Barrel switch tip in the way

[Chicken Curry]

I play mainly in the neck position, My 52 AV has a barrel switch tip, big and fat, in the neck position my fingers keep bumping into it. Does anyone else find this annoying? I thought I'd get used to it but I didn't. Thoughts, advice?

I know, it's not the biggest problem, I have it off on my AO, it gives me more room for my fingers.

 

[cowboyfan1969]

Strat tip like Keith did......?

 

[Butch Snyder]

One of the coolest things about Telecasters, is that they were meant to be modified and changes to suit our needs. Pull the barrel tip off and replace with a Strat switch tip. Choose black and stay with the current color scheme, or choose whatever color you like.

 

[That Cal Webway]

Heck, I took mine off.
Can still change pup positions quickly.

 

[nojazzhere]

I play mainly in the neck position, My 52 AV has a barrel switch tip, big and fat, in the neck position my fingers keep bumping into it. Does anyone else find this annoying? I thought I'd get used to it but I didn't. Thoughts, advice?

I know, it's not the biggest problem, I have it off on my AO, it gives me more room for my fingers.

I use both a Strat tip, and bend the switch about 45° downward. That gets it out of the way for me.

 

[Telecentric]

Put the switch between the knobs like I did

 

[SPUDCASTER]

You'd really be in trouble with a top hat knob.

 

[BobbyMac]

I've never had a problem with any kind of switch tip on my Telecasters/Esquires/Nocasters.

 

[naneek]

on some guitars, I like to reverse my control plate.

I set it up with the volume knob at the top so it's close at hand while picking, tone in the middle, and the switch at the bottom where I have no chance of hitting it accidentally while strumming.

you can do this real easily in about 5 or 10 minutes with only a screwdriver. no wiring modifications required. just unscrew, disassemble, move your pots and switch around, and reassemble.

[my next tele will have no switch. instead I'll have a volume pot for each pickup, and master tone. that way I'll be able to blend my neck and bridge pickup volume to taste.]

 

[naneek]

You'd really be in trouble with a top hat knob.

the top hat switch tip on my affinity squire tele had a messy casting seam, so I dremeled it down into a more streamlined shape with no 'hat brim.'

now it's a thin oval with a flat top, which tapers down to a hexagon shape at the base.

I sprayed it with a little clear coat, and it looks pretty slick.
it feels better in my hand, and it's a neat little detail to make my guitar unique.

 

[mimmo]

It's not a problem for me, but I agree with- those who suggested the strat tip: had one in a tele a few years ago and it was a nice mod.

 

[Peegoo]

If you don't wanna reverse the control plate and flip the switch 180 degrees...

I learned a cool trick from Danny Gatton (Peace be Upon Him): bend the switch lever downward to move the knob downward. It's not much of a change, but it makes a world of difference. Make sure to bend it at a point that allows it to smoothly traverse all positions.

You can see it here (click on the pic to embiggen it):

 

[Chicken Curry]

Cool, I'll try a bunch of these. Had a look under the hood in the past but for some reason I didn't think there was enough slack to turn the selector switch 180. That's my first preference. Then the strat tip swap. Cool band name.

 

[Bourbon Burst]

the top hat switch tip on my affinity squire tele had a messy casting seam, so I dremeled it down into a more streamlined shape with no 'hat brim.'

now it's a thin oval with a flat top, which tapers down to a hexagon shape at the base.

I sprayed it with a little clear coat, and it looks pretty slick.
it feels better in my hand, and it's a neat little detail to make my guitar unique.

Pic?

 

[JL_LI]

One of the coolest things about Telecasters, is that they were meant to be modified and changes to suit our needs. Pull the barrel tip off and replace with a Strat switch tip. Choose black and stay with the current color scheme, or choose whatever color you like.

Is that what happened to all the switch tips at GC?

 

[Boreas]

I have installed a couple angled switch plates, but I find the Strat tip switch a lot cheaper.

 

[loopfinding]

Play more from the wrist and less from the arm. If you anchor, anchor on the high E. My hand barely goes outside of the string spacing.

 

[The Ballzz]

Bending the switch blade AND a Strat tip sounds like the best combination of all solutions. I've already got the Strat tip on there and bending the blade will happen the next time I pick up my Tele!
Just Switchin' 'N' Tippin'
Gene

 

[Peegoo]

You can even improve on ^^that by using a file and smooth sandpapers to knock off that pointy point on the Strat-type switch knob.

Measure carefully before doing the work so you don't file/sand to the point that you get into the blade recess.

Done correctly, it resembles a Tic Tac. NOT the Nimitz UFO hoax thing. The breath mint!

A cool result of the bent switch is it gives you greatly improved access to the switch when flipping it out of position 1, because it's no longer parked against the volume knob. It hangs down a bit and you can hook it with your little finger to move it. This problem is why the 'top hat' knob was implemented in the first place.

 

[Boreas]

I wonder why Leo didn't start using Strat tips on Teles instead of the Top Hat switch? I don't have much of a preference, but Leo could have saved a couple bux over the course of his life by just switching to Strat tips.