Help With This Mini Switch

[Mickguard]

Hi all,

I want to install this mini switch....I think I'm clear about what connects to what, but I wanted to double check:

Am I right in thinking that the short wire on the center lug is the ground?

And the two long wires on the end lug go to the jack and (utimately) to the pickup (it'll actually be passing through a Varitone before connecting to the pickup).

Thanks!

[Stalefish]

Hi all,

I want to install this mini switch....I think I'm clear about what connects to what, but I wanted to double check:

Am I right in thinking that the short wire on the center lug is the ground?

And the two long wires on the end lug go to the jack and (utimately) to the pickup (it'll actually be passing through a Varitone before connecting to the pickup).

Thanks!

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Hi.. I think you gotta tell us what you want the switch to do first..

[Mickguard]

Oh, sorry. It's meant to be a kill switch --the guitar I'm building will have a Varitone but no volume knob.

[Stalefish]

Ok, Photobucket seems to be having problems so I only saw your photo once when I first replied.. Bother.. Stupid Internet..

Anyway, from what I can remember of the photo, the connections you mentioned sound a little funny.. I think you've gotta see which of the lugs are connected when the switch is one way, then the other.. Normally (and I think your switch should be the regular ones) the center 2 lugs will each connect to the corresponding lug on either side depending on the direction of the switch throw..

For example, when the switch is thrown up, it should connect as shown in the crappy diagram below.. (Like I mentioned, Photobucket is being a pain.. And I use it too..) The 'O's are lugs.. | show the connection..

1 O O 2

| |

3 O O 4

5 O O 6

Basically, what you've gotta do is to figure which lug connects to which (using your trusty multimeter), then make sure that the pickup live goes to the jack..

Assuming a normal switch, I'd put the pickup live at lug 3, then put the jack output at 1, leaving the rest empty..

Hope that helped.. Sorry if it's a little confusing.. I realise I'm a bit of a nerd..

[lovekraft]

If you want a kill switch, just wire the switch to short the hot lug on the jack to the ground lug - it's simpler, easier and quieter. Opening the circuit makes it an antenna, which is never a good idea.

[Mickguard]

If you want a kill switch, just wire the switch to short the hot lug on the jack to the ground lug - it's simpler, easier and quieter. Opening the circuit makes it an antenna, which is never a good idea.

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Okay, let me make sure I'm understanding you--

You mean: the Varitone goes straight to the jack

and then I add a wire to the hot lug of the jack, send it to the switch, and send a wire off of that back to the ground on the jack?

[lovekraft]

That's all there is to it - shorting the hot lug to ground will kill all the signal coming out of the guitar.

[Mickguard]

That's all there is to it - shorting the hot lug to ground will kill all the signal coming out of the guitar. 

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Cool, thanks!