Wow, I thought my rear tone control was faulty because it has no effect on the bridge pickup. I had no idea that it might only be wired to the middle! I'll have to do some more experimenting. Thanks for the vid.
best wishes 😊👍 ..... it is possible that it may not conform exactly to the scheme in my vid .... because certain serial numbers were wired differently..... BUT they all depend on the switch position so in certain switch position a tone control may have absolutely no effect ..... but by experimenting logically you should soon figure it out now that you have seen my video 😊
Thanks for posting this video. I must have spent half an hour googling strat tone knob control information and got nothing useful. Searched TH-cam and found your video. Stephen you explained exactly what I wanted to know about the knobs. I have a Squire Affinity Strat and a Frontman amp so the sound difference isn't quite as dramatic as your rig but now I have a better idea of what I'm listening for. Thanks again. Liked and subbed
Hello MrSavedby Grace...... I was feeling a bit down and your comment cheered me up ..... you let me know the time I spend making vids for this channel is not wasted cause it's helping people..... thanks for the sub that means a lot to me..... as you may have seen already I post on many different topics..... there is the music gear tutorials (both keyboard and guitar)..... there is the hiking..... and now the electronics lectures.... as well as my online weekly Bible study...... so, I assume, some people might get frustrated waiting to see 'their preferred content' ...... I try to divide my time so that I return to all these topics periodically ..... and to make it easier for my subs to find what they like, I created the Playlists for each topic so their preferred content is all in one place.... many times I have thought about creating several channels one for each of the topics, but it's so much easier to manage if it's all in one place..... and I do not want to get sucked in so that I have no time left to actually play music and live a normal life.... thanks again and feel free to ask for your preferred content at any time because I really want to interact with my viewers.
very helpful sir! thank you for clearing up much confusion on this topic. ive been playin for 33yrs and never knew what i know now after watching your video.🤙🏼
Wow, been playing on my strat for 6 months and just always fiddled with the different settings but never even knew I had no control over the bridge pickup! Plus knowing position 4 is so versatile is massive knowledge to me considering I didn't use it much due to not really appreciating the tone of it compared to the middle or neck or bridge settings. Thanks so much
I just got my strat two days ago and I was always fascinated on how the different features and elements on the guitar work. However, at first glance it was complicated in my perspective and I struggled a bit in the early sessions with the guitar. Thankfully, this video provides information in a clear and concise manner which can truly aid me in my journey as a guitar player. Thank you sir!
Thanks you! I just picked up a new "knock off" Stratocaster today and noticed that the bottom tone control did not affect the bridge pickup, it only controls the middle pickup. I am happy to know that my guitar is wired correctly as it reacts just the like one in this video. Once again, thanks, you have saved me a lot of grief and correspondence with my guitar's manufacturer!
no comments damn,i watched so many vids and u def were the one to clear it up for me,mostly I have a deluxe strat with push knob or botton,but u def cleared it in my mind ,thank u,
You can see the full thing and hear it too in other videos on my channel...... I have a whole playlist of patches I have done on it, showing you how each one is setup.... th-cam.com/video/EGt_RLm49YU/w-d-xo.html ..... 46 videos to be exact
Thanks for this clear info, makes sense for my classic 50’s Strat. I have EMG pickups with SPC and EXG controls in one of my other Strats which completely takes over the normal use of the 2 tone controls. A guy also included the push/pull volume switch which lets you use all 3 pups together or the bridge & neck together, he loves the extra sounds you can now get out of the guitar but sadly to my ears I can’t really make out any difference :(
Thanks for commenting.... it's not just you...... many people cannot hear small changes in timbre..... my attitude is, don't sweat it.... enjoy the music !
The problem is, I am bedroom guitar player, but naturally I still enjoy it. Playing guitar is great for mental exercise. Now I am at the same level as I was when I was around 20 years of age. I am now nearly 52. This one video, has enhanced my understanding of my US Strat by 50% ha ha ha!
Just changing a pickup will NOT change the wiring of the 5 position tone switch..... so you could substitute whatever pickups you like ..... HOWEVER if you are buying a "modified" Stat from somebody else, you cannot be certain exactly WHAT modifications may have been made..... so it is quite possible that you may encounter a guitar that does not behave according to the "official" Fender Stratocaster setup (as shown in this video)...... and if that is the case, you could open it and check the wiring ..... or just simply accept whatever tones you get when playing with the controls 😊
what does that have to do with 'Stratocaster Pickup Switch and Tone Controls' ? what difference does it make to anything ? 🤣😂 .... anyway, I am Barbadian (it's a small island in the Caribbean)...... but, I interact with tourists of all nationalities and tend to pick up accents fairly easily ..... best wishes
The way the tone knobs affect the sound is explained in this video ...... however the utilization of them is a matter of taste and preference .... I would suppose you twiddle them till the guitar sounds like how you like it to sound.... this is the thing about music ..... it is whatever you want it to be 😊......so happy guitaring .... unless you are doing this for a living ..... it's just about having a happy time 😁
I have a Squier Standard Strat. The tone controls do very little indeed whether I'm using tone 1 with middle or tone 2 with neck. Very poor - nothing at all like the differences demonstrated here. As explained, the neck pickup has no tone control associated with it at all. It would have been a REALLY good idea to re-shoot this without all those damn mistakes in the commentary about which knob is which.
I should have re-shoot the video the same day I did it..... makes no sense now after 29,130 people have watched it .... sorry about that and your Squier problem .... best wishes
I have always thought the tone controls on a stock Strat are stupid. The only tone control you really need is for the bridge PUP which you can not adjust???
I quess it takes a good amp to hear diference in moving these knobs.I have Vox DA15 and obviously is a trash as one guitar maker told me.What Amp do you recomend for my Fender startocaster with double bridge pickup good for metal
@@wajang1000 You are correct the name is Portuguese..... however I was born on Barbados and I have lived my entire life here and the only language I speak is Bajan 🤣😂
watch again... pause the video .... use pencil and paper...... twiddle the knobs one by one.... flip the switch..... eventually 'light will dawn'.... be sure to actually PLAY the guitar 😁👍
Thanks, but NO thanks. It's even more confusing with all your on screen corrections. You obviously are even more confused than I am. Get it straight or get off trying to educate people. JEESH!
I couldn't be bothered to do it over, and so I put accurate corrections on screen.... others seem to have found this video very helpful.... so perhaps you have a comprehension problem or you are just trying to be mean.
@@@StephenMendes Neither, I just resent having my time wasted when there so many better options. If you cared about quality you could have done it over for the same amount of time you spent correcting it.
lmao!!!! horrible. hitting one chord the whole time does nothing to explain tone controls beyond what someone can figure out on their own without a youtube video. 5 mins we can't get back
I've had my strat for 25 years and the tone controls confused the hell out of me. Love this video man
Glad I was able to help... thanks for posting
I can well believe that, as I have a strat, and they are confusing. It's good to know what is actually going on with those knobs. :)
Wow, I thought my rear tone control was faulty because it has no effect on the bridge pickup. I had no idea that it might only be wired to the middle! I'll have to do some more experimenting. Thanks for the vid.
best wishes 😊👍 ..... it is possible that it may not conform exactly to the scheme in my vid .... because certain serial numbers were wired differently..... BUT they all depend on the switch position so in certain switch position a tone control may have absolutely no effect ..... but by experimenting logically you should soon figure it out now that you have seen my video 😊
Stock Strat tone control is stupid.
Thanks for posting this video. I must have spent half an hour googling strat tone knob control information and got nothing useful. Searched TH-cam and found your video. Stephen you explained exactly what I wanted to know about the knobs. I have a Squire Affinity Strat and a Frontman amp so the sound difference isn't quite as dramatic as your rig but now I have a better idea of what I'm listening for. Thanks again. Liked and subbed
Hello MrSavedby Grace...... I was feeling a bit down and your comment cheered me up ..... you let me know the time I spend making vids for this channel is not wasted cause it's helping people..... thanks for the sub that means a lot to me..... as you may have seen already I post on many different topics..... there is the music gear tutorials (both keyboard and guitar)..... there is the hiking..... and now the electronics lectures.... as well as my online weekly Bible study...... so, I assume, some people might get frustrated waiting to see 'their preferred content' ...... I try to divide my time so that I return to all these topics periodically ..... and to make it easier for my subs to find what they like, I created the Playlists for each topic so their preferred content is all in one place.... many times I have thought about creating several channels one for each of the topics, but it's so much easier to manage if it's all in one place..... and I do not want to get sucked in so that I have no time left to actually play music and live a normal life.... thanks again and feel free to ask for your preferred content at any time because I really want to interact with my viewers.
very helpful sir! thank you for clearing up much confusion on this topic. ive been playin for 33yrs and never knew what i know now after watching your video.🤙🏼
Wow, been playing on my strat for 6 months and just always fiddled with the different settings but never even knew I had no control over the bridge pickup! Plus knowing position 4 is so versatile is massive knowledge to me considering I didn't use it much due to not really appreciating the tone of it compared to the middle or neck or bridge settings. Thanks so much
Glad to help...... thanks for your comment
Thank you for clearly describing which tone knob goes with each pickup! No one else clearly describes this.
Finally found a decent explanation. Thank you kind Sir.
I just got my strat two days ago and I was always fascinated on how the different features and elements on the guitar work. However, at first glance it was complicated in my perspective and I struggled a bit in the early sessions with the guitar. Thankfully, this video provides information in a clear and concise manner which can truly aid me in my journey as a guitar player. Thank you sir!
thank you for a short clear explanation of the tone controls .
Thank you sir I've had a Strat 3 years and now I understand it! Your video was awesome!!! Thanks!!!!!!
You are welcome 🙂 ...... thanks for your comment
Best tutorial about switch & Tone controls. Thanks!
Thanks you! I just picked up a new "knock off" Stratocaster today and noticed that the bottom tone control did not affect the bridge pickup, it only controls the middle pickup. I am happy to know that my guitar is wired correctly as it reacts just the like one in this video. Once again, thanks, you have saved me a lot of grief and correspondence with my guitar's manufacturer!
Thanks for your comment, it's good to know my videos are actually helping people
Thank you for finally providing a strat tone knob breakdown one can easily comprehend on the internet! 🙌🙏
no comments damn,i watched so many vids and u def were the one to clear it up for me,mostly I have a deluxe strat with push knob or botton,but u def cleared it in my mind ,thank u,
Thanks for posting your comment.... glad I was able to help you
The tone control knobs confused me until watching this video. It's basic and to the point which is exactly what I was looking for.
Damn, that modular grid on background is beautiful
You can see the full thing and hear it too in other videos on my channel...... I have a whole playlist of patches I have done on it, showing you how each one is setup....
th-cam.com/video/EGt_RLm49YU/w-d-xo.html ..... 46 videos to be exact
+Stephen Mendes
Thanks for the information!
Great info sir. Lovely guitar too. Cheers
I'm with Peter C... this is so clearly presented.
Thank you!
Thank you. No BS. Straightforward explanation.
Made this really easy to understand, thank you!
Thanks for this clear info, makes sense for my classic 50’s Strat.
I have EMG pickups with SPC and EXG controls in one of my other Strats which completely takes over the normal use of the 2 tone controls. A guy also included the push/pull volume switch which lets you use all 3 pups together or the bridge & neck together, he loves the extra sounds you can now get out of the guitar but sadly to my ears I can’t really make out any difference :(
Thanks for commenting.... it's not just you...... many people cannot hear small changes in timbre..... my attitude is, don't sweat it.... enjoy the music !
thanks, very clear explanations on two tone knobs. easy to understand sir.
The problem is, I am bedroom guitar player, but naturally I still enjoy it. Playing guitar is great for mental exercise. Now I am at the same level as I was when I was around 20 years of age. I am now nearly 52. This one video, has enhanced my understanding of my US Strat by 50% ha ha ha!
darkoak40 me too lol
thank you so much for the explanation!
how to use.
1. turn knob.
2 either it sounds better or not.
3 make decision.
4 play
thaaaannk yooouuuuuuuuuuu
thank you man, love this 🙏
T U SOOOOO very much 4 Xplaining this ALL 2 me------------FINALLY!!!! a Soul who understands the needs of others, peace&love
Amazing video thank you!
Thanks for the very helpful video.
great video , thanks
Very helpful thank you so much😊
Would a Humbucker pickup or coil pickup change anything about this. For example you have the bridge pickup , neck pickup etc. Would that setup Change
Just changing a pickup will NOT change the wiring of the 5 position tone switch..... so you could substitute whatever pickups you like ..... HOWEVER if you are buying a "modified" Stat from somebody else, you cannot be certain exactly WHAT modifications may have been made..... so it is quite possible that you may encounter a guitar that does not behave according to the "official" Fender Stratocaster setup (as shown in this video)...... and if that is the case, you could open it and check the wiring ..... or just simply accept whatever tones you get when playing with the controls 😊
Thank you much Great job
Good work, more confusing is where are you from??? You sound like an American, Irish, Welsh, West Indian hybrid!!!
I try for a slightly different accent each video.... it's fun !
I was thinking of a Jamaican accent mixed with a bit of that Fargo-type American accent
cool clip👍
Holy crap! Are you an old timey phone operator? What is that monster to your left?
It is a large customized Analog Modular Synthesizer that I bought from synthesizers.com
@@StephenMendes wow
That thing is absolutely amazing.
on the new strat performer you can get all 3 pickups :P
are irish? jamaican ? american? british? i sir am confused
what does that have to do with 'Stratocaster Pickup Switch and Tone Controls' ? what difference does it make to anything ? 🤣😂 .... anyway, I am Barbadian (it's a small island in the Caribbean)...... but, I interact with tourists of all nationalities and tend to pick up accents fairly easily ..... best wishes
How do you utilize the tone knobs Steve?
The way the tone knobs affect the sound is explained in this video ...... however the utilization of them is a matter of taste and preference .... I would suppose you twiddle them till the guitar sounds like how you like it to sound.... this is the thing about music ..... it is whatever you want it to be 😊......so happy guitaring .... unless you are doing this for a living ..... it's just about having a happy time 😁
I have a Squier Standard Strat. The tone controls do very little indeed whether I'm using tone 1 with middle or tone 2 with neck. Very poor - nothing at all like the differences demonstrated here.
As explained, the neck pickup has no tone control associated with it at all.
It would have been a REALLY good idea to re-shoot this without all those damn mistakes in the commentary about which knob is which.
I should have re-shoot the video the same day I did it..... makes no sense now after 29,130 people have watched it .... sorry about that and your Squier problem .... best wishes
Now I know what SpanIrish sounds like! Best accent ever!
he sounds jamaican. ....mon.
@@johnpoo1662 He totally does. He might just be from East Anglia though..
Thanks for uploading this video. I have an American Strat, and have often thought, what exactly do these knobs do anyway? :)
Glad I was able to help .... thanks for posting your comment as it encourages me to make more videos about all sorts of obscure things :)
I have always thought the tone controls on a stock Strat are stupid. The only tone control you really need is for the bridge PUP which you can not adjust???
Welps, left side! Handle it!
Here's a novel idea: How about if Fender simply includes instructions with the damn guitar explaining which controls control what! DUH!
I quess it takes a good amp to hear diference in moving these knobs.I have Vox DA15 and obviously is a trash as one guitar maker told me.What Amp do you recomend for my Fender startocaster with double bridge pickup good for metal
Very good explanation. I'm trying to place the accent - sounds Bajan or Guyanese.
It's Bajan
@@StephenMendes Thought so, having spent three years at Cavehill.
Though of course the surname is Portuguese. :-)
@@wajang1000 I have been at Cavehill since 1990.... first I was a student.... then I became a lecturer
@@wajang1000 You are correct the name is Portuguese..... however I was born on Barbados and I have lived my entire life here and the only language I speak is Bajan 🤣😂
I think you're confusing yourself with positions 2 and 4? Other wise very informative, thanks.
Thanks.
I thought I knew what knob did what, now I don't have a clue 🤪
watch again... pause the video .... use pencil and paper...... twiddle the knobs one by one.... flip the switch..... eventually 'light will dawn'.... be sure to actually PLAY the guitar 😁👍
@@StephenMendes Ain't no one got time for that 😵🤪
@@apassionfortangling3671..... if that's the case..... just PLAY the guitar.... and be thankful it makes SOME SOUND 😂🤣😂🤞
@@StephenMendes I'll put the strings back on 😉
Hes stoned. Which pick up??
The one you just dropped ...... so PICK IT UP
the surname is pronounced "Men-dez" lol
🤣😂
His accent sounds Jamaican lol
Actually it's Barbadian
@@StephenMendes Thanks for the informative video
My affinity strat has no control on bridge pick up. But I found an American strat that bottom knob controls middle and bridge pick ups.
There were some variations over the years..... so that is why some strats may not conform exactly to the scenario in my video
Take the plastic off of your guitar
Why so many errors when he speaks? Geez.
Thanks, but NO thanks. It's even more confusing with all your on screen corrections. You obviously are even more confused than I am. Get it straight or get off trying to educate people. JEESH!
I couldn't be bothered to do it over, and so I put accurate corrections on screen.... others seem to have found this video very helpful.... so perhaps you have a comprehension problem or you are just trying to be mean.
@@@StephenMendes Neither, I just resent having my time wasted when there so many better options. If you cared about quality you could have done it over for the same amount of time you spent correcting it.
Stephen Mendes u helped me a ton. Thanks bruh
lmao!!!! horrible. hitting one chord the whole time does nothing to explain tone controls beyond what someone can figure out on their own without a youtube video. 5 mins we can't get back