What’s your favourite control layout?

[cjlloyd]

What’s your favourite switching configuration and why? Standard McCarty? 5-way blade? 408/509? Are there any pickup combinations you don’t normally get but would like to have?

And what kind of layout do you prefer? How many pots? Where do you like the switch to be?

It should be interesting to hear the different things people gravitate towards…

 

[danktat]

McCarty 3 way with push pull.

 

[Bowtiefanatc]

McCarty switching. Followed quickly by Vol, Sweet Switch, 5 way Rotary

 

[bodia]

Santana. Outta my way!

 

[Going Modal]

McCarty (reg. Vol & Tone + 3-way toggle) and 5-way Custom.

I also do really appreciate the "08" switching (as found on the 408, Paul's Guitar, 24-08, etc.) because it really does give you access to everything. However, it's not as fast getting to your favorites sometimes, so it feels a little bit slower or more deliberate. I do like how the 5-way switch will just get you to those couple "in between" settings lightning quick. Haven't used the 5-way rotary yet, but... I imagine it's slightly less confidence-instilling than the switch.

 

[tdarian]

I really like separate volume control on a dual humbucker guitar so either the PRS single cut style or Gibson style layout is fine.

I like the concept of DGT switching and would likely love it on an otherwise regular MCCARTY.

I also like the concept of the mini-switches for coil splits in leu of pull pots

 

[RickP]

513, it’s the most versatile for me.

With standard pickups, the 594 setup. The 2 vol/2 tone setup with push-pull gets the most out of the pickups while allowing volume swell and pickup volume and tone variations/combinations you can’t do with single controls.

 

[ElrytNamrogo]

Out of all of mine, I have the 408 Switching, McCarty Switching, 5-Blade, and the 35th Anniversary Custom 24, HBII and P24.

I like all of them for different reasons and can't really pick a favorite. I suppose context is everything...for instance, performing live, the McCarty switching and 35th Ann. switching work best moooooost of the time. However, I still have tunes where a 5-way blade is just better functionally. Practicing at home, where quick on-the-fly switching isn't necessarily as important as in a live performance, I enjoy the 24-08 setup quite a bit. I used to have an issue with having to "jump" the trem arm to get to the 5-way blade switch on my Custom 24, but I've been able to overcome that and it's no longer an issue for me.

Aesthetically speaking, I like the look of all of them.

 

[cjlloyd]

McCarty switching seems popular. It does give a good variety of sounds. One thing I sometimes notice is that, because of how the controls are spaced out, if you've got a trem bar there's almost nowhere to leave it that doesn't put it in the way of at least one of the controls. It's not a big deal but I do sometimes find myself whacking the trem bar when I reach for the switch without looking...

 

[markd21]

The 08 switching and the 4 knob w/ push-pull. But I guess if I could only have one, it'd be the 4 knob w/ push-pull.

 

[LunarRock]

I never need to turn down neck tone, and so 3x knobs like a Bernie would be my ideal, but with mini toggles for splits - not a fan off the pull up on PRS knobs

 

[Bowtiefanatc]

I totally forgot signature switching!

Vol, 2 mini toggles, tone, 3 way toggle.

 

[Serious Poo]

McCarty. The simpler the better for how I play.

 

[veinbuster]

My favourite is 3 pickups, 5 way blade, volume, tone, and rotary blend to add neck or bridge to the middle pickup.

For 2 pickups, a 3 way toggle with volume and tone is fine for me.

 

[Malloc]

H/H guitars it’s McCarty for simplicity. Any 3 pickup guitar I like Strat style 5 way and V/T/T.

 

[El Fenix]

594 style with 2/2

DGT works also, since the neck and bridge tones balance

 

[AaeCee]

As long as it has a 5-way rotary I'm good.

Yes, seriously!

 

[Herr Squid]

Favorite: 594 controls
Second favorite: 408-style with 3 way toggle and mini switches. Like old-style McCarty switching but better.

I really like to switch from a wide-open bridge pickup to a rolled-back neck pickup, sometimes with the neck pickup switched to single-coil mode. Can't do that with most control setups. Gotta have an amp (or sim) that responds well to the controls on the guitar though!

 

[ViperDoc]

594 controls and knob layout.

 

[DISTORT6]

OG Singlecut with all of the controls where the factory put them - bridge up front, neck in the back.