of the pots (round things behind each knob), spray some de-oxit in there and turn each control all the way back and forth a dozen times (with the amp unplugged). Spray the same stuff in every jackhole on there and run a plug in and out of it a dozen times.. Same deal with those switches (spray cleaner and push in and out a dozen times).


Everything here is dozens. If you lose count, or play some crazy jazz chords or 5/9 time or something like that, it won't work.*


















*last part is joke. Rest is how to clean amp. :)
 
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If you're going to clean out your input and put jacks. I'd suggest you spray a 1/4" plug and then insert the plug and remove it "about a dozen or so times" and wipe away all the excess contact cleaner. The last thing you want to do is leave moisture in the amp by spraying directly into it and then, when you turn the amp back on, it shorts out. You should also hit the pots with contact cleaner from the shaft to flush all the gunk that gets under your knobs and into the shafts of your pots. And again wipe away any excess. Spray contact cleaner can be messy.
 
I was recently handed down a Gallien-Krueger '89 400rb amp head. It works great other than the pots are a little messy. I was wondering if anyone had any knowledge on how to clean the pots on something like this. Thank you.

.. not sure how you arrived at it being an '89, but it would actually be a bit newer ... from the serial # and pics, it is about a '94, which would make it what is often called an RBII, which is why you said it looks a little different than some of the pics you saw ...
 
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I heard that the first version had non-removable ac cord. The next version had a socket for a standard ac power cord.

That would be correct ... unless replaced the original 400RB would have gray attached power cord .. also, red lights, and entire side panel needed to be replaced for rack ears ... then about '91/92 would be the switch to black removable power cord, a different face design with smaller knobs, green lights and ability to just add small rack ears to the side as in the OP above ...
 
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