B.C. Rich knob/refinishing help.

[Xynche]

I've been trying to remove the tone knob from my B.C. Rich Warlock, and it doesn't seem to come off like my other basses knobs. It doesn't just pull off, and it doesn't have a little hole on the side for a hex key. I've searched and found people are having the same problems, but no solutions. Help?

Also, I was wondering about striping it of it's paint(Glossy black) and putting on a really dark finish on it, but on a back corner the paint is chiped a little, and it looks like the body is plastic? On the site I saw it said bass wood. So, is it just a primer or somthing?

Thanks