Aybody here use the Stew Mac 5 way P switch?

[Ascension]

Pricy but says that it gives the PRS 5 way rotary combos. I am thinking of using on in the Swamp ash Washburn MG 112 project that is getting close to wiring up now.
Anybody used one of these? If you did any feedback as the where it's worth $30 ( including shipping) for a switch or not?
this is what i'm talking about http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electro...and_knobs/Megaswitch_P-Model.html?tab=Details

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Aybody here use the Stew Mac 5 way P switch?

Can't you just get a regular super-switch for about 15 bucks at any guitar shop?

 

[Ascension]

Re: Aybody here use the Stew Mac 5 way P switch?

The big deal with the Schaller/Stew-Mac switch is its PCB track layout.

The real question is, are the extra sounds worth the extra bucks? Bear in mind that the "inside coils, in parallel, in phase" combination could be had with the original three-way selector switch plus a coil split mode switch or push-pull pot.

The downside of the Megaswitch P is that you lose the both humbuckers combination.

Worst case scenario, you buy the switch, you wire everything in, you do not like the result. It will still be possible to desolder everything and save the Megaswitch for another project.


EDIT - Does the Washburn use one of those seven contact Japanese selector switches? If so, measure the distance between the two screws that fasten the selector switch into the guitar. They may not be the standard spacing apart. (41mm)

My main stage guitar is a 07 PRS custom 24 HFS/VB and the 5 way rotary. I want that basic selection set up if I can get it with a normal 5 way lever switch. Pickups here will be Zebra Custom 8 bridge and Zebra PG Neck. I highly doubt Grover Jackson used a MIJ switch in these guitars as this one is going into NOS never finished Swamp Ash Chicago Custom MG 112 body from the mid 90's.

 

[Ascension]

Re: Aybody here use the Stew Mac 5 way P switch?

Can't you just get a regular super-switch for about 15 bucks at any guitar shop?

I have a regular high quality 5 way Super switch in my stock 05 MG 102 here.

It won't get me the tones I want. I want the PRS tonal set up with the 5 way rotary except using a 5 way lever switch instead.

 

[Ascension]

Re: Aybody here use the Stew Mac 5 way P switch?

One critical factor in the PRS five-way idea is the distance between the two humbuckers. On a twenty two fret neck guitar, they are too far apart.

Not on this one notice that these buckers are canted and as a result closer together than normal.
It would never sound like my Custom 24 anyway with the different scale length different woods and pickups I am using. I am looking for versatility and to be able to cover a lot of different tones with this particular guitar.
I had a SS-40 Washburn at one time with these same canted buckers and a Floyd it was quite well balanced tone wise across the strings as a result. That one was an import this one is not and should be a real monster when finished. This body is super light resonate true Swamp Ash and this neck has larger frets + the fretboard binding that the production guitars do not have. I suspect this NOS neck and body combo were from a prototype or one off artist build that was never completed before Grover left in mid 96. It is over at a buddy of mines shop to get all the wiring holes drilled as I didn't have the right bits to do it right. When it comes back I will mock it up make sure I have everything I need in place to put it together when it comes back from the body being finished.
So far have the Gotoh Floyd, correct Washburn labeled Gotoh locking tuners and the pickups but lack the pots, Chrome football style Jackplate, jack and the switch + whatever I will use to shield it after having the body finished.

 

[Juanhanglo]

Re: Aybody here use the Stew Mac 5 way P switch?

Don't do it!!!!
The problem switch does NOT do the prs configuration. I tried for hours to get it right to no avail. I finally gave in and mailed the switch to artietoo who figured it out. I forget the exact setup, maybe artietoo remembers.
I do know that shecter used that very configuration on a guitar or two.

I accomplished the task with a super switch with no problems.

The Schaller switches are super high quality and have the best feel out there.

I'll check my PMs to see if I have some info saved.

 

[Juanhanglo]

Re: Aybody here use the Stew Mac 5 way P switch?

Don't do it!!!!
The problem switch does NOT do the prs configuration. I tried for hours to get it right to no avail. I finally gave in and mailed the switch to artietoo who figured it out. I forget the exact setup, maybe artietoo remembers.
I do know that shecter used that very configuration on a guitar or two.

I accomplished the task with a super switch with no problems.

The Schaller switches are super high quality and have the best feel out there.

I'll check my PMs to see if I have some info saved.

 

[Juanhanglo]

Re: Aybody here use the Stew Mac 5 way P switch?

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/sho...Megaswitch-no-matter-what!&highlight=schaller

This should explain what a poor excuse that switch is. Positions 2 and 4 are almost exactly the same due to the same proximity of the coils used, just shifted slightly depending on position selected.

All I can do is warn those unfortunate enough to be suckered in by this poor excuse for a switch.

I actually spent even more money to send it to artietoo, just to figure out how it works.

 

[Ascension]

Re: Aybody here use the Stew Mac 5 way P switch?

Well wiring a normal 5 way super switch like this one is not easy and like you say here the 5 way super switch in my 95 MG 102 with a JB / 59 just doesn't do much in the middle 3 positions that sounds that much different one from another. At least not like what my PRS with the 5 way rotary will give me with the 2 buckers.
Anybody else want to chime in here?
I am looking to get as close to the 5 way rotary type tones from my PRS as I can with this guitar. If I cant get it with a 5 way blade I can just drop a dummy switch in the hole or fill the slot and screw holes before the body is finished and go with a PRS 5 way rotary in the hole for the tone control.
Rotation of the mag in one of the pickups is not an issue and would be easy enough to do if this switch will give me the right combinations here.
If all else fails here I will wire it like I had my Purple MG 122 wired. That one was 1-Bridge bucker, 2-Bridge tapped, 3- both humbuckers full on, 4-Neck tapped, 5- neck bucker and this was using a regular 5 way super switch.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Aybody here use the Stew Mac 5 way P switch?

The Megaswitch P works fine provided that you do as PRS does and flip the magnet in one of the humbuckers.

 

[jtougas]

Re: Aybody here use the Stew Mac 5 way P switch?

Ascension - if you skipped the P-switch, you could always put in a three way switch to act as tone pre-sets: p1=straight to jack, p2=tone rolled back, p3=tone rolled further back, etc.

 

[Ascension]

Re: Aybody here use the Stew Mac 5 way P switch?

The Megaswitch P works fine provided that you do as PRS does and flip the magnet in one of the humbuckers.

That is exactly what I understand it does bro. Have you used one of these?
I have swapped mags so many times in pickups I can flip a mag in my sleep so that is a non issue.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Aybody here use the Stew Mac 5 way P switch?

I have used the Schaller Megaswitch E. The PCB track layout is different but the quality is the same.

I have avoided the Megaswitch P because, even as a PRS Custom owner, there are some selections on the five-way rotary selector that I either rarely use or actively dislike. The circuit that I would prefer is the very early period PRS one that includes both humbuckers on together and the "power out-of-phase" combination.

 

[Ascension]

Re: Aybody here use the Stew Mac 5 way P switch?

I have used the Schaller Megaswitch E. The PCB track layout is different but the quality is the same.

I have avoided the Megaswitch P because, even as a PRS Custom owner, there are some selections on the five-way rotary selector that I either rarely use or actively dislike. The circuit that I would prefer is the very early period PRS one that includes both humbuckers on together and the "power out-of-phase" combination.

I'm just the opposite and want the full PRS selections here.
The config shown in the 1st box on the Stew mac site for that switch is exactly how I had my Purple 95 MG 122 wired on a Super Switch.
These Washburns play circles around the PRS but I can't get that full variety of tone I want out of them so far.
However I may run that switch in the orange 102 at some point as it has a slight ground noise issue that I can't get out so I will at some point pull it all the way down and paint all the control cavities with shielded paint then go back up with it from scratch with new pots and a switch.

 

[Juanhanglo]

Re: Aybody here use the Stew Mac 5 way P switch?

Check the link I posted. Rotating the magnet does not give prs switching. It is exactly as artietoo diagrammed out.
I tried numerous times to get it right to no avail. I did it with a 24 pole Super switch no problem.
In fact, Steve ahola has a schematic for it on one of the wiring sites (blue guitar something, maybe?) And yes, you have to flip a magnet for polarity in the 3 middle positions. It works really well. My rg520 is wired like this but with the center position wired for inside coils series instead of outers in series.