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Friend of Leo's
This already has future Musicman and G&L vibes!
Strat's pesky, unforgivable "VOLUME Knob" location
- Thread starter freshchops
- Start date
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badscrew_projects
Friend of Leo's
VADE RETRO SATANAS
mr natural
Friend of Leo's
Partscaster. Master volume and master tone. Tone knob pulls out so neck pickup is always on but out of phase from normal. Hence the Tele knobs. So many tone possibilities. This guitar has become my number 1.
tfarny
Poster Extraordinaire
Yes that is the trick. You can also get a pickguard with no control holes and drill your own setup whatever you want.
I have to say I also realized one day that I hate the strat 5 way switch - too many positions for a little switch, I can't use it onstage while singing, and I don't like the location either. Gimme a three way switch and a button or on/off switch somewhere else for the "extra" sounds whatever they are.
I'm one of those who never understood why a strat needed 2 tone knobs when most of us never use them anyway. I would remove the middle tone pot and put the volume pot in it's place. Plug the hole in the pickguard or get a custom pickguard,or add a switch for something like adding a the neck to the bridge or something similar.
If it's in you was, move it.
If it's in you was, move it.
String Tree
Telefied
My only complaint as well.
But lets face it, the tone from a Strat is like nothing else.
AAT65
Doctor of Teleocity
I can’t work a 5-way switch on-stage either. So I’ll say it again! The best way to wire three pickups is: 3-way switch giving B, M, N (like an old Strat, but dump that two tone control stuff and use master volume and tone), then use the second row of the switch for N, B and M with a push-pull to add that to the output: so switch down you get B, M, N and switch up you get B&N, B&M, M&N. All five Strat sounds plus the unique Tele sound, and simple simple controls.
I love the control placement on a Strat- no issues other than having the 2nd Tone control wired to work on both Middle and Bridge pickups
( and I did that to just take some treble bite off the Bridge pickup, vs. stock 'Wide open')
As for the 5-way switch, I just trained myself to automatically/quickly first go to #5 ( neck only) when I actually want to use #4 spot, and in the same way, go first to #1 when I want to use #2.
That way, they are just '1 click away' - easier to hit.
A Strat is just a masterpiece guitar to me!
( and I did that to just take some treble bite off the Bridge pickup, vs. stock 'Wide open')
As for the 5-way switch, I just trained myself to automatically/quickly first go to #5 ( neck only) when I actually want to use #4 spot, and in the same way, go first to #1 when I want to use #2.
That way, they are just '1 click away' - easier to hit.
A Strat is just a masterpiece guitar to me!
badinfinities
Friend of Leo's
I can't remember ever having an issue with knob or switch placement on a guitar.
The only time I ditched a guitar due to ergonomic issues was the Guild Starfire Jet 90. For me, the three P90s made using a pick impossible, and unpleasant with a thumb pick.
The only time I ditched a guitar due to ergonomic issues was the Guild Starfire Jet 90. For me, the three P90s made using a pick impossible, and unpleasant with a thumb pick.
JRapp
Tele-Afflicted
Never had a problem with the Strat knob placement or the switch. Ever.
old wrench
Poster Extraordinaire
The Strat volume knob position has never been an issue for me - for doing volume swells, it feels like it's located in just the right spot for me - just hook your pinky finger around it and fade in or fade out
.
.
willietheweirdo
Tele-Afflicted
DHart
Poster Extraordinaire
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The thread that would not die.
I love it.
The only 'strat' that I ever had a Volume Knob issue with was the red Epiphone Fat300/310 depicted there in my avatar.
I would find myself playing a gig and wondering why I couldn't hear myself.
Yes, I was steadily turning down the Volume Knob while chugging away on my rhythm guitar playing.
I guess the volume pot was unusually easy to rotate.
I have had quite a few Strats and Strat copies since then, and it's never been a problem.
The only Stratocaster I own now is my 1991 Fender Strat Plus, and the Volume Knob on it seems to have just the right amount of tension. I never accidentally turn myself down when playing it.
I'm gonna shut up now.
I love it.
The only 'strat' that I ever had a Volume Knob issue with was the red Epiphone Fat300/310 depicted there in my avatar.
I would find myself playing a gig and wondering why I couldn't hear myself.
Yes, I was steadily turning down the Volume Knob while chugging away on my rhythm guitar playing.
I guess the volume pot was unusually easy to rotate.
I have had quite a few Strats and Strat copies since then, and it's never been a problem.
The only Stratocaster I own now is my 1991 Fender Strat Plus, and the Volume Knob on it seems to have just the right amount of tension. I never accidentally turn myself down when playing it.
I'm gonna shut up now.
MatsEriksson
Friend of Leo's
Yes, thread that would not die. I find it hilarious that my added post in may back at page 2, (first since 2016 in this thread) should spark/trigger and boost a number of posts, pages, which means that still today it is an issue with some people. Otherwise companies wouldn't come up with solutions for it (like thatclickknob). It's not ONLY strats, there are numerous others that has vol knob in other places that STILL are in the way.
FOR SOME PEOPLE!
And for some the ergonomics are different, and not in the way. If one does palm muting while strumming, and the knob is placed like on a strat you will bump into it. That's what separates my playing style, sound from you. I don't strum the same like you do, so some of us touch the vol knob, others don't. Simple as that. But it still is a problem for some. Period. And asking them to change playing style after all these years is a tall order.
- - - - - - - - -
Regarding Telecaster and vol position. If there's any regular guitar that could mimick faux-pedal steel guitar in country music it's the Telecaster. And then you really need to do volume swells, so it has always stumped me why the vol knob on that one isn't placed like on a Strat, where it would come much more in use. You can mimick pedal steel licks on a strat because of the vol knob, but the sound isn't that close even, and if your whammy is floating you will get some notes sour on the country bends. And people say: well, get a vol pedal. But it ain't the same control and you need 2 extra cables and whatnot. Totally uneccesary when its built into the guitar.
I have swelled my vol pot on the Klein electric to death, since 2005. So last year I had to swap it out. No matter how much I sprayed and cleaned it, all the rotational life had gone. I wish that there existed those BOURNS pots that are blue and made of ceramic plastic or whatever, that has PUSH PULL functions too, but alas not yet. I have a regular such pot on the strat and it turns too easily. Way too easily, but then that trait invites you to do a lot of swells just because of it. And I have swelled on these like mad, but never ever had to spray or clean it. They have yet to produce the slightest scratch. But now, since the "thatclicknob", it finally stays in place. The pot underneath is the same, it's just the jagged ring on top of it, that holds it place. Have yet to strum so wildly that I knock it out of position. I did before.
Also, to facilitate (we digress a little here) FAST volume swells the actual knob on the Klein was a black Fender Jazz Bass tone control knob, i e the smaller one dimension. Smaller and not so tall, so it made a little leeway for the strumming hand to cruise/wiff just above it. And when doing swells with the pinky, they came faster, because of the rotational speed increased but with the same effort (length of pinky) needed.
Which means I've never understood the point behind the so called SPEEDKNOBS/SPEEDLOADER (?!) knobs, or whatever they're called from Gibson et al. Too large dimension to get a firm grip, but the speed is - actually and factually - slowed down. Nothing increasing speed at all with those. Beats me. The less diameter, the faster the swell at a same distance (i e millimeters, centimeters of your pinky). Change them out to jazz bass tone control knobs instead and get swift with them. They might jinx the aesthetics, but change out all knobs to such then, if you're picky about looks, they come in white too.
- - - - - - - - -
So most Gibsons, like Les Pauls, and SG's have their controls way off the scratch/ballistic area. I don't generally play them because of that. Here comes a point that no one can dodge from:
There's a reason there's a scratchplate or pickguard on most electric and acoustic guitars. Try telling people to learn how to play WITHOUT scratching the surface with the pick or nail of fingers. Good luck with that. It's just the same with people accidentally knocking vol knobs out. So if manufacturers still are adamant about "shielding" from pick scratches, there are ways to keep people from knocking the vol knob out. Why don't they start thinking of that too, on top of the picking scratches thing?
FOR SOME PEOPLE!
And for some the ergonomics are different, and not in the way. If one does palm muting while strumming, and the knob is placed like on a strat you will bump into it. That's what separates my playing style, sound from you. I don't strum the same like you do, so some of us touch the vol knob, others don't. Simple as that. But it still is a problem for some. Period. And asking them to change playing style after all these years is a tall order.
- - - - - - - - -
Regarding Telecaster and vol position. If there's any regular guitar that could mimick faux-pedal steel guitar in country music it's the Telecaster. And then you really need to do volume swells, so it has always stumped me why the vol knob on that one isn't placed like on a Strat, where it would come much more in use. You can mimick pedal steel licks on a strat because of the vol knob, but the sound isn't that close even, and if your whammy is floating you will get some notes sour on the country bends. And people say: well, get a vol pedal. But it ain't the same control and you need 2 extra cables and whatnot. Totally uneccesary when its built into the guitar.
I have swelled my vol pot on the Klein electric to death, since 2005. So last year I had to swap it out. No matter how much I sprayed and cleaned it, all the rotational life had gone. I wish that there existed those BOURNS pots that are blue and made of ceramic plastic or whatever, that has PUSH PULL functions too, but alas not yet. I have a regular such pot on the strat and it turns too easily. Way too easily, but then that trait invites you to do a lot of swells just because of it. And I have swelled on these like mad, but never ever had to spray or clean it. They have yet to produce the slightest scratch. But now, since the "thatclicknob", it finally stays in place. The pot underneath is the same, it's just the jagged ring on top of it, that holds it place. Have yet to strum so wildly that I knock it out of position. I did before.
Also, to facilitate (we digress a little here) FAST volume swells the actual knob on the Klein was a black Fender Jazz Bass tone control knob, i e the smaller one dimension. Smaller and not so tall, so it made a little leeway for the strumming hand to cruise/wiff just above it. And when doing swells with the pinky, they came faster, because of the rotational speed increased but with the same effort (length of pinky) needed.
Which means I've never understood the point behind the so called SPEEDKNOBS/SPEEDLOADER (?!) knobs, or whatever they're called from Gibson et al. Too large dimension to get a firm grip, but the speed is - actually and factually - slowed down. Nothing increasing speed at all with those. Beats me. The less diameter, the faster the swell at a same distance (i e millimeters, centimeters of your pinky). Change them out to jazz bass tone control knobs instead and get swift with them. They might jinx the aesthetics, but change out all knobs to such then, if you're picky about looks, they come in white too.
- - - - - - - - -
So most Gibsons, like Les Pauls, and SG's have their controls way off the scratch/ballistic area. I don't generally play them because of that. Here comes a point that no one can dodge from:
There's a reason there's a scratchplate or pickguard on most electric and acoustic guitars. Try telling people to learn how to play WITHOUT scratching the surface with the pick or nail of fingers. Good luck with that. It's just the same with people accidentally knocking vol knobs out. So if manufacturers still are adamant about "shielding" from pick scratches, there are ways to keep people from knocking the vol knob out. Why don't they start thinking of that too, on top of the picking scratches thing?
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Trenchant63
Friend of Leo's
I remember when the Strat volume knob placement killed my chance at a life changing record deal when I hit it accidentally during a club gig just when record execs walked in to check out our band. They immediate looked at each other, irritated, like they’d just wasted their time, turned and walked out. I’m filled with bitter regret. 
stnmtthw
Friend of Leo's
That's called a Les Paul. They're pretty cool.
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