TL;DR: Cray-cray engineer, musician, and knob maker produces high-quality, cast, replica knobs for the Waldorf Q Rack that are color-matched, look, and feel nearly identical to the original hardware, but they won't get nasty, powdery, or crumble like the originals used on the early versions of the Q (i.e., the knobs shaped like "cooling towers."). You'll get a made-to-order set of 28 dark gray knobs + 1 extra red knob, for a total of 29 knobs! You won't find this unique package, or this quality, anywhere else! These knobs will preserve your vintage Q as vintage, as designed, and as intended by the cray-cray engineers, musicians, and knob makers at Waldorf! *** PLEASE READ UPDATED SHIPPING INFO AND PRICES! ***

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FORWARD:

Early models of the Q ("V1") utilized a knob shape that was taller, thinner, and tapered like a "cooling tower." These knobs came before the rounder, fatter knobs with the clear centers, which were used on "V2" (and later) models of the Q. These Q's also had translucent buttons.

The original, "V1 cooling tower" knobs are made of dark gray, hard rubber. They're also a two-piece design, with a cap held loosely atop the "tower." These knobs have a unique "finger feel" due to the slightly textured rubber. Unfortunately, age and environmental conditions are not, and have not been, kind to the rubber. Many early-Q owners have suffered from their knobs cracking, crumbling and falling apart, becoming sticky, becoming oily, becoming white and powdery, or maybe some the caps have fallen off and were lost into the void of time and space!

Your Q may be experiencing these same problems. If so, then you may be considering a few options:

1) find a set of the OEM rubber knobs, which are all on borrowed time, but not paying a fortune for them in the process; or 2) going with a set of the newer-style knobs, as previously described; or 3) finding run-of-the-mill knobs from Digi-Key or Mouser, and completely ruining the character, look, and feel of your precious, vintage Q.

I say, however, "STOP!!! Don't replace your fragile, rubber "cooling tower" Q knobs with originals that will eventually fail, or the newer knobs, or something else entirely! Instead, go with high-quality REPLICAS of the ORIGINAL design, as intended by Waldorf. Keep your vintage Q as vintage and true to its original character!"

PHOTO-OP, PERSONAL TAKE: After fitting my "V2" Q Rack with the "cooling tower" knobs for the photos, I personally think they actually look better than the OEM "V2" knobs with the clear centers, which even they turn white and powdery since the outer coating is rubber. See "Knob Comparison" photo.

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ABOUT THESE REPLICAS [PLEASE READ]:

The style of "cooling tower," parameter knobs are EXTREMELY rare, if not "Unobtanium," parts for the Q.

This sale is for a total of 29 pieces, making up a complete set, plus one (1) extra knob, as follows:

• 28 parameter knobs, DARK GRAY color, with matching texture and appearance of the original,
• 1 parameter knob, RED color, as a value-added option/your-choice to change-out the color of the Filter Cutoff knob, which pays homage to the early versions of the Q that had a full-red knob, or one with a red cap. This knob also has the same matching texture and appearance of the gray knobs.

The knobs are high quality and handmade--by me!--cast replicas of the actual and original Waldorf parts. The knobs are not 3D printed. Instead, I use a process called high-pressure plastic casting. The quality of the end-product is superior, and the knob itself will look and feel like the original.

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DISCLAIMER:

• Since this set is a large number of knobs, it is made-to-order. Therefore, please allow at least 7 days of lead time before shipment.
• Please know that some slight imperfections may exist in the replicas as the original parts were imperfect themselves. My originals actually started to crumble and fall apart towards the end of the process!
• I try my best to color-match all the knobs, as a single "dye lot" to the original knob color as best that I can but also to the synth's buttons/main dial. Slight variations may exist, though they will be as minimal as possible.
• Each knob is test-fitted for quality assurance on my own synth. However, variations in tightness between knobs do exist. Some may be tight while others may be slightly loose. Please know that I try very hard to minimize (and include) the looser ones, but they are seemingly unavoidable. Variations happen in the casting process as well as variations on the encoder shafts themselves. For the looser-fitting knobs, they just need to be snugged-up to your pot/encoder shafts with a thin strip of paper (included). Complete instructions are included.

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SHIPPING WITHIN USA:

• USPS Priority Small Flat Rate box with tracking.

INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING:

• Globalpost Standard, via USPS, in padded, bubble-mailer with full tracking and customs forms.
• The above method is the most affordable and RELIABLE option I can get that still provides end-to-end tracking AND should avoid any hassles in customs and/or customer having to pay additional fees (per Globalpost's website).
• Average delivery time, based on experience, is 15 days, but some I've seen some shipments take as long as 21, 25, 31, even 38 days, and some as fast as 6-10 days; entirely up to your country's postal system.
• Actual shipping costs shown and applied by Reverb are FLAT RATE, but they are based on modern, actual costs of past shipments to real locations around around the world.
• Current countries in the system: Australia, Austria, Belgium*, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, and UK.
• Depending on your particular country and import laws, you may be subject to import taxes and/or additional fees via your postal system. I am not an expert in the policies and procedures for the calculation and collection of any fees specific to your country/location. However, I do know, based on previous shipment experience, that Belgium* will most likely hold the package of knobs in Customs and make the buyer pay additional costs before releasing for delivery. Buyer beware.
• If you are located in a different country than listed above, please message me so I can INPUT and PROVIDE a more-accurate shipping cost than the default, "Rest of the World" rate of $25 USD.
• Combined-shipping discounts available.

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Be sure to check my other sales for additional knobs for other synths and FX units, including custom-color options! If you're looking for high-quality replacement knobs, maybe with some added unique/custom appeal, then you've come to the right place!

Thanks for stopping by... 🦋