Knobs, pots & switches

GroupDIY Audio Forum

Help Support GroupDIY Audio Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

pvision

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 1, 2014
Messages
788
Location
Brighton, UK
I seem to have developed an unhealthy fascination with locating the "right" knobs, pots & switches for what I am building. It wasn't a problem till I started costing parts for a project. It's frankly silly to spend more on switches & knobs than on everything else put together, but they do make a huge difference to how the unit feels & works

Switches: Elmas are fine but they don't feel great and mechanically they are large in diameter. Also they wobble when mounted which does not inspire confidence.  They also have 6 mm shafts which limits the minimum knob size you can use with them

For one project I need a rotary switch small in diameter which led me to Grayhill. Mmm, nice, but I had a true WTF moment when I saw the prices!

Just been looking at these NKKs - any feedback? About half the price of a Grayhill and you can buy them with knobs included.  They also have metal shafts & housings so clearance should be tighter & they should wobble less. And they have small diameter shafts (3.18mm).  I suspect they are all break-before-make

NKK
http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/10310.pdf
MRA112_Cutaway_Colored.jpg




Which brings me on to knobs. Knobs are either cheap-looking and cheap-feeling or good-looking and bloody expensive. I like Elma collet knobs but they are stupidly priced and no-one keeps stock. I looked at the RS equivalent: sensibly-priced but they come in one colour only and no coloured switch caps are available.

Ideally I'd like the Elmas in sensible quantities at half the price but would settle for them in the colours, sizes & specs I want without having to order 100 of each item

Elma
http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/1792283.pdf
4856905.jpg


Sifam seem to have switched to making "soft finish" knobs which look spectacularly cheap and have a surface finish that makes my skin crawl

Sifam
http://www.sifam.co.uk/knobsSelector.asp?cat=Knobs_Collet
k_S111.gif


I like the knobs Neumann used on their older kit but I don't know who makes them

w295b.jpg


Also the Telefunken knobs with & without wings

DSCN0237.jpg


bebd3a66d56d964dce81b14d933beec6_5.jpg


One of my favourite styles is the classic collet knob & colour scheme from the original Prime Time

Lexicon_Prime_Time_03.jpg


and, of course, the GML 8200

GML8200-xlarge.jpg


All suggestions for manufacturers and suppliers welcome, preferably in the EU so we don't have to pay shipping, import charges & etc

Nick Froome
 
For collet knobs there is mentor:
http://www.mentor-bauelemente.de/en/products/k/plastic-turning-knobs/

Cheaper than sifam, elma etc
 
I can relate to that quest.... me addicted too.

Usually when I order some components I browse the knobs section. have to get some new ones every time. usually I just get one or two different styles to check them out. I haven't found thr right ones yet. there is a significant difference between the oldtimers because of the plastic used. while the newer knobs might last longer and not become brittle and prone to failure when tightening down the screw, the feel is not the same any more. You are not alone, just have a look at all the Neve / API /etc.  switch clones threads here on GDIY....

Personally I find all the Mentor style knobs and the one used on the GML 8200 very unattractive, specially the color schemes. looks so much like the eighties -  ;)

of course we could try to cook up a bakelite recipe....

- Michael
 
I don't know about an addiction but I find the choice of knobs a perennial PITA when designing a mixer. There are switches and pots to accommodate whilst retaining a common look. Initially I shied away from collet knobs because of the expense. To cut a long story short, all other alternatives had serious downsides, so the quest became to find good looking knobs at reasonable prices. Bottom line is I ended up with Mentor. Even at Farnell, their prices are not too bad and, if you are in the UK, you can get them from the UK distributor, Multitron, at much better prices and with a MOQ of just 50 .

BTW, I am surprised you were shocked at Grayhill prices after using Elmas which I have always found to be even more expensive.

Cheers

Ian
 
OK, I've had a good look at Mentor. Same problem, though - the range is huge but no-one stocks it.

I had a very quick & helpful reply from Multitron (at 10 pm on a Sunday evening!) but their MOQ of 50 per unit makes life hard.  Some items are just silly - 14.5 mm green caps are not in stock and have an MOQ of 5000. I need eight. Farnell have the knobs but not the caps. Multitron have the caps with an MOQ of 50 and a minimum order of £150.

Either which way, to get what I want, I end up spending £200-plus for a set of 16 knobs & caps and have enough spare to supply a small factory

Maybe I shouldn't be so picky. You'd think it would be possible to buy coloured knob caps for knobs you can buy off the shelf - but it's not

If the collets are available separately someone with a 3D printer might have a great new niche market!

Nick Froome

 
Just found these on the Rapid website. Limited range but prices are pretty good

http://www.rapidonline.com/mechanical-fastenings-fixings/okw-wing-knobs-black-13-5-16-20mm-d-529087

M529087P01WL.jpg


Nick Froome
 
How bad an idea is it to use 6.35 mm knobs with 6 mm switches?  The switches have plastic shafts with no flat

How successful are 3 mm collet knobs on 3.18mm pots with flats?

Nick Froome
 
Nick,

I also found the guys at Multitron to be very helpful. The MD gave me a useful tip. Anything in their catalogue highlighted in bold is standard product so the MOQ is only 50. Anything in feint is to order and subject to an MOQ of 5000.

Cheers

Ian
 
I alway struggle to find nice knobs. I like the Mentor range but they're so expensive.
Found these the other day, nice cheap vintage pointers.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/120700266951?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
 
I'm using OKW. They sell in quantities of 10. They have three series of collet knobs. Each style comes in black or grey with nice add ons for each size. Sizes from 16mm to 50mm. The metric and imperial collets are interchangeable. The collet size is the same for knobs 23mm and larger so it's easy to put them on 1/8", 4mm, 1/4", 6mm shafts.
 
Then there is always vintage knobs...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FAIRCHILD-670-KNOB-SET-VINTAGE-ELECTRONICS-BAKELITE-/371063485187?pt=US_Pro_Audio_Parts_Accessories&hash=item56651b7303

:mad:
 
OKW look interesting.  They have a UK arm in Fareham, Hampshire. They offer samples as well. Their UK website is

http://www.okw.co.uk/products/okw/comb-knobs.htm

Nick Froome
 
mdainsd said:
Then there is always vintage knobs...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FAIRCHILD-670-KNOB-SET-VINTAGE-ELECTRONICS-BAKELITE-/371063485187?pt=US_Pro_Audio_Parts_Accessories&hash=item56651b7303

:mad:

425$ for 9 knobs? This guy is not normal... wait, he is paranormal!  :-X

Finding this kind of knobs is always a nightmare... why nobody would copy them?  :-\
 
bancho said:
mdainsd said:
Then there is always vintage knobs...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FAIRCHILD-670-KNOB-SET-VINTAGE-ELECTRONICS-BAKELITE-/371063485187?pt=US_Pro_Audio_Parts_Accessories&hash=item56651b7303

:mad:

425$ for 9 knobs? This guy is not normal... wait, he is paranormal!  :-X

Finding this kind of knobs is always a nightmare... why nobody would copy them?  :-\

I want them! too bad he won't ship them to me...

JS
 
My knob saga grinds on - having found a 21mm winged knob in grey that should fit (it's 6.35 mm not 6 mm) I can't get Elma knobs in grey for 3.18 mm shafts

Mentor sell sleeves to go from 3 to 4 mm and from 4 to 6 mm, though I doubt anyone stocks them

A little Googling brought up Aluminium Spacers . com. Clearly the owner agonised for days before deciding on that name. Or anodised for days?

They have pretty much any size and this one fits the bill nicely at 59 cents:

http://www.aluminumspacers.com/metric-hole/3mm-hole/mas6-35-3-7.html

Assuming the aluminium is fairly soft I imagine this might work. Anyone with more experience please point me in an alternative direction if required!

Nick Froome
 
Would these work?

http://au.rs-online.com/web/p/rotary-switch-knobs/7821277/

Used these on one of my previous Sontec builds, worked well.
 
Those RS adaptors look useful…

Unfortunately Distrelec doesn't have the whole range of Elma. Also their site requires you to drill down to every knob to see what the shaft size is which makes ordering hellish

I am waiting on a Distrelec order at present - I'll see how efficient they are.  I've found Farnell / CPC very good but RS were a nightmare - thoroughly unhelpful

Nick Froome
 

Latest posts

Back
Top