Strat Question-Pickup Cover Change

slackerprince · May 23rd, 2008, 07:05 PM

Hey Everybody-

I got the kit to change all the knobs and pickup covers for my MIM Roadhouse Strat, but concerned about pulling the pickguard off to see if the pickup covers fit. My concern is making sure the volume and tone pots are easy to line-up back into the pickguard holes. I am fairly handy, but don't want to screw up any alignments or adjustments just to do something cosmetic. I am trying to change-out the original white to aged-white.
Let me know how it is once you remove all the screws and get the pickguard off, and if it's fairly easy to line-up the pots.
Thanks.

Slackerprince

AnthemBassMan · May 23rd, 2008, 07:11 PM

-Actually the pots stay on the pickguard when you remove it. The only thing you'll have to do is take a measurement of the pickup height before you remove them so you know where to bring them back to when you replace the covers. The pot knobs just pull straight off. Easiest way to do it is take a dish towel and wrap it under the skirt of the knob. Then twist the towel so it won't slip and give it a quick yank. Also be sure to hold the guitar down with your other hand or your guitar might suddenly sprout wings and take off flying. It's a lot easier than reading this post.

L8R,
Matt D.

slackerprince · May 23rd, 2008, 07:20 PM

Yea, I'm concerned about making sure that pickup height is back where it should be. Once you remove the pickup screws, it changes the pickup height?
Let me know about that aspect. Everything else should be cool.
Thanks.

Slackerprince

beep.click · May 24th, 2008, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slackerprince

Once you remove the pickup screws, it changes the pickup height? Let me know about that aspect.

Yes, the height changes.

Suggestion: take measurements between the top of the pickup polepiece and the bottom of the string. Do this on both the low E side AND the high E side. That's probably your best bet, to put it back together the way it was.

dobrodoc · May 24th, 2008, 05:01 AM

Simple operation. Be careful pulling the knobs off, though. I have (on another, cheaper brand guitar) pulled the shaft completely out of the pot! And when you put the knobs back on, make sure the splines on the shaft are lined up with the knob. Piece o'cake!

RodeoTex · May 24th, 2008, 10:43 AM

Someone here on this forum suggested using 2 spoons to easily pry off Strat knobs. Works great.

AnthemBassMan · May 24th, 2008, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dobrodoc

Simple operation. Be careful pulling the knobs off, though. I have (on another, cheaper brand guitar) pulled the shaft completely out of the pot! And when you put the knobs back on, make sure the splines on the shaft are lined up with the knob. Piece o'cake!

-Wow, I never heard of anyone doing that. Those must have been some seriously cheap pots.

L8R,
Matt D.

May 23rd, 2008, 07:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
slackerprince TDPRI Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Tampa, Fl. Age: 46 Posts: 14	Strat Question-Pickup Cover Change Hey Everybody- I got the kit to change all the knobs and pickup covers for my MIM Roadhouse Strat, but concerned about pulling the pickguard off to see if the pickup covers fit. My concern is making sure the volume and tone pots are easy to line-up back into the pickguard holes. I am fairly handy, but don't want to screw up any alignments or adjustments just to do something cosmetic. I am trying to change-out the original white to aged-white. Let me know how it is once you remove all the screws and get the pickguard off, and if it's fairly easy to line-up the pots. Thanks. Slackerprince

May 24th, 2008, 10:43 AM	#6 (permalink)
RodeoTex Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,257	Someone here on this forum suggested using 2 spoons to easily pry off Strat knobs. Works great. __________________ Turn it on, turn it up, turn me loose.

May 23rd, 2008, 07:11 PM	#2 (permalink)
AnthemBassMan Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Ohio. Tuscarawas County Farm Country! Age: 42 Posts: 370	-Actually the pots stay on the pickguard when you remove it. The only thing you'll have to do is take a measurement of the pickup height before you remove them so you know where to bring them back to when you replace the covers. The pot knobs just pull straight off. Easiest way to do it is take a dish towel and wrap it under the skirt of the knob. Then twist the towel so it won't slip and give it a quick yank. Also be sure to hold the guitar down with your other hand or your guitar might suddenly sprout wings and take off flying. It's a lot easier than reading this post. L8R, Matt D.

May 23rd, 2008, 07:20 PM	#3 (permalink)
slackerprince TDPRI Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Tampa, Fl. Age: 46 Posts: 14	Yea, I'm concerned about making sure that pickup height is back where it should be. Once you remove the pickup screws, it changes the pickup height? Let me know about that aspect. Everything else should be cool. Thanks. Slackerprince

May 24th, 2008, 05:01 AM	#5 (permalink)
dobrodoc Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Ware Shoals, S.C. Age: 53 Posts: 385	Simple operation. Be careful pulling the knobs off, though. I have (on another, cheaper brand guitar) pulled the shaft completely out of the pot! And when you put the knobs back on, make sure the splines on the shaft are lined up with the knob. Piece o'cake!