3 way switch slot in a thinline top

dont want to use a guard or control plate
just need to cut the sot directly into the top of the guitar
any tips on how to do it without hacking up my nice walnut top

thanks in advance for any contributions

A dremel with the right bit and a straight edge guide is a good tool for this.

Keep in mind that the back side of the top will need to be routed pretty thin so that the switch will fit. Take a look at the control cavity of a guitar built like this and you'll see what I mean.

A dremel with the right bit and a straight edge guide is a good tool for this.

Keep in mind that the back side of the top will need to be routed pretty thin so that the switch will fit. Take a look at the control cavity of a guitar built like this and you'll see what I mean.

this top is around 4mm thick [.15"]

I haven't actually measured to see how thick the top can be, but that's still probably too much. I'd guess 2mm is about the max.

If you have a PG for one laying around you can use that to get the proper measure. I'd guess about 2 mm as well or 2,5 mm. Just be very carefull. Good luck !

Maybe it's possible to get a switch with a longer shaft?

It's not just the length of the shaft, it's the whole geometry. The shaft needs to rotate to a certain angle, and the thicker top will prevent that. You wouldn't be able to make a slot long enough to let that happen without interfering with the mounting screws.

I've done this a few times on rear routed bodies. I used a large diameter cutoff wheel on a dremel. Sounds sketchy, but in practice it wasn't as hard as that. Each time was on an axe that the slot was quite close to the edge of the guitar, so holding the wheel perpendicular to the body of the axe was at least possible. It's sort of like making a plunge cut with a hand held circular saw, gotta hold 'er steady or the blade will try to cruise up and out of the slot. .