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Post by zontar on Jun 13, 2021 7:17:13 GMT
One difference between guitar companies can be the knobs they use-Fender typically has different style knobs than Gibson-and I've tried Gibson Types knobs on my Mustang--they just don't work. As far as I can tell or am aware, there are four main types of knobs that historically appear on Gibson guitars (& Gibson styles ones often use one of them.) One type is the Speed Knob, also called the Barrel Knob. Speed because they are easier than the others for most people to turn quickly (Your mileage, as they say may vary) Barrel due to the shape:  then there are Top Hats, because that's kind of how they are shaped:  And then there are Reflector knobs, also referred to as Top Hats or To Hats with inserts, but to avoid confusion many call them Reflectors because the insert is usually shiny & reflects light:  And then, in that same general shape, but not quite the same--Witch Hats (which they kind of look like):  So question: If someone was making you a custom Gibson Style Guitar--which would you pick of those 4? Or would you use a different existing knob? Or design your own custom ones? |
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Post by johnreardon on Jun 13, 2021 8:06:06 GMT
I have a mix of my LPs and don't really mind which they are. I suppose if I had to make a decision on which look the 'best' it would be to the Top Hats with the inserts. Here's my R8, R0 and R9 |
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Post by Die Bullen on Jun 14, 2021 0:07:46 GMT
Not sure I can even give an answer on this one. It would really depend on the style of guitar, color scheme, etc. I have guitars with quite a few of these styles- I'm not sure I have much of a preference overall. My last custom archtop had which hat reflectors
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Post by zontar on Jun 14, 2021 2:08:11 GMT
Not sure I can even give an answer on this one. It would really depend on the style of guitar, color scheme, etc. I have guitars with quite a few of these styles- I'm not sure I have much of a preference overall. My last custom archtop had which hat reflectors Style of guitar? Any of the traditional or usual Gibson styles. Colour scheme--for me that would affect the colour of the knobs, not sure how that would affect style of knobs though--I guess it could, although not so much for me. And keep in mind you are designing the guitar--so whatever you design it as--use that. |
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Post by zontar on Jun 14, 2021 2:09:33 GMT
Oh and I definitely have a 1-4 ranking for me.
I've had guitars with two of these, and played guitars with all of them.
And it has more to do with functionality than looks or even colour.
I may share that ranking later.
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Post by infant on Jun 14, 2021 4:39:00 GMT
Both my Gibsons (Melody Maker and ES137) came with black speed knobs. I have left the 137 stock but I put reflectors on the TV yellow MM just to give it some "bling". Preference??? Maybe the reflectors and then the speed knob
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Post by Sinster on Jun 14, 2021 17:55:09 GMT
Only reflectors for me. I hate speed knobs, my Gary Moore BFG has a Top Hat which I kind of tolerate.
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Post by zontar on Jun 17, 2021 4:56:35 GMT
I love Speed knobs and have swapped them out on a couple of guitars for them.
Reflectors would be my second choice.
Top Hats (As pictured above) don't work well with my fingers--although they look cool, they aren't that practical for me.
If I got a guitar with Top Hats on it I would change them--probbaly to Speed Knobs
They are just smooch easier to work.
Witch Hats just feel cheap.
They are't the different than the Strat Style ones Fender uses, or some amp ones--btu they are different enough--again, they would get swapped out.
(As I did do with men Les Paul Copy & My EB3 copy (Bass)--both have speed knobs not hem, and have for years.)
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Post by Bill h on Jun 23, 2021 18:51:23 GMT
I like to top hat knobs. I’ve had speed knobs in the past, didn’t like them, didn’t like the looks either. Top hats are not as easy as speed knobs to move while your playing but I actually like that feature.
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Post by zontar on Jun 24, 2021 3:50:54 GMT
I like to top hat knobs. I’ve had speed knobs in the past, didn’t like them, didn’t like the looks either. Top hats are not as easy as speed knobs to move while your playing but I actually like that feature. I'm not so worried about appearance (Although I have also switched colour of speed knob), but since I do sometimes use the controls while playing I like them to be easy to use. Top Hats look cool, but I don't get along with them. |
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Post by zontar on Jun 24, 2021 3:59:04 GMT
For non Gibson style guitars I find these types of knobs often don't work.
Fender has the similar, but not quite same as witch hat knobs that I like--those are on my Mustang--they came with it.
My fretless bass has knurled knobs, which I like as well, but without numbers I set them more by feel and where the screw holding them on is.
I've never swapped knobs on a non Gibson Style guitar.
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Post by Colchar on Jul 11, 2021 5:04:12 GMT
I prefer reflectors. They came stock on my current LP but they just didn't look good to me so I switched them out for amber knobs.
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Post by laristotle on Jul 11, 2021 14:53:02 GMT
As stated earlier, depends on what guitar they're going on. I had a set of these on my Epi Emperor II (pre Joe Pass)  |
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fretzel
Burnt Rock Star
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Post by fretzel on Jul 11, 2021 16:42:35 GMT
For me, I really like the reflector knobs. But IMO the pointer really completes that look.
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Post by Die Bullen on Jul 11, 2021 16:46:17 GMT
For me, I really like the reflector knobs. But IMO the pointer really completes that look. The pointer knobs ARE cool. I had a '55 Epihone zephyr regent that had those knobs... |
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fretzel
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Post by fretzel on Jul 11, 2021 16:52:56 GMT
For me, I really like the reflector knobs. But IMO the pointer really completes that look. The pointer knobs ARE cool. I had a '55 Epihone zephyr regent that had those knobs... We may be talking about different things. Although I like the type of pointer you are talking about. The Blueshawk has one for the varitone(I think that's what irs called). This is what is meant.  |
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Post by Die Bullen on Jul 11, 2021 17:30:56 GMT
You are right, different knobs. The epi had a little pointer attached to the round part of the knob ( actually octagonal? )
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Post by zontar on Jul 12, 2021 5:46:25 GMT
The pointer knobs ARE cool. I had a '55 Epihone zephyr regent that had those knobs... We may be talking about different things. Although I like the type of pointer you are talking about. The Blueshawk has one for the varitone(I think that's what irs called). This is what is meant. At least those ones are bent up so they are less likely to poke or gouge your thumb. (I have done that) |
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Post by george on Jul 19, 2021 15:23:19 GMT
I put black telecaster knobs on my LP Jr mainly for their simple utility but I think they look better than the stock ones.
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Post by zontar on Jul 19, 2021 22:18:54 GMT
I put black telecaster knobs on my LP Jr mainly for their simple utility but I think they look better than the stock ones. Function, cool. That's why I prefer speeds knobs. So if one of the four types listed above--what would you pick? The original idea was your ere getting a new Gibson style guitar & had those 4 choices for knobs--and of course you change them later. |
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Post by infant on Jul 20, 2021 1:01:00 GMT
The pointer knobs ARE cool. I had a '55 Epihone zephyr regent that had those knobs... We may be talking about different things. Although I like the type of pointer you are talking about. The Blueshawk has one for the varitone(I think that's what irs called). This is what is meant. Ah yes….the vegimatic slicers! Many a guitar players has done some damage to their pinkies with those things. I believe the pointer knobs on the varitone on the Blueshawk and my ES137 is referred to as a chicken head knob. They also use them on vintage tweed amps. My Fender FSR ‘72 Thinline RI also came with cream ones on the volume and tone controls. I quickly replaced them with standard Tele chrome knurled ones as chicken heads don’t lend themselves to easy pinky adjustments.  |
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fretzel
Burnt Rock Star
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Post by fretzel on Jul 23, 2021 14:57:42 GMT
I had the chicken heads on a pedal once. They seemed to hang over by just a smidge. Looked nice but not the most practical as they get moved very easy.
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Post by zontar on Jul 25, 2021 6:28:57 GMT
I had the chicken heads on a pedal once. They seemed to hang over by just a smidge. Looked nice but not the most practical as they get moved very easy. I've never considered that with Chicken knobs. I have seen old large stove/oven knobs on a pedal before--which looked cool, but I'm not sure how it would work in practice--it could work out real well. |
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fretzel
Burnt Rock Star
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Post by fretzel on Jul 27, 2021 1:22:51 GMT
I had the chicken heads on a pedal once. They seemed to hang over by just a smidge. Looked nice but not the most practical as they get moved very easy. I've never considered that with Chicken knobs. I have seen old large stove/oven knobs on a pedal before--which looked cool, but I'm not sure how it would work in practice--it could work out real well. Well, sometimes you gotta turn the heat up when you're letting it rip! The details vibe has the big knob for speed control. Or the big wheel on he old Maestro fuzz. Definitely are some practical uses. |
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Post by zontar on Jul 28, 2021 4:24:36 GMT
Depending on the size of your foot, you might be able to use that to dial the control.
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Post by zontar on Oct 12, 2021 0:04:48 GMT
Any thoughts on mismatched knobs on a guitar?
Some people do that on purpose, some out of need.
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Post by johnreardon on Oct 12, 2021 8:12:20 GMT
Any thoughts on mismatched knobs on a guitar? Some people do that on purpose, some out of need. I had a Joe Bonamassa Les Paul for a while. That had mismatched knobs on it. Never saw the point of it, however, if he liked it, then that's fine.
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Post by Die Bullen on Oct 12, 2021 11:14:35 GMT
Any thoughts on mismatched knobs on a guitar? Some people do that on purpose, some out of need. I don't really care for it |
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Post by zontar on Oct 13, 2021 6:15:53 GMT
I wouldn't do mismatched on purpose--except maybe different coloured speed knobs.
but I have seen people do it.
Sometimes because that is what they had or could get, spemtimes to look oddball, and sometimes because of who they use the volume vs the tone -or to distinguish better between them on the fly.
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Post by highdeaf on Oct 26, 2021 13:34:20 GMT
My mid-80s Vantage VE-450 (ES-336 copy - or would that be predecessor?) came with speed knobs. The first guitar I had with them, all previous electrics had top hats or witch hats. Because I was used to top hats, I changed the Vantage to that. More usual to control without looking for me, and I think they look better on the guitar. More traditional looking (I also swapped out open-coil buckers for chrome covered ones for partially the same reason).
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