Removing Tight Knobs on an Electric Guitar

Sooner or later, you’ll either want or need to remove the control knobs from the top of your electric guitar. Before you reach for a flat-head screw driver to help yank off a recalcitrant knob (or knobs), just stop! A screw driver might get the job done, but it may also damage your guitar in the process. There are a number of tricks you can use to yank off a tight knob, but one of your best friends will probably be a spoon! This is particularly useful for guitars with carved maple tops like Les Pauls (though it will work in a variety of other instances, like with ES-335s, PRS Customs and so forth). Place a folded up napkin or other soft surface on the guitar’s body, then insert the spoon’s tip as a lever. Because spoons have a convex shape to the bowl, this acts like a fulcrum. You might need to move the spoon to several different positions before finally easing the knob off. Patience here is key!