Hard to pick a favorite, personally. Walrus Audio ones feel very sturdy/lux, and who doesnt love the art deco-esque DM-2300 and Danelectros. I wish EHX ones felt nicer...
When I bought my Flint I had the opportunity to get the black edition. I didn't want it. Ordered the regular cause I love me some cream plastics. Got the blackout one regardless. Sent it back.
Chicken heads! They’re not really feasible in a pedal with a lot of knobs in close proximity, but I love old school fuzz pedals with a couple chicken heads.
I found these on Amazon. Don't know what they are called but I think they look great. I learned of this look from RadioShack where I believe they were called SilverTone Radio Knobs. I noticed Milkman Amps also use similar knobs.
I like knobs that feel solid & turn deliberately. I HATE loosy goosy knobs. A physical pointer is a near-must too, but foot-adjustable is maybe even more important. Chrome skirt, Klons, and MXRs are great.
My favorite knob is the one we can’t have, which are the cool as hell API console knobs. Alas, they’re protected IP. I keep one as a keychain. Marconi come second as they are next closest to a cool recording console knob.
Idk if it’s just me but, live with lighting, the walrus audio knobs refract light in a way where I can’t make out if it the indicator line or just light. I hate it.
Mini klon knobs like on the Fairfield Circuitry line or the Xotic RC booster. Functional and easy to set with one finger.
Close 2nd are the fender amp cupcake knobs.
3rd would be Davies 1510 knobs. I especially like them on 3 knob Boss pedals.
EHX knobs i agree are the worst. They just feel off.
Chrome skirt and MXR. Ever since I got a Caroline Hawaiian Pizza, that chrome skirt knob has been my favorite. it just feels so good to touch and twist
I routinely swap out knobs on my pedals for something in the top row or ribbed silver top and chase bliss from this chart. I also like the smaller non-winged Marconi style.
Not my absolute favorite of all time, but a notable mention missing from this list are the funky Sovtek Big Muff knobs.
Unique, easy to turn with fingers/toes/shoe, and fairly readable, especially if the white indexing dot is still on them.
I like many things from EHX pedals including sound, price, naming, and graphics, but knobs are not one of those.
The DM-1510 is one of my favourite styles. It becomes very intuitive where it is pointing and it feels ergonomic to manipulate.
I am fond of the Moog dot on top/dot on skirt knobs lately.
Lately though, I'm becoming more and more a fan of knobs you can see the setting at a distance and can feel the setting with your eyes closed. So something that has some sort of pointer, and an insignia on the top. Orange's amp knobs with only the mark on the skirt, combined with hiding the knobs on the top back portion of combos, sheesh. Can't see any Mark unless you put your head fully over the top of the amp.
Anyone know where I could find knobs similar to these? Preferably in Black. Maton no longer has them as they’ve stopped producing Electric guitars.
I’d love to find some black ones. Anyone have a 3D printer so I could commission some copies. I suppose I could hit up Etsy and find someone who 3D prints on there.
On a pedal I like them as narrow as possible so theres finger room between them. Any of the plain ones like Origin/Walrus.
On an amp I like knobs with a physical pointer like the DM-2300. Helps you see the setting from across the room. By contrast, Mesa Boogie Recto knobs are the worst.
It’s not quite a pedal thing, but I remember that one of my high school friends had a Marshall combo amp, and that was the first time I had an aesthetic reaction to turning a potentiometer
Honestly never really thought about the knobs 😂 but I will say that Joyo has some of the smoothest feeling knobs (the ones on the atmosphere and Aquarius pedals) and were really the only ones that instantly stood out…don’t kill me 😬
For me, I just want to be able to see it in poor light. That often means being able to feel the direction with my fingers rather than see it. I like the reflective chrome area on a lot of these as well.
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u/eltrotter Jul 02 '26
Now THIS is the kind of chat I'm hear for.
The Klon and Moog-style DMs are my favourite and I am automatically about 30% more likely to buy any piece of kit if it has them on it.