Replacing/upgrading amp pots - suggestions?

[TakeABreak]

I've been using an SWR Workingpro 12 for the last number of years, and the front panel pots are getting pretty noisy, to the point of having dead spots. I realize I could probably clean them, but I think replacing/upgrading them would be a longer term solution.

Any input on what/who makes a quality replacement pot?

 

[fdeck]

I have been quite happy with the fairly generic "Taiwan Alpha" pots, which I believe is a house brand of Mouser Electronics. There are also "name" brands such as Alps, but...

First things first. Most new amps have pots whose terminals are soldered directly to the printed circuit board. As a result, the replacement has to be of a specific size and shape to fit in place of the original, (unless see below). That means you have to match the format and spacing of the terminals, the distance between the terminals and the bushing, and additional goodies such as mounting brackets. And those things are all typically options offered by pot makers when you order a custom batch. The result is that the specific pots in an amp can end up being hard to replace with generic components.

Now, if you just want to replace one or two pots, and they aren't needed to mechanically support the circuit board, you can install a regular solder-lug pot and run wires to the printed circuit board. That would be OK for one or two pots, but an entire panel's worth would get to be a lot of work.

Another thing is that what seems like scratchy pots could also be solder joints that have worked loose over the years due to flexing of the circuit board.

Given all of these tradeoffs, when the pots got scratchy on one of my amps... I opted for the spray cleaner.

 

[TakeABreak]

Ok, thanks fdeck. I'll see if anything on digikey matches the leg spacing and go from there. If I do replace them, I'd like to go with something reliable. Is carbon the preferred material?

I might give the spray cleaner a shot first - can't hurt!

 

[agedhorse]

Youo really want to source pots that match the mechanicals of the originals. It's soooooo much easier and the end result will be more reliable.

Have you contacted any Fender Electronics service centers? They should have access to SWR parts that are still stocked by the FMIC mother ship. If you have the SWR part numbers, that will help considerably.