Push-pull pot

A combined potentiometer and switch on a single shaft, operated by pulling or pushing the knob instead of turning it.

It allows a switching function to be added to a guitar without drilling a new hole, which is why it is the standard way to install a coil split, a phase reversal or a series-parallel option on an instrument that already has the right number of knobs. Internally the switch is a separate set of contacts operated by the shaft's travel, with lugs for the new wiring. The added component makes the cavity more crowded, which can matter in tight or shallow control routes.

Example: pulling the tone knob on a two-humbucker guitar can switch both pickups to single coil for a brighter clean sound.

Push-pull pot

See also