Author Topic: Changing control knobs (Read 927 times)

terryc · « **on:** October 25, 2010, 02:49:16 AM »

I am thinking of changing the knobs on my MK, the gold with red abalone look very nice..they would go well with the red LED's

http://www.bill-lewington.com/qparts/dome.htm

terry c

jacko · « **Reply #1 on:** October 25, 2010, 05:41:57 AM »

They'd look pretty cool Terry but I'm not sure if they'd fit depending which knobs you currently have. i have the 'collet' style knobs and i think the pots don't have a flat on the stem so fastening these knobs might be a problem.
Check the stem diameter too.
If you do go for them, let us know how you get on as they would look pretty special at a fraction of the cost of the THG knobs that are popular on here.

Graeme

jacko · « **Reply #2 on:** October 25, 2010, 05:53:14 AM »

just been doing a search and Alembic's shaft diameter is 1/4 so lewington's should fit at 6mm. The only thing holding up my order now is deciding whether or not the grub screw will grip tightly enough without needing to file a flat onto the pot shaft.

Graeme

jacko · « **Reply #3 on:** October 25, 2010, 05:59:20 AM »

I just noticed they also do some pretty cool looking straplocks.

A guy could get carried away spending money at Bill's shop.

Graeme

bassilisk · « **Reply #4 on:** October 25, 2010, 07:57:14 AM »

I really like the Q-Parts stuff and have it on several basses. I recently had a Warmoth done and put on the UFO's with Red Abalone to go along with the CAR finish. Very sharp IMO.

terryc · « **Reply #5 on:** October 25, 2010, 11:05:41 AM »

bassilisk..they are really cool, compliments the red finish with the gold bridge.

bassilisk · « **Reply #6 on:** October 25, 2010, 12:01:02 PM »

Thanks! I've always wanted a Candy Apple Red bass, and finally I went for it. Matching headstock, gold Hipshot vintage tuners (and bridge), ebony board with blocks and vintage tint in the neck finish. It's passive with V/T for eack pickup.

I must say the Nordy Big Singles totally rock!
Here's a full shot. It's not an Alembic, but it kicks major butt in its own way.

jacko · « **Reply #7 on:** October 26, 2010, 04:40:59 AM »

i love candy apple red. So much so in fact, that I've just started painting my MG that colour...

it's still a long way from being finished but at least I've finished all the welding now. Once I've painted it, if there's any paint left I may just paint my old precision, yours looks great.

graeme

terryc · « **Reply #8 on:** October 26, 2010, 07:45:55 AM »

jacko nice spray job..looks like it has some fine metallic powder in the paint to give it that sheen.
Did you use an airless gun or standard compressor and pot??

Oh yes I have e mailed the supplier of the control knobs as the page didn't have an order page. Will keep you all updated

jacko · « **Reply #9 on:** October 26, 2010, 08:06:52 AM »

There's 13 coats on there Terry. 2 coats of POR15 epoxy sealer, 2 coats of etch primer, 3 coats of metallic silver base, 3 coats of candy red and 3 coats of Clearcoat. I wanted to paint inside the inner wings and inside the rear arches before I welded the back panels on as they're inaccessible afterwards. I figured I may as well do the boot and parcel shelf while I was busy. I'm using a compressor and paint gun (standard Clarke suction cup type) but I'll be getting a better HVLP spraygun in the spring when I get round to painting the car proper. It's getting too cold and damp to paint now - I don't want any moisture getting under the paint as it'll just start rusting again.

graeme.

terryc · « **Reply #10 on:** October 26, 2010, 09:53:44 AM »

jacko..machinemart stuff is really good for the price..I had an old Ingersoll-Rand compressor but I had rebuilt the motor that many times and the tank began to leak due to internal corrosion that it had to go..it served me well for many a year.
I got a compressor from MachineMart for a mere ?150, no leaks, no worries of burn out as it has an electronic cut out.
Got the kit with all the tyre inflator, air nozzle, paraffin gun and basic pot as well.
Not many DIYer's would make an outlay for one but they are very handy for many things, blowing up airbeds to spraying.
Who was your paint supplier??, I have a Squier bass with Alembic Activators, the neck is okay but my son has beat up the body so I am thinking of re finishing.
Again it looks a fantastic job you did

cozmik_cowboy · « **Reply #11 on:** October 26, 2010, 12:04:12 PM »

I look Graeme's picture and I think of the other current thread with the f-hole Alembic w/finished p-heart on the inside. If that's how you paint the trunk (sorry, boot) I can't wait to see the whole car done! Very nice (I used to have a Spitfire & always thought it should be candy-apple red, but never did it).

Peter

jacko · « **Reply #12 on:** October 27, 2010, 01:53:36 AM »

Terry. I'm also using a small Machine Mart compressor - an airmaster Tiger - and it's perfect for my needs - runs out of steam a bit when I'm using an air wrench but it's fine for painting - set between 3 -4 bar for most paints but with the HVLP gun I can reduce the pressure so there's less waste.
I bought the epoxy sealer and etch primer from Frost and the candy from specialist paints. I initially got the 1 litre kit to see how it worked and what coverage would be like. I'll probably buy the 5 litre kit in spring to get the discount as there's still plenty to paint.
peter - It'll be spring before I do anymore painting - I only have a small garage and it's not heated so the cold and damp take over at this time of year (especially in Scotland).

back on track. I think I'll be ordering the brass knobs with natural abalone to match my neck inlays. Might just ask the wife for an early Christmas pressy ;-)

Graeme

bassilisk · « **Reply #13 on:** October 27, 2010, 01:16:24 PM »

That's also a sharp look. I have the same setup on another Warmoth.

Nice job on the car. I'd love to see the completed project!

jacko · « **Reply #14 on:** October 28, 2010, 03:27:56 AM »

I was thinking about these knobs last night while I was practicing and came up with a potential problem - they don't appear to have a marker of any sort so knowing the exact position of the knob is going to be tricky. I don't want to be looking down at the Grub screw so what do folks think of drilling a 1/32 hole on the edge of the knob (in the brass) then filling that with white enamel paint (or somesuch)?

Graeme

p.s. those abalone knobs really are nice will.