CTS knobs

[Mr. Air]

I refitted my guitar with new pickups and CTS pots. Now the problem is that the knobs for tone and volume don't fit the new pots. What kind of knobs do fit the CTS pots?

[Twinfan]

USA / CTS / Gibson spec ones is how they're usually described...

[FELINEGUITARS]

Just a quick expansion of this to explain for those who haven't seen the difference

Oriental made pots and USA made pots look kind of similar
The shafts that the knobs fit onto are a similar-ish diameter

BUT the splines/ridges on these shafts are different
USA made pots have more splines which are narrower and not as pronounced
Oriental pots have fewer ridges but the grooves are deeper

This will mean that when you upgrade pots - or if you swap a USA pot to an oriental one maybe to fit a push pull type pot the old knobs may not fit

Be very careful if trying to force the old knobs onas the molded grooves in the pots no longer match the shafts
You can split a knob or worse damage a pot with too much force
Sometimes you can get away with it if you take a drill bit (somewhere between 6mm and 6.5) and drill out some of the ridges so it will fit the other pot shaft

I usually refer to knobs that will fit CTS and CGE pots as USA fit compared to oriental fit for the other type

Knobs with grub screw fitting are a different matter

[Philly Q]

Knobs with grub screw fitting are a different matter

On that subject, I got some CGE solid-shaft pots (from WD) for my Tele because I found the CTS ones too stiff (oo-er). 

I was surprised to find that the shafts on the CGE pots are slightly thinner, so when the knob is fitted it's off centre and turns in an "eccentric" way.

Fortunately Allparts sell some little brass sleeves, intended for use when fitting screw-fit knobs to splined-shaft pots, and they solved the problem.

[hunter]

That's why I always get split shaft pots, the usually work or can be bent to fit. Maybe not good enough for Phil's exacting standards, but good enough for Mr Pragmatic :O)

[Philly Q]

That's why I always get split shaft pots, the usually work or can be bent to fit. Maybe not good enough for Phil's exacting standards, but good enough for Mr Pragmatic :O)

Harsh but fair!   :lol: :lol: