anyone using a rotary switch as a tone selector?

[appar111]

I'm thinking of messing around with a rotary/varitone style switch (4 or 6 position) to use in place of my recently removed tone pot. Guitar is a single humbucker hardtail.

I figured it might be cool to have a few different low value caps to select variations on that "half cocked wah" sound. Something that would allow something to sit differently in a mix, either live with horns and keyboards, or for recording. I wouldn't need to switch to anything on the fly (just song by song), and would like to just click to different preset sounds.

Thinking of using these values:

.001
.0022
.0033
.0047
.01 or .022 (for a faux neck position tone)

and then one position that doesn't have any cap in it, so I can just bypass it and get the "pickup+volume knob" tone.

Whatchu guys think? Saw that they make something like this already but it's alot more expensive and this looks like something I could assemble fairly easily.

 

[Securb]

Re: anyone using a rotary switch as a tone selector?

Yep I have one in my Iceman. ToneStyler has done exactly what you are talking about out of the box including the bypass. I have been using mine for a couple of years now and love it. It adds a lot of variation to a single pickup guitar.

http://www.stellartone.com/Page.asp?NavID=50

 

[Artie]

Re: anyone using a rotary switch as a tone selector?

I think it's a great idea. I've been thinking of trying something like this also.

 

[appar111]

Re: anyone using a rotary switch as a tone selector?

When I stumbled across the Tonestyler I thought it would be a neat idea, but I know I could fashion something very similar for ALOT less money (the Tonestylers are like $100 or something crazy). Reminded me of a pedal that Blues Saraceno's dad did in their Dirty Boy Pedals lineup that had 6 or 8 different tone presets. Some were real thin, others were all thick and beefy. I remembered that and did a search for rotary tone switch and it popped up a cool how-to on putting one together for cheap.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: anyone using a rotary switch as a tone selector?

Yep I have one in my Iceman. ToneStyler has done exactly what you are talking about out of the box including the bypass. I have been using mine for a couple of years now and love it. It adds a lot of variation to a single pickup guitar.

http://www.stellartone.com/Page.asp?NavID=50

Whats the icemans controls/pickup config?

 

[Securb]

Re: anyone using a rotary switch as a tone selector?

Whats the icemans controls/pickup config?

The top knob closest to the pickup is my volume, below and to the right is the Fishman Powerchip for the piezo and below that next to the bridge is the Tonestyler. The switch is mag/both/piezo

 

[kramersteen]

Re: anyone using a rotary switch as a tone selector?

The top knob closest to the pickup is my volume, below and to the right is the Fishman Powerchip for the piezo and below that next to the bridge is the Tonestyler. The switch is mag/both/piezo

Wow thats a bit cool!

 

[Securb]

Re: anyone using a rotary switch as a tone selector?

Wow thats a bit cool!

Thanks man I appreciate the kudos.

 

[appar111]

Re: anyone using a rotary switch as a tone selector?

DreX-
How big is the rotary switch? It's gotta be the same size as a standard CTS for it to work in my guitar (the tone pot hole is right next to the edge of the control cavity rout-- the existing tone pot sits rite up against it).

 

[DreX]

Re: anyone using a rotary switch as a tone selector?

DreX-
How big is the rotary switch? It's gotta be the same size as a standard CTS for it to work in my guitar (the tone pot hole is right next to the edge of the control cavity rout-- the existing tone pot sits rite up against it).

The radius is the same as a quarter sized pot, like CTS pots, except for the two nubs on either side where bottom half connects to the top half. I had trouble getting them into the tone knob location on Telecasters, I had to file one of the nubs a little to get it to clear the edge of the rounded cavity. So it will fit if the cavity edge is mostly straight, because you can orient the nubs parallel to the edge, but if it's a rounded cavity edge, you might have a problem.

 

[appar111]

Re: anyone using a rotary switch as a tone selector?

shoot, it's right in the rounded corner of the control cavity grrr.... And I don't want to bust out the dremel on the control rout on this one.

May just have to put the regular tone pot back in there, either with a different pot/cap value to make things a little less warm, or just keep it in there for looks, but disconnect it.

 

[DreX]

Re: anyone using a rotary switch as a tone selector?

If I were you I'd buy the switch, put it in and see if it fits and not assume too soon.

Other fun ideas for a knob on a single pickup humbucker is a "roll a split" where you variably split the humbucker as you turn the knob, or a bass cut tone control, where you lose bass instead of treble as you turn down the tone knob.

 

[appar111]

Re: anyone using a rotary switch as a tone selector?

I thought about those options too-- I've tried the spin-a-split and didn't find it useful for my needs. Tried the bass cut too and the pickups I use aren't quite bassy enough to warrant it, but it might be useful on a neck pickup.

I think I'll still take the plunge on the rotary switch and caps from Antique Electronic Supply. The whole order would be under $15, and if I can't use it on this one I can use it on my strat. It also has a vacant tone pot hole, but it's on a strat pickguard, so i've got plenty of room for a rotary switch there.

thanks for the encouragement and ideas!

J.