My blend control is kinda loose and i tried to tighten it so that it wouldn't move so easily but i kinda failed. I tried that by using a small allen key that came with my bass. I think i might have semi-broken the knob though. It works just fine, but when i try to tighten or even loosen it, it doesn't really seem to work. Any solutions?
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
You're talking about the knob only right? not the pot. If so...
Sounds like the thread for that little screw to secure onto the knob got stripped. or perhaps on the screw itself. You can always replace the knob or screw. Removing the knob.....well, you can try lifting it with a little more pressure. Don't force it! Had this problem myself on one of my basses, the screw was screwed, hard time getting the knob off, but a little bit of a yank worked for me - I replaced knob.
What do you mean by screw? Are you referring to the Allen Key when you say "screw"? And i guess i'll just replace that knob when it starts functioning very poorly, it is still fine atleast
Maybe I'm totally misunderstanding this...do you mean adjusting and tightening inside the hole here?
Yes, i put the allen key inside that hole in order to adjust the knob, you're correct! Thanks for taking your time to help, i really appreciate it
No problem...the allen wrench adjusts these screws inside the knob. They're super easy to strip, the threads inside the knob itself are usually harder to strip - so I'm thinking that's probably what happened. If it is stripped, you can just replace the set screw instead of having to replace the whole knob if that's the case. Check the thread on the set screw when you're able to remove it. Some guitar stores or repair places might give you one instead of having to buy them.
If it's really stiff. Slip a shoelace or bit string under the knob, wind the lace round once then pull up using both ends of the string. You can spin it round so the lace puts pressure at different points.
how can i remove the set screw/thread? I guess i will look that up by myself, i might not do it soon though because now i don't see a reason to do so, but thank you for your information!
Nevermind, i tried to look it up and found no solutions. How am i going to take out the screw off the knob?
If the set screw is stripped out take a small drill bit that fits inside the set screw hole tightly.
Then use a pair of pliers to rotate the drill out.
It should dig into the insides of the set screw and back it out.
Then use a pair of pliers to rotate the drill out.
It should dig into the insides of the set screw and back it out.
Thank you for your reply. I just have one question. When a screw is stripped out, does that mean that it can't be adjusted?
1.Non-Stripped Out and Fine Working screw = Hard to use the allen key on, but when i do, it adjusts the knob
2.Stripped out Screw= It's really easy to move the allen key inside the screw, but it doesn't adjust the knob at all
And also, is the drill bit this? https://media.rs-online.com/t_large/F4087972-01.jpg
And is the piler thing this? https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/b/pair-pliers-12321463.jpg
The reason why i'm asking is because English is not my native language and i want to make sure that these are the right tools. Again, thank you a lot for your reply!
About the set screw.
More than likely the inner hex cuts are stripped out.
Not the threads on the screw.
Yes on the drill bit and pliers.
More than likely the inner hex cuts are stripped out.
Not the threads on the screw.
Yes on the drill bit and pliers.
could you send me a pic of the hex cuts and the threads so that i can know what they look like? if you can i would really appreciate it, i tried finding them myself but i'm not sure if i found them. thanks again
Are you sure the pot itself isn't what's loose? More often than not, if a knob is wobbly like you describe (and isn't falling off), it's the actual pot underneath that's loose.
I don't think it's the pot. The knob is stable in it's place perfectly. It's just that the knob is way too easy to roll, i am sure
Does the knob do what it's supposed to even though it's easy to roll? Does it spin all the way around? If it does what it's supposed to (stops at 0 and 10), it could still be the pot. If it spins all the way around, it's probably the knob.
Yea it works just as fine, the issue is that i can't tighten the knob by using the allen key, because the thread or the hex cuts are stripped or something
It has to be the hex cuts. Those are much more likely to strip than the threads. It could also be tightened all the way, and the pot itself has an issue and spins too fast because it's worn out.
