Volume knob placement: top rout vs. rear rout

[Sirion]

[RANT WARNING]

I think Leo Fender got a tremendous amount of things right with the Stratocaster. One of these things is the placement of the volume knob. The strat disregarded the traditional positioning of the control knobs well out of the way of the player, and placed it where it could be accessed with minimal movement; it is the only model I have seen where performing volume swells is convenient.

One would think that the strengths of this arrangement would be something one would take notice of, but I notice that top routed guitars, regardless of brand, would retain this, or even try to look for ways to make it more easily accessible. Instead, they seem to move it slightly away, making it harder to reach. Compare the following:

To me, the first one gets it almost exactly right, even though I might have wanted it a hair closer to the bridge. For each of the other ones, it looks to me like they started with the Strat's knob position in mind, but decided to move it a bit away. Why? Is bumping into the knob really a problem for people? Are there any advantages of having it further away from one's hands that I am overlooking?

 

[orpheo]

Re: Volume knob placement: top rout vs. rear rout

In my experience, most players want the knobs to be a bit further than on a strategy because they hit it so often. I don't. I also don't mind the third pickup on a strategy or 3 humbucker les paul. But yeah it is an issue for most.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Volume knob placement: top rout vs. rear rout

My hands are so big I can't play a Strat without bumping the volume knob. That's why all my Strats have a master volume and master tone conveniently located where the tone knobs usually are. I can still easily reach for volume swells, but have no issue with muting my guitar in the middle of a vigorous solo.

I also love the PRS knob placement. Selector location? Not so much.

 

[chadd]

Re: Volume knob placement: top rout vs. rear rout

Ideal spot for me would be halfway between the original position and the first tone knob. Leo's biggest mistake was the angle on the bridge pickup, it's backwards.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Volume knob placement: top rout vs. rear rout

For everyone saying how convenient the strat knob is, there are equal people saying just how inconvenient it is.

Also top routed guitars stay with top routed controls. The guitars pictured above all have a mix - top routing for pickups and back routing for controls. If you crossover with the front and back scenario with say enough back routing for a close vol knob you are likely to have the routing from front and back cross over......and a hole all the way through the depth of the guitar. Close to the bridge holes that take string tension this seems like a very poor engineering solution to me.

 

[Chris Pile]

Re: Volume knob placement: top rout vs. rear rout

It would be a boring damn world if we all liked the same exact things, you know it?
VIVA LA DIFFERENCE, MAN! Variety is the spice of life. Taste the rainbow, and other pithy aphorisms.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Volume knob placement: top rout vs. rear rout

The Strat has the ideal place for me. I don't move my right hand much, so I never bump into it. I generally won't consider a guitar that doesn't have the volume knob there (unless the rest of it is something really special).

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Volume knob placement: top rout vs. rear rout

I love the Strat layout. I've been playing Strats or copies since the beginning, and never had any issue with the placement of the knobs. The absolute worst layout is the Gibson SG.

 

[dave74]

Re: Volume knob placement: top rout vs. rear rout

Leo's biggest mistake was the angle on the bridge pickup, it's backwards.

My opinion also.

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: Volume knob placement: top rout vs. rear rout

I always hit it with my hand, I prefer the the "Tom Delonge" placement like so:

 

[Jacew]

Re: Volume knob placement: top rout vs. rear rout

I remove the volume knob from my strats. The way I play, I can't mute plain strings with my palm with standard strat layout. Knob gets in the way.

 

[Sirion]

Re: Volume knob placement: top rout vs. rear rout

I'm a bit surprised about these replies, as I've never heard anybody complain about this in real life. I suppose it makes sense, then, although I cannot for the life of me manage to play a way where it becomes a problem, even when I tried. Oh well, whatever works for the individual player.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Volume knob placement: top rout vs. rear rout

Go to any dedicated strat forum.....you'll hear them left right and centre.

Mostly its a technique thing.....some people play in a way that just doesn't mesh well with that knob placement.

 

[Kac]

Re: Volume knob placement: top rout vs. rear rout

I love the Strat layout. I've been playing Strats or copies since the beginning, and never had any issue with the placement of the knobs. The absolute worst layout is the Gibson SG.

I agree with this viewpoint. Always been a fan of the strat control layout.