I recently bought this modified Ibanez Soundgear SR-1000 1987. Some past owner had it defretted, replaced the electronics with passive vol-vol-tone, replaced the black finish on the body with a natural one and somehow got the tone pot stuck. No problem, I thought, I’ll just remove it and replace it with an active stacked pot thingy.
But the problems started when I removed the screw holding the knob and the knob stayed put. After a lot of WD-40 and brute force, I managed to pull it off to find the cause, and the next problem:
The potmeter had once broken off and been superglued into place. The superglue affected not just the potmeter itself but also the knob, which was solidly stuck to the upper part of the potmeter (right in the picture), and the locking nut holding the potmeter in place in the body.
I know acetone dissolves superglue, but I am afraid it will also ruin the finish. Is there any other way I can get this cursed tone pot out of the bass?
After spending all morning pouring acetone on the ridge and scraping off bits of CA glue, I went to the professionals (the mechanical department at my girlfriend’s lab). They used a heavy-duty drilling machine. Due to the way the nut was glued on, the whole shaft assembly started spinning with the drilling machine, but after a few tries, the drill had damaged a large enough part that the nut finally came loose. I saw some smoke rise from the drill as whatever spirit haunted the tone pot finally found peace.
The cursed potmeter is no more.
