Guitar Knobs?

Question

What exactly are all the knobs on electric guitars for? Is there a knob for each pickup? and is the Rythm and Treble just switching pickups?

Answer 1

Ah, the "Rhythm/Treble" switch tipped me off.

The switch is to select one or both pickups. The rhythm (neck) pickup is closest to the neck, the treble (bridge) pickup is closest to the neck.

Now, assuming you have 4 knobs, the 2 closest to the neck are volume, and the other 2 are tone.

If you have the switch in the middle position, it will seem like the knobs don't do anything except for volume, BUT if you are in the rhythm OR treble position you will hear a difference in volume and tone when turning the appropriate knobs. This difference is much less noticeable if you add lots of distortion, reverb, or some other effects.

Answer 2

Oh boy.... that requires a long answer. It depends on the guitar. If you take a modern day Strat, its got a volume and two tone knobs, and aselector switch for pickup combinations. The tone knobs kick in according to the pickup selections. On a Tele, also by Fender, there is a similar sistem, only that there's just one tone knob, and works no matter what your pickup selection may be. Gibson guitars are somewhat similar to this, they're like a slightly more complex Strat as far as selection, volume and tone go.

However, there is really stange stuff out there. Take Vox or Eko quitars. They have a switch for EVERYTHING, on/off for EACH pickup, (thus not a splitting selector like a strat) some of the weirder models even have a volume and tone knob for each pickup!!! Also, it was expected on European guitars from that time period to have on board effects (!!!), usually tremolo or fuzz. That added a whole set of switches to your guitar.
If you wanna see really weird things, I recommend you go on Ebay and check out pictures of guitars by Eko, Vox, and also Airline or National guitars. Strange stuff, believe me. The Fender Jaguar is also a weird one, I have one and I am still not sure what the specific function of two switches is, I just mess with them till I get the sound I want, period.

Answer 3

There are volume, switching between pickups (neck, bridge, both) bass to treble and on active guitars, there are equalizer setting knobs.

Answer 4

Knobs do not screw on so the dimensions of any thread is irrelevant! There are 2 major sorts, those that push on and pull off (like those ideal for Les Paul and Stratocaster guitars) and are meant to be ideal for pots with a splined shaft and those that include a small grub screw which it tightened down onto a competent shaft (like those ideal for accepted Telecasters). the incorrect form gained't in good structure.