Grateful Dead Music Forum

I know this is totally mundane to most of you but, I just ordered a set of knob pointers for my SG.
Why don't the guitars come with these in the first place?
Are these things useful? Thoughts?
Any tips on installing them? Thank-you.

Highballin' wrote:I know this is totally mundane to most of you but, I just ordered a set of knob pointers for my SG.
Why don't the guitars come with these in the first place?
Are these things useful? Thoughts?
Any tips on installing them? Thank-you.

What are knob pointers?

Do they help the knobs goto 11?

I know you are joking right? They're the little metal pointers that fit under the tone knobs, so you can dial in the tone/volume you want. I've seen them on other Gibsons.

Highballin' wrote:I know you are joking right? They're the little metal pointers that fit under the tone knobs, so you can dial in the tone/volume you want. I've seen them on other Gibsons.

I've never heard of them either. I thought this might be about those early 60's style "chickenhead knobs" I use my ears to set my knobs.

is this a knob pointer ?

tigerstrat wrote:

Highballin' wrote:I know you are joking right? They're the little metal pointers that fit under the tone knobs, so you can dial in the tone/volume you want. I've seen them on other Gibsons.

I've never heard of them either. I thought this might be about those early 60's style "chickenhead knobs" I use my ears to set my knobs.

I can't believe you guys aint seen these things. I read thru these posts and you people are like music stores on wheels....
I guess I'm fickle, I use my ears too, but I would like a reference point for the knobs. The ones on SG's are round and have nothing to point to. I usually always have the tones set in the same spot. I would like to turn them there without having to dial 'em in by ear everytime.
Same with volume- I like the pick-up that's muddier to be a little louder than the bright/lead pick up.
They make these little rings with an aperature that sticks out from under the knobs. This acts like a little pointer so you can turn the knob number right to the pointer.

No not the chickenheads. These are little metal rings that are screwed in below the knobs.
I found them on a guitar parts website- they were 4.95. I always saw them on a friends Les Paul.
I asked him about them, he said check-out some websites to find them.
He works at a music store and they didn't have any. They are slim and flat, very innoccuos. Only a small triangle of metal sticks out from under the knob, and points up. This acts as a dial-indicator for the knob.

tigerstrat wrote:

Highballin' wrote:I know you are joking right? They're the little metal pointers that fit under the tone knobs, so you can dial in the tone/volume you want. I've seen them on other Gibsons.

I've never heard of them either. I thought this might be about those early 60's style "chickenhead knobs" I use my ears to set my knobs.

I love chickenhead knobs! They are great for amps! However, my guitar pots are always 8,9 or 10. I set up my rig with them on 9 and then finesse up or down 1 as the night progresses.

Pete B. wrote:

Yeah- that's it!

Huh. Never seen these before. My knobs have no markers besdies the set-screw... so I just remember about how I like them for different sounds. And I have the following controls: Volume, Pickup-blend, Tone, Low-Shelf-Frequency, Low-shelf-Resonance-Peak (kind of a like a selectable low or mid boost), High-shelf-Frequency, high-shelf-boost, and coil tap switches for both pickups.

Maybe the metal pointer is notched so when you turn the nob it sticks where the pointer is set ?

it is not notched. It is just a small metal ring that sits under the knobs.

My Warren Haynes 58 LP has the pointer bent down because in the heat of the moment with the pointer bent up it can give you a little nasty gash.

If it works for you great. However, when playing live the thought of looking down at my guitar and matching numbers and pointers seems almost impossible.

Think about it - on stage, between songs, lowered lights. Conversely in the heat of a song, switching pickups, and stopping to find your post-it with the setting and then tilting the guitar to match it up?!

Sorry to be dickish but I'm just not getting it at all.

On my Strat, next to the volume knob there is a screw on the pickguard. This is my reference point for adjusting the knob for volume. For example if i want the volume on 5 I turn the knob until the 5 is lined up with the screw.
On my Gibson, there are no such reference points. I just visually keep the tone knob at say 7 by keeping the number 7 pointing at 2 O'clock. Due to the sensistivity of the pots, this isn't accurate enough for me.(I know that sounds picky- but hey we are all picky about somethings)
With these knob pointers, you can dial the tone or volume in to more consistent and precise settings- say 5 and 1/4.
Everyone plays different. Obviously alot of folks just turn everything way up to 11, and work down from there.
I don't have any effects or "boards" or computers. I only have the 4 knobs on my SG. I always keep the knobs on my amp the same. Neutral. So I do like turning them for different effects. I know- it's lame. Plus, I don't play out or anything, so I never need shit turned up to turbo power.
I like these little pointers. I can't wait to put them on. Just a little poor mans upgrade for me.
I was wondering what I have to do to put them on?