Hi, wondering if anyone can advise me on how to remove the s-1 volume/tone pots so I may remove the protective plastic off the pickguard. Thanks!

if i understand your question correctly, you think you have to remove the pots, in order to remove the protective plastic covering on the pickguard?

The only protective plastic on the pickguard of my strat is a thin layer of clear plastic, thats easily peeled off.

you dont have to remove the pots to do this though!

Hi jonwoo, welcome to the Forum.

I've never taken the pot off my S1 equiped Strat, but another Forum user mentioned that the knob just pulls off the same as ordinary ones.

Then just loosen the nut to get the plastic out from beneath it and retighten. Shouldn't need to remove the pot entirely - but you may need to take the pickguard off the body so's to hold the pot at the back when you retighten the nut. If that pot inadvertently spins around it may pull away some of the wiring - and that little S1 gizmo is moderately complicated to rewire. Better to avoid that...

Cheers - C

I just pulled the knob off, then used a razor to cut along the nut. You're not going to see any little bit of plastic you may miss under the knob anyway.

Regarding the pot's...your correct, I do not need to remove. Just the knobs themselves toget to the protective plastic still stuck in between the guard & knobs. I guess what I'm asking is: How do I safetly remove/lift knobs to get to the remaining film...without damaging my baby?

Just give them a pull. YOu may need to work it up, put the edge of a pick, or something thin enough to get underneath, and rock it back and forth to get the knob to lift up a bit. Then you should be able to just get a couple finger nails under there and pull it up. It may be a little tight because you havent pulled it up, but it will. You shouldnt be too worried about scratching the guard, because you still have the plastic on it, if you are worried, lay a piece of thick paper under whatever you're using to jimmy it up with (just dont use sharp metal it you're nervous about scratching it), you may use the hindged part of a fingernail clipper, you know the part you spin around and push down on your thumb, its rounded, and that will work.

Ah, I see. Then in addition to what Windwalker said I'll also mention the spoons method. Take a couple of small teaspoons with the round side downwards, slip their tips under either side of the knob and use them as jacks to gently prise it off.

Or some people use a shoelace under the knob for the same purpose.

Personally, I just find it an excellent opportunity to break the fingernails on my right hand yet again!

Good luck - C

Lol...Thanks-a-mill!

This is my recommendation as well.

Thanks, again for all those who responded. Worked perfectly!