Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Tech => Topic started by: Mr. Air on August 17, 2009, 07:20:03 AM

Title: Upward pointing tip on CTS pot
Post by: Mr. Air on August 17, 2009, 07:20:03 AM

I'm not sure how to explain this in propper English beacuse I don't know the propper terms, but on CTS pots there's a small "tip" pointing upwards at the "base" of the pot bellow the shaft (I've attached a pic where I've marked the "tip").

Is there any reason for this "tip" being there and would it affect the pot if it's removed or bend?

Title: Re: Upward pointing tip on CTS pot
Post by: hunter on August 17, 2009, 10:48:00 AM

I think these are just to fix the pot while this small lug is gonna stick in the guitar's wood when you tighten the pot. No big deal to bend it out or remove it.

Title: Re: Upward pointing tip on CTS pot
Post by: gingataff on August 17, 2009, 11:07:05 AM

I think the idea is that you should drill a small hole for the lug to fit into, and this will make sure the pot stays firmly in place.
Back in the real world people usually break it off with a pair of pliers.

Title: Re: Upward pointing tip on CTS pot
Post by: Ratrod on August 17, 2009, 11:31:24 AM

Like said they are there to keep it in position. They're also used as a ground to the metal chassis of a stompbox. I usually file them down so the pot sits level.

Title: Re: Upward pointing tip on CTS pot
Post by: Philly Q on August 17, 2009, 11:47:19 AM

If you grab them with pliers and bend, they break off really easily and cleanly without damaging the pot.

(Edit:  As gingataff has already pointed out.  :oops: )

Title: Re: Upward pointing tip on CTS pot
Post by: WezV on August 17, 2009, 11:50:42 AM

yeah, when doing pedal or amp projects it makes sense to drill a small hole that it fits into

For guitars it doesnt need to be there.  Some types bend wheras others just snap right off, either way is fine

Title: Re: Upward pointing tip on CTS pot
Post by: Mr. Air on August 17, 2009, 12:00:51 PM

Thanks for the answers.

Yesterday evening I tried to bend the little bugger, but either it's made of some sort of unbendable stuff or maybe I'm just a wuss. Fact is nothing happened (to my appologies I didn't really have the optimal tools for bending it).

I think I'll go for the Ratrod approach and file it down, but not before I give the whole breaking/bending thing another go and there by hopefully save my manliness (come to think of it. Manliness actually doesn't sound that masculine, or is it just me?).

Title: Re: Upward pointing tip on CTS pot
Post by: jpfamps on August 17, 2009, 01:17:50 PM

It's an anti-rotation lug to stop the pot rotating if the fixing comes loose. Normally you would have a extra hole in a chassis to accommodate this. Don't think a hole in a scratch plate would look too good......

If needs be I usually the lug off with a pair of reasonably substantial side cutting pliers.

I'm am always fairly careful to try not damaging the pot, so I wouldn't recommend bending it out of the way.

If you decide to file the lug down, be very careful not to get any fillings in the pot.

Title: Re: Upward pointing tip on CTS pot
Post by: yellowv on August 20, 2009, 04:20:13 AM

I just cut em off with a pair of cutting pliers.