ALPS Volume Control WARNING

I purchased the ALPS volume pot for my PAS 3 and finally got to install it this week. The treads of the control that hold it to the case are VERY soft. MUCH softer than the metal used for the original controls. BE VERY, VERY careful when installing. I unfortunately stripped the threads trying to tighten it. If you use the same force used for the other controls you WILL STRIP THEM. And it is very expensive mistake. The only way to remove it ended up destroying the control. Tried for a couple days with no luck. My PSA for the day. I searched high and low to find anyone else with similar issues and I'm guessing I'm the only one. So there's that. But anyway, be careful.

Now off to find a new volume control... And not an ALPS.

Stripped threads are kind of in my wheelhouse.  I assume ALPS is a standard threaded post with lock nut type mounting arrangement?

Post threads are likely stripped only at area just outside faceplate - can you add a spacer to move lock nut outboard where threads are intact and still mount knob?

You might also be able to make a one time hack job repair mount with judicious (less is more!) application of something like JB weld to the thread post and backing nut if there is something still there to work with.  Obviously keep it away from any moving parts and you will essentially be gluing it to face plate with the thread post serving as a kind of doweling. .  

This would not facilitate multiple removals, but how many times does one move the volume control?  If you need to remove later a bit of heat and deft prying at glue squeeze out should pop it off the aluminum face.  

The ALPS is dumpster food otherwise, so not much to lose unless you get carried away with a big pile of glue.

Unfortunately the ALPS is now dumpster food. I tried to put pressure on the back to get it to grab onto the threads. (didn't work) I attempted to grind the threads to allow the nut to slide off. (that didn't work either) So by time all my failed attempts to get it off were finished, I had a pile of broken ALPS.

The JB Weld may have been a good option, though! Maybe someone else with this issue can use this suggestion. Mine is a cautionary tale. Oh well, live and learn. Learning is usually not cheap.

I do wish ALPS would make the threads of a material of the same strength as the originals. The material used is so light weight, when I ground the threads with the Dremel, it was completely stripped down in under 2 minutes. That's some seriously light weight metal. Bummer.

The final fail was after grinding the threads, I tried to pry the nut off using a screwdriver and it pulled the whole shaft out of the box. Toast.

My motto:
"We learn by making mistakes.  I'm learning .... a lot"

Might be worth a quick email to ALPS  customer service.  I've run a sports store for 30 years and sometimes companies will replace brand new items that got messed up by consumers under good will policy.  You will likely catch more flies with honey than vinegar in this case.  

Suggest something along lines of
"Brand new, I'm a chunderhead and messed up, really, really like your product, long time user - anything ALPS can do to help me out?  Please!!!"

Longshot, but what's to lose??

Good idea! I agree, it's frustrating, and expensive, but stuff happens. It's a cautionary tale.

Hi all,
I understand many of these so called ALPS pots are actually knock-offs made in China and not made in Japan. They look like the real deal...but I suspect the quality is questionable.

Happy New Years!

Kevin @ Dynakit

This was purchased through Tube Nirvana. I'm hoping this is not a fake, but I'm guessing it is not.

Hogzilla,

Try the unassuming looking Dact type 21 pot. It sound better and uses SMD resisters.

Eskimo wrote:Hogzilla,

Try the unassuming looking Dact type 21 pot. It sound better and uses SMD resisters.

Thanks for the suggestion! I just checked it out. Looks like a solid choice.

Today I replaced the volume pot on my SCA35 with one of those Ebay knock-offs. The original volume pot was causing me having to adjust balance whenever the volume level was changed. With the ALPS (if that is what it really is) I now have no drop outs nor do I have to readjust balance. It may be from China but not everything out of China is junk. Of course it may last only a few days but we will see.

Parts Express carries ALPS pots:

ALPS

These appear to be genuine.

You are correct however they don't have 250K with loudness taps which is why I broke down and ordered from Ebay. I must say again, what a difference it has made. Next up is the input selector switch which I bought from DynaKit Parts.