Why are Tele knobs wrong - and where's the solution?

Headphones

I'm now the proud owner of a new Tele and a fine instrument it is.

But the volume knob - it's in the wrong place.  It's so close to the pickup switch, it gets in the way of switching when in the bridge position.  There seems to be plemty of space to move it back half an inch or so, which would solve the problem easily.  Why hasn't this been done by the big F over the last half century or so?

Anyone know of an off the shelf solution?

Brize

https://www.rockinger.com/index.php/en/Control-Plate-for-Tele,-Angled-Switch/c-WG152/a-2503C

Jimbro66

As an alternative to the angled switch there are control plates available with more space between the switch and volume knob. Most seem to be no longer stocked but Allparts Italy still lists them:

http://www.allpartsitalia.com/CPT-361422-Control-Plate-for-Tele-Spaced_p_11614.html

fatherchewielewie

I've got reverse-wired harness (V -T - Switch) on the way from James at Home of Tone. Quality components and a good price. I was going to score the bits myself and do it but I wasn't actually saving that much so I decided to just get the harness. I needed a rewire anyway because my switch and volume pot are on the way out so I just went the whole hog.

stickyfiddle

What Brize said. I’ve put them on multiple tales and am consistently baffled why Fender has never done such an obvious mod on any of its modern ranges.

Bebopper

A few minutes with a screwdriver and you can reverse the control plate and move the pots around so you get the switch out of the way.

barry2tone

Kinman also do a control plate with an angled slot, but it doesn't appear to be available separately at the mo'.


https://kinman.com/model-harness.php?pid=12&products=Telecaster type

Headphones

Thanks chaps - though now I have a choice on which route to take!

Bepper - that's a different approach, but doesn't solve the challenge of getting at the switch in the bridge position.

sweepy

I turn the switch plate round do the switch is at the back 

Roland

Me too. I want the volume where I can reach it easily, and the switch at the back

skullfunkerry

https://www.musik-produktiv.de/img/01/00/20/010020619xl.jpg

Paul_C

You could bend the switch tip over so it sticks out above or below the knob.

ICBM

I can’t stand the switch at the back. It makes one problem into two - you still can’t easily move the switch (from the neck position this time), but now the volume control is where I constantly hit it.

The right solution is the volume pot moved back a bit.

Or an Esquire with the ‘empty slot mod’ .

Fender have never redesigned that terrible jack cup lash-up either...

TINMAN82

I have much more of a problem with the switch layout on a strat. Way to easy to knock if set to neck pickup.

Strat54

Rutters Guitars do a 3/8" over plate. Subtle but works a treat...

http://ruttersguitars.com/uploads/3-8_in_Over_Plate_1.jpg

Voxman

It is a slight nuisance, but it doesn't bother me enough to switch the control plate around although it's an interesting solution. 

jonnyburgo

Bebopper said:

A few minutes with a screwdriver and you can reverse the control plate and move the pots around so you get the switch out of the way.

This, piece of piss to do, sometimes known as the Roy Buchanan mod. Ive done it to all the Teles ive owned

Voxman

ICBM said:

I can’t stand the switch at the back. It makes one problem into two - you still can’t easily move the switch (from the neck position this time), but now the volume control is where I constantly hit it.

The right solution is the volume pot moved back a bit.

Or an Esquire with the ‘empty slot mod’ .

Fender have never redesigned that terrible jack cup lash-up either...

Yup, agree re moving the vol pot back and the jack socket is a nuisance as it can't take an angled plug. 

crunchman

I tried the G&L take on a Tele the other day.  That has the volume pot moved a bit (and a better jack socket).  Not sure if the plate is the same size as the Fender one, or whether you can buy if separately.

Can't remember where, but I've seen a plate advertised with the volume moved along 3/8".

I've seen a Feline with an interesting control plate.  Had a Les Paul style toggle switch in it.  That solved the problem quite nicely.

FelineGuitars

crunchman said:

I tried the G&L take on a Tele the other day.  That has the volume pot moved a bit (and a better jack socket).  Not sure if the plate is the same size as the Fender one, or whether you can buy if separately.

Can't remember where, but I've seen a plate advertised with the volume moved along 3/8".

I've seen a Feline with an interesting control plate.  Had a Les Paul style toggle switch in it.  That solved the problem quite nicely.

rivercider

Try this?  https://youtu.be/B6DDvx-ksgQ