Your Favorite Knob....

[pancake81]

Talking about knobs what do you suggest for my Les Paul Tribute ?


View attachment 43427

Black reflector top hats gets my vote. Silver would be sharp, but you could get away with gold inserts as well

 

[donepearce]

The chicken head for me. I know exactly where that is pointed in the dark.

 

[Flaps]

I've speed knobs on mine, but I'd like some black top hats

 

[pancake81]

The chicken head for me. I know exactly where that is pointed in the dark.

View attachment 43429

i love all the retro knobs like the chicken heads and radio knobs. I would love to find a beat up Sg, LP or any Gibson really to do a odd ball funky build

 

[cerebral gasket]

I've always called Top Hats with inserts "Reflectors". Those are my favorite on all SG from 1961-71 and any reissues of that era.

But as others have pointed out, Top Hats can be called other names. Some have inserts, some do not.

1. Top Hat Bell Reflector Knob
2. Top Hat Knob with Insert
3. Top Hat Bell Knob
4. Top Hat Knob

If the knobs are missing, I just use a pair of vise grips.

 

[papagayo]

Black reflector top hats gets my vote. Silver would be sharp, but you could get away with gold inserts as well

What do you tnink about this model? https://www.crazyparts.de/knobs/kno...tyle-knobs/blackngold-speedknobs-set-of-4.php

 

[cerebral gasket]

Which Witch?

 

[donepearce]

What do you tnink about this model? https://www.crazyparts.de/knobs/kno...tyle-knobs/blackngold-speedknobs-set-of-4.php

I have those on my Les Paul. They work well on the LP pots, which are fairly stiff to turn, not like those on the 339 which need barely a touch.

 

[cerebral gasket]

 

[papagayo]

Talking about knobs what do you suggest for my Les Paul Tribute ?

I order this model:

 

[SatansGwitar]

Which Witch?

Yeah I prefer the stock Gibson witch hat's but they are rare and expensive and typically used. I have the Telecaster witch hat knobs on my SG Special cuz it matches the original Gibsons versus the aforementioned off brand above sans missing the number zero, better matched narrow font and white colored numbers versus that silver stuff. Btw the Telecaster witch hats brim is more arched up like the original Gibsons, the off brand is relatively flat.

 

[pancake81]

So tell me, as I am no expert, what are the major differences between the Gibson witch hats and the after market ones. Also, is there differences in Gibson witch hats from historic to present? These are authentic Gibson witch hats, although only 12 years old...

Which Witch?

 

[SatansGwitar]

So tell me, as I am no expert, what are the major differences between the Gibson witch hats and the after market ones. Also, is there differences in Gibson witch hats from historic to present? These are authentic Gibson witch hats, although only 12 years old...

Exactly this what Cerebral Gasket posted:

left: the original Gibson witch hat knob/ right: modern off brand witch hat knob

A descriptive difference is, the two fonts of the vol./tone text and the numbers which were narrower, numbers were white colored not silver and the brim of the knobs had more of an angle oh and the metal insert were more sunken in with a slightly thicker edging. Based off your picture I cant disagree that your knobs are authentic as the vol./tone font matches the original. The main thing to consider is Gibson has never offered the witch hats for sale as separate parts, and their modern witch hats they assemble on historic reissues etc. don't match their original knobs of the late 60's/70's.

 

[Piper68Special]

Here's a thread about this-

https://www.everythingsg.com/threads/which-witch-hat-is-which.36850/

 

[SG standard]

Which Witch?

Thanks - finally we have proof that there's a difference in tone. And we didn't even need a blind test to prove it.

 

[cerebral gasket]

So tell me, as I am no expert, what are the major differences between the Gibson witch hats and the after market ones. Also, is there differences in Gibson witch hats from historic to present? These are authentic Gibson witch hats, although only 12 years old...

Look at the font.
Particularly the "0".
Repros are not condensed like the originals.

 

[pancake81]

Look at the font.
Particularly the "0".
Repros are not condensed like the originals.

Thanks for the education gentlemen. Interesting that even Gibson doesn’t reproduce them correctly, at least not vintage correct.

The ones I posted are off a custom shop model of a 1970 SG. I would have expected them to be spot on, but hey, these are the little corners Gibson cuts. Personally I am not bent about font, and “0” shapes. Although I agree the white numbers look sharper than silver.

 

[SatansGwitar]

Here is my SG with Telecaster knobs. Theyre heavier than regular plastic, believe theyre some kinda bakelite/resin material, they feel sturdy, and not cheap with real metal inserts thats cold to the touch and closer to the original Gibson witch hats sans the missing 0 and the screw parts.

 

[pancake81]

View attachment 43438 Here is my SG with Telecaster knobs. Theyre heavier than regular plastic, believe theyre some kinda bakelite/resin material, they feel sturdy, and not cheap with real metal inserts thats cold to the touch and closer to the original Gibson witch hats sans the missing 0 and the screw parts.

those look great! You have a source for those?

 

[NMA]

Must have pointers. The cheapest and easiest and best mod for your SG.

Seriously, without the pointers how exactly would I know if I am on 8 or 9 or 7 or 8.4? Knobs and the numbers on them do not matter unless you have pointers.