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

Henrytwang

I’ve often thought about getting a blank plate and drilling it to take an SG switch. 

p90fool

I just run a five way switch and wire it neck-both-bridge-bridge-bridge.

It means I never have to flick the switch all the way over to the volume pot, but if I do accidentally overshoot it doesn't really matter. 

CountryDave

Bend the switch over like Danny Gatton did. 
Works for me. 

TTBZ

I had the control plate flipped on my telemaster and didn't really like it, felt too far forward and not as easy to get to. If I'd kept that guitar I would have put it back to normal.

Paul_C

Voxman said:

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. 

If you fit an electrosocket and use the switchcraft jack socket with the longer 3/8" thread (no washer) it will let you use an angled Neutrik jack.

The longer thread jack socket might work in a std. Tele cup too, but I haven't tried it so can't say for sure.

ICBM

Voxman said:

the jack socket is a nuisance as it can't take an angled plug. 

It will take a Neutrik, which are the best anyway. The main problem with it is that it almost inevitably comes loose.

koneguitarist

Just put a Gibson Toggle switch in, much easier to use, and sorts all the issues. 
Can even put it Vol, Switch and then Tone if you like vol up front. 
Believe me I have had every style of switching layout on a tele. Now use a standard plate with standard set up on my Esquire. 

stickyfiddle

I've put Gibson-style jackplates on every Tele I've owned. Much better. Simple, bombproof, takes any jack plug and easily repaired if anything did happen to it. 

As for control plates, does @MattFGBI know anything? Has it ever been discussed within Fender?

MattFGBI

I think this is a case of if we changed it, it wouldn’t look right. “Vintage correct” and all that. 

It could be an option to investigate new layouts on future high performance models like Elites and so on but nothing like this is currently in the plan as far as I know. 

Funkfingers

Another consideration.

Not all Telecaster control cavities are routed to the full depth for their entire length. The Nineties American Standard and the James Burton signature model had a less deep portion part way along, between the volume and tone pots. If you use a replacement plate to shift the volume pot, its terminals could foul on the lump in the cavity.

PinstripePhil

Headphones said:

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?

Honestly, you will get used to it.  And in time you might just grow to love where it is.

TeleMaster

I just got used to it. Don’t even think about it now. 

The Strat toggle was an issue but again, used to it now. 

octatonic

Simplest solution is 'get used to it'.
I find the Strat volume pot placement more of an issue but I'm mostly used to it now.

Voxman

TeleMaster said:

I just got used to it. Don’t even think about it now. 

I didn't even think about it, just accepted that all guitars have their little foibles. My PRS Cu24 has a 5 way rotary that ditto I just accepted. And the 2 tone and 2 vols on my LP, SG and Sheraton I still (ridiculously) get confused with sometimes.  My Sheraton has no fret markers after the 15th fret that again still throws me sometimes when I play up on higher frets etc.  It's all good, just part of each guitars character. 

rze99

rivercider said:

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

Quite neat. Doesn't it very slightly increase the risk of knocking the switch out of position when strumming in the neck pickup position because it is closer to the strumming hand?

I'm a Tele freak and I don't really have too much of an issue with the volume control.  I have slim fingers so perhaps that's a difference for some.

chrisj1602

Tele controls have never bothered me.

The one that screwed my brain up was the Ric Vol/Tone layout having played Gibsons for so long!

skullfunkerry

 

Headphones

I ordered the Italian Allparts item after the first few posts.

Still waiting.

Italy's in a different time zone I guess.

octatonic

chrisj1602 said:

Tele controls have never bothered me.

The one that screwed my brain up was the Ric Vol/Tone layout having played Gibsons for so long!

Or the PRS Singlecut layout.
Very weird.