I took the pickguard off of my Kramer Strat clone to check the joints on the volume pot (it crackled when the knob was jostled) and discovered that the pot was falling apart. Even though I thought I was being careful the *&^%$! ground somehow pulled off of the back of the bridge when I lifted the pickguard.

Now, in addition to replacing the potentiometer -- which is an almost insufferable pain -- I also have to break down the bridge/whammy-springs to get to the spot where the ground popped off and resolder it. I figure that it's gonna be be at least an hour's hard work and I have to be very careful when I solder because my apartment's smoke alarm is sensitive to the slightest hint of fumes.

The wires inside are so short that it's hard to see how they got the pickguard on in the first place. I know they're saving a couple of pennies by cutting tolerances so tight, but with an electric guitar the *&^%$! parts should be user-serviceable.

Feh!

Guitar Center's the nearest place that I know of to match the part and it's a haul from here so I ordered a new potentiometer from a guy I've dealt with on eBay. Surgery is going to wait until the part gets here.

'Not looking forward to it.