"Delonge" volume control

[SJ318]

Hi,
Any one here tried the volume knob of a strat further away from the bridge pickup like Suhr, or Warmoth's Delonge position? Is it easier for you to use for volume swells? If so, I wonder why Jeff Beck, one the all time best volume swellologists in the world, does not do so.
SJB

 

[Ironikaika]

Re: "Delonge" volume control

Because a strat is a part of Jeff Beck's body. He made the instrument work for him. I'd say it obeyed.

 

[SJ318]

Re: "Delonge" volume control

Okay, got the JB thing.
How about in general, anyone try it, like it, or even think it sucks? Got a clean white pickgaurd from last year, thinking of moving the volume, but hard to tell by feeling my other guitars, if it would be advantageous. Suhr, whom I respect, seems to like it better.
Thanks,
SJB

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: "Delonge" volume control

I do volume swells all the time on my G&L Legacys, with controls in the normal position. Why would you need to move it?

Bill

 

[Ironikaika]

Re: "Delonge" volume control

I personally prefer a lowered V knob, like the San Dimas Charvel position. I don't do a ton of swells but it works for me whereas the strat position is a in a position that I always hit when I am playing.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: "Delonge" volume control

It's a personal preference thing. Do you like pepperoni pizza, veggie lovers, anchovies...

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: "Delonge" volume control

I currently have a modified TDL style pickguard assembly on my Fender Am Dlx Stratocaster with the SD Allan Holdsworth humbucker.

The one obvious advantage of shifting the volume knob south is that it is out of the way of some vigorous whammy bar excursions. Inevitably, this puts it in the way for some other stunts.

I have no problem with the conventional Stratocaster volume knob position. As a long-time Telecaster player, I learned to control my picking hand movements. A couple of impacts of fingernail on raised vintage bridge lip soon sorts that out.

 

[SJ318]

Re: "Delonge" volume control

Thanks guys,
I think I will move it just a bit away, not down. Enough so the skirt of the V knob will cover the hole of the V knob on my already cut pickgaurd and try it. The delonge looks like it could cause some problems w/other "stunts". I like swells and I am not comfortable where it is now. Gotta find a way to use the V snd trem together without either getting in the way. I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that Jeff Beck is better than I am.
Not sure what a TDL pickgauard is (tele deluxe?), will look up a San Dimas Charvel, and a G&L Legacy.
Just looked up G&L Legacy and Charvel San Dimus. Beautiful Instruments. That white Caharvel is the best "white" I have seen myself. All the knobs on both are further away from the pickgaurd. The Charvel looks very comfy. Does the G&L have locking tuners? Seems not to, w/the hole in peg and string trees. Do the they both stay in good tune w/out locking nuts? I am very impressed. I saw the 3 wy switch on the SDimus, does it have a tone control I didn't see?
Thanks for your comments,
SJ

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: "Delonge" volume control

That location is to prevent volume knob actuation, not to facilitate it.

I've got a single Volume Pickguard in the basement, but that guitar has yet to be built. (plan is for push pull B/N switching a la Lynch as well)

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: "Delonge" volume control

TDL is an abbreviation of Tom DeLonge, commonly used in advertising but, usually, accompanying a photograph.

 

[J E C]

Re: "Delonge" volume control

I have had problems with hitting it in the stock location so I currently I have it mounted 3/16" lower and 3/8" further back then stock and have had no problem with doing volume swells by reaching over and behind the bar with it in this location.

 

[ErikH]

Re: "Delonge" volume control

That's a good position for the volume, IMO. My personal preference is with the volume in the middle tone control spot (tone 1) and eliminating a pot in the stock volume. It's usually when I have a single-volume control setup without a tone control. I don't mind the traditional Strat control setup either.

 

[chadd]

Re: "Delonge" volume control

I usually rig my strats for a master volume and a master tone using the locations of the two tone knobs. Cover the hole with a piece of appropriately colored tape and away I go.

 

[wolf5150]

Re: "Delonge" volume control

Try changing the knob.
I LOVE the EB Petrucci knobs.
They're low profile and feel amazing.
Have them on all my guitars.

 

[wolf5150]

Re: "Delonge" volume control

 

[SJ318]

Re: "Delonge" volume control

Thanks,
Good suggestions, I have decided I can't get along very well with it where it is as I am learning Vibrato arm usage and that "normal position does bug me. Good advice from JEC, ErikH, chadd, Wolf5150-is that strat with the Delonge position or just a EB Petrucci knob?
Wolf5150, I notice a lot of folks buy precut pickgaurds ("like Warmoth where the bridge Pick up is way, way away from the saddles.) and if you look at a gibson the pup is way closer to the saddles. Measured from the "B" saddle, this clearly gives less bite than a normal Humbucker would have. A strat precut is about 45 mm away from center humbucker, and a L.P. is about 25 mm away from middle humbucker. So I have warmoth cut my pickgaurd w/a neck strat only (a Fender '69) so lots of bite there, then I have them leave the pickgaurd blank. I cut my own bridge position so my humbucker is 35 mm away from center pup. I take a little wood off to get the pup closer to the trem plate. Total is 10 mm closer to LP norm. I cut from the bottom of the pickgaurd up. mLaval brand pickgaurds are cut closer but they come with a middle strat cut which I don't ever use. The neck '69 + my Seth A5 bridge sounds extremely good to my ears. Set the 5 way selector so position 3, 4, 5 are what I use as a 3 way selector.
I guess I must be fairly alone in this procedure as when I ask Warmoth to cut the bridge HB this way they will not do it. Said they would have to re-tool just for me. However, I love the extra firmness on the low end as well as extra "bite" on the top. Not too much, but closer to a LP or SG or LP Jr., etc.
Thanks all,
SJ . . . . . . PS Wolf5150, I have wings under my LPJr. stoptail, They are my Dad's from a promotion after Pearl Harbor. He fought there and had something to do with flight training after the attack. It's a little fuzzy, but he didn't talk much about it. Left it to me.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: "Delonge" volume control

Thanks guys,

Just looked up G&L Legacy and Charvel San Dimus. Beautiful Instruments. That white Caharvel is the best "white" I have seen myself. All the knobs on both are further away from the pickgaurd. The Charvel looks very comfy. Does the G&L have locking tuners? Seems not to, w/the hole in peg and string trees. Do the they both stay in good tune w/out locking nuts? I am very impressed. I saw the 3 wy switch on the SDimus, does it have a tone control I didn't see?
Thanks for your comments,
SJ

When you check out the G&L USA page, at the top of the page showing various models, there is a link to the list ofn options available for guitars. It is extensive...lots of choices...including locking tuners. The Legacy is the "vintage strat", but is also available as H-S-S and 2HB versions. The Comanche, S-500, and Legacy Special models use different pickups.

The Legacy Deluxe and the S-500 Deluxe have the same controls, top-loaded, with a subtlety different layout. And the Invader models can be FR or hardtails, and they can go head-to-head with Charvel, Jackson, et. al.

Bill

 

[J E C]

Re: "Delonge" volume control

You will find there is no standard for the placement of a bridge position HB. I did some research on this a wile a go for guitars with 25 1/2" scale. I did not take notes of the exact models, hardware and PU types or body and neck wood construction though, but here is what I found.

These measurement are from the 12th fret to the neck coil of the bridge PU.
19 9/16 - Fender The Strat, Squire Stratocaster.
10 5/8" - EVH, Ibanez, 2 different Jacksons.
10 3/4" - Ibanez, Yamaha Pacifica, LTD, Dean Dave Mustain V, Music Man AX10.
11 - 2 different Schecters

I chose to go with 10 5/8". Why? I like a little warmer tone and......just because!

 

[PushedCrayon]

Re: "Delonge" volume control

I use the delonge volume setup on all my guitars to be honest. I find its a lot more "comfortable" for me to play on. I have very large hands, and play very open with them, so having the volume knob further away for me does wonders. So in my experience, I think it's something to at least try once. If you don't like it, it's easy to switch!

 

[SJ318]

Re: "Delonge" volume control

Boogie Bill, JEC, PushedCrayon,
Thanks, I especially like "just because"! I think JEC type/Delonge is the way to go for me. My strat is all apart and staring at me do get it done. I figure I can go w/3 holes that intercept, with 1 being final and the other 2 being covered by the Volume skirt. That is enough movement for "out & down" directions without having to buy a new pickgaurd. Even though live playing seems to get a little more beyond my grasp every month, I still can't stop fooling around with my my guitars. A musicians' version of making "Ships in a bottle" hobby.
Think I'll move the Tone 1 down a little and nix the T3 control, never use it. Maybe put a big ol' fat fake pearl in the hole just to keep the whole "white motif" going.
Good real world helpful info. Thank you, ...... ps.G&L + Charvel are much cooler than I thought.
SJ