Installing new pots on Les Paul..

welshboyo

Is there an easy way of levelling up pots (long shaft CTS) on a Les Paul?

I have a Les Paul Deluxe (see NGD post) that has had new pots but the shafts are jutting out of the body in all shapes (pots high off the body).

Is it a case of just fitting, refitting, measuring, swearing, rinse, repeat until its right or is there a "trade secret"

SteveRobinson

Measure how much each shaft is protruding, take the pots out, wind the inside nuts up the necessary amount on each one then refit.

ICBM

Use a nut on the inside to adjust the height.

I do it by setting the outside nut exactly at the top of the thread first, then turn the one on the inside until it just comes tight (you might need the tip of a screwdriver to do that if you can't get your fingers under), then when you tighten down the outer nut the shakeproof washer will bite into the wood and you should get 1-2 threads visible above the nut, which is perfect.

Funkfingers

Is the OP guitar of the right age to have had its original pots mounted through a metal plate? That would take care of the differing protrusion.

welshboyo

Funkfingers said:

Is the OP guitar of the right age to have had its original pots mounted through a metal plate? That would take care of the differing protrusion.

It has the plate yes, care to explain how this would take care of the differing protrusions?

ICBM

That makes it slightly more tricky if you want to do it the same way, but the principle is the same - you need to use the extra nuts on the inside to adjust the length of thread remaining, like this...