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What color do you prefer for knee levers?
polished aluminum
64%
 64%  [ 57 ]
satin/brushed aluminum
12%
 12%  [ 11 ]
black
13%
 13%  [ 12 ]
flat black
4%
 4%  [ 4 ]
same color as guitar
1%
 1%  [ 1 ]
pink
1%
 1%  [ 1 ]
other (please describe)
2%
 2%  [ 2 ]
Total Votes : 88

Author Topic:  Color of knee levers
b0b


From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
Post  Posted 19 Jun 2016 7:07 am    
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We don't think much about this, but the knee levers of a guitar are visible from the audience. They show up prominently in flash photography, too.
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Ian Worley


From:
Sacramento, CA
Post  Posted 19 Jun 2016 10:15 am    
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Shiny polished ones are probably the most obviously visible. In my experience, most non-steel players have no idea the levers are even there. The average audience member probably just thinks we need to take a bathroom break if they happen to notice us flipping our legs around pushing the knees.
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Jon Light


From:
Saugerties, NY
Post  Posted 19 Jun 2016 10:17 am    
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Very sincerely, b0b, this is not intended in any snarky or superior manner--

I selected 'other' to indicate that I suppose I could spend time thinking about it but it's not something that I particularly care about. I've had two guitars built for me and neither time did I think about whether I wanted anything in particular for the levers. I don't recall if there were any custom options.

With things I did have to decide on in ordering these guitars, it suited me fine that the levers would be whatever they would be.
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b0b


From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
Post  Posted 19 Jun 2016 10:31 am    
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To me, knee levers look ugly and disorganized in pictures. I would prefer black if given the option, as it's less conspicuous.


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chris ivey


From:
california (deceased)
Post  Posted 19 Jun 2016 10:58 am    
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i think the brushed aluminum levers stick out the most. especially on a steel wth 7 or 8 levers.
i like the polished or chrome look best
..and slightly shorter levers for looks.

...but it's really not that important.
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Ken Byng


From:
Southampton, England
Post  Posted 19 Jun 2016 11:35 am    
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Anodized levers don't look as nice as polished aluminium to my eyes, but for some reason a lot of current manufacturers charge extra for what they call a 'polished package'. Polished levers come as standard with Show Pro. If they can do it, why can't others offer the same?
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Craig Baker


From:
Eatonton, Georgia, USA - R.I.P.
Post  Posted 19 Jun 2016 11:47 am    
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I'll go along with b0b.
On the Fender 800 that I converted years ago, the knee levers were covered with black heat-shrink tubing.

I chose this because some aluminum leaves marks on light-colored clothing.

To my eye most steels today are so beautiful, anything other than flat black is a distraction.

Craig
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Ken Byng


From:
Southampton, England
Post  Posted 19 Jun 2016 11:59 am    
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Duplicate post.
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Last edited by Ken Byng on 24 Jun 2017 6:52 am; edited 1 time in total
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chris ivey


From:
california (deceased)
Post  Posted 19 Jun 2016 12:11 pm    
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hey, what's a couple extra bucks ?

Last edited by chris ivey on 19 Jun 2016 9:03 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Roger Rettig


From:
Naples, FL
Post  Posted 19 Jun 2016 12:12 pm    
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I like them to be visible - then, perhaps, spectators can see and appreciate hat geniuses we are handling all that peripheral hardware!

My Emmons has seven black levers and one - fitted later - in a matt silver (anodized?) It was all Ron had in stock at the time.

If I could choose they would all be polished aluminium.
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Ian Rae


From:
Redditch, England
Post  Posted 19 Jun 2016 1:14 pm    
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I guess we need another poll to find out whether
(a) the majority want their levers clearly visible so that the audience can appreciate the intricacy of their playing; or
(b) they would prefer them to be invisible, in which case they might consider reinstating the front screen you can see in some old photos.
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Bill L. Wilson


From:
Oklahoma, USA
Post  Posted 19 Jun 2016 7:26 pm     My Emmons Has......
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Black Levers.
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Tony Glassman


From:
The Great Northwest
Post  Posted 19 Jun 2016 10:12 pm    
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Polished! If ya got it, flaunt it.
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Ian Rae


From:
Redditch, England
Post  Posted 20 Jun 2016 2:30 am    
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I don't feel strongly enough to vote. All the levers on my two guitars are brushed aluminium, because they're home-made and I have no time or patience for polishing or the mess it makes. I could plate them - regular nickel plate (not the brightened sort) looks really nice IMO, but I can't quite be bothered with that either.








History suggests that the first ever knee levers were surreptitious, but now they're a fact and they either excite curiosity or they don't.

This is the most negative post I have made to date. I blame the rain Sad
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Georg SĆørtun


From:
Mandal, Agder, Norway
Post  Posted 20 Jun 2016 3:11 am     I choose black...
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...and not only the levers...

... Very Happy
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Charley Bond


From:
Inola, OK, USA
Post  Posted 20 Jun 2016 8:32 am     Knee Levers
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to Georg Sortun;

that is a terrific set of Knee Levers shown.
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Charlie McDonald


From:
out of the blue
Post  Posted 20 Jun 2016 8:48 am    
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Black is better on a dark background. These felt the best of any.

Mike P. with the MSA.
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Georg SĆørtun


From:
Mandal, Agder, Norway
Post  Posted 20 Jun 2016 11:25 am     Re: Knee Levers
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Charley Bond wrote:
to Georg Sortun;

that is a terrific set of Knee Levers shown.

Based on this old design...

...and that's my 28 year old "linear-moving vertical lever" solution Very Happy

I do like your variant better though - if I can make it fit into my own PSG design.
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Ben Elder

 

From:
La Crescenta, California, USA
Post  Posted 20 Jun 2016 2:28 pm    
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Black knee levers sound better.
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Ken Byng


From:
Southampton, England
Post  Posted 21 Jun 2016 5:40 am    
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Er - pink knee levers??
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Rick Barnhart


From:
Arizona, USA
Post  Posted 21 Jun 2016 5:56 am    
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b0b wrote:
To me, knee levers look ugly and disorganized in pictures. I would prefer black if given the option, as it's less conspicuous.



You could always find a seamstress to make fitted denim sleeves, with a velcro wrap...one set indigo blue, and faded blue for casual gigs Wink
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Herb Steiner

 

From:
Spicewood TX 78669
Post  Posted 22 Jun 2016 5:28 am    
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Black or flat black. Same with guitars; muted colors, simple and elegant in a non-showy way. I personally don't care for the somewhat garish (IMHO) multi-colored drum-covering look that seems to be popular in today's finish choices.

But that's just me. Your choices are as valid as mine.

Well, not really... but they are still valid. Laughing
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