Zeppeholic Posted September 2, 2013 Share Posted September 2, 2013 I need to replace the speed knobs on my Les Paul and the top-hat knobs on my SG, I bought two sets of top-hat knobs, how do I pop the knobs off with out like breaking them or the pots inside? I need to put top-hat knobs on my Les Paul since the speed knobs are all cracked and I don't like them And I need to replace them on my SG because two of the metal inlays fell out and some are chipped and broken (I guess that's what I get for buying it used) But um, any help would be appreciated, it's a noobish question I know, I just want to do it correctly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L5Larry Posted September 2, 2013 Share Posted September 2, 2013 Here's a couple of commercially available tools for this purpose: http://www.stewmac.com/Shopping?actn=search&keyword=knob+puller&x=30&y=10 I'm not familiar with the cheaper one, but the expensive one is tried and true, more of less the industry standard. I have seen somewhere a "build it yourself" explanation. There are various other home remedies such as slipping a string under the knob and using the string to pull it off. I'll either just grab it under my fingernails and yank, or use two thin flexible putty knives, one to protect the finish (Gibson) or pickguard (Fender), and the other on top of the first one to pry the knob off. I REALLY DO NOT RECOMMEND EITHER OF THESE METHODS FOR THE FAINT AT HEART. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly campbell Posted September 2, 2013 Share Posted September 2, 2013 I am kinda in the same boat as you, Check out utube they generally have many instructional video's I found one on how to safely remove a pick guard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeppeholic Posted September 2, 2013 Author Share Posted September 2, 2013 Well they tell me to just pop it off, but I don't think it can be as simple as that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Farnsbarns Posted September 2, 2013 Share Posted September 2, 2013 Take a tea towl (drying up cloth?) And, holding two corners at either end of a long side, tuck the middle of that side under the edge of the knob. Now, by pulling one corner round, twist it around the pot shaft under the knob, once, maybe even twice. Now you've the entire knob wrapped in cloth, just pull the cloth directly away from the body and you'll remove the knob nice and squarely and avoid bending the shaft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertAndersson Posted September 2, 2013 Share Posted September 2, 2013 But um, any help would be appreciated, it's a noobish question I know, I just want to do it correctly It's not a noobish question, it' a knob-ish question ! Sorry, couldn't help it, good luck with your project!//Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobF_ Posted September 2, 2013 Share Posted September 2, 2013 Beware that pulling the knob off of a push/pull type control can remove the shaft along with the knob. I'm not speculating about this :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LesBonfire Posted September 2, 2013 Share Posted September 2, 2013 Take a tea towl (drying up cloth?) And, holding two corners at either end of a long side, tuck the middle of that side under the edge of the knob. Now, by pulling one corner round, twist it around the pot shaft under the knob, once, maybe even twice. Now you've the entire knob wrapped in cloth, just pull the cloth directly away from the body and you'll remove the knob nice and squarely and avoid bending the shaft. This is the method I've been using, works great and no risk of scratching the finish! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deeman Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 Take a tea towl (drying up cloth?) And, holding two corners at either end of a long side, tuck the middle of that side under the edge of the knob. Now, by pulling one corner round, twist it around the pot shaft under the knob, once, maybe even twice. Now you've the entire knob wrapped in cloth, just pull the cloth directly away from the body and you'll remove the knob nice and squarely and avoid bending the shaft. This is the method I've been using, works great and no risk of scratching the finish! I will use this method if/when i ever need to change knobs. :) Thanks for the tip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeppeholic Posted September 3, 2013 Author Share Posted September 3, 2013 It's not a noobish question, it' a knob-ish question ! Sorry, couldn't help it, good luck with your project!//Robert Hahahaha that was punny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeppeholic Posted September 3, 2013 Author Share Posted September 3, 2013 Take a tea towl (drying up cloth?) And, holding two corners at either end of a long side, tuck the middle of that side under the edge of the knob. Now, by pulling one corner round, twist it around the pot shaft under the knob, once, maybe even twice. Now you've the entire knob wrapped in cloth, just pull the cloth directly away from the body and you'll remove the knob nice and squarely and avoid bending the shaft. I'll try that, thank you for the top! The other guy mentioned that if my guitar has push/pull pots it'll rip out the shaft, can I use the method you listed and avoid that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjsinla Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 Beware that pulling the knob off of a push/pull type control can remove the shaft along with the knob. I'm not speculating about this :) And, I've pulled out the shaft on a regular pot trying to get the knob off. I suggest slow steady pulling pressure, and gently tilting the knob back and forth ever so slightly. Just prying the knob off on one side is probably what I did, I like the sound of the tea towel trick. These days, I usually use fingernails and give up if that doesn't work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobF_ Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 And, I've pulled out the shaft on a regular pot trying to get the knob off. I suggest slow steady pulling pressure, and gently tilting the knob back and forth ever so slightly. Just prying the knob off on one side is probably what I did, I like the sound of the tea towel trick. These days, I usually use fingernails and give up if that doesn't work. My shaft removals were using the towel technique, but I wasn't exactly going slow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzrat Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 My method for years has been to use a spoon as a lever. I put a business card or something under the spoon to protect the top and work around the knob gently working it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Farnsbarns Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 And, I've pulled out the shaft on a regular pot trying to get the knob off. I suggest slow steady pulling pressure, and gently tilting the knob back and forth ever so slightly. Just prying the knob off on one side is probably what I did, I like the sound of the tea towel trick. These days, I usually use fingernails and give up if that doesn't work. DO NOT DO THIS. The rocking motion bends the two halves of.the pot shaft slightly closer together and the new knob will not be as tight. 2 or 3 goes and it'll be falling off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaicho8888 Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 Yep, towel, T-shirt edge, shoestring... all work and no extra cost to you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GibSinCity Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 At 35 seconds... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUji5BfmSk8&feature=player_detailpage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketman Posted September 7, 2013 Share Posted September 7, 2013 Been explained here already but this is how I do it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuGc83-F_Wk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badbluesplayer Posted September 7, 2013 Share Posted September 7, 2013 I try to pull them off with my fingers. It's safe and effective (sounds like a sleep aid commercial). Just stick the tips of your thumb and two fingers on the base and work your fingertips under the knob by flexing your fingers. They should pop right off. If you can't get them off this way, you can always try something else. You're better off pulling them straight upward. Prying them off is o.k. as long as you don't mar the finish. Like Larry said, most of the good ways of doing this can be disastrous if you screw up. So you have to be careful at first, but once you do it the first time, you'll be a pro! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Farnsbarns Posted September 7, 2013 Share Posted September 7, 2013 I try to pull them off with my fingers. It's safe and effective (sounds like a sleep aid commercial). Just stick the tips of your thumb and two fingers on the base and work your fingertips under the knob by flexing your fingers. They should pop right off. If you can't get them off this way, you can always try something else. You're better off pulling them straight upward. Prying them off is o.k. as long as you don't mar the finish. Like Larry said, most of the good ways of doing this can be disastrous if you screw up. So you have to be careful at first, but once you do it the first time, you'll be a pro! When it actually comes down to it, that's what I do to but if someone is asking I err on the side of caution and go with telling them the cloth method. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stinger22 Posted September 8, 2013 Share Posted September 8, 2013 Always use the towel method, it keeps the knob from flying across the room once it comes off! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bender 4 Life Posted September 8, 2013 Share Posted September 8, 2013 I jam a flathead screwdriver under each side of the knob & turn the handles outward causing the lift to be directly under the knob. but i'm the village idiot. i've never damaged a pot though..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyl51 Posted September 8, 2013 Share Posted September 8, 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blueblooded Posted September 8, 2013 Share Posted September 8, 2013 The polishing cloth method works great! A couple things to consider that haven't been mentioned... 1) It's a good idea to start knob removal by putting the pot in the middle of it's rotational postition. If it's up against its stops at either "1" or "10", you chance over-rotating and damaging the pot internally. I can't count the number of guitars and amps I've played lately at music stores that have pots that are damaged by over-rotation. 2) If you have a knob that is extra tight, or just as a precaution, use a hair dryer to heat the knob before removal. Heat will expand the knob and also soften the plastic a bit so it comes off easier. This is also a good precaution to help prevent damaging a pot by pulling the shaft out of it. And if you're worried about the heat damaging the guitar finish (although a hair dryer shouldn't be hot enough to do this), just place polishing cloths around the knob before heating to keep the heat off the finish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 If the world could overthink Syria like guitar players and pot knobs... rct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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