Crackly control pots can be a nuisance on any amp. You can extend the service life of your pots by using one simple technique.
It’s often the case that most control pots end up being set a certain way, and then they get left, or moved very little. Airborne dirt and other contaminants then find their way into the pots. This results in annoying crackles and pops when the pots are turned.
To help prevent this problem, all you have to do is, once in a while, turn them fully from one end of their travel to the other a few times. Then restore your favourite settings.
This takes adavantage of the inherent self cleaning action that most pots have.
Clearly the technique will not repair genuinely worn out pots, but it will help with those that are simply dirty.