API knobs

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Whoops said:
Auchh , quite expensive those Don Audio knobs...

Is it just me or Don Audio store seems quite overpriced?

I think it looks expensive there too. Sometimes shipping locations give people a pricing vantage point, but I don't know if that's whats happening there..
 
buildafriend said:
careful, I can certainly say that they have legal documents hanging on the wall inside of the Maryland factory with the rights to that look

As far as I know these knobs are Vemaline and not API, also as far as I know API has no trademarks related to those knobs, their trademarks are for the API logo and the "Dual-Concentric Knobs" only.

Vemaline created that knobs in the 50s, before API still existed. They still produce the knobs and you can order from them, although only in big quantities:

https://handlesunlimited.com/product-category/knobs/retro-knob/


more info here on the trademarks and API statements here:

https://groupdiy.com/index.php?topic=32957.0

 
fun photo

index.php
 

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I mean who cares about one offs right? Those don’t really hurt anybody. I worked there lab as a technician mostly handling test and repair on the channel strips for the consoles. I’d guess you could probably get away with shifting the look of the knob a bit and I’m sure it gets more technical but the paperwork for their trademark on the knob/s was framed and hung near the offices. The popular clones don’t have knobs that look so close to the same. I’m not a lawyer, just a tech trying to point out what I vaguely remember seeing. I’m not sure China cares. You can get them to copy almost any form through Alibaba.

The machining looks great though 👍
 
Whoops said:
As far as I know these knobs are Vemaline and not API, also as far as I know API has no trademarks related to those knobs, their trademarks are for the API logo and the "Dual-Concentric Knobs" only.

Vemaline created that knobs in the 50s, before API still existed. They still produce the knobs and you can order from them, although only in big quantities:

https://handlesunlimited.com/product-category/knobs/retro-knob/




You are right Whoops and they are casted and then cutted to size for using....
 
As far as I know these knobs are Vemaline and not API, also as far as I know API has no trademarks related to those knobs, their trademarks are for the API logo and the "Dual-Concentric Knobs" only.

Vemaline created that knobs in the 50s, before API still existed. They still produce the knobs and you can order from them, although only in big quantities:

https://handlesunlimited.com/product-category/knobs/retro-knob/



more info here on the trademarks and API statements here:

https://groupdiy.com/index.php?topic=32957.0
[/quote]


You are right Whoops and they are casted and then cutted to size for using....
 
Whoops said:
As far as I know these knobs are Vemaline and not API, also as far as I know API has no trademarks related to those knobs, their trademarks are for the API logo and the "Dual-Concentric Knobs" only.

Vemaline created that knobs in the 50s, before API still existed. They still produce the knobs and you can order from them, although only in big quantities:

https://handlesunlimited.com/product-category/knobs/retro-knob/


more info here on the trademarks and API statements here:

https://groupdiy.com/index.php?topic=32957.0


You are right Whoops and they are casted and then cutted to size for using....
 
buildafriend said:
I’d guess you could probably get away with shifting the look of the knob a bit and I’m sure it gets more technical but the paperwork for their trademark on the knob/s was framed and hung near the offices.

I already explained before API has no trademark for the knobs their trademarks are for the API logo and the "Dual-Concentric Knob arrangement".

The knobs were designed by Vemaline in the 50s before API ever existed.
 
To be honest I've actually found the CAPI knobs to be some of the most ergonomic out there. Something about the fulcrum points maybe?

I like the design too, more than I do the Vemaline / API (and if I recall correctly, Jeff spent a lot of resources and time working with a professional designer on the knobs). Each to their own I guess! It would be very dull if we all liked the same stuff. :)
 
(and if I recall correctly, Jeff spent a lot of resources and time working with a professional designer on the knobs).

They don't look like a work of a professional, look more like a silly spin-off of the Vemaline/API knob done by an amateur.

But like you said, Each to their own.
Respect
 
Pretty ugly those Capi knobs.
They have a great list of products and projects but the "graphical design" of the website, logo, front panels and knobs is way under par, and I'm being nice.
Hiring an experience graphical designar is an investment and not a cost, that's my advice to CAPI.
Disagree. I have 4 CAPI 500 series (535F and VC-528ML2)
and these look great next to my other EQs. The knobs have a look and feel that I really like.
The old CAPI module graphics, those were hideous. Current ones are much more understated.
temp-553F.jpg
And if you want to see an ugly knob, the current Chameleon knobs are so bad I've passed up several of their products based on that alone.
7721_detail_002.jpg
 
Hi mate, thank you so much for your input.

Yes I agree with you the old design was much worse, I still have a VP25 and VP26 modules with the old design, I might do a new front panel in the future because they're really ugly.
Still I don't like the new ones and thing a graphic designer would be able to make it much nicier.

I actually don't dislike those Chameleon knobs, so I guess it's a matter of taste.

Thank you
 

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