before you give up on a scratchy pot: trumpet valve oil

[Jimbilly]

I think I've mentioned this before, it's worth repeating.

A couple of weeks ago I bought 2 used 15-20 year old Ibanez, both had really scratchy volume pots. I sprayed both out with Caig DeOxit, both were still scratchy, I cleaned with plastic safe electronics cleaner and then Caig again, still not perfect. I dripped some trumpet valve oil into the pots, and they've been perfect for 2 weeks, I've had similar experience previously with the small EMG pots, - this seems to be more of a thing with the cheaper import pots than CTS. I'll give credit to Pesocaster who told me about this.  Before you give up and get out the soldering iron...

[Dave Scepter]

Thanks for the tip. Now just have to pull out the old bottle of trumpet oil out of my ass 🤣

[Jimbilly]

17 hours ago, Dave Scepter said:

Thanks for the tip. Now just have to pull out the old bottle of trumpet oil out of my ass 🤣

if only there was an easier place to source it from....  this is what I've been using, a lifetime supply for about $10

https://www.amazon.com/Al-Cass-Fast-Valve-Oil/dp/B0002OOVHM/ref=sxin_17_pa_sp_search_thematic_sspa?content-id=amzn1.sym.b8835974-eacc-4ffa-8f77-b14ee5f0007c%3Aamzn1.sym.b8835974-eacc-4ffa-8f77-b14ee5f0007c&cv_ct_cx=trumpet+valve+oil&keywords=trumpet+valve+oil&pd_rd_i=B0002OOVHM&pd_rd_r=a4cd05b0-3f1d-4db9-90fe-08cfa9e5bcfd&pd_rd_w=9OHR2&pd_rd_wg=oWAb8&pf_rd_p=b8835974-eacc-4ffa-8f77-b14ee5f0007c&pf_rd_r=X1NYV0MN26JH7F3S08CK&qid=1764008697&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sr=1-1-e169343e-09af-4d41-85b1-8335fe8f32d0-spons&aref=YVap5q5OEj&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9zZWFyY2hfdGhlbWF0aWM&psc=1

[velorush]

Everything I'm reading online cites Trumpet Valve Oil as being made from mineral oil. 

I've got an old compressor pedal that was found years ago. I was planning to clean the incredibly scratchy pots with Deoxit. If that doesn't work completely, I'll try some mineral oil. It was found in an old rental house, so if it ruins the pedal I'm out nothing.

[Dave Scepter]

Mineral oil is very handy to have laying around... I use it on my fretboards, cutting boards and just overall light lubrication... I will give it a shot in one of my cheap Squier strats for testing purposes 👍

[cmatthes]

On 11/23/2025 at 5:58 PM, Jimbilly said:

I think I've mentioned this before, it's worth repeating.

A couple of weeks ago I bought 2 used 15-20 year old Ibanez, both had really scratchy volume pots. I sprayed both out with Caig DeOxit, both were still scratchy, I cleaned with plastic safe electronics cleaner and then Caig again, still not perfect. I dripped some trumpet valve oil into the pots, and they've been perfect for 2 weeks, I've had similar experience previously with the small EMG pots, - this seems to be more of a thing with the cheaper import pots than CTS. I'll give credit to Pesocaster who told me about this.  Before you give up and get out the soldering iron...

I may have to try that on an amp that I gigged with in the 90s/early ‘00s.  Pulled it out of storage and the pots are mostly super scratchy.

[Jimbilly]

17 hours ago, cmatthes said:

I may have to try that on an amp that I gigged with in the 90s/early ‘00s.  Pulled it out of storage and the pots are mostly super scratchy.

I've never tried it on an amp, I don't know if there would be a difference given that amp pots run at some small voltage I assume? 

[DaveH]

On 11/24/2025 at 1:27 PM, Jimbilly said:

if only there was an easier place to source it from....  this is what I've been using, a lifetime supply for about $10

https://www.amazon.com/Al-Cass-Fast-Valve-Oil/dp/B0002OOVHM/ref=sxin_17_pa_sp_search_thematic_sspa?content-id=amzn1.sym.b8835974-eacc-4ffa-8f77-b14ee5f0007c%3Aamzn1.sym.b8835974-eacc-4ffa-8f77-b14ee5f0007c&cv_ct_cx=trumpet+valve+oil&keywords=trumpet+valve+oil&pd_rd_i=B0002OOVHM&pd_rd_r=a4cd05b0-3f1d-4db9-90fe-08cfa9e5bcfd&pd_rd_w=9OHR2&pd_rd_wg=oWAb8&pf_rd_p=b8835974-eacc-4ffa-8f77-b14ee5f0007c&pf_rd_r=X1NYV0MN26JH7F3S08CK&qid=1764008697&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sr=1-1-e169343e-09af-4d41-85b1-8335fe8f32d0-spons&aref=YVap5q5OEj&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9zZWFyY2hfdGhlbWF0aWM&psc=1

@Dave Scepter And there ya have it, it's right in the name! "(C)Ass fast valve oil".

[BoogieMKIIA]

On 12/1/2025 at 6:05 PM, Jimbilly said:

I've never tried it on an amp, I don't know if there would be a difference given that amp pots run at some small voltage I assume? 

Mineral oil is a dielectric, an insulator. Shouldn’t be an issue for amps. Paper in oil capacitors use mineral oil or similar. 

Not sure why the normal cleaners didn’t work as scratchy pots are assumed to be caused by dirt/particles. Maybe trumpet oil floats the stuff and lets it move.