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Prototype knobs

Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 5:08 am
by Sarah93003
If you recall, Bill Hudson is the owner of one of the original Celebrity prototypes, given to him by Semie directly. He has owned it since that time. Over the years he also was in contact with Gene Moles, who was at Mosrite at that time, and Andy Moseley who provided him with the "new" Mosrite humbucker pickups and a new control panel, complete with Mosrite "M" hat knobs. This was in the early 1970's.

I had asked Bill about the original knobs that came on his prototype and he said he still had one somewhere. Well, he finally located it and sent me a couple of pictures of the knob. To my surprise I see a lot of similarities to the "M" hat knobs.

Bill says that the top of the knob has a metal ring glued to it and that the skirt of the knob had numbers 1 through 9 on it but they had worn off. He had asked Gene about the knobs at some point and Gene said he did not really know but thought they were probably left over from Semie's time at Rickenbacker.

Bill has the original pots from his prototype Celebrity and the pots codes date to mid 1963. I know the prototypes were built until late 1964 or early 1965 so I'm guessing they were pots that Semie probably had lying around and ended up in that guitar.

So, here are the photos. If anyone has additional information or theories, please chime in!

Image

Note the set screw.
Image

This image really reminds me of the M Hat Knob.
Image

Re: Prototype knobs

Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 5:52 am
by LoveyX
Sarah,

Nice early example, thanks for posting!

I definitely has that 'pilgrim hat' shape. :D

Re: Prototype knobs

Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 1:17 pm
by DRBILL
I am "hitting up" the guy who took the photos of "Ole Red" for some high resolution photos of this knob, and as soon as I get them I will post for all to see... BUT ALL OF THE NUMBERS ARE EITHER WORN OFF OR THE CORROSION/OXIDATION HAS "WIPED" OUT THE NUMBERING... I am really happy to have retained ONE all of these years - grin...

Re: Prototype knobs

Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 2:29 pm
by Sarah93003
Dr. Bill, it is awesome that you still happen to have it. I would love to see some hi-res images. I have a hunch these may have led to the Mosrite "M" hat knob.