Well I screwed up my new S1 Switch that I got in the mail today, which I bought new off of ebay.

I was looking at the wiring on the one in the guitar, and...............aaaaaahhhhh!!!!!!!!

I got scared

I saw where the top part of the pot which has all the extra wiring, was screwed to the bottom, or rather, the pot-part of the switch.

I, in my limited wisdom, decided to leave the original wiring to the switch intact, and unscrew the 2 parts and then I could just bolt the new pot to the switch, solder the new pot connections and, BAMM, I'm done.

Well, it was a good plan on paper, but I couldn't get the darned two components uncrewed without messing it up. (I won't bore you with all the details). But at this point I have only messed with the new switch, not the one in the guitar.

I got back on ebay, and ordered another one.

So, I'm looking at my guitar laying there with a broken switch, and the pickguard flipped over, ready for the new switch. And I had a thought

Why can't I just pop the back off of the 2 pots, and just remove the shaft out of the new pot and drop it into the old one, since that is the part I need replaced. Thus far it is still soldered in the guitar. If I did that I wouldn't have to unsolder, and resolder anything, the broken part (one half of the split shaft broke off) would be replaced, and if this didn't work I would still be no worse off - since the 2 pots I had were broken.

So, I did just that. I simply replaced the drum/shaft (I don't know what else to call it) of the pot. I only had to unsolder the ground leg and resolder it after replacing the part.

I might add that all it took to dismantle the pots was to pry up 4 small tabs. Surprisingly, they are more simple on the inside than I had imagined.

It worked! I've been jamming it and everyrhing works fine. And I didn't have to rework all those connections. I have the new switch on the way, and I can replace it whenever I feel up to the task, however, I may not ever need to

Well done. I wouldnt of been brave enough.

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No no and no

Congrats!

When I originally purchased the switch I didn't realize it had so MANY wires going to it. I would have replaced and resoldered anything if necessay,(because I'm picky ) but as it turned out, it was an amazingly easy fix.

Mods, you may want to consider posting this thread as a sticky. It's a much easier fix to a faulty pot part of the S1, because you can leave the wiring intact.

I dont think they will advocate opening and rebuilding pots, they make too much money from selling new ones.

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No no and no

How true I forgot this is a Fender ran forum.

Wow, very brave.

Soon after they came out I got a Strat with the S1. Took one look at the gizmo on the bottom of that pot and thought: "well, I ain't gonna be messing with that baby!". Luckily, never needed to.

As for opening up pots: now I'm ashamed that I've never been curious enough to do that. Must have an old one lying around somewhere. Let's see...

Cheers - C