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Telecaster controls - Like em or not?

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Spudman

Spudman

Luke Skyrawker
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I have a big problem with Telecaster controls.

It seems hard (nearly impossible) to get my finger between the volume knob and the switch when the switch is in the bridge position. It makes fast pickup selection a bit of a chore and very frustrating.

A Strat switch is out there where you can easily flick it. Same with a Les Paul switch. Why isn't the Tele as easy to use? Does anyone make an aftermarket control plate that moves the volume knob towards the tone knob? Should we start a movement to get the spacing changed at the factory?

There is a lot of unused real estate between the two knobs. Shouldn't they be closer together?

What is your take on it?
 
tone2thebone said:
That is not a problem with my Muddy Waters Tele knobs. I think all Teles should benefit from the use of Fender amph knobs like the Muddy!
Click to expand...

I've heard good things about the Muddy Waters Tele. What's your opinion Tone?
 
I could see how those knobs would give just a little more space to get to the switch. Unfortunately, every other Tele comes with the chrome knobs. I like those myself.
 
I really like the switches and knobs on my Tele...I wouldnt change a thing...but thats just my opnion.
 
tot_Ou_tard said:
I've heard good things about the Muddy Waters Tele. What's your opinion Tone?
Click to expand...

The first thing I noticed when playing the Muddy was how loud and clean the strings vibrate. I attribute that to the vintage tailpiece with 3 brass saddles, the medium jumbo frets and the ash body. Plus the fact that it IS a standard string through body design by nature. You get a much more defined tone on this compared to a floating trem Strat. My Muddy is about as heavy as my Gibson LP.....about over 8 pounds. I also think the CAR finish has something to do with how absolutely spanky that baby gets. :p Seriously it's pure magic to play. It inspires you to play stuff you didn't think was possible. It has stock pickups in the neck and bridge that sound wonderful. I can play anything with this guitar. Bridge stuff is just freakin' awesome....bridge/middle very sparkly....and the neck just plain SMOKES. It also sports a fine set of vintage Fender/Gotoh tuners. The Muddy Waters Telecaster is probably the best guitar for the blues period! I've learned that the Telecaster is one versatile instrument. I never owned a Tele until I found this one.
 
So if you had to pick between your tele and your les paul for ONE guitar to diversify guitar ownership from a strat, which would you pick?, and why?

EDIT: Dang, I passed 500 posts in the last day or two and didn't even notice. :p
 
sunvalleylaw said:
So if you had to pick between your tele and your les paul for ONE guitar to diversify guitar ownership from a strat, which would you pick?, and why?

EDIT: Dang, I passed 500 posts in the last day or two and didn't even notice. :p
Click to expand...

I would be torn but I'd probably have to say my Tele. BUT when I stand around playing some blues the Gibson is right at home with that too. I just come down on the volume knob for a lot of that stuff and utilize all the pickup position choices...either both neck and bridge or just neck. Bridge goes a long way as well. You can blues out or rock out with the Les Paul thats for damn sure. GEE DO YOU HAVE TO MAKE ME CHOOSE?! heh But sure I'd take the Tele to a show or a studio.
 
I actually prefer the tele configuration because I am always bumping the switch on my strat out of the neck position by accident. (I dont play it that much, though) On the tele I can hook the switch from underneath with my pinky when it's in the bridge position.
Also, the gap between the pots makes for easy swells.
 
Tele Control Plate switch

I too didn't like the layout from the factory. I turned my plate 180 degrees & now the order is like this:

3-way switch nearest Jack (rear)
Tone in the middel
Volume nearest the neck (front)
BTW- I'm a Lefty and those are Glendale Saddles
 
fendermojoman said:
I too didn't like the layout from the factory. I turned my plate 180 degrees & now the order is like this:

3-way switch nearest Jack (rear)
Tone in the middel
Volume nearest the neck (front)
BTW- I'm a Lefty and those are Glendale Saddles
Click to expand...

I like this idea. I think I'll try it too.
 
You can change the standard control plate:

2505c.jpg


To this one that has the volume pot's hole closer to the tone pot's one:
2500c.jpg


;)
 
Interesting, I've never had any problems with this myself. One of my students has strat, and he is constantly turning his volume knob down by accident - tragic to see!

I love those chrome knobs on the Tele!
 
As far as I know, the main source of these control plates in Europe is Goeldo.

The Greek distibutor of Goeldo's products is Stavros Ntukas: www.guitars.gr
and the German main distributor is Rockinger: www.rockinger.de

Unfortunatelly, as far as I know, they both don't sell overseas...:(

Here is the page with Goeldo's other international retailers:
http://www.goeldo.de/gshop.php?p=haendler

Also, why don't you check out on Stew & Mac's site? Maybe they have something similar!
 
Robert said:
Interesting, I've never had any problems with this myself. One of my students has strat, and he is constantly turning his volume knob down by accident - tragic to see!
Click to expand...
That's what torques me about the volume pot on my Charvel, although it's not as close as a Strat's is.
 
I would put the tone control a bit closer to the volume pot also..

I still think that a strat's volume pot is easier to put your hands on and make quick changes, but last month I played my friend's strat (the first I play after probably 3 months) and I was hitting my hand on the volume pot all the time. The way my hand now rests on a tele makes it a bit more tricky to play a strat. the bridge pickup, so as the saddles are further away from the neck on the tele.
 
Knob dodging

I guess Fender thinks anyone who can shred faster than the speed of light,
chicken pick behind their heads, palm mute the E-D-B string while bending the other
3 simultaneously shouldn't have any problems dodging the volume knob!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D :p ;)

"I'm unemployed BUT I'm in a band!"
 
fendermojoman said:
I too didn't like the layout from the factory. I turned my plate 180 degrees & now the order is like this:

3-way switch nearest Jack (rear)
Tone in the middel
Volume nearest the neck (front)
BTW- I'm a Lefty and those are Glendale Saddles
Click to expand...

Hey FenderMojo, was there enough slack in the wiring to just flip it ?

thanks

Ted
 
When I watched the Brent Mason Podcast I noticed that he had his control knobs further from the switch and closer together.
 
Wire Slack

ted s said:
Hey FenderMojo, was there enough slack in the wiring to just flip it ?

thanks

Ted
Click to expand...

Not for every wire but, but it was moot for me-while I had it "out" I replaced all pots and cap with an upgrade kit from RS guitarworks. It even came with a Hoveland yellow cap!!!! Now my Seymour Vintage Stacks really come to life and no hum either! :cool: :cool: :cool:
 
Last edited:
That's pretty smart too. Kinnman stuff is awesome.

I still don't understand why it's so difficult to just drill the holes closer together. Who needs that kind of room between the knobs? Do the companies think all Tele players have pudgy fingers of something?:confused: :)
 
My favorite guitar is a Yamaha 302s, Yamaha's take on the Tele. It's the feel and the tone(s) of the guitar, of course, that are the main reasons I like it as much as I do, but I also prefer the Yamahas diagonal Strat-like (though just a three-way) pickup selector to the standard Tele vertical selector switch. Also, the volume knob's location makes it easy (ier) to do volume swells and final chord tremolos.
Here's a picture of a 102s:
pac1022.JPG
 
Last edited:

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