Thinking about Fenders

[donepearce]

These still don't approach the convenience of a Strat, which puts the control right where you can wrap your little finger round it as you play any string.

 

[cerebral gasket]

‘98 SG-X

View attachment 46218

Summer Beach Series

Caribbean Blue
Coral Pink
Corona Yellow

 

[Decadent Dan]

These still don't approach the convenience of a Strat, which puts the control right where you can wrap your little finger round it as you play any string.

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That’s a knuckle-banger, IMO. Depends on your style, I guess.

 

[donepearce]

That’s a knuckle-banger, IMO. Depends on your style, I guess.

That's cool. If your playing style doesn't include real-time dynamics you don't need a Strat's control layout.

 

[Banderboy]

That's cool. If your playing style doesn't include real-time dynamics you don't need a Strat's control layout.

Anybody ever use a whammy bar type lever with a volume control? You could just swing it out of the way when you didn't need it.

 

[donepearce]

Anybody ever use a whammy bar type lever with a volume control? You could just swing it out of the way when you didn't need it.

I've never heard of such a thing. Is it real, or are you speculating on the possibility?

 

[Banderboy]

I've never heard of such a thing. Is it real, or are you speculating on the possibility?

Speculating, but it's (i think) theoretically possible. Kinda like a Virtual Jeff.

 

[Go Nigel Go]

It absolutely is possible, though I am not aware of anyone actually doing it. You can also do the same thing with a volume pedal, so lot's of options.

I used Gibson guitars exclusively for the first 10 years I actually played electrics, and wanted nothing to do with Fender. I got my Strat because it was SUPER cheap and I was feeling saucy. I am glad I waited to get one, but I am also glad I finally got one. It is a totally different layout and opened up a new world of playing possibilities right when I was ready to embrace them.

Now, 20 years later I like and use different guitars depending on what I am doing. They all have their good points and drawbacks, although I no longer find most of the drawbacks to be "fatal flaws". They are just different combinations of features that can be very useful under the right circumstances.

If you think there is only one way to make a guitar, you are really missing out on something no matter what it is. For what it's worth, I have never gotten tangled up in the controls on my Strat. I have learned to love it for what it does well.

 

[donepearce]

Swell pedals are great - Mark Knopfler is a master with one. But they do force you to one position on the stage. Admittedly an 8-foot square platform in the corner of a pub does cramp your movements a touch, but hey, it's nice to have options.

 

[Decadent Dan]

A volume pedal adds a 250k pot to your signal chain. Might not notice clean.

 

[Go Nigel Go]

Mark Knopfler's swells are indeed some of the finest examples of the technique I know of. They are a milestone I haven't been able to fully reach yet, but are the mark I aim for when I try to do sweet expressive swells. My best results have come from using a pedal, and when I want that result I am happy to anchor myself to a single stage location at least for the duration of the technique.

 

[Decadent Dan]

EVH was pretty good at that **** too.

 

[Decadent Dan]

Eddie has high and low friction 250k pots. Also, low friction 500k pots, so you won’t wear your pinky out with real-time dynamics. https://www.eddievanhalenstore.com/collections/evh-potentiometers

 

[donepearce]

EVH is great, but Jeff is master of the pinkie dynamics art

 

[njpaulc]

I was looking for that picture

 

[Decadent Dan]

08 Diablo

 

[Von Trapp]

With bonus frets!

 

[donepearce]

I would like them to put a marker in that second octave fret.

 

[pancake81]

You've never thought about sticking a volume knob right next to your bridge pickup?

Personally I have not. TO be honest it is one of the reasons I don't have a Fender. For me, the placement of that volume knob interferes with my playing, picking/strumming style. My dang pinky always hits the thing. No doubt with some time and practice I could alter my style, but why when the SG feels so much better to me and the controls are in a place that are out of the way and mapped in my muscle memory

 

[pancake81]

These still don't approach the convenience of a Strat, which puts the control right where you can wrap your little finger round it as you play any string.

View attachment 46219

Convenience for some is inconvenient for others.... Like I said, I just find it an obstruction in that location