Finally got around to replacing the Tape1, Tape 2, and Stereo/Mono switches on my Van Alstine Super PAS4i today after several years of cussing the ol buzzard for using the things in the first place.  I'd used 20.00 worth of DeOxit and even finally drilled small holes in them trying to clean them with only very limited success.  I really don't know what the deal was. 

About 10.00 worth from Parts Express, and about 10,000.00 worth of difference.  It was a breath holder keeping all six contacts of the two tape monitor switches in order whilst making the switch, and I had to re-solder one that came loose from the spade, but all told less than an hour and now, no more channels dropping out, trying to jiggle switches, and generally wondering if having to mess with it was worth the effort to listen.

Hallelujah!  Just like getting a whole new piece of equipment!

Dave 

Way to go Dave.

Gear kicked up to the level of new equipment is always a joy!

Then there's the satisfaction of a DIY job, too.

 I know Frank Van Alstine and have owned and still own a lot of his gear, although not the one you mention. I'm surprised, as Frank usually goes for reliability. Was this a modded unit by Van Alstine or did he select the switches and build this unit himself? I've never had a Van Alstine component fail in 25 years of ownership. Very, Very good stuff! - 

Super PAS4i, VA from the ground up.  I love it, especially the phono preamp.  However, these switches started being noisy not more than a year in.  Frank told me to spray them and operate them a 100 times.  Helped a bit, but never completely.  They got worse and worse until I could hardly keep all channels in.  

As they are largely sealed, I finally drilled a very small hole in the top where I could get DeOxit straight inside.  That took them almost there, but when I was still getting some noise that was the last straw.

Perhaps somehow defective from day one?  I do not not know, and now do not care.  The new ones are 100% and switch totally silently and I am enjoying that great VA sound I paid for.

Gonna head back up there right now, AAMOF...

Dave 

Why?  I'll tell ya why: "Honest... I ran out of gas. I, I had a flat tire. I didn't have enough money for cab fare. My tux didn't come back from the cleaners. An old friend came in from out of town. Someone stole my car. There was an earthquake. A terrible flood. Locusts. IT WASN'T MY FAULT, I SWEAR TO GOD."

 Heaven again...

Went through Nitty Gritty Dirt Band "Stars and Stripes Forever," Sheffield Labs Direct Cut "Ride of the Valkyries/Tristan and Isolde," and that Belgian Band Organ Audio Fidelity disc.  I am curious about base tracking noise.  The Sheffield disc, which obviously was made with much care, had the highest base noise level, followed by the NGDB, and the 1962 Audio Fidelity...which was basically inky digital like silence between cuts.  

That Belgian Band organ thing is a true technical masterpiece.  Recorded on an Ampex 350 half track, no less.  Gives me that "I am hearing exactly what the engineer heard" feeling where the medium and my equipment simply disappear.

All courtesy of 10.00 worth of switches...

Yep'm, Oldtimer, all of the above (OK, sorry...it was above when I was writing.  Now below) and more...I waited too long!

Dave