Need help with PRS repair, interesting problem

[Antknee]

I have a PRS that I was using to test a pedal I had built. The pedal was unboxed and I was using a test rig to hook up the pedal's pcb with alligator clips so I could test the pcb before I boxed it. I was using a 9v battery for power. I mistakenly crossed a wire (not sure which) with the positive from the battery. I caught it after several seconds, but the battery got really hot, and since then my guitar's volume pot has not worked. The guitar still puts out sound, but it sounds like it is at half volume, and the volume know does nothing when I turn it. All pickup selections sound the same and the tone knob seems to work fine. There is a capacitor connecting two legs of the volume knob, maybe that fried? I don't know. Here is a picture of the guts in case it helps. Everything is still factory, untouched since I bought it new 16 years ago. Any advice or ideas for troubleshooting is appreciated. Thanks!

IMAG1099r.jpg (173.74 KiB) Viewed 868 times

IMAG1097r.jpg (98.65 KiB) Viewed 868 times

[skullservant]

Yeah I'd look into swapping that cap first, or clip it and see if it makes a difference, and then go from there. If you need to replace the pot it wont be a super big issue

[Antknee]

I did just try jumping lugs 1 and 2 together and it goes full output. Its either the cap or the pot.

[skullservant]

I'd swap it all if that's the case!

[AxAxSxS]

definitely clip off the cap. I think its there to keep some treble passing as the volume is turned down. You don't "need" it. If you remove it and there is still an issue then the pot is fried as well. Caps can be damaged by to much heat so that's the most likely culprit.