[Jayce]

While the knobs look a bit like the ones on the Hippo, they are different animals. There is a plastic knob mounted in front of a metal ring. The ring behind the volume knob is actually a tone control while the one behind the tuning knob is just decoration. I've noticed that the tuning knob has shrunk and warped, causing it to be hard to get off the shaft. Also, the shaft rusted some where it made contact with the plastic while the volume knob and shaft are just fine. Not sure what plastic they used, but it is actually transluscent as light will shine through it!