Gibson Witch Hat knobs - love them or hate them?

[floatingpickup]

I recently saw a posting on Facebook about late 60’s-70’s witch hat knobs. The guy has a 1970’s L5CES and he restored the white numbers on the old knobs. He said replicas don’t look right and originals sell for as much as $400/set. I had no idea they were worth anywhere near that. I thought that no one wanted them on their guitars anymore. I replaced the witch hats on my ‘74 L5CESN with gold reflector knobs a long time ago. Now I am wondering if I should put the witch hats back on. My only issue with that is….I don’t like the looks of them. How do other people feel about witch hat knobs? Love ‘em or hate ‘em?
Keith

[2bornot2bop]

Love them! They add a certain character to the guitar, which was a 1973.

[Stringswinger]

I never liked them and often replaced them with speed knobs myself. Why would I want my guitar to look like an amplifier?

I always saved them and included them with the guitars when I sold them. None of my buyers seemed thrilled to have them and I doubt that I got any extra money for including them. At $400 a set, I now wish I had saved them in a parts drawer. People can spend their money on whatever they want, but I can think of far better purchases with four Benjamins myself.

[bluejaybill]

Hated 'em. Still have a set from my '68 LP Custom around here somewhere. One of the pickups too, which I'm thinking about putting on an archtop.

Late '60's arch top owners, do you like that era's pickups for jazz? I had a '70 or so L5CES that i really liked the sound of.

And do you think the witch hats contributed to the sound?

[floatingpickup]

Hated 'em. Still have a set from my '68 LP Custom around here somewhere. One of the pickups too, which I'm thinking about putting on an archtop.

Late '60's arch top owners, do you like that era's pickups for jazz? I had a '70 or so L5CES that i really liked the sound of.

And do you think the witch hats contributed to the sound?

I have had a few guitars from late 60’s to mid-70’s with patent number pickups (some with stickers and some with stamped numbers). I always liked the sound of the pickups from that era. Was never a fan of the witch hats though. As SS said, they make your guitar look like an amplier.
Keith

[hotpepper01]

I recently saw a posting on Facebook about late 60’s-70’s witch hat knobs. The guy has a 1970’s L5CES and he restored the white numbers on the old knobs. He said replicas don’t look right and originals sell for as much as $400/set. I had no idea they were worth anywhere near that. I thought that no one wanted them on their guitars anymore. I replaced the witch hats on my ‘74 L5CESN with gold reflector knobs a long time ago. Now I am wondering if I should put the witch hats back on. My only issue with that is….I don’t like the looks of them. How do other people feel about witch hat knobs? Love ‘em or hate ‘em?
Keith

Hahaha... that was me posting. I only have them on a 75 winered LP Custom and on a 77 L5CES, Do I like them? Mwoa, certainly not my favs but I like those speedknobs even less. Simple bell knobs or tophats I like way better.

But I see now the opportunity to post a before and after pic

[citizenk74]

I like them. They look good, IMHO; I can see the numbers clearly, and they feel good under my fingers. I like other knobs as well, as long as they turn smoothly with just the right amount of resistance. Big brass chrome plated knurled knobs are my favorites, largely for tactile reasons - the mass provides a sure feel.
Truth be told, I've got a soft spot for chickenheads....

[2bornot2bop]

Hahaha... that was me posting. I only have them on a 75 winered LP Custom and on a 77 L5CES, Do I like them? Mwoa, certainly not my favs but I like those speedknobs even less. Simple bell knobs or tophats I like way better.

But I see now the opportunity to post a before and after pic

Beautiful L5!!!

[floatingpickup]

Hahaha... that was me posting. I only have them on a 75 winered LP Custom and on a 77 L5CES, Do I like them? Mwoa, certainly not my favs but I like those speedknobs even less. Simple bell knobs or tophats I like way better.

But I see now the opportunity to post a before and after pic

Haha! It’s a small world. You got me thinking. My guitar looks exactly like yours. I put the witch hats back in this morning after reading your post. I’m not sure if I like them or not.

[wintermoon]

I'm not crazy about them but was very annoyed when a certain northwest dealer removed them from my consigned late 60s Gibson and installed newer reflector knobs at my expense and w out my consent because "no one likes those knobs"

I'd like to see a sold auction of them for $400 before I believe it.

[Max405]

I am not a fan.
I never really knew why but SS’s “amp” reference made it kind of clear to me.
But I am a proponent of keeping guitars somewhat period correct, so if I had guitar that originally came with them, I’d probably leave them on.
Thankfully, I don’t..
JD

[grahambop]

I dislike them for purely practical reasons, because the narrow radius of the ‘hat’ makes it hard to turn the knobs with the side of a finger. So I put the gold speedknobs on my 175. They turn much more easily and having fitted them, I now prefer the look of them.

I still have the old ones, just in case.

[grahambop]

Oh yeah, another thing I remembered - the witch hat knobs have a tendency to break easily (well mine did anyway).

The knobs seem to stick out from the guitar more than the speedknobs do, and inside the knob is just a narrow column of plastic which pushes onto the metal column of the potentiometer - you only have to catch a glancing blow against something and the column shears or cracks. I had to fill it up twice with epoxy resin to try and strengthen it. Truly a crappy design.

The speedknobs are much more solid, and seem to be slightly lower, so they don’t have this issue.

[rpjazzguitar]

I've never had a guitar with chickenheads, but I can see the appeal. You can feel where they're pointing.

I've generally liked speed knobs. It's a small point, but I don't care as much for the way witch hats look.

[floatingpickup]

I am not a fan.
I never really knew why but SS’s “amp” reference made it kind of clear to me.
But I am a proponent of keeping guitars somewhat period correct, so if I had guitar that originally came with them, I’d probably leave them on.
Thankfully, I don’t..
JD

I also believe in keeping everything original. Any minor changes that I have ever made have been easily reversible. I actually have made very few changes to my guitars anyway. This was a minor one, but the witch hats are back on for now.
Keith

[jads57]

For what older parts are worth I’d sell them and put on new knobs, tuning gears and pickups! Much better parts currently avaible.
In fact I’d just sell the guitar and buy a newer used one, Lol!

[icr]

I have these on my 1973 Les Paul Custom. I can grip the rim of the knob with my pinky just as well as a speed knob. I have it setup so the knobs are raised up slightly from the front of the guitar to facilitate this.

[2bornot2bop]

I'm not crazy about them but was very annoyed when a certain northwest dealer removed them from my consigned late 60s Gibson and installed newer reflector knobs at my expense and w out my consent because "no one likes those knobs"

I'd like to see a sold auction of them for $400 before I believe it.

Not Joe V?!

[JohanAbrandt]

I think they look mighty nice on a telecaster with a flipped control plate, kind of Muddy Kirchen

[Doug B]

Complete indifference to them-it's the guitar that they are attached to.

[Cavalier]

Utterly bemused.

[Woody Sound]

I like how they look, but I don't like using them. Does that make any sense?

[Laro]

Guild knobs are the best...
Seriously, they are very easy and quick to operate!

[Gabor]

I never liked them and often replaced them with speed knobs myself. Why would I want my guitar to look like an amplifier?

I always saved them and included them with the guitars when I sold them. None of my buyers seemed thrilled to have them and I doubt that I got any extra money for including them. At $400 a set, I now wish I had saved them in a parts drawer. People can spend their money on whatever they want, but I can think of far better purchases with four Benjamins myself.

Look like an amplifier :-)? Try to imagine the guitar with chicken head knobs to get the picture, then you will instantly fall in love with the witch hat knobs.

[grahambop]

Barney preferred the chickens.