Ibanez SR1405E beautiful - but nasty plastic knobs

[The Twickerman]

Hi all,

Just got one of these:- http://www.ibanez.com/products/u_eb_detail17.php?data_id=64&color=CL02&year=2017&cat_id=2&series_id=51

It is indeed a thing of beauty and verry well made and finished. But why on earth they put these cheap plastic knobs I I cannot understand!!!
Think I'll change them.
Any ideas what to replace them with that'd do it justice?

- Nick.

 

[Cosmo Valdemar]

I agree... I love the green one but the knobs dont quite match the rest.

In keeping with the rest of the bass I think some gold metal ones would do the trick.

[Woodinblack]

I don't mind the plastic, but with gold hardware, gold is probably the choice!

[Cato]

Hipshot do some nice stuff.

http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Hipshot,_Knobs.html

[Doctor J]

Don’t let it get to you. If you had bought an Alembic that would have come with plastic knobs too.

[ead]

I like the Sadowsky items, but expensive to import. 

[Count Bassy]

That is weird as even the more basic SRs have knurled metal knobs, which are fine (IMHO).

[The Twickerman]

Yes - gold knurled knobs would probably look best.

I guess I'd better first get the existing knobs off to determine what size shank they have before placing an order.

Then I need to find a style with large and small versions.

 

[Woodinblack]

You could just get the ibanez knobs that are metal, most of my cheaper ibanezes have them, its only the premiers and the prestige that have plastic. They are the same pots, so they fit the same (both the small and big ones).

[T-Bay]

19 hours ago, Count Bassy said:

That is weird as even the more basic SRs have knurled metal knobs, which are fine (IMHO).

 

2 hours ago, Woodinblack said:

You could just get the ibanez knobs that are metal, most of my cheaper ibanezes have them, its only the premiers and the prestige that have plastic. They are the same pots, so they fit the same (both the small and big ones).

It’s a strange one by Ibanez, there is an entry level Gio at work and it has decent looking metal knobs. Nothing special,but they don’t look cheap either.

[ped]

21 hours ago, ead said:

I like the Sadowsky items, but expensive to import. 

I get my knobs here

https://www.rapidonline.com/cliff-fc7225b-km20b-black-aluminium-clad-plastic-knob-marker-line-6mm-spine-32-1836

Plenty of styles available and many have small sized versions to match. 

[ead]

Thanks Ped, good link, look very similar for a fraction of the price.

[ped]

16 minutes ago, ead said:

Thanks Ped, good link, look very similar for a fraction of the price.

I’m pretty sure they sell or sold the actual Sadowsky style ones, also used by Pedulla and others. I definitely got some from there, and some also from Digi-Key in the US that came within 24hrs, which I couldn’t believe!

[ead]

All this talk of knobs has been bad for my wallet just treated myself to some more Sadowsky knobs from Best Bass Gear as a "Christmas present" to myself.  Couldn't see them in either of those two stores though. 

[The Twickerman]

Thanks all!

I may actually go for black. The existing knobs are black and so are the two adjacent mini toggles.

I just need to find a style that has two sizes and a supplier...

I can't see a suitable style with two sizes here:-

https://www.rapidonline.com/cliff-fc7225b-km20b-black-aluminium-clad-plastic-knob-marker-line-6mm-spine-32-1836

And although these look ok , they are very pricey!

https://www.bestbassgear.com/black-aluminum.htm

Any other suggestions?

[ead]

The BBG ones are the Sadowsky ones I mentioned earlier.  And as a result of this thread and my own lack of a sensible perspective I've just ordered a bunch for my incoming SR4000e 

[ped]

4 minutes ago, ead said:

The BBG ones are the Sadowsky ones I mentioned earlier.  And as a result of this thread and my own lack of a sensible perspective I've just ordered a bunch for my incoming SR4000e 

Good stuff. I kitted one of my basses out with them and it cost me a fortune, there are 6 knobs!

[ped]

These, though, I have to say are my favourite knob

https://www.canford.co.uk/Products/21549/58-904_SIFAM-S211-006-COLLET-KNOB-21.5mm-diameter-6mm-shaft-black

[ead]

6 minutes ago, ped said:

Good stuff. I kitted one of my basses out with them and it cost me a fortune, there are 6 knobs!

I feel your pain Ped.  Two of my basses have them already (a total of 7 of the larger size) although I did acquire some the knobs on here a little while ago.  I think they are of an excellent quality and very easy to see at a glance what you're doing.

I might give those Sifam items a whirl at some point though.  Are they like to older Ibby knobs with a kind of soft feel to them?

[ped]

29 minutes ago, ead said:

I feel your pain Ped.  Two of my basses have them already (a total of 7 of the larger size) although I did acquire some the knobs on here a little while ago.  I think they are of an excellent quality and very easy to see at a glance what you're doing.

I might give those Sifam items a whirl at some point though.  Are they like to older Ibby knobs with a kind of soft feel to them?

Yes they have a slightly rubberised feel, although they don't perish like some types I've used. They are collet fixing which I also like; sometimes the little grub screw holes on normal fitting knobs annoy me

On my wingless (mini bass in avatar) I couldn't use normal knobs as they were too close together so I picked these

https://www.rapidonline.com/cliff-fc7230-kmr15-matt-black-alu-clad-knob-with-marker-dot-18t-6mm-splines-32-1850 nice aluminium feel. 

I love knobs.

[The Twickerman]

The best option I've found so far are these:-

https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Ibanez-4KB1C1K-Metal-Dome-Knob-in-Cosmo-Black-for-Electric-Guitar-Spare-Part/1673730740

https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Ibanez-Domed-Volume-tone-Knob-Cosmo-Black-4KB1C3K/2181521764?iid=401385962175

I think these are the ones fitted to the cheaper SR series basses.

A bit (!) pricey though!

[Dood]

On the SR basses there are usually the larger sized metal knobs and the smaller ones usually used for the EQ. Does anyone know where to buy the smaller sized knurled metal knobs? The larger I think are 16 / 18mm, not sure what the actual size of the smaller versions are.

[Dood]

p.s. the bass in the link is rather lovely!!

[ead]

The John East ones are quite nice but they are just one size, a bit cheaper at £7.75ea.  They are here:  http://www.east-uk.com/index.php/all-products/knobs.html

Another option might be Sandberg.  I've had a look through my spares box and I only have 4 black knobs off a Sandberg bass that are not being used:  https://www.cottoncontrol.com/browse/sandberg/de,0,308,0,0,20.html

They are on p2 a bit down the page.  Mine are the slightly smaller ones judging by the published dimensions.

 

[Marc S]

On 12/19/2017 at 00:14, Count Bassy said:

That is weird as even the more basic SRs have knurled metal knobs, which are fine (IMHO).

Yes, I was thinking it's weird too. My old SR had knurled black metal knobs & they were fine
I would have thought something similar on this one would be a good choice.....