i can't get these #@&*% knobs off!

[THRILLHO]

i just got a '70 gold top lp deluxe!
however, its had some horrible things done to it

my first step to restoration lies in the electronics.
alas, i can't get the damn things out...

if you or a loved one has any helpful advice on how to yank knobs off an axe then FOR THE LOVE OF GOD PLEASE TELL ME!!

[61LPSG]

First things first... Welcome to MLP THRILLHO !
Those speed knobs can can be very tight, I had a similar experience with them.
Take a soft strip of cloth...a rag, or even a shoe lace should do, and wrap it under the knob and pull up as you gently wiggle it with your fingers. If it still doesn't pop then get a wooden clothespin...(the 2 pc. variety with a spring in it), and remove the spring. Now put something on the top to protect the finish and use the 2 pieces as wedges under the edges of the knob. Face one small end in one direction, and the other on the opposite side (facing the other way) then gently push the #@&*% knob up. Just don't bugger up the top. Personally I think they look cool.
Good luck.

[Owl]

That's some good advice from 61LPSG. If that's not enough, check out this tutorial:

Originally Posted by 2manyGuitars

After trying to remove the knobs on a couple of Gibsons where even the screwdriver/spoon trick wouldn't work (at least without danger of breaking anything), I came up with this...

Lay something like a polishing cloth down on the top of your guitar and slip one edge under the knob.


Pull the sides around until the cloth is wrapped all the way around the shaft of the pot.


Twist the cloth a few times so it's securely wrapped under/around the knob.


Grabbed the twisted side and also the opposite side and pull up. Most of the pressure will be on the twisted side, but you need to pull on both so the knob goes straight up.


Your guitar should now look like this...

[THRILLHO]

thanks for all the tips everyone!

the cloth/twist method pulled the core out of my pot...


so it's on to the clothespin method
wish me luck

[TheWellGoodShow]

NICE!!!! adf ddhfdja HAHA wow.

[Wolf Child]

Careful brother....... all the knob pulling technique in the world can't insure you won't bust a pot. Those knobs have been hanging on for 38 years, they might not come quietly.
Good luck

[THRILLHO]

i'm getting a little discouraged now...

the growing number of broken pots and clothespins leads me to believe this lp may have just got gotten a little crusty during its 35 years in the closet

i would still like to use these pretty gold knobs though


any advice now on getting the rods out of them?

[greebs]

Thrillo
Thanks for a good laugh! Your "Thanks for the tips everyone" made me laugh in regards to the end result.
Hope you don't take this the wrong way, it just made me laugh.

[THRILLHO]

haha. well i'm planning on replacing the electronics so i don't really have any attachment to them. the knobs are all i'm concerned with salvaging. btw the cloth/twist method was successful on the last two knobs.

thanks again ha

now it's on to step two...

[Dino]

Holy crap!
Someone had to have Super-Glued those knobs on.

I've used the "cloth method" for years and I've NEVER seen that happen.

[Roman Rist]

Originally Posted by THRILLHO

i'm getting a little discouraged now...

the growing number of broken pots and clothespins leads me to believe this lp may have just got gotten a little crusty during its 35 years in the closet

i would still like to use these pretty gold knobs though


any advice now on getting the rods out of them?

Run them under some HOT water. really hot, till the shaft heats up some, then quickly put the shaft in a vice and do the cloth trick again.

[Roman Rist]

Originally Posted by Dino

Holy crap!
Someone had to have Super-Glued those knobs on.

I've used the "cloth method" for years and I've NEVER seen that happen.

I have had it happen plenty of times, the shaft just sits in a nylon /plastic piece. The good news is you can pop it back in if you are careful.

A tiny drop of superglue will hold it in place afterwards.

Roman

[tarddoggy]

Originally Posted by THRILLHO

i just got a '70 gold top lp deluxe!
however, its had some horrible things done to it

my first step to restoration lies in the electronics.
alas, i can't get the damn things out...

if you or a loved one has any helpful advice on how to yank knobs off an axe then FOR THE LOVE OF GOD PLEASE TELL ME!!

hope things are goin' good.BTW,
love those GT Deluxe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[myinstrument]

hey everyone something i use which is close to the clothes pin is to go to your local autoglass company and ask for a plastic windshield stick. these things are tapered wont harm most finishes and most glass companies will give you one since they are a "disposable" tool

[dwagar]

even if the pots are trashed, if they have the correct date code on them, save them.

[diceman]

Thrillo - I'd love to see more pix of your Deluxe! I have a '69 Deluxe and love the hell out of it. Congrats on the new guitar. Those 3 piece Deluxe necks sure are comfortable, aren't they?

[THRILLHO]

thanks for the hot water tip roman. worked great!

[THRILLHO]

Originally Posted by RFR

I have had it happen plenty of times, the shaft just sits in a nylon /plastic piece. The good news is you can pop it back in if you are careful.

A tiny drop of superglue will hold it in place afterwards.

Roman

how??? i lined up the shafts and squeezed as hard as i could... no pop
i smooshed them against a table real hard... still no pop

is there some kind of trick??

Originally Posted by diceman

Thrillo - I'd love to see more pix of your Deluxe! I have a '69 Deluxe and love the hell out of it. Congrats on the new guitar. Those 3 piece Deluxe necks sure are comfortable, aren't they?

yes, yes they are

[thenowhereman]

If the knob is just that stubborn, nothing will really help, but if you or anyone have problems with tight knobs check out Stewart MacDonald's Knob and Bushing Puller.
I don't have one but I've made a similar device that works great.

[Roman Rist]

Originally Posted by THRILLHO

how??? i lined up the shafts and squeezed as hard as i could... no pop
i smooshed them against a table real hard... still no pop

is there some kind of trick??

I am not there to see it, but if you get it lined up just right, it will pop back in.

Originally Posted by THRILLHO

thanks for the hot water tip roman. worked great!

Glad that worked out for you.

[shotgunlew]

See axe BTW bro