50's translucent gold Guild archtop knobs

[valcotone]

hi guys,

I LOVE my sunburst mid-50's X-175, but the black stove knobs are tough to turn with my pinky like I am used to doing.

Does anyone have a source for a couple of the gold translucent knobs that Guild also used during that era?

Or, maybe you have a couple stashed away that I could buy?

Example from a different guitar that was on ebay last year:

Thanks!

 

[matsickma]

For what it is worth...I found the clear machined/buffed knobs you are referencing to be difficult to turn. They are very smooth and just a modest amount of skin oil makes them difficult to grip. I know may LTGers love them but I found the set on a T100D I owned years back a pain. In the late 1950's Guild began to buy the knobs from DeArmond that are the classic shape of knobs we recognize on most Guild guitars. The origional DeArmonds had a blank chrome cap (i.e., did not have the Guild shield screened onto the cap) on top of the knob. These knobs were phased in as the clear machined knobs were phased out. I have an old M75 Aristocrat that came with the blank DeArmond knobs.

M

 

[jp]

I think that those knobs rank right up there with some of the most sought after Guild parts, right along with Franz pickups and Guildsbys. Tough one!

 

[valcotone]

matsickma, and JP - Thanks for your replies... I gathered they are quite rare so thanks for the confirmation. I was wondering how they felt, so it's good to hear your experience with them... probably not what I'm looking for then. I'll probably go with a couple of the Gibson-style speed knobs... the problem there is that I don't want a Gibson vibe on this guitar. Are there any other repros out there anyone knows of?

 

[kakerlak]

You know, blonde Fender amp knobs might be cool. I believe you can buy Fender-branded repros in creme that would match your p/u covers well. Would have some knurl to them...

 

[walrus]

I put rosewood knobs on my X-50. They look particualrly nice next to the rosewood bridge, and have a nice feel to them. Easily purchased on eBay...

walrus

 

[jp]

I'll probably go with a couple of the Gibson-style speed knobs... the problem there is that I don't want a Gibson vibe on this guitar. Are there any other repros out there anyone knows of?

These may get you the best of both worlds and still get you a somewhat authentic look. Clear gold unmarked speed knobs.

Available here.

Edit for addition:
Call me spartan or utilitarian in taste, but I actually think it might look cool with the plain black speed knobs (same page) or even these plain black metal bells.

Here.

 

[coastie99]

These any good ?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Early-1950s-Gibson- ... dZViewItem

 

[Chris Metcalfe]

I have those clear knobs on a 56 X500, and maybe unlike most here I don't particularly like them - the reason being that it's impossible to tell what the volume or tone setting actually is ( important, when you have to turn the tone control down to a particular point to tame the treble). However, when trying out other knobs you have to be careful - many 50s guilds have solid-shaft pots, whereas most replacement knobs, including these examples I think, are for the later split shaftpots, which are marginally thinner in diameter, so the knobs won't fit. It's possible to carefully drill out plastic knobs to fit, but it's not a recommended fix, and they might not grip well.
There's no problem about putting different knobs on, so long as you keep the old ones, but watch out for the pot-shaft issue before buying anything.
I have to admit the old clear knobs look cool, though........
Chris

 

[jp]

These any good ?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Early-1950s-Gibson- ... dZViewItem

Hi coastie,
Those look like original Gibson's. The Guilds are completely solid with slightly rounded edges. Still pretty cool!

the reason being that it's impossible to tell what the volume or tone setting actually is

Yup. Same issue with the originals. All I'd need is one little dot on them for reference.

 

[kakerlak]

I have those clear knobs on a 56 X500, and maybe unlike most here I don't particularly like them - the reason being that it's impossible to tell what the volume or tone setting actually is ( important, when you have to turn the tone control down to a particular point to tame the treble).

A random tip: Mount the knobs so the set screw is pointing in a direction you can see when you look down at them, then for at least the typical (7.5-10) range of use, you can pretty easily see where you are at a glance. I used to set the set screws so they pointed towards either the ground or butt end of the guitar (b/c they look better that way) but have found it's useful to be able to have a point of referenece on stage...