Guitar knobs are an essential component to the majority of electric guitars, that is, unless you modify your guitar to have 0 knobs & only something like an on/off button. It's possible & some of our customers have pulled it off using our latching killswitches however the single volume knob with tone delete is much more common.
But anyways, here's a few of the most frequently asked questions we've come across in relation to guitar knobs. Feel free to bookmark the page for reference or share it with a friend who might benefit from this article!
Related: What do the knobs on my Gibson SG do
What Do the Knobs on an Electric Guitar Do?
One of the most common electric guitar configurations uses two knobs: one to control the guitar's volume and another to control its tone. Other guitars use additional volume or tone controls to give the player more control over individual pickups.
What Does the Volume Knob on an Electric Guitar Do?
The volume knob controls the guitar's output level. Turning it clockwise increases the signal sent to the amplifier, while turning it counterclockwise reduces the output.
Depending on the guitar's wiring, a volume knob may control the entire guitar or only a specific pickup.
What Does the Tone Knob on an Electric Guitar Do?
The tone knob controls how much high-frequency content remains in the guitar's signal. Turning it counterclockwise rolls off more treble, creating a darker or warmer sound. Turning it clockwise retains more of the guitar's high frequencies, producing a brighter and more defined sound.
There is no single correct setting. The best position depends on the sound you want, your pickups, amplifier settings, and playing style.
Why Do Some Electric Guitars Have More Knobs?
Some guitars have additional volume or tone controls so different pickups can be adjusted separately. The classic Stratocaster layout, for example, typically uses one master volume control and two tone controls assigned to different pickups or pickup combinations, depending on the model and wiring.
Other guitars may use separate volume controls for each pickup, multiple tone controls, or a single master tone control. On many guitars with only one tone knob, that control affects whichever pickup or pickup combination is currently selected.
What Are the Knobs and Switches on an Electric Guitar?
The knobs and switches on an electric guitar control how the pickups send their signal to the amplifier. The exact layout varies by guitar, but most controls are used to adjust volume, tone, or which pickup is active.
Common electric guitar controls include:
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Volume knobs: Control the guitar's output level. Some guitars use one master volume, while others provide separate volume controls for individual pickups.
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Tone knobs: Reduce high frequencies to make the sound darker or warmer. Depending on the wiring, a tone control may affect one pickup or multiple pickups.
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Pickup selector switches: Choose which pickup, or combination of pickups, is active. Common examples include three-way and five-way selector switches.
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Push-pull or push-push controls: Add extra switching functions to a standard knob, such as coil splitting, phase changes, or series/parallel switching.
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Active EQ controls: Found on some active guitars and basses, these can boost or cut specific frequency ranges such as bass, mids, or treble.
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Kill switches: Momentarily or mechanically interrupt the guitar signal to create rapid on/off effects.
Some players casually refer to these controls as guitar "buttons," but knobs and switches are the more accurate terms. The specific controls available depend on the guitar's pickup configuration and wiring.
How To Remove Guitar Knobs
Guitar knobs are generally easy to remove & at most, you will need a flathead screwdriver, a microfiber towel, & a thin guitar pick or two.
For guitar knobs with a set screw, all you have to do is loosen up the screw & the knob should easily slide off. If it's not coming off, try loosening the screw a bit more & carefully wiggling the knob back & forth until it starts to budge.
Guitars that have push-on knobs can be trickier since the knobs can get jammed onto the potentiometer shaft. To remove a "push-on" type of knob, simply pull lightly on the knob. If you're lucky, it will simply pop off without issue.
But if it's stuck on there, you will need to either to slide the microfiber under the knob & wrap it around the potentiometer before using it as leverage to pull upwards.
The same can be done with a guitar pick - just wedge it underneath the guitar knob & carefully pry upwards. Try prying at the 12 o clock position, then 6 o clock, then 3 & 9 to loosen it up on all sides.
These two techniques can also be used with the set-screw type of knobs if need-be.
Here's a video that showcases these 2 methods:
Are Guitar Knobs Universal Fit?
No. Guitar knobs are not universally interchangeable because potentiometer shafts come in several different styles and dimensions.
The three common fitment types are:
- Metric splined shafts: Common on many imported guitars and potentiometers. The knob presses onto the small teeth, or splines, around the shaft.
- Imperial splined shafts: Commonly associated with U.S.-spec potentiometers from manufacturers such as CTS and Bourns. These use different shaft dimensions and spline counts than metric versions.
- Smooth shafts: These do not have splines or teeth. Knobs designed for smooth shafts usually use a small side set screw to hold the knob securely in place.
A knob made for one shaft type may not fit another correctly, even if the difference looks small.
For more detailed information on sizing, see our article on potentiometer & guitar knob fitment.
Are All Guitar Knobs the Same Size?
No. Guitar knobs come in many different physical sizes, shapes, and profiles even when they are designed to fit the same type of potentiometer shaft.
Some knobs are short and low-profile, while others are taller, wider, or heavier. Common styles include:
- barrel knobs
- top-hat knobs
- speed knobs
- dome knobs
- knurled metal knobs
- wood and other decorative designs
The physical size of the knob mainly affects its appearance, grip, and how much space it occupies around the guitar's controls. Two knobs can look and feel very different while still fitting the same potentiometer.
Shaft compatibility is a separate issue. As long as the knob is designed for the correct potentiometer shaft type, you can choose from many different sizes and styles.
Custom and unconventional knobs are also possible. Guitarists have used everything from machined metal and wood to repurposed objects such as shotgun shells to create distinctive control layouts.
Related: 6 Cool Guitar Picks
Source: @Robertwoodguitar
How Do I Know What Knobs Will Fit My Guitar?
We get this one a lot in our support emails... The quickest way to find out & know for sure is to remove one of your guitar's knobs & see if the potentiometer is smooth, or if it has splines.
If your potentiometer has splines, then count the number and see the size comparison chart above to see what kind of fitment you have.
Just for reference, all of our custom guitar knobs (the ones we make) will only fit "Coarse" metric sized potentiometers. They will not fit imperial sized pots & will instead get jammed halfway on.
How to Install New Guitar Knobs
Please see the first question on how to remove your current knobs. To install knobs with a set screw, you will of course need a flathead screwdriver... Just remove the knob as per the guide above & then carefully push the new knob onto the potentiometer. If the knob sits too low or on the guitar body, you might be able to lightly tighten the sidescrew just enough to hold it in place then raise the knob until it's off the guitar body & tighten it fully.
For "push-on" type of knobs like the ones we make, do as the name states & push them on. There's no tools required but you do want to be careful with it as well. You certainly don't want to push or force a knob onto the potentiometer shaft, especially if it's a coarse-fit knob being put onto a fine-fit potentiometer.
This can result in the knob getting stuck or the potentiometer getting damaged.
Just slowly press to the desired height & adjust the angle so the guitar knobs are level to the guitar body.
Shop Guitar Knobs
Once you know your potentiometer shaft type and fitment, you can choose a knob based on material, profile, grip, and appearance. Browse the Iron Age Guitar Knobs Collection for current designs, or see our Guitar Knob Sizing & Fitment Guide for additional compatibility information.
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Alex Rodea
Author
Alex is a former U.S. Marine avionics technician turned founder of Iron Age Guitar Accessories, a one-man shop building boutique picks, knobs, and kill-switches since 2015. He applies systems thinking, precision machining, and insights from thousands of shipped orders and customer reviews to write practical guides on tone, materials, and design for serious players.