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Alembic Club » Owning an Alembic » Troubleshooting » Archive through December 18, 2006 » HELP-- Broken Volume Pot -- wires disconnected -- how to fix? « Previous Next »

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grok
New
Username: grok

Post Number: 10
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Sunday, October 15, 2006 - 1:12 pm:   Edit Post

Help please! I have a gig on Thursday! I was having trouble with the sound cutting out, and I rotated the volume pot back and forth. Felt loose, but then -- nothing. I don't know how, but the wires disconnected on the volume pot. When I noticed the wires not connected, I removed the pot to examine the problem. I've attached a photo. I'm not sure what goes where.

What can I do?

Mark

brokenpot
grok
Junior
Username: grok

Post Number: 11
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Sunday, October 15, 2006 - 1:32 pm:   Edit Post

Would a replacement volume pot work here? It looks like the metal lugs are still there on 2 of the wires, the third is on the pot, but I'm not sure how I'd make the connections....

Mark
dadabass2001
Senior Member
Username: dadabass2001

Post Number: 697
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Sunday, October 15, 2006 - 2:19 pm:   Edit Post

Hi Mark,
I'd suggest contacting the Help Desk at Alembic and mention this Troubleshooting link to be sure they see it quickly.
Mike
dfung60
Advanced Member
Username: dfung60

Post Number: 202
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Sunday, October 15, 2006 - 2:54 pm:   Edit Post

You're going to have to replace the pot. Two fo the lugs are completely torn off the body of the pot. There's no way to reliably connect the wires to the old pot now.

If you are really in a pinch, you might find a tech who can bypass the wiring for you until you get a replacement pot. You'd lose the volume control on your bass, but could still control it at the amp until it's replaced.

These blue pots are very high quality conductive plastic pots from Bourns. You aren't going to find these in any kind of regular guitar or electronic supply house. You can replace the pot with any pot of the same value, but I wouldn't recommend it. The Bourns pot isn't just higher quality, the pot body is physically much smaller than most, this one has a short threaded collar, and you'll probably find that your knob won't properly fit on a more generic pot. All those issues can be overcome, but you'll be better off ordering a real replacement from Alembic
grok
Junior
Username: grok

Post Number: 12
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Sunday, October 15, 2006 - 3:15 pm:   Edit Post

Thank you both. I did send an email to help, as well as a service request form, but it looks like I'll just need to order a new pot. From what you write, dfung, the pot comes with the lugs attached, is that right? Then the wires are somehow connected (I haven't removed the clear wrap from the ends of the wires, so I'm not sure what I'd do). I'm fine to solder, if necessary, but I'd rather not do that if that's not the proper way to replace the pot. I just hope they can get me one fedex'ed so I can install it and have it up for Thursday. Thanks again,

Mark
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 3666
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Monday, October 16, 2006 - 12:06 pm:   Edit Post

Hi Mark,

I've got your new volume pot packed and waiting for UPS. Here's a key to how to reattach the wires:

rewire

Hopefully you'll be able to tell that from top to bottom, the wire colors are:
orange
violet
brown

I also threw in a short piece of shrink tubing so you won't have to hunt one down.
grok
Junior
Username: grok

Post Number: 13
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Monday, October 16, 2006 - 1:40 pm:   Edit Post

Hi Mica,

Thanks for the diagram! Of course, I won't need it now since I just fedex'ed all the electronics to you for the RF upgrade, along with the replacement volume pot installed by a better solderer than I. Thanks for your quick reply and great help!

Regards,

Mark

(Message edited by grok on October 16, 2006)

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