Chicken Head Knobs--Cheap Ones Don't Fit Right

[David Root]

I used PEC/Clarostat RV4 size pots in my last build and the six genuine Fender chicken heads I had fit great.

I also have some 85 cent knockoffs and they are not the same. They fit the shaft diameter but not the length, because they are not the same depth, they are shallower. And they look goofy on the longer shafts, like pant legs that somehow shrunk up above your sock line..

They do fit the shorter shafts of Alpha pots though.

Wish I'd known that before I bought 10 of them! They also don't fit AB/Ohmite 2W pots or old ('67) NOS CTS pots, all of which are US made....

Just in case any of you are thinking of making a big purchase, check 'em out first on the pots you are going to use!

[Andy Le Blanc]

Jig them up on a drill press and make the hole deeper,

they were probably made for a short knurled shaft.

[Structo]

Can't you drill the hole a little deeper?
I've had to drill a lot of knobs, either a little bigger (1/4") or a little deeper to match other knobs.

[David Root]

They have the the little screw just like the Fenders, they're just shorter.

I knew someone would say drill them out. The jig to hold it is the trick there though! I do have a drill press though......

Well, I found another thread that said wrap it in some cloth and put it in a vise. Well, it worked! Great, so I have some knobs for my next build.

[oatz]

Hey sounds good! I really like the strat riff you were playing there. You can hear the brightness of the amp...but I like the bright sound.