Strat Controls - 2 pots equidistant vs 3

[rauchman]

Greetings,

A suggestion, for a Strat control setup, possible to do 2 holes for pots equidistant, but not using the outer 2 holes of a 3 hole setup?  In other words, if one currently selects 2 pot holes, it's using 2 of the 3 existing holes.  Instead of this, reposition the 2 outer holes a little tighter in, but equidistant.  Kind of like how the 7/8 setup is.

 

[gingataff]

You mean like an Ibanez RG or Suhr Standard/Modern? I agree.

 

[JaySwear2]

Agree! You could drill your own, but the reason we ask Warmoth to do so much is because they're so good at it. Having the knobs in the 1 and 2 position make them look entirely too close to the bridge pick up, but having them in the Tone and Tone position make them look weirdly out of the way. Something in between would be great

 

[TBurst Std]

Well they do offer the Delonge vol position on pickguards. I say call them

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

I’m pretty picky on my volume pot location, about 2.25” below the high E string, and aligned with the front of the Floyd Rose base plate, which is about 7/8” from the intonation point.  Keeps it accessible for roll offs, but out of the way of my picking pinky.  My pickup toggle is exactly 2” away from the pot at about the 5 o’clock position if viewing the guitar on the stand.

 

[aarontunes]

I am picky about the location of the controls too, and would love another option for rear-routed bodies that both gets the volume knob out of the way and is evenly spaced so as not to look dumb.

That's why I often ask for VIP controls on my builds, as in the video below. It's an off-menu option that can be done on most bodies, I think. It's the best compromise for now. Barring that, the only other current option is to drill your own.

[youtube]https://youtu.be/2mDiFSg-MOo[/youtube]

 

[rauchman]

I am picky about the location of the controls too, and would love another option for rear-routed bodies that both gets the volume knob out of the way and is evenly spaced so as not to look dumb.

That's why I often ask for VIP controls on my builds, as in the video below. It's an off-menu option that can be done on most bodies, I think. It's the best compromise for now. Barring that, the only other current option is to drill your own.

[youtube]https://youtu.be/2mDiFSg-MOo[/youtube]

Thanks Aaron.  BTW, you have a FANTASTIC sound happening in that video.  What amp are you playing through?

 

[aarontunes]

Thanks Aaron.  BTW, you have a FANTASTIC sound happening in that video.  What amp are you playing through?

Thanks. If I told you it was a $4,500 Diezel VH4 would you believe me?


It's actually an EVH 5150 pedal into a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. Proletariat tone, babay!

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

The Schecter Nick Johnston is the best off the shelf version of a Strat type guitar in this config, also probably the best off the rack version of  Strat out there right now in terms of playability too in my opinion.

 

[JaySwear2]

The Schecter Nick Johnston is the best off the shelf version of a Strat type guitar in this config, also probably the best off the rack version of  Strat out there right now in terms of playability too in my opinion.

Huh. Hadn't heard of that before but it looks really good! Never been a fan of Shecter, I'll have to check this thing out.

 

[Logrinn]

Pretty pricey though ...

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/TradNJUSANWAF--schecter-usa-signature-nick-johnston-nitro-finish-wembly-atomic-frost

You can probably buy two or even three high end Warmoth's for the price of one Nick Johnston USA Strat.

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

Pretty pricey though ...

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/TradNJUSANWAF--schecter-usa-signature-nick-johnston-nitro-finish-wembly-atomic-frost

You can probably buy two or even three high end Warmoth's for the price of one Nick Johnston USA Strat.

I played one of the $800 ones the other day, and it was fantastic.  The more expensive ones are cork sniffery.

 

[Logrinn]

I played one of the $800 ones the other day, and it was fantastic.  The more expensive ones are cork sniffery.

You’re right about the cork sniffing of course as can be seen by Nick Johnston himself, who manages to sound amazing with his cheaper models as well:

[youtube] https://youtu.be/nh3Eakvaack[/youtube]

 

[TheGreatRedDragon]

I really wish at the very least the standard Charvel configuration was available. I get there are potential issues with people buying pickguards or bodies with holes drilled too close together, but why not a middle ground of a selection of preset, pretested, control options?

 

[rlefty]

I think this is a good suggestion, but until recently I was very wary of drilling my own control holes. Now that I think about it, I'm not sure why since I wind up drilling all the other holes.

But the one nice thing about drilling your own holes is that you can put them exactly where you want them for your build. The attached image is my latest build, and for this one I opted for no controls (except the 5-way, which I'd still be wary of trying to accomplish). I placed the knobs on the body where I thought they'd look cool, marked it and then drilled. I think it turned out well.

I actually have another pickguard coming for a different build and am planning to try the same thing.