Reverse controls: pros and cons

[P Thought]

My first tele ever is a homebuilt, a partscaster. My friend George gave me the wood for the body, and he did the wiring. George likes the controls reversed--as I've seen on a few of the teles here--so that the volume knob is closest to the neck, and the pickup switch farthest away. I went along with that, and I'm happy with it.

But I've never had a tele before, so I wonder: is there a downside to reversing the controls, and if so, what is it? If there's not, why don't more people do it?

[jkingma]

There is NO down side for me. There might me for the next player.

[BigDaddyLH]

There's a down side, but since you simply spun the control cover 180 degrees, it's still the down side.

[jkingma]

It's not just a matter of flipping the plate around. You also have to switch the pots around as well. There is likely some soldering involved. Other wise your tone pot is up front... and who wants that.

[GopherTele]

I find it rather faddish.

[KCLefty]

Doesn't really matter. Especially since your not used to the convention tele controls. If you play that guitar often enough you'll get used to it and that will be your norm. Easy enough to switch back if you don't like it.

I'm a lefty and played more Gibsons in the last 20 years than Fenders. Well Gibson installs the vol/tone pots so they rotate backwards on their lefty's. I'm so used to that I have to change the pots on Fender style guitars to also rotate "backwards".

[cowboytwang]

I've had mine "reversed" for 30 years and still haven't found one single reason to change it back.

[BigDaddyLH]

Originally Posted by cowboytwang

I've had mine "reversed" for 30 years and still haven't found one single reason to change it back.

Way to ride that fad!

[Telarkaster]

That mod is the best thing I learned from the TDPRI:



I'm always reaching down to adjust the volume, and I love doing volume swells. The pickup selector switch is not too far for me but I admit that it took some getting used to and it made me realize how much I switch positions. The one con is that it's hard to do tone swells with the neck pup engaged because the switch is right next to the tone knob. But that isn't much of an issue because I hardly ever do tone swells.

[Ricky D.]

It's totally a personal preference issue.

Some players bump the controls when they play. And some use the controls a lot while they play.

[urizen]

I say it's pointless, 'cause all yez REALLY need is a volume control (and the 3-way switch).

[JCBurke59]

All 3 of my Tele style guitars have the plate flipped. Any of my pro's have already been mentioned.
Another con: not 'traditional' (if that bothers you).

Here's my latest build - a lot of 'not traditional' going on here...

[RodeoTex]

Originally Posted by Telarkaster

The one con is that it's hard to do tone swells with the neck pup engaged because the switch is right next to the tone knob. But that isn't much of an issue because I hardly ever do tone swells.

I think you are actually supposed to swap the pots too, so that the volume is closest to the neck.

[JCBurke59]

Originally Posted by RodeoTex

I think you are actually supposed to swap the pots too, so that the volume is closest to the neck.

That's how mine are set up.
I don't think I've ever seen one just 'flipped' without the volume moved out front.

Joe

[mkorsmo]

Originally Posted by JCBurke59

All 3 of my Tele style guitars have the plate flipped. Any of my pro's have already been mentioned.
Another con: not 'traditional' (if that bothers you).

Here's my latest build - a lot of 'not traditional' going on here...

That's cool. Love the hardware (the knurling on those knobs is rad)... the pin striping... the color... top notch.

[TG]

I use the switch much more than the volume knob so it didn't work for me.

[JCBurke59]

Originally Posted by mkorsmo

That's cool. Love the hardware (the knurling on those knobs is rad)...

Thanks.
Michael at Armadillo Guitar Parts made the knobs and switch tip.

[dijos]

can we have more pics? it is very much like something I have in my head.

sorry. on topic- I use the switch way too much to move it that far back. Strats and all, you know.

[JCBurke59]

Originally Posted by dijos

can we have more pics? it is very much like something I have in my head.

If that was meant for me, here's a link...
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-home...r-esquire.html

[ADK Teleman]

It all depends on what you like!!! I prefer my Teles to have the control plate in the normal way. That is just what I like. You have to do what makes you happy and who cares what someone else might think> Rock on brother.

[fezz parka]

I use the volume knob a lot, so the flipped plate is what works for me, and has worked long before it was "faddy"...

[Michael Murphy]

Tried it flipped around, but I just couldn't get used to it, and that was back when I just dimed everything.

Since I've been playing Esquires almost exclusively for the last ten years or so, I use the switch and tone control quite a bit, but still find reversed plates feel 'wrong'.

I seldom use the volume control at all- I just vary my pick attack for volume changes. Still, I want that knob in the traditional position...


-Michael
Charter Member S. Texas He-Man Emoticon Haters Local #316

[kennedyj]

It seems from the responses so far that it comes down to whether you use the volume control or the switch more often. Decided on that and I think you'll have your answer.

Personally, I use the switch a lot more often, although it did take a little while to get to the point where I wasn't accidentally knocking it out of position with every down stroke.

[superchicken_VI]

I use the switch and the volume a lot. I was always hitting the switch with my hand while I was playing and getting into the wrong pickup selection. I saw a photo of some fancy high-end Fender that came from the factory with the plate reversed and it was an a-ha for me. I flipped the plate, had to rewire some stuff (moving the volume away from the switch is problematic for stock wiring), but can't imagine going back. 5 years on, it's absolutely necessary for me.

[asatfan]

I switched mine for a while, but I kept reaching for the wrong thing at the wrong time. I switched it back because I couldn't get used to it. Guess it's the "old dog, new trick" thing. I have my right foot on a volume pedal much of the time, anyway.

[SatelliteOrders]

I far prefer the reversed.

As for rewiring, I was able to reverse without rewiring at all. Thing is, the wires to the switch are not long enough to mount the switch "right", so when the switch points back, it's on the neck pickup, and vice versa.

[woodman]

i tried the flip, but still wasn't satisfied. so i went with a switch-in-the-middle config, which i've come to love. (this one was made by Taipan.) vol control's right there where you need it, switch is still handy, and tone can be easily grabbed with the little finger. the custom design also allows a little more real estate between the knobs and switch.

[Telarkaster]

Originally Posted by RodeoTex

I think you are actually supposed to swap the pots too, so that the volume is closest to the neck.

Yes, that's exactly what I did, volume is close to the neck, tone is next to the switch. Easy to do volume swells, harder to do tone swells when switch is next to it.

It's not a hard mod to do, but I had to replace one of the short wires with a longer one so some soldering is involved.

[Telarkaster]

Originally Posted by woodman

i tried the flip, but still wasn't satisfied. so i went with a switch-in-the-middle config, which i've come to love. (this one was made by Taipan.) vol control's right there where you need it, switch is still handy, and tone can be easily grabbed with the little finger. the custom design also allows a little more real estate between the knobs and switch.

That's brilliant Woodman!

[Telarkaster]

Originally Posted by dijos

can we have more pics? it is very much like something I have in my head.

sorry. on topic- I use the switch way too much to move it that far back. Strats and all, you know.

Here you go.







The Strat set up makes a lot of sense, both the selector and the volume knob are easily within reach and I find it easier to do volume swells on a Strat. Then again I started playing electric on a Strat copy.

[dented]

My 95 MIJ Tele deluxe came reversed with the volume closest. Don't know any other way as it is my only Tele ever played.

[Oldgitplayer]

I don't get this thread. I thought everybody made adjustments with thought - you know - Telekinesis.

[neocaster]

There's no downside if you're looking to keep your volume under your little finger all the time. Great for swells and steel guitar country licks. Also good if you find yourself throwing the selector accidentally on heavier strummed rhythm pieces. Bottom line in my opinion (and that's all it is) is that if the selector at the neck side of the plate doesn't work for you, you can either change your guitar to work with your play, or change your play to work with your guitar. I rarely hit my selector on rock/heavy metal rhythm stuff, and I use a volume pedal because I just haven't gotton those volume knob swells to sound right yet.

[Tim Bowen]

I like woodman's approach! But yeah, it really depends on whether the pickup flip or the pinky/knob relationship is the bigger deal. Reversing the plate is first order of business on my end. Don't listen to me though, as I want an electric guitar to sound like a Tele and feel like a Strat.