[sach_160]

hey guys,

i have a 64/65 sg standard, left handed, and the pots need replacing... i am looking for vintage replacement pots, and was wondering how exact i need to be in the replacement to retain the guitar's value?

mine is by no means a mint condition guitar, its faded to brown, had a neck reset, missing the tremolo arm, but all the parts are original...

should i look for only 64/65 pots, or will any 60s pots do? should i wait (probably ages!) until a kit of 4 pots comes along, or can i buy the pots individually from say anywhere between 63 and 69 as and when i find them - just in terms of retaining the guitar's value...

thanks guys!

sache

[jules]

Keeping the original pots is very useful... people like to use them as further proof of date. If all four pots have roughly the same code, this will suggest all original electronics.

Replacing these will affect value, but so will a crackly guitar.

Do all four really need replacing? Have you sprayed switch cleaner inside them?

If they do need replacing, you can take off the casing and just replace the worn inside - thus keeping the date intact - best of both worlds really. I have never done this (switch cleaner has always been enough) - but I know it can be done. If you bend back the 'arms' that hold the casing, the pot will come apart. You have to be careful not to snap them, but they are not that fiddly really.

Obviously you will need newer pots to take the insides out of.

Let us know what happens.

[sach_160]

hi again jules!

thanks for the tip - i'll suggest it to my guitar tech.

one thing though, if i do that and at some point i wanted to sell the guitar, i'd have to mention to the buyer that the inside of the pots had been replaced, and so i guess the value of the guitar would be hit, wouldn't it?

Any idea how much it would affect the value?

It's just so I can get an idea whether it's best to try what you suggest or to make the effort and find some good condition original pots....

thanks man,

sache

[jules]

I guess that would be up to you. I don't think it is a big deal, and would keep all your solder joints intact. If you did mention that the pots were reconditioned, you should also underline that the pots and solder joints are original. Furthermore, if you buy 'new' ones, will you know that the same has not happened already? There are a lot of old 50s pots on ebay - I suspect many of these are reconditioned

I would really try cleaning them well first though, i'm surprised that all four are gone - if you are worried about value, just put up with a little scratchiness and let the next owner deal with the problem....