amp knobs cleaning pots switches bass guitarToday we’re going to give you guys a few tips on cleaning pots and switches on your electric guitar or bass. If you’ve never thought about doing this simple procedure, you’re not alone – it’s by far one of the single most neglected areas in guitar maintenance! But if the best possible tone is what you’re after, make sure you don’t neglect this are as dirty pots and switches can quickly sound scratchy and noisy. It should also be said that this works for both the pots – shorts for potentiometers – on your ax and amp. Assuming the most simple diagnosis first—that the pots are just dirty rather than damaged—the easy fix is simply to clean them. Sometimes just turning the knob or working the switch back and forth a few times is sufficient to clear the connection and dispel the unwanted noise, but if not, it’s time to bust out a chemical cleaner. Several spray-cleaner brands are all easily found online and in any hardware store; the most popular is probably an electrical contact cleaner called Deoxit (“Chemically Improves Connections!” says the website). Other makers include CRC, Max Professional and Permatex. You just spray this stuff into the pot or switch. This often necessitates removing control knobs, removing the pickguard and maybe even removing the pots or switches themselves. Helpful hint when spraying cleaner into the pots: wrap or cover the surrounding area with a paper towel to catch the overspray. And don’t inhale it. Let it get into the electronics, then turn the knob back and forth (or work the switch back and forth) and let the cleaner work its magic. Pot and switches should be replaced if and when they’ve deteriorated to the point where they’re too far gone, but short of that, cleaning them is a routine part of guitar care and maintenance 101 that can often prove helpful.