I have a '69 Special which has (I believe) the original witch hat knobs. DB83363B-DD91-46C4-AF2C-4993146BD1F2 by Piper68Special posted Apr 30, 2020 at 12:58 PM I recently got a '20 Epiphone Classic and switched it over to an ivory switch tip and witch hats but they aren't the same as on my '69. F3EC9C76-488F-432E-A64D-2820C226CFA7 by Piper68Special posted Apr 30, 2020 at 12:58 PM in looking over the recent Iommi Monkey repro I noticed those witch hats are like my new ones. E6598551-C8E5-47E8-A702-917838B831D2 by Piper68Special posted Apr 30, 2020 at 12:58 PM Does anyone make witch hat knobs with the narrower numbers?
Yes Vintage Gibson made em, they can be had for somewhere around $80 for 2, to $100- $350 for a set of 4 ones straight out of the 60's. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-19...:USPSPriorityMailSmallFlatRateBox!21227!US!-1 https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-19...:USPSPriorityMailSmallFlatRateBox!21227!US!-1
Ouch on those prices. I wonder if a company out there is making narrow number knobs currently, as opposed to having to buy old ones?
It's a real head scratcher why the manufacturer producing the repro Witch Hats cannot seem to get the numbers to match the originals. Have they never heard of a condensed font?
The only thing I can think of is that maybe there's some kind of copyright issue involved or something.
You can almost have them 4 for $4.99 + $5 shipping. https://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Vintage-...rand=Unbranded&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851
Take a close look if you're hoping to use those on an SG. Numbers facing out, lines off the numbers, different font-still cool though!
Numbers pointing outward are to accommodate the orientation when using pointers. Actually, I have no idea, but it sounded good lol.
Forums ... I NEVER would have thought to look which way numbers are pointing on knobs, if it weren't for guys like you. But now that it's in the open, I find it more ergonomic if they face the player. This is the kind of thing that can't be unseen, thanks guys.
I hear you. When I first read that post I had to go to the back room and check which way mine were facing...
The original Gibson witch hats have the numbers laid out like Fender's amp knobs. The orientation makes sense if you picture the forward facing control panel of an amp, with the pointer at the top of the dial -- the number on the knob is right side up. Bell knobs, speed knobs, reflector knobs, Strat knobs, Ibanez Sure Grips, all have the numbers the other way. They'd be upside down if you put them on an amp, but when holding a guitar when you look down at them they're right side up. Oddly, Fender also used "tone" and "volume" witch hats on some guitars in the '60s and '70s. But unlike Fender's amp knobs or Gibson's guitar witch hats, Fender flipped the numbers to the conventional guitar orientation. People who buy Fender reissues are frustrated by the current Fender witch hats, because they have the numbers oriented like the old Gibson witch hats (wrong font though -- same knobs as the current Gibsons).
I always learn something on this forum! The wealth of knowledge some of us have the the smallest of details is disturbing. So, the big question for me right now is... will either of the two Knob sets I ordered, posted above, work on my SG’s? How goofy are they going to look
Here are some more detailed shots. Font on the reflectors, reflections on the reflectors, font of the numbers-seems like another ding on the $20k Monkey repro. Original on the right in all photos
