Sweeping on strats.

[Spankadelphia]

Has anyone else tried sweep picking on a stratocaster, and discovered that the volume knob is so close to the bridge that it blocks your hand from moving? I'm sure I'll nail it after a lot more practice, but it's starting to get on my last nerve.

[Blue Calx]

Do what I've done... get a new custom-made pickguard drilled for only two holes. Then just move your volume knob down one space. Sure, you have to sacrifice a tone knob, but did you really ever use that 2nd tone knob anyway? Just re-wire the remaining one for a master tone knob.

Solved all my strat playability issues that way.

[Spankadelphia]

Well my axe is an affinity squier strat (hey, I'm 14 and on a low budget, but I've been playing on it forever) and I don't really see any point in customizing it. Maybe later when I get a real fender, I'll have the whole new pickguard/noiseless pickups setup installed.

[Hot _Grits]

I haven't noticed it for sweep picking, but I occasionally knock the volume knob when playing rythm. Perhaps you need to look at your hand position. Check out Yngwie's. He's a relatively adept sweeper and strat user.

[some_dude]

Do what I've done... get a new custom-made pickguard drilled for only two holes. Then just move your volume knob down one space. Sure, you have to sacrifice a tone knob, but did you really ever use that 2nd tone knob anyway? Just re-wire the remaining one for a master tone knob.

Solved all my strat playability issues that way.

Cure one problem but cause another.

The thing I like about the Strat volume placement is that I can wrap my pinky around it while playing and ride the volume without needing to stop.

[Hot _Grits]

Cure one problem but cause another.

The thing I like about the Strat volume placement is that I can wrap my pinky around it while playing and ride the volume without needing to stop.

Yeah, that's why I've learned to live with it. It's so close for volume swells. As Leo Fender said: "strat players really like to get tight in there, don't they?"

[Boston Joe]

For sweeping on a Strat, you may want to float your picking hand over the middle pickup position and sweep between the neck and middle pickups or around that area-- you'll be more fluid in your movement as well as your tone; cleaner actually.

Quick edit: sweeping around the middle pickup is a good compromise as you float over the bridge and middle pickups.

[nuntius]

Cure one problem but cause another.

The thing I like about the Strat volume placement is that I can wrap my pinky around it while playing and ride the volume without needing to stop.

thats why i love strats.

what i did was when i got my custom strat i asked if the volume pot be moved slightly further out and a bit lower, not by much but it keeps it out of the way and still lets me violin notes