Relic/Aged Top Hat Knob shortage

[EdmundGTP]

I think that greening was based on one particular guitar from the late 50’s that had experienced the exact conditions needed to green up like that, and the marketing of aged stuff just got caught up in it.

I’m not even sure if it was a Les Paul ...

Interesting.

Sidenote I do have a set of '59 Parts aged knobs laying around as well if anyone wants them. They showed up not looking exactly as they do in the advertising photos. Don't really like the greening pattern under the knob skirt. It just looks obvious that the gold paint was purposefully wiped away. They appear, to my eye, to be hastily aged common gold bonnet knobs. Didn't have the look I was after. Didn't bother to return them either.

Shape of the '59 Parts knob is identical to the standard off the shelf Gibson knob with the exception of the top corner that looks to be rounded off by sandpaper from the frosted edge.

Four knobs from '59 Parts on the left. 1 Knob from a 2009 R8 on the Right

 

[mjross]

i have bought a few sets from the same vendor ,59 parts in poland, and for the price they look good on a a few 90's LP that i stripped...

you will like them...i think he switched shipping compnaies, first set took a month to get here to the States but second set i think only 2 weeks and a day ot two...

I’ll have them Thursday! They ship fast these days.

 

[mjross]

Interesting.

Sidenote I do have a set of '59 Parts aged knobs laying around as well if anyone wants them. They showed up not looking exactly as they do in the advertising photos. They appear, to my eye, to be hastily aged common gold bonnet knobs. Didn't have the look I was after. Didn't bother to return them either.

Shape of the '59 Parts knob is identical to the standard off the shelf Gibson knob with the exception of the top corner that looks to be rounded off by sandpaper from the frosted edge.

Four knobs from '59 Parts on the left. 1 Knob from a 2009 R8 on the Right

Kind of strange! Out of a bizillian reviews I had a hard time finding a negative one. Most everyone really liked them. I’m not going to get too cork sniffing excited about knobs. I just don’t want some that look new on a relic guitar!

 

[EdmundGTP]

Kind of strange! Out of a bizillian reviews I had a hard time finding a negative one. Most everyone really liked them. I’m not going to get too cork sniffing excited about knobs. I just don’t want some that look new on a relic guitar!

Eh, don't get me wrong. They aren't horrible, but to me the aging on them just looks obviously in-authentic. Then again, it could just be me being way too picky.

 

[mjross]

Eh, don't get me wrong. They aren't horrible, but to me the aging on them just looks obviously in-authentic. Then again, it could just be me being way too picky.

We’ll see when they get here Thursday! I’m not really diggin the new HM knobs. Glad I did not shell out the ridiculous amount of cash as I had originally planned. I also looked at CreamTone 59 but they could not deliver. So, for now I’ll just hope these work out. Damn, it’s just money!

 

[judson]

Eh, don't get me wrong. They aren't horrible, but to me the aging on them just looks obviously in-authentic. Then again, it could just be me being way too picky.

i can understand that but when i put new knobs on a 93 that i stripped, they looked a bit hokey cuz they were brand new and too shiney....so i ordered a set from the poland guy....you cant beat the price really

so not trying to fool anyone it was just appearance, new was too new, a bit scraped up just looked more like the guitar should be for being almost 30 years old...just tried to find a pic...will post it later

EDIT: i couldnt find the ones on the 93 i stripped but i forgot i put a set on my 2006 R8 VOS actually they look good to me there and most of my LPs have top hat bell reflectors as i like the feel of them and of course the looks...here is R8

 

[markguitar]

I’ve got knobs that look as good if not better than any shown in this thread for $95.00! There are only a few companies in the world that have molds and actually make knobs. I don’t make knobs and neither does HM or most of the other vendors. The knobs HM is now selling look to be stock Gibson True Historic knobs. They can be had from the manufacturer for cheap money in quantity. So way more profit margin. Sorry, but those don’t look anywhere near as nice as the older ones HM use to sell which were very similar to the ones I sell.

 

[EdmundGTP]

I’ve got knobs that look as good if not better than any shown in this thread for $95.00! There are only a few companies in the world that have molds and actually make knobs. I don’t make knobs and neither does HM or most of the other vendors. The knobs HM is now selling look to be stock Gibson True Historic knobs. They can be had from the manufacturer for cheap money in quantity. So way more profit margin. Sorry, but those don’t look anywhere near as nice as the older ones HM use to sell which were very similar to the ones I sell.

Man, I wish I'd seen yours before deciding to keep the recent HM knobs. They definitely appear to have the look I prefer.

 

[Brek]

this might be of interest to anyone else looking for new knobs.

Vintage Top Hat Knobs Gold Set of 4

the worlds finest selection of Customparts

www.crazyparts.de

 

[Stonehard]

Vintage Haven... let's see how long this post lasts?

 

[Angelus]

I m taking advantage of this post.

I m searching for years but I can t find, do anyone here knows where I could find gold/black reflector or witch hat knobs that looks really gold ? Like on the custom LPs from the 68/77... all I can find is a kind of faded gold, almost silver... aged or not I don t mind.

Thanks !

 

[mjross]

this might be of interest to anyone else looking for new knobs.

Vintage Top Hat Knobs Gold Set of 4

the worlds finest selection of Customparts

www.crazyparts.de

Not to bad! Don’t appear to be Reliced.

 

[mjross]

Just got the Top Hats from 59 Parts in Warsaw Poland. Real fast shipping by the way. Took some pics but they are not very good. Might give you an idea of how they look.

Edit: Damn, these things are tight! Any tricks to get them on and not break them?

https://imgur.com/a/8JDOgvF

 

[EdmundGTP]

Push hard. They'll go.

Those Vintage Haven knobs above look real good!

 

[mjross]

Push hard. They'll go.

Those Vintage Haven knobs above look real good!

I agree, they look pretty nice!

 

[GermHerm]

Here is a good German source: https://crazyparts.de/

 

[sgfan]

Stonehard:

Is Vintage Haven selling replica knobs? I don't see anything on their site.

 

[Brek]

i bought a set of aged top hats off Vintage haven last year, really nice. I also bought a set from crazy parts to compare, not the same priced one a cheaper version, which was better than what Gibson supply, but not same accuracy as the Vintage haven one, although I notice on crazyparts website they may now do an equivalent one as price is the same. So if people still struggling to find knobs there is still hope lol.

 

[sgfan]

Brek, thanks for the reply. I'll have to e-mail them. I'm in the States so I'm curious how they compare to the kinds you can get through Mark's Guitar Loft, Creamtone, or Retrospec. I think people have said the Gibson True Historic knobs are the closest but I don't think Gibson sells those separately.

 

[Sct13]

I have three real ones if anyone wants to make a fair offer… never gonna use them I suppose