On/Off Switch Instead Of Pots

[LostPossumGuitars]

I'm building a "parts-caster" to get rid of some random parts i have. I personally never use the volume or tone knobs on any of my guitars. I just leave them wide open and do all my adjustments on my amp. So instead of wiring in 3 pots that i will never use, could i have 3 on/off switches? one for each pickup? Has anyone tried this? It might ruin the whole point of having a 5 way pickup selector so does anyone have any suggestions to what i could put in the empty slot in the pickguard? i know that's a lot of questions. i'm just looking for some ideas.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: On/Off Switch Instead Of Pots

Been done a lot, though usually still with the other controls.

 

[LostPossumGuitars]

Re: On/Off Switch Instead Of Pots

I feel like a dummy now. thanks!

 

[Chris Pile]

Re: On/Off Switch Instead Of Pots

A great many of my personal instruments had no volume or tone pots - just a myriad of switches. Let your imagination run free!

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: On/Off Switch Instead Of Pots

Just one warning: "pots on 10" does not sound the same as no pots at all. It will be a little hotter and brighter signal.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: On/Off Switch Instead Of Pots

That's true, if you need to tweak the sound darker, put resitors (and/or caps) across the output jack. For example, if you want to theoretically simulate the effect of a 250k strat volume and 250k tone pots on 10 with a 22nf cap, put a 125k resistor in series with the 22nf cap across the output jack.

 

[Mincer]

Re: On/Off Switch Instead Of Pots

You might just have to re-adjust the EQ on the amp to compensate for the louder, brighter signal. It is a cool idea, actually. I use the volume and tone too much, but I can see how it would work for many players.

 

[Chris Pile]

Re: On/Off Switch Instead Of Pots

I use the volume and tone too much, but I can see how it would work for many players.

Danny Gatton was a GENIUS at manipulating the volume and tone controls while playing.

 

[Mincer]

Re: On/Off Switch Instead Of Pots

Danny Gatton was a GENIUS at manipulating the volume and tone controls while playing.

Yeah, I sort of learned by watching/listening to Steve Morse.

 

[KNUCKLHEAD]

Re: On/Off Switch Instead Of Pots

Then Hendrix was Einstein ( He used Any + Every option on every piece of equipment He had if He thought it could Enhance or Modify a sound <-- The Master

 

[KNUCKLHEAD]

Re: On/Off Switch Instead Of Pots

or how bout this Guy ?

 

[Jacew]

Re: On/Off Switch Instead Of Pots

I've replaced tone of my strat for a dark/bright switch: Swithces second cap parallel to one always on behind 22k resistor. Works very well for enhancing the range without extra pots.

Just for ideas...

 

[de_dUKe]

Re: On/Off Switch Instead Of Pots

I'm with the OP on this one..

Where Fender decided to put the volume control on their Stratocaster (pre-invention of palm muting I guess) and have continued to leave it there this whole time baffles me.. It is totally in the way and needs moving out or indeed removing altogether..

Knucklhead - I dunno who that guy is but I really like what he's doing to that Tele..!!
(Tho do you think he knows it's much easier to remove those Fender pickups with a screwdriver..?!) :jester:

 

[LostPossumGuitars]

Re: On/Off Switch Instead Of Pots

I've replaced tone of my strat for a dark/bright switch: Swithces second cap parallel to one always on behind 22k resistor. Works very well for enhancing the range without extra pots.

Just for ideas...

That's kinda cool. Do you have any more info on that? Wiring diagram or youtube or something?

 

[KNUCKLHEAD]

Re: On/Off Switch Instead Of Pots

Knucklhead - I dunno who that guy is but I really like what he's doing to that Tele..!!
(Tho do you think he knows it's much easier to remove those Fender pickups with a screwdriver..?!) :jester:

de_Duke check this out --VVV

 

[BadBen]

Re: On/Off Switch Instead Of Pots

Knucklhead - I dunno who that guy is but I really like what he's doing to that Tele..!!

Bill Kirchen. Prepare to fall down the YouTube hole.


Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

 

[Mincer]

Re: On/Off Switch Instead Of Pots

I got so used to where the volume knob was on a Strat that it is hard for me to play a guitar where the volume knob is in a different place.

 

[Jacew]

Re: On/Off Switch Instead Of Pots

That's kinda cool. Do you have any more info on that? Wiring diagram or youtube or something?

Just a switch with two caps and a resistor wired like this:


I left out cap values, as it's purely a matter of prefence; and everything else in your wiring affects it. I'm using 6nf and 1nf, which I'd guess many would think to be too bright.

EDIT: Note that 22k is comparable to tone switch on about 2, hence the low cap values... It could be just my brain fooling me, but higher cap value with lower resistor value seems to have "wider" or "smoother" frequency cut than the opposite.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: On/Off Switch Instead Of Pots

^ I've noticed that too. About low value (<100k) resistors sounding good when simulating the darkening of a tone pot by using a resistor and/or cap. For example, a 100k resistor doesn't really sound that dark when theoretically it's more load than 2 250k pots. 100k seemed to be the lowest value that only cut highs. 50k without a cap started to cut the whole signal and sounded bad. So I agree with you about using a resistor below 100k and a cap of your choice.

 

[Swampy]

Re: On/Off Switch Instead Of Pots

I got so used to where the volume knob was on a Strat that it is hard for me to play a guitar where the volume knob is in a different place.

That is the ONLY thing I don't like about Strats. Must be the way I learned to play guitar. Always or always ready to palm mute. I'm always picking/strumming over the bridge pickup, and my pinky and ring finger always anchor right near the knob, always hitting it, constantly turning it down.


So I went with this.