This is a question that comes up a surprising amount of times, and many people run into issues mounting their pots on their guitars because they are actually doing it incorrectly.  So, here is a definitive guide to teach you the correct order for the nuts and washers to be installed on your pots, on your guitars.

Side View Example:

You use the second nut below the mounting surface to determine the height of the pot's shaft above the mounting surface.  Note that not all pots comes with this combination of mounting hardware.

The General Rule: Lock washers and any additional nuts always go UNDER the mounting surface.  The top should only ever have a single nut and a single flat washer at the most.

In case that isn't clear, here are all of the possible combinations you need to know, with descriptions of what goes where, from the bottom (pot body) to the top:

• 1 nut only = Pot body, mounting surface, nut.
• 1 nut, and 1 flat washer = Pot body, mounting surface, flat washer, nut.
• 1 nut, and 1 lock washer = Pot body, lock washer, mounting surface, nut.
• 1 nut, 1 flat washer, and 1 lock washer = Pot body, lock washer, mounting surface, flat washer, nut.
• 2 nuts, and 2 flat washers = Pot body, nut, flat washer, mounting surface, flat washer, nut.
• 2 nuts, 1 flat washer, and 1 lock washer = Pot body, nut, lock washer, mounting surface, flat washer, nut, as pictured above.

Those are all of the possible mounting combinations.  You don't necessarily need to use all of the mounting hardware you receive with your pot.  Some pots don't come with much more than a nut, so keep an eye on what is included with the pots you're purchasing.  Generally, you want at least a flat washer and nut.  If you're a luthier, tech, or avid hobbyist, it's a great idea to keep spare nuts, flat washers, and lock washers on hand in the common diameters so you are ready for any scenario.

Happy building/modding!