Flaky Volume Connection?

[ampn00b]

Hi Forum!

To start off, I'd like to say that my amp actually isn't a tube amp, and I didn't realize that this was a tube-specific forum, but I'm hoping you can help anyway, as it has to do with the volume pot specifically (I hope...)

I just bought a Yorkville Soundwedge 50W amp for pretty cheap. I noticed a flaky volume knob when buying it, and I talked the guy down on price. THe problem is this:
It makes a WHOLE LOTTA noise when turning, which isn't a problem; I can clean it. The problem is: ithe Channel 1 volume knob makes a whole lotta noise when it's NOT turning sometimes, and it seems to pick its own volume most of the time. It sounds almost as if it has a perpetual tremolo, with a long period and amplitude.

My question is this: can it be solved by simply cleaning it? If not, can it be solved by fixing the solder joint or changing the volume pot alone?
If not, what solutions are there? Keep in mind: it has two channels, so I don't NEED channel 1, but it has an XLR input, and that's handy for band practice!

Thanks,
ampn00b

[selloutrr]

Sounds like a cap bleeding across.
I'd suggest a good cleaning, and cap job. Solder points are probably fine.
It may have some carbon comp resisters that have also gone parasitic / noisey.

Being that it's solid state it's most likey PCB if you are not setup to work on them you could damage other components in the process of fixing.
After a cap job keep in mind other components may fail shortly after due to seeing correct voltage after a long time of not.

[M Fowler]

Lately I've been finding broken pots mostly but did get lucky on a JCM900 recently that only needed to apply the soldering iron to the three pot pins and it was back up and working great. PCB don't tolerate much abuse.

So until your inside the amp chassis you won't know!

Mark