There are several tricks you can do and one example is listening to Jeff Beck’s recording “Cause We Ended as Lovers” on the “Blow by Blow” album. Jeff used the Tele-Gib (Telecaster with two Humbuckers) and you can hear him using the volume control on the intro of the song. Another song is “Train Kept a roll” from the Yardbirds “Rave Up” album. He used the tone control on his 54′ Fender Esquire to make a train whistle effect.

Another famous player using the volume and tone controls was Roy Buchanan. Listen to Roy’s early Polydor recordings and you can hear all kinds of volume and tone control manipulation. Roy could make his guitar cry. The Esquire and Telecaster are great instruments for using the controls. They can be reached easily with the little finger on your picking hand.

Listen to the group “Glass Harp” featuring Phil Keaggy who used the volume control on his Gibson Les Paul.