Re: Noob question time
On a top quality carved top solid body electric guitar, you would expect the back face of the control cavity to be the flat surface of the maple cap. Some copy guitar makers cut a step in the control cavity face so that shorter shaft pots will pass through and still match to the curve of the top carve.
Obviously, if you have long shaft pots, it is possible to "lose" some of the extra height by the way that you set the hex nuts and star washers.