anyone else knock their strat pickup switch all the time? EDIT:problem solved!

axisus

I seem to be forever knocking it into another position when I am using neck or neck-middle, sometimes middle position. Does anyone else do that is it just me being a freak again??

Maybe I've had stiffer switches in the past? It's a bit annoying! 

Is there any way to make a switch a bit stiffer??

johnhe

Sorry I can’t help with the stiffer switch. However, I played strats almost exclusively for more than a decade. In that time, I can only remember accidentally knocking the switch once or twice. 

However, in the past few years, I’ve been playing more and more Gibson style guitars. Now, when I move back to a strat, I’m hitting the switch by accident much more often!

Sassafras

No, because I know where the switch is and I tend to avoid hitting it.
In all my years of playing, the switch has never migrated to a different location.

HAL9000

I used to when I first had a Strat, but now never.

Funkfingers

axisus said:

Is there any way to make a switch a bit stiffer??

It's the old Tommy Cooper joke, innit? 

Cooper: Doctor, whenever I do this, it hurts.
Doctor: Well, stop doing it, then.

Discipline your strumming/picking hand into hitting the strings hard enough without moving so far up and down relative to the strings.

Bod

Not the switch, but the volume pot has taken the skin off my knuckles a few times. 

RaymondLin

I swear a saw a kickstarter or something thing on Facebook to fix this not long ago.

Lestratcaster

Had my strat for like 23 years but not all the time. Only occasionally but I've just gotten used to where it is and adjusted my right hand position.

Teyeplayer

It’s one of the many reasons I’ve never got on too well with strats, despite the fact that I think they are a delight to play. I’ve found a tele with a reversed control plate is an improvement that suits me better. 

ICBM

Yes, usually from the middle (my favourite position) to the bridge&middle (least favourite). I constantly bash the volume control as well.

The solution for me was to find a Strat derivative with both the switch and volume control further down and to the right. Ironically it's the exact same model I had when I first started playing, and before I ever used a Fender.

TTBZ

Yeah it's quite easy to hit, I can't stand the normal strat control layout as the volume is right in the way for me as well and I always knock it. I always catch my pick on the middle pickup too. My current strat has one pickup and one volume knob, not traditional but it works for me and keeps the controls out of the way! 

dangriffiths

Yep - part of the reason I don't have one anymore.

soma1975

Never

LastMantra

I did at first, but I've got the hang of it now. 

barnstorm

RaymondLin said:

I swear a saw a kickstarter or something thing on Facebook to fix this not long ago.

https://www.theswitchlock.com/

thegummy

Do the people who hit the switch also struggle trying to only play some of the strings without hitting the others?

Kittyfrisk

Yes & it's even worse with an old 3 way switch as I keep losing my matches.

gazrichards

I did, then realised it was another thing that annoyed me about strats so stopped using them, so now I don’t 

richardhomer

No - never been an issue for me. I’ve played Strats for nearly 40 years - I feel completely at home on them.

skunkwerx

I knock on it before buying to make sure its good tone plastic and resonant and shit. 

HAL9000

Just looked at a Pacifica I’ve got knocking around and on which I’ve never accidentally hit the switch. On the Pacifica the switch is set slightly (~1cm) further back which appears to be enough to get it out of the way but still leaves it within easy to reach when you want it.