The dreaded Fender Strat knob inadvertently moving.....

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Riffjack846

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I've read on a few forums people having an issue with the Strat's volume knob being too close and hitting it at inopportune times so I figured I'd share my solution. If you are one of the people playing for 150 years and never had a problem...well good for you, but for me and apparently a lot of players it's a nuisance. Please note it only happens when I play my Fender Strat, and only when I'm quacking out double stop rhythms ala Jimi, Meyer, SRV, whatever. To remedy the problem I took some double sided carpet tape cut it in a circle a tad bit smaller diameter of my knob and wah lah. I had to stack a few pieces under the knob and no more volume knob moving and can't even tell when looking at the guitar. Peace-gigging forever.
 
There's heated debate about the placement of the volume knob on the Stratocaster. Your solution sounds like a good one.

My bandmates bought me my first Stratocaster in 1988 and I played it until 2018. Although I primarily play a Gibson Les Paul, I have a Custom Super Strat that I still use periodically.

I find it pretty interesting that I play hard enough during a live show to wear the skin and part of the nail off my right index finger, and turn a red pick to fairy dust, but never roll off the volume...

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Don’t think I’ve ever inadvertently changed volume while playing my Strat. But then…. (1) I tend not to do a full on assault on the poor thing. (ie. I’ve never broken or worn out a pick playing. I lose them. I’m still working on a box of Fender mediums I bought somewhere back in the early 80s) (2) I tend to pick more middle pickup to neck pickup.
 
Welcome.

Personally, I have a lot of ergonomic issues with Fender guitars. The Strat volume knob is probably the most annoying among them, but as Sysco says above that blade switch in that location is also a problem. Put simply those are not the only reasons that I no longer own any Fenders (or bolt-neck guitars in general for that matter).
 
gball said:
Welcome.

Personally, I have a lot of ergonomic issues with Fender guitars. The Strat volume knob is probably the most annoying among them, but as Sysco says above that blade switch in that location is also a problem. Put simply those are not the only reasons that I no longer own any Fenders (or bolt-neck guitars in general for that matter).
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I've gotten along with all the Fender issues over the years. Once I learned that Leo was not a guitar player, all the anomalies suddenly made sense.
 
Isn’t the ever popular Grolsch bottle grommet (or, O-ring) under the volume knob the popular cure for Strats?

Also, I know a few people really like flipping the Tele control plate so that the volume knob is closest to the pickguard, and the switch is nearest the end of the body. It makes creating volume swells easier.
 
Robert Herndon said:
Once I learned that Leo was not a guitar player, all the anomalies suddenly made sense.
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While it is true that Leo wasn’t really a guitarist, it would be inaccurate to think he developed it by himself, which is the impression I think some people have.

The Stratocaster was not just the product of Leo, but also George Fullerton, Freddie Tavares, and close collaboration with some guitarists, one of whom was popular guitarist of the day, Bill Carson.

So, it seems that the Stratocaster design actually met the needs and preferences of some guitarists (those who were involved in its development) while not necessarily addressing the preferences of others (those who were not involved).

In effect, then, it’s really no different from today! It satisfies some people’s preferences; not so much other’s.
 
67plexi said:
I like my Stratocaster's. I play them unplugged when learning a song. Still loving the 1961 38 years later.

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Never wanted one. When I played on worship team I played acoustic. Pretty much the electric guys had a Strat or a Tele. I do believe there was at least one LP. Being the odd kid in the crowd, when I decided I wanted an electric it was not going to be what everyone else had. Enter my G400.

Fast forward several years to a few years ago and I broke down and bought the blue one I’ve shared here in photos. And now I wonder why it took me so long.

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