Reddit mentions of Hosa G5S-6 CAIG DeoxIT GOLD Contact Enhancer 5% Spray, 5 oz.

@ZestyMarshmellow

I have been doing this for years and it works amazingly. I have even cleaned friends carts for money :). I have cleaned over 1000 carts and still am using the same bottles :)

Materials Needed:

• Q-tips
  
• Wrights cooktop cleaner
  
• Isopropyl Alcohol
  
• Caig Deoxit Gold (https://www.amazon.com/Hosa-G5S-6-DeoxIT-Contact-Enhancer/dp/B00FC4YO60)
  
• Appropriate Screw drivers for carts
  
• Light to see the terminals (i use a head light so it is hands free)
  
  Process:
  Phase 1:
  

1. For this phase, it is easiest to clean the chip as it is closed and installed in the original cartridge, this will allow you to apply force with the q-tip against the roof of the cart.
   
   
2. Lightly coat one end of the q-tip with the cooktop cleaner (I usually have a folded paper towel nearby and I shake the cooktop cleaner and make a little mountain of it on the towel that I can reuse since I mostly do multiple carts in a session :) )
   
   
3. Scrub the q-tip back and forth along the terminals and apply more vigorously the dirtier it is. Repeat this until you see gold instead of dirt. This can take multiple q-tips, that is fine, just use the light to see when the dirt comes off.
   
   
   Phase 2:
   
4. Lightly coat a new q-tip with the Isopropyl alcohol
   
   
5. Lightly scrub the q-tip back an forth along the terminals similar to the previous step but a lot softer. This phase is only to get the cooktop grime and sediment off from the previous step
   
   Phase 3:
   
6. Open the cartridge and carefully take the chip out and place it onto a safe surface, perhaps a paper towel.
   
   
7. With a completely dry Q-tip, scrub off any extra sediment/cleaner that made it through the cart plastic and onto the chip
   
   
8. Reinstall the chip and screw close the cartridge back into original form.
   
   Final phase:
   
9. Lightly coat a new q-tip with the Caig deoxit gold spray.
   
   
10. Lightly scrub the q-tip back an forth along the terminals. Since the terminals are clean from the previous phase, this phase is to put a finishing coat of contact cleaner on it to keep it fresh and shiny. I used to only apply this, but the dirty carts need cleaning first and this should always be the final steps.
    
    Optional phase:
    Clean off cooktop cleaner from the bottoom/outside of the cart if used in excess
    
    Tips
    

• NEVER use WD-40, it becomes black and leaves gunk buildup when it oxidizes.
  
• I would suggest buying the cart screwdrivers even if you do not plan to clean, often opening the cart is the best way to identify the cart's authenticity.
  
• Don't buy the q-tips that have a flimsy rod, they are garbage.
  
• You don't need Caig deoxit gold specifically, but pickup something from deoxit, they have great stuff.
  
• You can use the deoxit for many applications and it is great to have around
  
• Deoxit comes with a straw to spray with the aerosol can. DO NOT SPRAY the cart or the terminals. You are not trying to lather the cart in the contact cleaner ha, you are just cleaning the terminal not the shell
  
• The dirtiest contacts for me took 2 q-tips (4 heads) max with the cooktop cleaner. Use the light to determine if you are applying to much.
  
  Good luck, and TBH the contacts in this pic do not look bad at all, i would think this cart would work already

My recommendation would be to take it to get serviced by an amp tech at a local shop that works on amps (some just work on guitars). They will be able to look it over and see what is needed to make it fully playable. My guess is the pots are dirty and the amp needs to be cleaned up. When my power tubes were about dead the amp had a little crackle noise as well.

I play a Musicman 100RD head that I replaced the power tubes and had the pots cleaned up and it cost about $100.

The reverb was an issue with mine as well for what its worth. Mine was buzzing when it was turned up. I bought some Deoxit and sprayed the connections and the buzzing went away completely. If its the cable maybe they can replace it or repair it.

Personally, I am not saavy enough to feel comfortable doing repairs myself either. It was worth it to me to have an amp tech look it over and do the repairs. They will run you through what is needed and it can be educational. Hope this helps you! Its nice to see another Musicman player out there.