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I'm planning to redo the electronics in my guitar with a home-made pickguard to match. And I'm curious why you never see a slider control instead of a standard potentiometer control on guitars. Is there a particular reason for this? Because I think it would look awesome and be a lot more useful than a knob.

I'm also trying to find a jazzmaster style pickup that'll pair well with a P-Rail 90, so any recommendations there would be welcome too.

They made some guitars with sliders in the Sixties and Seventies.

I think rotary pots are generally a little more durable than sliders.

Here's the best image that a quick Google search turned up:

Durability could be an issue. It's always horrible when those break off. But it looks sooo good

Yeah, they do look kinda neat, but I'm not really sure they'd be more useful than a knob. At least to me anyway, I think knobs allow for better fine tuning. Seems like it'd be quicker to find your setting and easier to make adjustments than with a slider.

I was thinking for swells it'd be easier, and I think the slider would also provide a better visual reference for fine-tuning than knobs. If they're more delicate then... I don't know if they'd be worth it.

you also have to take in to account that holes are easer to do then slots...

I'm using a plasma cutter and a sheet of aluminum, so, I can make whatever kinds of crazy holes, slots or shapes I want. I'm trying to decide exactly what I want to do.

Chankgeez wrote:They made some guitars with sliders in the Sixties and Seventies.

I think rotary pots are generally a little more durable than sliders.

Here's the best image that a quick Google search turned up:

Thats gorgeous

wfs1234 wrote:I'm using a plasma cutter and a sheet of aluminum, so, I can make whatever kinds of crazy holes, slots or shapes I want. I'm trying to decide exactly what I want to do.

Which you should. I was just pointing out why you don't see them very much. Well that and they fill up with crud easier than a pot.

Those 5-way selector switches would require a similarly sized slot to the slider. It seems like the slider has a lot more potential for mechanical failure than the knob: crud getting in the slider and the tips breaking off. Putting something fragile and prone to failure in a guitar that I plan on treating rather roughly might not be the best idea...

The original Ovation Magnums had sliders:

dirt in the sliders is the problem; slider contacts also suffer from more friction than rotary pots and tend to erode and fail with heavy use, as folks who've DJed have probably experienced with crossfaders. once the plating on the contacts goes, you're fucked.

bigchiefbc wrote:The original Ovation Magnums had sliders:

Good lawd that is an attractive bass.

dubkitty wrote:dirt in the sliders is the problem; slider contacts also suffer from more friction than rotary pots and tend to erode and fail with heavy use, as folks who've DJed have probably experienced with crossfaders. once the plating on the contacts goes, you're fucked.

Jeez! I had no idea they were so prone to wear! I was beginning to design some funky Star Trek-esque sliders and toggle switches for my jazzy I haven't given up yet. I'm going to see if I can source some sliders designed for strenuous outdoor use.

perhaps stuff that's meant for synths or other heavy use might offer more durability.