Recommend me a pickup switch

[Burn Yesterday]

Hello there.

Would anyone out there care to recommend me a good-quality round-hole 1-both-2 pickup switch that doesn't take a lot of space behind the panel? I don't need a 50-dollar switch but I don't want a 50-cent one.

Not interested in mini-toggles, either.

Tanks.

 

[Sparky2]

I installed this one on an old Peavey that didn't have enough real estate underneath the pick guard.

Worked great!

Amazon.com: Randon 3 Way Short Straight Guitar Toggle Switch Pickup Selector with Tip Knob Caps Compatible with Gibson Toggle Les Paul Electric Guitars : Musical Instruments

Amazon.com: Randon 3 Way Short Straight Guitar Toggle Switch Pickup Selector with Tip Knob Caps Compatible with Gibson Toggle Les Paul Electric Guitars : Musical Instruments

www.amazon.com

 

[Harmonic]

how much space is available?

 

[Zepfan]

Use a 3-way for a SG.

 

[guitarbuilder]

Switchcraft Short Straight 3-way Toggle Switch w/ Genuine Switchcraft

Switchcraft short straight 3-way toggle switch. Perfect for Gibson® and PRS® guitars. Comes with flat knurled nut and black switch tip. Note: This part is US not Metric sized and requires 1/2" diameter mounting hole.

theartoftone.com

 

[Freeman Keller]

Either of the Switchcraft switches work great

Right angle if the body is shallow,

Switchcraft Right-angle Toggle Switch - StewMac

For SG and thin 2-pickup guitars.

www.stewmac.com

Straight if you've got a little more depth

Switchcraft Toggle Switches - StewMac

3-position pickup switches, standard in American guitars for decades.

www.stewmac.com

Both are 28 bucks at StewMac but I'm sure you can find them for less.

 

[Burn Yesterday]

All the contacts in a computer are gold plated. All the contacts in the better signal-level switches are gold-plated. I don't see any gold in guitar contacts at all.

 

[Burn Yesterday]

Either of the Switchcraft switches work great

Both are 28 bucks at StewMac but I'm sure you can find them for less.

My screen says that they want $36 for the short one.

 

[Freeman Keller]

My screen says that they want $36 for the short one.

Like I said, it depends on how deep your body is. The tall one is the standard for gibson style guitars, that is what I build. And the short one is still less than your target.

 

[Happy Enchilada]

Either of the Switchcraft switches work great

Right angle if the body is shallow,

Switchcraft Right-angle Toggle Switch - StewMac

For SG and thin 2-pickup guitars.

www.stewmac.com

Straight if you've got a little more depth

Switchcraft Toggle Switches - StewMac

3-position pickup switches, standard in American guitars for decades.

www.stewmac.com

Both are 28 bucks at StewMac but I'm sure you can find them for less

+1 for Switchcraft. Great parts, will outlast you. Not cheap. $30 ballpark.

 

[Mojotron]

I know how many feel about mini-toggles, I've been using them since the 1980's and never liked them..... But, I found a solution.

For $10 you can use something a little different (not a mini-toggle), it's a much bigger/heavier duty toggle that is one of the best pickup selector switches I have used. I get these SALECOM Guitar/AMP Fat Bat Toggle Switch (DPDT 6 Pin 3 Way ON ON ON) that are like a huge toggle switch, but work just like a Gibson pickup selector $9.99 on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075684LSY?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1&th=1):

And, wire them up like this:

Not only is it one of the cheapest pickup selector switches, these really open up a lot of options for managing space in control cavities. Plus, they don't feel flimsy and work great and never need to be cleaned.

 

[peterg]

I know how many feel about mini-toggles, I've been using them since the 1980's and never liked them..... But, I found a solution.

For $10 you can use something a little different (not a mini-toggle), it's a much bigger/heavier duty toggle that is one of the best pickup selector switches I have used. I get these SALECOM Guitar/AMP Fat Bat Toggle Switch (DPDT 6 Pin 3 Way ON ON ON) that are like a huge toggle switch, but work just like a Gibson pickup selector $9.99 on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075684LSY?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1&th=1):
View attachment 1397175

And, wire them up like this:
View attachment 1397177

Not only is it one of the cheapest pickup selector switches, these really open up a lot of options for managing space in control cavities. Plus, they don't feel flimsy and work great and never need to be cleaned.

+1

Kaish/Dopro make decent Gibson type toggle switches as well.

 

[Swirling Snow]

All the contacts in a computer are gold plated. All the contacts in the better signal-level switches are gold-plated. I don't see any gold in guitar contacts at all.

The advantage of gold contacts is they don't tarnish and thus never need cleaning. This is useful for small switches that can't be taken apart and polished. As part of the mil-spec, Switchcraft toggles can be taken apart with the edge of a bean can cover, the mud rinsed out, and reassembled in the field. It's easy to polish the contacts if needed, so no gold.

If this mad craze for "vintage" has done anything positive, it's kept our guitars from being disposable. They're still built like acoustic guitars - intended to outlive the owner, and become heirlooms.

 

[Burn Yesterday]

I have a history with Switchcraft since the Sixties. Their 1/4" connectors are okay, their older RCA connectors weren't. I'd call them competent but not more than that.

Those Dopro Kaish switches could have been gold plated if they wanted to. Those minitoggle bodies are often found with gold.

 

[Ripthorn]

Philadelphia luthier supply has some Korean ones for a reasonable price that haven't failed me on the half dozen or so builds I've put them in.

 

[epizootics]

I have been using this one for years and it never crapped out on the 20+ guitars I put it on:

https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/NKK-Switches/MN24BB1W01?qs=17ckDYBRdekeDtK0abe83g%3D%3D&_gl=1*1ggx7b3*_ga*dW5kZWZpbmVk*_ga_15W4STQT4T*dW5kZWZpbmVk*_ga_1KQLCYKRX3*dW5kZWZpbmVk

The shorter bat is really nice and reduces the risk of accidentally switching in the middle of a song on stage. And it hardly takes any space at all at the bottom. I have been making my own brass washers to ground the switches (and solder ground leads to) but I am sure you can find some ready-made ones.

 

[Atomic Dave]

I know how many feel about mini-toggles, I've been using them since the 1980's and never liked them..... But, I found a solution.

For $10 you can use something a little different (not a mini-toggle), it's a much bigger/heavier duty toggle that is one of the best pickup selector switches I have used. I get these SALECOM Guitar/AMP Fat Bat Toggle Switch (DPDT 6 Pin 3 Way ON ON ON) that are like a huge toggle switch, but work just like a Gibson pickup selector $9.99 on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075684LSY?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1&th=1):
View attachment 1397175

And, wire them up like this:
View attachment 1397177

Not only is it one of the cheapest pickup selector switches, these really open up a lot of options for managing space in control cavities. Plus, they don't feel flimsy and work great and never need to be cleaned.

I have this exact same switch in one of my guitars and I like it. I whack it from neck to bridge without worry.
If you wire the pickups to the correct sides you don't even need the jumper on the outsides, only the middle pair, but jumping all 3 pairs eliminates the hassle of figuring out which terminal each pickup needs to use. (I *think* it was bottom left and top right but would not bet money on my memory.)