what are the knobs on a guitar called

2 min read 01-01-2025

The knobs on a guitar, those small, often-overlooked controls, play a significant role in shaping your sound. Understanding their function is key to unlocking your guitar's full potential. But what are they actually called? Let's dive in!

Types of Guitar Knobs and Their Functions

Most electric guitars feature several knobs, typically arranged in a row on the guitar's body. While the specific names might vary slightly depending on the guitar model and manufacturer, the core functions remain consistent.

1. Volume Knobs

These are perhaps the most intuitive knobs on a guitar. They control the overall output level of your instrument. Turning the knob clockwise increases the volume, while counterclockwise decreases it. Many guitars have one volume knob, while others, especially humbucker-equipped guitars, might have two – one for each pickup.

2. Tone Knobs

Tone knobs adjust the tonal quality of your guitar's sound. They typically work by filtering out certain frequencies, affecting the brightness, warmth, and overall character of your tone. A guitar might have one or more tone knobs, often labeled "Tone" or "Treble." These knobs interact with the pickups and your amplifier's settings to create a wide range of sonic possibilities.

3. Pickup Selectors (Not Technically Knobs, But Important Controls)

While not strictly knobs, pickup selectors are crucial controls often found on electric guitars with multiple pickups. These switches, usually a lever or rotary dial, allow you to select which pickup (or combination of pickups) is active. This significantly impacts the guitar's tone, from bright and twangy to thick and warm. The options available depend on the number and type of pickups installed on the guitar.

Variations and Special Features

Some guitars feature additional knobs beyond the standard volume and tone controls. These might include:

Boost Knobs: These provide a temporary increase in volume or gain, useful for adding emphasis to certain parts of a song.
Push-Pull Pots: These are special potentiometers (the technical name for guitar knobs) that offer additional functions when pulled out. They can often split humbucker pickups for a single-coil sound, change capacitor values, or even activate other circuitry modifications.
Mid-range controls: Some guitars have dedicated controls for adjusting the midrange frequencies, allowing for more precise tonal shaping.

Understanding Your Guitar's Specific Controls

The best way to understand your guitar's knobs is through experimentation. Start by playing with the volume and tone knobs individually, noting how they affect your sound. Then explore the pickup selector switch and see how each pickup or pickup combination sounds. Pay attention to how your amplifier's settings interact with the guitar's controls.

Beyond the Knobs: Other Important Controls

Don't forget other important elements that influence your guitar's sound, such as:

Pickups: The type of pickup (single-coil, humbucker, P90, etc.) dramatically influences your tone.
Amplifier: Your amplifier settings (gain, EQ, etc.) significantly impact your final sound. The interaction between guitar and amp is key.
Effects Pedals: These add further sonic possibilities and shaping.

By understanding how all these components work together, you can harness the full potential of your guitar and craft your own unique sound. So, get experimenting and have fun!