The Complete Guide To Cleaning and Care
For Guitar Pedals

My Guitar Pedal Is Making A Scratchy Sound Or Cutting Out. What’s Happening?

This is actually a very common problem as guitar effects pedals get used and age. Your pedal is not broken, it just needs a simple cleaning to work perfectly again. Pedal care is often overlooked, but is as important as cleaning your strings and guitar.

Why Do I Need To Clean My Guitar Pedals?

• Wear and tear: Guitar pedals have a rough life on dirty floors, getting stomped on, thrown in bags, and getting rained on at gigs. Like a car they need regular care to work their best.
• Dirt and dust: Once dirt, dust, and moisture come in contact with the electronic components inside your guitar pedal, they can change the pedal’s sound, performance, or even damage it.

How Does Dirt, Dust, And Moisture Affect My Guitar Pedals?

• Oxidation: Over time corrosion and dirt create oxidation that forms on electrical components. This oxidation builds up on the pedal’s jacks where you plug guitar cables into the pedal. All the jacks (input, output, and expression pedal) will suffer from oxidation over time. Oxidation also builds up inside the control knobs (called potentiometers or “pots”) and causes issues as well.
• Scratchy sounds and signal loss: The oxidation inside the jacks causes a scratchy sound when plugging or unplugging the pedal, or whenever the cable moves inside the jack. This will also cause your guitar signal to cut in and out, or not be heard at all.
• Noise when used: Oxidation in the pots will also cause scratchy or crackly sounds when they are adjusted, or in the worst cases, no sound at all.
• Damaged finish and graphics: Dirt and dust on the enclosure of your guitar pedal will also scratch the pedal enclosure, discolor the finish or paint, and can damage the fragile graphics and printed labels.

How Will I Know When I Need To Clean And Repair My Guitar Pedals?

• Scratchy jacks :When you hear a scratchy sound when plugging in or unplugging the pedal, there is oxidation that needs to be removed.
• Scratchy pots and switches: If you turn the knobs and hear a scratchy, crackling, or rough sound, again there is oxidation that needs to be removed.
• Loose parts: The stomping and movement over time causes the screws and knobs to come loose. If you feel the knobs slipping or falling off—it’s time to tighten them so they don’t get lost.
• Visible dirt: When you see or feel a build up of dirt and dust it’s time for a quick cleaning.

What Are The Benefits Of Clean And Maintained Guitar Pedals?

• Improved sound: Your pedal will get the full signal from your guitar, giving you the best sound quality. You’ll also get the full, dynamic tone of the effect, without noise from plugging in and unplugging your cables.
• Silent adjustments: You can make adjustments to the knobs without awful scratchy sounds disturbing the audience and stopping the song.
• No missing parts: Your pedals won’t accidentally lose knobs and screws which can be impossible to replace.
• No missing labels or discoloration: By removing dirt and dust you’ll protect the fragile finish and labels on your pedals.
• Extend the life and protect the investment of your guitar pedals: With regular cleaning, you’ll prevent damage to the pedal and prevent parts from breaking and wearing out. A well-maintained pedal will last a lifetime.

What Tools Do I Need To Clean My Guitar Pedals?

Cleaning your pedals is easy, but it can be difficult to find all of the correct bit sizes, wrench sizes, and what cleaning solutions won’t damage your pedal’s electronics. The MusicNomad Pedal Care Kit has everything you need to clean every part of your pedal safely. The kit includes these essential tools:

1. Jackpot Contact Cleaner with Deoxit®: Specially made for electronics, it removes oxidation, improves conductivity, stops scratchy and intermittent signals, and prevents future damage. Never use water or WD40 which will damage the pedal’s electronics.
   

   

2. Jack & Pot Cleaning Brush: Custom designed to safely clean inside the jacks and pots. Better than a contact cleaner alone, the brush actually gets into all of the crevices and removes the oxidation safely without soaking the inside of the pedal.
3. Guitar Pedal Detailer and Microfiber Cloth: A single spritz and wipe easily removes dirt, dust, and smudges on the outside of the pedal like no other product.
   

   

4. MusicNomad Pedal Hex Wrench & Screwdriver Set: This single tool removes the knobs and opens the pedal. The MusicNomad Pedal Care Kit includes the tiny specialty bits needed to remove knob set screws on BOSS, MXR, JHS, TC Electronic, Keeley and countless others. The set also includes larger bits for opening any pedal enclosure.
5. Included hex wrench: The MusicNomad Pedal Hex Wrench & Screwdriver Set has every wrench size you need (built right into the handle) to remove nuts on jacks, pots, and switches in both vintage and modern pedals. Pedals can use a mix of metric and imperial parts, but this single tool tackles them all. You can easily work on a vintage MXR Phase 90 or Ibanez Tube Screamer and new BOSS DD-8 or Catalinbread Belle Epoch with the same tool.
   

   

We recommend not using a metal wrench, since pedal parts and the finish on the enclosure are delicate and scratch very easily. The MusicNomad Pedal Hex Wrench & Screwdriver Set is made of ballistic nylon, which won't leave those nasty scratches. And it’s tough enough to remove even stubborn parts.

What Are The Parts Of The Guitar Pedal I Should Clean?

Clean the outside of your pedal regularly, especially when you've been playing in dusty or moist places like a basement or garage. Just a simple clean can prevent future issues. As soon as you hear any scratchy pots or intermittent signal loss, it’s time to clean the inside of your pedal.

How Do I Clean The Outside Of My Guitar Pedal?

1. Unplug the pedal: Unplug the cables from the pedal and remove the battery or power supply before any cleaning step.
2. Clean the enclosure: Spray the Guitar Pedal Detailer on the microfiber cloth and gently remove any built up dirt. Just one spray and wipe does the trick. Be careful around graphics and lettering, as the printing can be fragile.
3. Clean the jacks: For normal cleaning, you can easily clean the jacks from the outside, without taking the pedal apart. Add a few drops of the Jackpot Contact Cleaner with Deoxit® on the Jack & Pot Cleaning Brush. Insert the brush back and forth and spin it around a few times, and the jack is clean. Repeat for all the jacks on the pedal.
   
4. Clean the footswitch: Add a few drops of the Jackpot Contact Cleaner with Deoxit® in the gap between the footswitch actuator button and the threaded housing. Click the footswitch several times to get the cleaner deep into the switch to remove the oxidation.
   

How Do I Clean The Parts Inside Of My Guitar Pedals?

To clean scratchy pots you’ll need to open the back of the pedal.

1. Unplug the pedal: Unplug the cables from the pedal and remove the battery or power supply before any cleaning step.
2. Remove the back: Use the correct bit included with the MusicNomad Pedal Hex Wrench & Screwdriver Set to remove the screws and take off the back of the pedal.
3. Locate the pots: You may need to gently move the circuit board out of the way to access the pots. If you have clear access to the pots, you can clean them at this step, without disassembling the pedal. If you don’t have clear access to the pots or the circuit board can’t be moved, go to the next section for instructions to safely disassemble the pedal.
4. Apply contact cleaner to the pot: Each pot has two “windows” or access points—a large one above the lugs and a small one on the opposite side. If you have clear access to the large window at the front, add a few drops of Jackpot Contact Cleaner with Deoxit® on the Jack & Pot Cleaning Brush. Gently move the brush inside the pot and spin it around to remove the oxidation. Remove the brush and move the control shaft (what the knob attaches to) back and forth along its full sweep several times to distribute the cleaner throughout the pot.
5. If you can’t access the large window: Add a couple of drops of Jackpot Contact Cleaner with Deoxit® into the small window, and move the control shaft back and forth along its full sweep several times to remove the oxidation. This is safer than using a big bottle of Deoxit® which will spray too much cleaner and drench the inside of your pedal.

What If I Can't Access My Guitar Pedal's Pots Or Toggle Switches?

If you don’t have clear access to the pots or they are mounted to the circuit board, you’ll have to take the pedal apart to clean the pots. Switches are also mounted to the circuit board, and are easier to clean with the pedal disassembled.

How Do I Take My Guitar Pedal Apart?

Before you start, find the correct bits you’ll need from those included with the MusicNomad’s Pedal Hex Wrench & Screwdriver Set. Regular hardware store screwdrivers are usually too big and can strip the screws.

1. Unplug the pedal: Unplug the cables from the pedal and remove the battery or power supply before any cleaning step.
2. Remove the knobs: First remove the set screws on the knobs (keep them in a safe place like the MusicNomad Pedal Care Kit Case. Remove the knobs by gently pulling up on them. Stubborn knobs can be removed by putting a shoelace under the knob and gently pulling up on both ends of the lace. Don’t use a screwdriver to pry up the knob, you can easily break the knob and scratch the pedal enclosure.
3. Remove the back: Find the correct sized bit and remove the screws, keeping them in a safe place, and remove the back. Removing the back now will make sure you can see if you are putting any pressure on the solder joints that connect the pots and jacks to the circuit board. You want to make sure at all times you are not stressing and potentially breaking these joints.
4. Remove the pot and jack nuts: Remove the nuts that hold the pots and jacks with the MusicNomad Pedal Hex Wrench & Screwdriver Set. Pedal parts and enclosures are very fragile, the ballistic nylon won’t scratch the parts like hardware store tools will. Make sure to remove any washers and keep them in a safe place to reinstall. Before removing the washers make sure to note their position for when you reinstall them.
5. Remove the footswitch nut: Remove the nut that holds the footswitch in place. Note the many BOSS pedals have a different style switch with enough slack to move the circuit board without removing the switch.
6. Locate the power input: Some pedals have an input for external power. Look to see if you need to detach a washer from inside the pedal to remove it. Some power inputs (like those used on MXR pedals) don't need to be unscrewed
7. Unload the pedal: Carefully unload the pedal’s circuit board and components into your hand making sure not to stress the solder joints.
8. Apply contact cleaner to the pot: As described in the previous section, clean the inside of the pot with the Jackpot Contact Cleaner with Deoxit® on the Jack & Pot Cleaning Brush.
9. Apply contact cleaner to the toggle switches: Locate where the housing of any toggle switches attaches to the circuit board. Add a single drop of Jackpot Contact Cleaner with Deoxit® into the housing and move the switch back and forth. This will remove the oxidation and lubricate the switch.
10. Adjust the jacks: If your pedal has traditional (not circuit board mounted) jacks, it’s also a good time to bend the jack contacts closer together if they are loose when you plug your cable in. Gently bend the hooked end toward the center of the jack input.
11. Reassemble the pedal: Reverse all of your steps to put the pedal back together.

Can I Clean All Of My Guitar Pedals The Same Way?

Yes. Pedals with top-mounted jacks can make it more difficult to get to the pots, but the MusicNomad Pedal Hex Wrench & Screwdriver Set makes it easy to disassemble pedals with top-mounted jacks like Way Huge, Strymon, Earthquaker, and many others.

Should I Clean A Vintage Guitar Pedal?

Yes, because of their age and wear and tear, vintage guitar pedals will sound and perform better once they are cleaned. Vintage analog pedals are generally simpler to clean compared to modern digital ones, and the larger enclosures of Fuzz Faces, older Electro-Harmonix, and Mu-Tron pedals make it easier to access the internal components. Take extra care when cleaning around solder joints which could have weakened over time. Also be careful cleaning the delicate finish.

How Often Do I Need To Clean My Guitar Pedals?

• Whenever you hear scratchy pots or jacks: This is the perfect time to fix the problem before it gets worse.
• Before a show or tour: Just like changing your strings or tuning your guitar, give each of your pedals an inspection to make sure all are working.
• When building a pedal board: Don’t wait until everything is put together and then find out there is a problem. Inspect and clean each pedal before adding it to the board. You’ll thank yourself later.

Can I Use These Tools To Build Guitar Pedals?

Absolutely. We recommend using the ballistic nylon MusicNomad’s Pedal Hex Wrench & Screwdriver Set because it won’t scratch the new pedal you are building. Also the MusicNomad Pedal Care Kit already has the specialty bit sizes you need to install the pots, jacks, and knobs.You don’t need to waste money on a tool set that has sizes you’ll never use.

What Tools Do I Need To Build Guitar Pedals?

In addition to the MusicNomad’s Pedal Hex Wrench & Screwdriver Set these essential tools will help you build and mod pedals:

• A soldering iron. A 40 watt iron is ideal for building pedals.
• A fine point soldering iron tip. This helps make the tiny circuit board connections easier than a large chisel-style tip.
• Solder. 60/40 rosin core solder is preferred for its easier melting properties.
• Solder Wick. This helps remove excess solder when making connections.
• Helping Hands or circuit board holder. This holds the circuit board steady and makes it easy to see all the connections you are making. They can be found online and at hobby and electronics stores.