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Roscoe Club

#2,921
Volume Control 911 - Murphy's Law In Action...

got an audition Monday night and my volume control (I hope that's all it is...) is dropping out, especially right in the middle where I like to run it. Opened the control cavity and there does not appear to be any convenient opening for me to squirt in some DeOxIt (or similar). Bartolini preamp...

Questions:
1) if I am able to release the volume pot from the mounting hole and somehow get it twisted to where I can access the front (it's in there pretty tight, what with the grounding wires and such) will there be a suitable opening?
2) if there is, will I be doing more harm than good by using the deOxit? I have the needle-dispenser liquid form.
3) if fixes like that are not recommended - what's the spec on a replacement? I doubt I can find one locally but I know where to go looking.
4) if I can't find one locally - what's the go-to source? Gard at Roscoe? Greg at Rocket? Someone at Bartolini? DigiKey or Mouser?

I'm a little concerned that the problem may be deeper since right before I bought this, the seller said he had it back to Roscoe for some attention to the preamp - and now a year later, there is an issue (still? again?).

(Hopefully) unrelated question: There's a square, blue trimmer resistor accessible through a hole in the control cavity cover - what's that do?

First thing I'll do is change batteries (last done a month ago...) but that's quick and everything else in the List of Questions will take more time...

Thanks !
 
#2,922
ArtechnikA said:
Volume Control 911 - Murphy's Law In Action...

got an audition Monday night and my volume control (I hope that's all it is...) is dropping out, especially right in the middle where I like to run it. Opened the control cavity and there does not appear to be any convenient opening for me to squirt in some DeOxIt (or similar). Bartolini preamp...

Questions:
1) if I am able to release the volume pot from the mounting hole and somehow get it twisted to where I can access the front (it's in there pretty tight, what with the grounding wires and such) will there be a suitable opening?
2) if there is, will I be doing more harm than good by using the deOxit? I have the needle-dispenser liquid form.
3) if fixes like that are not recommended - what's the spec on a replacement? I doubt I can find one locally but I know where to go looking.
4) if I can't find one locally - what's the go-to source? Gard at Roscoe? Greg at Rocket? Someone at Bartolini? DigiKey or Mouser?

I'm a little concerned that the problem may be deeper since right before I bought this, the seller said he had it back to Roscoe for some attention to the preamp - and now a year later, there is an issue (still? again?).

(Hopefully) unrelated question: There's a square, blue trimmer resistor accessible through a hole in the control cavity cover - what's that do?

First thing I'll do is change batteries (last done a month ago...) but that's quick and everything else in the List of Questions will take more time...

Thanks !
Click to expand...

Bummer!

The volume control is a 25K pot. Any 25K audio taper pot should work.
Spraying a little tuner cleaner in the pot shouldn't hurt it any but just remember a little goes a long way. Spray the tuner cleaner into the pot in the area above the terminal PC board. After you spray it in the pot work the turn the knob back and forth several times.
The blue trim pot adjusts the over all gain of the pre. I like to run it around 1/2 way. You can use this though to fine tune the output of the Roscoe with your other basses.

Good luck!
 
#2,923
I have used tuner cleaner and lubricant from Radio Shack and it works great. I have found it best to rotate your pots through the full range on a regular basis to keep them clean.

I have thought about getting one of these from StewMac but $20 is a little pricey.

Simply remove the control knob, and screw the Pot Cleaning Cap on the shaft. An access hole guides your spray cleaner extension tube directly to the pot shaft. The cleaner flows down the shaft to where it's needed on the contacts inside the pot. A hole in the top of the cap lets you turn a split pot shaft with a screwdriver for thorough coverage.

Works with 3/8 x 32-thread, made in USA potentiometers: CTS, Allen-Bradley, Bourns, CentraLab, Clarostat, and others. It's not compatible with imported or metric-thread control pots (like Alpha).

Pot Cleaning Cap is made from precision machined stainless steel.

Pot_Cleaning_Cap.jpg
 
#2,924
JOME77 said:
The volume control is a 25K pot.
Click to expand...
The only local store I trust only has a 50K...
Seems like that might work but I'd have to run it closer to 0 for the same volume I use now - yes?
I don't feel I can trust Guitar Center to accurately tell me what they've got and the closest is an hour roundtrip. And I pretty much gave up on Radio Snack for components a long time ago...
 
#2,926
CrashClint said:
I have used tuner cleaner and lubricant from Radio Shack and it works great. I have found it best to rotate your pots through the full range on a regular basis to keep them clean.

I have thought about getting one of these from StewMac but $20 is a little pricey.

Simply remove the control knob, and screw the Pot Cleaning Cap on the shaft. An access hole guides your spray cleaner extension tube directly to the pot shaft. The cleaner flows down the shaft to where it's needed on the contacts inside the pot. A hole in the top of the cap lets you turn a split pot shaft with a screwdriver for thorough coverage.

Works with 3/8 x 32-thread, made in USA potentiometers: CTS, Allen-Bradley, Bourns, CentraLab, Clarostat, and others. It's not compatible with imported or metric-thread control pots (like Alpha).

Pot Cleaning Cap is made from precision machined stainless steel.

Pot_Cleaning_Cap.jpg
Click to expand...

We STRONGLY advise against the RS tuner cleaner stuff. It is oil-based, and while it will help at first, over time it will actually end up attracting more grit & grime than it removes. Caig's DeOxit is the best cleaner we have found so far - and you can usually source it at RS, for a bit more cash. The $20 StewMac gizmo? Eh. A little spritz right on the edge of the nut and shaft on the pot, turn it back and forth a couple times, and you're good to go. Save the $20 plus shipping for a good lunch. :cool:
 
#2,927
ArtechnikA said:
The only local store I trust only has a 50K...
Seems like that might work but I'd have to run it closer to 0 for the same volume I use now - yes?
I don't feel I can trust Guitar Center to accurately tell me what they've got and the closest is an hour roundtrip. And I pretty much gave up on Radio Snack for components a long time ago...
Click to expand...

I'd definitely try to source the 25K pot instead of subbing in the 50K one. If you can't get one locally, you can easily find the correct one at places like AllParts or Best Bass Gear. (or you can call us, but it's cheaper there...). If you have anyone nearby that does EMG installations, by the way, I betcha they got bags full of left over 25K pots, so look for an EMG retailer/repair shop, and ask them if they have any they can spare.
 
#2,928
Gard said:
Caig's DeOxit is the best cleaner we have found so far...
Click to expand...
That's what I'm using - the small bottle with the needle dropper.
The big challenge was getting the volume knob off - the setscrew was turned down -real- tight. Or maybe too much LocTite. Once I found an appropriate acrewdriver it did relent, however. Applied a few drops, turning between each. So far, no difference...
I have a pair (one for a spare...) of Bourns pots arriving Tuesday. I decided I wouldn't risk a replacement today even if I could source one locally. First, I should be practicing, not tinkering. Second, if anything should go wrong, I'd just be hosed. I can find a spot where it works, and I'll tweak amp gain for overall level...
 
#2,931
Do you know what it means to not feel the need to look through the TB electric bass classifieds daily if not hourly for the first time in years. And do you know what it is like to see nothing in the classifieds that even slightly raises your eyebrow and gets the acquisition panic started.......do you really know what that means? Of course you do. It means you are a Roscoe owner and you have the supreme confidence that there is not a bass out there that even remotely sounds and plays as good as your Roscoe. Worst case scenario......... you see more and more Roscoes that you desire.... but that is a story for another day. :)
 
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#2,934
armybass said:
It means you are a Roscoe owner and you have the supreme confidence that there is not a bass out there that even remotely sounds and plays as good as your Roscoe. Worst case scenario......... you see more and more Roscoes that you desire.... but that is a story for another day. :)
Click to expand...

So true. I try to tell myself I can get buy with something else, but I can't. All I do is want more Roscoe. Love my Century fretted 5. Need a fretless to match. I'd love to have a Roscoe "P/J" 4 as well.
 
#2,938
Bassfreakz said:
Anyone tried the aguilars 5j-HC in their roscoe?
Click to expand...

I have tried the Aggie HCs and didn't care for the tone and they lacked punch IMO. I asked the guys at Aguilar if they could build me a DB4 in a J pickup, they are considering it but it is not available yet. I have tried both the Nord NJ5FS and the NJ5F. The NJ5F(single coil) pickups sound really good and open whereas the NJ5FS sounded a little compressed on the lows and highs comparably. The NJ5F singles picked up a little noise with my Streamliner so I used shielding paint in the pickup cavities then put a piece of copper tape in the bottom of the pickup cavity and soldered a wire to my control cavity ground which is completely copper shielded. That knocked the noise right out.

I haven't tried the Nordstrand preamp yet but have tried the Aguilar OBP3, Bart 3 band, Demeter and Pope flexcore but wasn't satisfied so I ordered a U-Retro. I have the J-Retro in my Lakland DJ and it sounds amazing so I figured what the heck.

Anyone want to buy a Aguilar OBP3 with 4 knobs and two switches?
 

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