Knobs?

gball

gball

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I have kind of sworn off modding my guitars but I realized something recently: I really hate anything but speed knobs, especially the teeny-tiny top hats, so, I ordered a bunch and am retrofitting speedies to each of my guitars that had some other type (reflectors and speed knobs). They fall easier to hand, feel more comfortable to turn and are easier to make small adjustments with. I even think I may prefer they way they look. I'd thought that the knob placement on a Firebird would be too tight for speed knobs. It isn't and they are better. Same on and SG.

Anyone else have a strong knob preference?
 
i play with my knob so much..lol

my style is amp set..use guitar for tone changes with a pedal to bump here & there...

just got all them LP's & kinda like em all....i have a 7 7 7 7 setting on Gibsons that is very in between with both pickups on...i did like the top hats cause the numbers stood out...and at first i didnt like the clear ones on the Burny but the silver pointer works great..the 7's is the only time i really search for the number cause i use that a lot on clean for heavy strumming(but never as good as Goo can strum ..tho)
 
gball said:
I have kind of sworn off modding my guitars but I realized something recently: I really hate anything but speed knobs, especially the teeny-tiny top hats, so, I ordered a bunch and am retrofitting speedies to each of my guitars that had some other type (reflectors and speed knobs). They fall easier to hand, feel more comfortable to turn and are easier to make small adjustments with. I even think I may prefer they way they look. I'd thought that the knob placement on a Firebird would be too tight for speed knobs. It isn't and they are better. Same on and SG.

Anyone else have a strong knob preference?
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I, too, prefer speed knobs.

I have them on four of my seven electrics. I even replaced the top hats on my semi-hollow Washburn with them.

In some cases, I’ve opted to retain the originals for stylistic reasons. I have kept the original knobs on my Strat, and I’ve kept the original reflectors on my 2014 SG. I also put knurled, dome knobs on my Jackson. I actually like those quite a bit, too.

But, generally, I do like speed knobs, especially on Les Pauls. Both my Lesters have them.
 
I don't have a specific favourite although I like the look of reflectors on an SG. The reflectors aren't ergonomically the best, probably a good grippy speed knob is better in that regard, but maybe doesn't suit the classic looks of an SG? If I was a better player and out gigging then I might possibly follow Gball's lead?
 
Mr Grumpy said:
I don't have a specific favourite although I like the look of reflectors on an SG. The reflectors aren't ergonomically the best, probably a good grippy speed knob is better in that regard, but maybe doesn't suit the classic looks of an SG? If I was a better player and out gigging then I might possibly follow Gball's lead?
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In the '70's and early '80's SG's had them standard too. So I look at either option as a classic look.

My all-time favorites are the Gibson Supreme Grip knobs that they had in 2014:

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Such a great feel, wish they still made them. I just put a set of them on my SG Standard and they are great. Trying to find some more but because they were only made for 1 year they are hard to find and expensive ($35 for the set I bought). There are some non-Gibson ones out there but they have vintage-style centers so they sit really high off the top of the guitar, which I don't like.
 
Mr Grumpy said:
The reflectors aren't ergonomically the best, probably a good grippy speed knob is better in that regard, but maybe doesn't suit the classic looks of an SG? If I was a better player and out gigging then I might possibly follow Gball's lead?
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Yeah. On my 2014 SG, the reflectors really do fit the aesthetic of the guitar the best, especially with the Maestro vibrato. My ‘74 SG came stock with speed knobs, though. But, I agree. The reflector knobs aren’t the best, due to the small diameter, smooth knob.

Strat knobs aren’t too bad since they have the external splines. Knurled, dome knobs also allow for pretty easy control, so they’re okay, too. Personally, I tend to prefer the look of knurled, dome knobs on Super Strats, anyway.

Aside from certain situations, such as these, I generally gravitate toward speed knobs, though.
 
Witch Hats are very cool looking, but not very intuitive to use. Top Hats and Reflectors still look good, and are much more user friendly than the Witch Hats. My favorite for feel and practicality are flat or dome metal knobs with the knurls. But sometimes on certain guitars they don't look right.

Can anybody comment on the PRS Lampshape knobs?
71w3PUkBfYL._AC_SL1500_.jpg
 
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Knobs are good, m'kay?

I like speed knobs and top hats equally well as long as I can read the numbers. Guess I'm not that fussy, but I did not like the all black top hats on my black 2018 SG Standard. Looked wrong. It got silver reflectors. Wish I still had the stock knobs from my 68 SG. I thought speed knobs were cooler 35 years ago and threw the stockers away.
 
syscokid said:
Witch Hats are very cool looking, but not very intuitive to use. Top Hats and Reflectors still look good, and are much more user friendly than the Witch Hats. My favorite for feel and practicality are flat or dome metal knobs with the knurls. But sometimes on certain guitars they don't look right.

Can anybody comment on the PRS Lampshape knobs?
View attachment 39114
Click to expand...

Ha! I really cannot stand witch hats, look or feel of ‘em. To each their own.

The lampshades are awesome. I had them on all the PRS’ Ihave owned and they have a really nice feel - similar to the Gibson ones I posted but smoother on the edges. They are absurdly expensive though.
 
I do not like witch hats either.

Probably not a good time to try to remember what I did with the '68 pickups right now....
 
I should return my phone. Those pictures got progressively fuzzier as I over worked the cpu.
 
I have no real preference, though I like witch hats the least. I love speed knobs but don't really mind top hats or reflector knobs.
And I do like the PRS lampshades. Also really like the knurled metal Tele type knobs. Not for a Les Paul though.
I'd love to get a bunch of speed knobs with the rubber grip rings.

I also like some of the two-color speed knobs I've seen on eBay. The speed knobs with grip notches are available in eBay too.
They're Chinese so you need to be sure you're ordering in the size you need, metric or standard.
 
eclecticsynergy said:
I have no real preference, though I like witch hats the least. I love speed knobs but don't really mind top hats or reflector knobs.
And I do like the PRS lampshades. Also really like the knurled metal Tele type knobs. Not for a Les Paul though.
I'd love to get a bunch of speed knobs with the rubber grip rings.

I also like some of the two-color speed knobs I've seen on eBay. The speed knobs with grip notches are available in eBay too.
They're Chinese so you need to be sure you're ordering in the size you need, metric or standard.
Click to expand...

All the non-Gibson ones I’ve seen have vintage-depth mounting. I don’t like the knobs hovering over the guitar like a UFO, so those are a no-go for me.
 
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