Installing a Killswitch (a'la Tom Morello)

[lais817]

Okay, I've been listening to heaps of Rage lately, and Tom's solo's and suff really float my boat, and, after getting myself a bass-whammy (you've no idea how hard it was to find one), a decent delay and so on, the only thing I'm missing is a toggle switch. I'm not stupid either, I know Tom plays guitar, and I play bass, but hey, I play his suff anyway.

K, my question is, and I've seen heaps and heaps of stuff on the net, and even a few forums on here dealing with the issue of installing a killswitch in your guitar/bass, but none of them help, with the exception of this one http://www.stinkfoot.se/andreas/diy/mods/killswitch.htm.

The site above told me that all I had to do was route the signal going to the output jack through a switch which would bleed the signal out to ground, sort of like a volume pot does.

So I ripped my guitar apart first (a cheap strat copy, before I rip my bass apart) and got most of the way through it, but came up short when I noticed that there's infact two wires going out to the output jack. (Pictures coming soon)

So, does anybody know anything much about guitar electronics, and in particular, killswitches? Or just what to do with this wire(s)? If it helps, I've got a SPDT (Single Pot, Double Throw) switch [on, on] which has three lugs, On 1, Power In, and On 2. Any help is appreciated guys, and please, don't make me take this to the guitar forums *shudders*:p

Okay, this is the lead going from the volume pot to the output jack, sorry if the quality is bad, not much of a photographer...:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/lais817/croppedvolpot-outjack1.jpg

...and the other end of it...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/lais817/alteredout-jack.jpg

Thanks in advance guys, and I know I'm not the only one looking for this....

[AG]

Cut the lead that is going to the output jack.

Attach the white wire of one end to the middle lug, the white wire of the other lug to the right hand lug.

Take the sheild from both ends and attach them to the left hand lug.

Done.

[Akira]

I'm curious, what does a killswitch actually do?

[AG]

It cuts the signal. Like instantly flicking between full and zero volume.

Usefull in general for stage stuff, where you can be silent in breaks and stuff. You can also use it for interesting rhythmical stuff, cutting out the sound in a certain pattern to create a riff. Like Tom Morello.

[semi]

the way morello does it is actually he turns one pickup right down then uses the pickup selector switch to switch between the pickups.

[lais817]

Cut the lead that is going to the output jack.

Attach the white wire of one end to the middle lug, the white wire of the other lug to the right hand lug.

Take the sheild from both ends and attach them to the left hand lug.

Done.

Okay, which one is the sheild? The way I've been thinking I can do it is to attach the white directly from the volume pot to the "power-in" lug of the switch, and send it from the "Accesory 1/On 1" lug to the output jack, and send a wire from the "Accesory 2/On 2" lug to the trem unit to ground it. Here's the switch I'm using

http://www.narva.com.au/Images/Switches/Pg5/60057.gif

http://www.narva.com.au/Images/Switches/Pg5/diag-60055BL.gif

http://www.narva.com.au/Images/Switches/Pg5/diag-60056_2.gif

I don't want to attach any grounds to the switch itself, because the whole thing is metal, and I've already been electrocuted welding, I don't want to do it again. :p

and Semi, I'm aware of what Tom does, but this is how I can replicate it on my guitar, and hopefully on my bass as well

[Az_Holl]

Okay, which one is the sheild? The way I've been thinking I can do it is to attach the white directly from the volume pot to the "power-in" lug of the switch, and send it from the "Accesory 1/On 1" lug to the output jack, and send a wire from the "Accesory 2/On 2" lug to the trem unit to ground it. Here's the switch I'm using

http://www.narva.com.au/Images/Switches/Pg5/60057.gif

http://www.narva.com.au/Images/Switches/Pg5/diag-60055BL.gif

http://www.narva.com.au/Images/Switches/Pg5/diag-60056_2.gif

I don't want to attach any grounds to the switch itself, because the whole thing is metal, and I've already been electrocuted welding, I don't want to do it again. :p

and Semi, I'm aware of what Tom does, but this is how I can replicate it on my guitar, and hopefully on my bass as well
Ive got a secret for you, you ground your bass to stop yourself from being electrocuted.

[lais817]

hehe, thanks Atomicant, I know that, I'm just not totally sure if I have to ground the out-jack to the switch, or if I can just solder a wire from it to the volume pot, like it was before I put the switch in..... I think I can, but I'd like a bit of re-assurance first

[Az_Holl]

hehe, thanks Atomicant, I know that, I'm just not totally sure if I have to ground the out-jack to the switch, or if I can just solder a wire from it to the volume pot, like it was before I put the switch in..... I think I can, but I'd like a bit of re-assurance first
If the switch is in the circuit then it will be grounded

[TheJarve]

Ive got a secret for you, you ground your bass to stop yourself from being electrocuted.
just so's ya know, an internet forum is not the most discreet way of telling somebody a secret.

[lais817]

sweet, I'm off to do it now then. I let you's know how it goes, and maybe post pics of it. oh and...... I've just remembered that my bass is active. I think I might need a different stratagey, yeah?

[lais817]

and damn, is this turning into an aussie thread or sumink?

[TheJarve]

no, but we can pretend for the sake of the story!!!

mayt, bugger, bluddy hell

wanna vb?

[Az_Holl]

no, but we can pretend for the sake of the story!!!

mayt, bugger, bluddy hell

wanna vb?
**** VB, get me some Tooheys Old!

sweet, I'm off to do it now then. I let you's know how it goes, and maybe post pics of it. oh and...... I've just remembered that my bass is active. I think I might need a different stratagey, yeah?

I dont think so, i should be the same.

[d-basser]

the way morello does it is actually he turns one pickup right down then uses the pickup selector switch to switch between the pickups.

no he dont, his soul power guitar at least has a kill switch fitted into the bottom horn, completely seperate from the selector switch

[semi]

oh. i read he did it that way too with the pickups. maybe that was only with his old guitars?

[AG]

That's how he started doing it, I think. Then he put in a Killswitch.

[lais817]

**** VB, get me some Tooheys Old!



I dont think so, i should be the same.

okay, firstly, **** Tooheys Old, get some XXXX Gold into you my son! and secondly, I think its a bit different on an active system, because it's grounded to the battery or something. I dunno, I'll ask my mate, he's a 3rd year apprentice electrician, so he might know.

oh, and can we please keep the discussion of how morello does it out of this please? sorry to be a killjoy, but that has ruined every thread that I've ever read on this subject. on his "arm the homeless" axe, its the p-up selector, on "soul power", its a killswitch, okay?

so anywho, I've soldered everything together (nearly) and stupidly just realised I need to drill a hole in the pickguard for the switch :smash: . Meh, I'll do it tomorrow morning before work. I'll post more pictures when it's done, and give yous a report on the sound. till then.... long live the Gold!!!:chug:

[semi]

sorry. and thanks for clearing it up.

[lais817]

sorry. and thanks for clearing it up.

thats okay, just don't do it again :p

[d-basser]

yeah sorry bout diveting the thread, least i kno for the next time i argue.

tho...the arm the homeless guitar does hav a wee switchy thingy in the lower horn like the soul power one, is that not a kill switch???

[lais817]

yeah sorry bout diveting the thread, least i kno for the next time i argue.

tho...the arm the homeless guitar does hav a wee switchy thingy in the lower horn like the soul power one, is that not a kill switch???

hehe, that's cool man. About the switch on his ATH axe, I "THINK" that's just his p-up selector, like a "lead-rhythm" switch, but I'm not totally sure, it's been a while since I lost my issue of whichever guitar mag had the info in. Let just say it's the selector switch huh?:)

[Az_Holl]

Im thinking about putting a killswitch in my bass now for a couple of reasons. Firstly Morello has been my bitch for 3 years and ive always loved him and plus my volume pots dont turn off so a killswitch would be cool.

[lais817]

Im thinking about putting a killswitch in my bass now for a couple of reasons. Firstly Morello has been my bitch for 3 years and ive always loved him and plus my volume pots dont turn off so a killswitch would be cool.

yeah man, do it. as long as you are sure of you not totally wrecking your bass in the process.... all I used was a chisel, a drill and a few bits, a little wood file, some auto wire and a soldering iron. oh, and the switch (just a Narva auto switch from Repco) but yeah, don't use thick wire, makes it a pain in the *** if there's any tight spaces involved.

what sorta bass you got? w/ pickguard or not?

[Az_Holl]

yeah man, do it. as long as you are sure of you not totally wrecking your bass in the process.... all I used was a chisel, a drill and a few bits, a little wood file, some auto wire and a soldering iron. oh, and the switch (just a Narva auto switch from Repco) but yeah, don't use thick wire, makes it a pain in the *** if there's any tight spaces involved.

what sorta bass you got? w/ pickguard or not?
I love it when i find a person whos never seen my bass before :)

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y58/Atomicant/bass13.jpg

Ill get rid of the 3 way switch for the neck humbucker and replace with the kill for the precision (because i never use it, actaully i might just hardwire that pickup to the output) and get rid of the 3 way for the bridge pickup because i never use that either :p

[Aes820]

A kill switch is one of the simplest mods to make.

All that you really need to do is to wire a single pole switch in series with your guitars live signal wire.

I dare say that if there's a need to go into anymore detail than this, then you really shouldn't be trying to mod your own guitar.

[TheJarve]

get some XXXX Gold into you my son!

OOOOOOOOOOHHHHHH YYYYYYYYEAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! :chug: :chug:
you from queensland?


on his "arm the homeless" axe, its the p-up selector, on "soul power", its a killswitch, okay?



true^^^

[lais817]

OOOOOOOOOOHHHHHH YYYYYYYYEAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! :chug: :chug:
you from queensland?

:eek: How darest thou!!!! lol, nah mate, true blue NT boy here.

A kill switch is one of the simplest mods to make.

All that you really need to do is to wire a single pole switch in series with your guitars live signal wire.

I dare say that if there's a need to go into anymore detail than this, then you really shouldn't be trying to mod your own guitar.

actually, not true man, unplug your bass while your amp is turned on. THAT is the sound of your method of installing a killswitch. the idea isn't to stop the signal reaching the amp, but to "drain" it eniterly off to a ground source, so that the signal is "still going to the amp", but there isn't actually any signal, so..... silence.

at least, that's how I understand it, Anybody else? am I halfway right?

[Aes820]

actually, not true man, unplug your bass while your amp is turned on. THAT is the sound of your method of installing a killswitch. the idea isn't to stop the signal reaching the amp, but to "drain" it eniterly off to a ground source, so that the signal is "still going to the amp", but there isn't actually any signal, so..... silence.

at least, that's how I understand it, Anybody else? am I halfway right?
You are correct.

However, Interrupting the signal (switch in series with the live wire) compared to draining the signal to ground (switch in parrallel with the output jack) are both means to the same end.
Both methods will function as a killswitch.

And I know what you're trying to say with the 'unplugging the cable thing'.
That 'thump' noise you get from unplugging the cable is due to the tip of the TS plug coming into contact with your guitars ground.
It shouldn't happen with the 'switch in series' killswitch method.

[lais817]

You are correct.

However, Interrupting the signal (switch in series with the live wire) compared to draining the signal to ground (switch in parrallel with the output jack) are both means to the same end.
Both methods will function as a killswitch.

And I know what you're trying to say with the 'unplugging the cable thing'.
That 'thump' noise you get from unplugging the cable is due to the tip of the TS plug coming into contact with your guitars ground.
It shouldn't happen with the 'switch in series' killswitch method.

*bows to superiour knowledge* okay dude, I don't know much about in/out of series etc(read: nothing), so I guess I wasn't in much of a position to say you were wrong. could you give me a layman's version of it please?
:)

[lais817]

I love it when i find a person whos never seen my bass before :)

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y58/Atomicant/bass13.jpg

Ill get rid of the 3 way switch for the neck humbucker and replace with the kill for the precision (because i never use it, actaully i might just hardwire that pickup to the output) and get rid of the 3 way for the bridge pickup because i never use that either :p

dude............... *steals Atomicant's bass*


are you sure you want to mess around with it? I'd take it to your music shop and let them do it man, I only did it on a $200 strat rip off, not on something like yours

[Az_Holl]

dude............... *steals Atomicant's bass*


are you sure you want to mess around with it? I'd take it to your music shop and let them do it man, I only did it on a $200 strat rip off, not on something like yours
Uh... i did all of that to mine.

It used to look like that-

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y58/Atomicant/bass1.jpg

Yeah, i think ill mess around with it :) Although someone stole my multi-meter so i might wait a while :(

[lais817]

Okay, finally finished the mod. I ended up wiring a new wire from the centre lug on the volume pot to the "power in" lug on the switch, and then I attached another wire going from the "accesory 1/on 1" lug on the switch, and grounded it on the volume pot casing. this.... did it. finally. however, I think some of my soldering wasn't too flash, as I've got a bit of extra hum that I didn't have before, so if you ARE going to put in a killswitch, make sure that you can solder really well first. Oh, and also - make sure you have a SHARP chisel for gouging the hole out of the body, it makes the job sooo much easier

"The Hole....."
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/lais817/100_4180.jpg

The finished product:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/lais817/100_4211.jpg

works well, except for the hum. Am now working on playing "Know your enemy", but it's a lot harder than it looks, you nearly need a drummer's co-ordination to get the technique right....

[ReadThis]

don't. cut. any. wire. instead, just buy a new piece. then taking the white wire, attach the switch to that, and another piece of wire going out. means it literally works a basic switch.

[lais817]

don't. cut. any. wire. instead, just buy a new piece. then taking the white wire, attach the switch to that, and another piece of wire going out. means it literally works a basic switch.

yeah, I learnt that the hard way. So I just added an extra wire from the centre volume lug to the in lug of the switch, and then a wire from the out lug on the switch to a ground source. worked perfectly, apart from the hum. where we you before I started? :angry: :smash:

[Patrick O)))]

I'd like a Killswitch (Buckethead ... ^-^) but first things first!

[Pretty Hate Machine]

I've been thinking of doing this to my tele for a while... I'm too much of a pussy to carve into the body myself, i think i might see if i can get someone a bit better with woodwork to do it...

I was thinking a Push-to-break switch might make a good alternitive choice? So that you can just poke it when it's needed, and not have to worry about forgetting it's in the off position...

[Walrus James]

^^^I think he wants the switch as it allows you to be more free with your rythms.

[Teh Secksi]

Is this the right switch for a kill switch? I have one, and it would be good if I didnt have to go get another.
http://www.cybermarket.co.uk/ishop/images/923/785_632b.jpg

[Az_Holl]

Is this the right switch for a kill switch? I have one, and it would be good if I didnt have to go get another.
http://www.cybermarket.co.uk/ishop/images/923/785_632b.jpg
You want either a SPST (single pole single throw) or a SPDT (single pole double throw)

[Teh Secksi]

Bummer.

[Teh Secksi]

http://i3.tinypic.com/117tpuo.jpg

[SpiggidyBob]

Yeah that's right. Just so you know, when you flip the switch to the left (picture oriented) the circuit will be live and everything will work. To the right kills it.

[Teh Secksi]

Thanks, I can go install now :)

We should keep this picture for future morons like me :) :(

[Teh Secksi]

Success.

[SpiggidyBob]

Just curious, where'd you mount yours at?

[Teh Secksi]

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a281/surfordie12/guitar/0530062230.jpg

Just behind the pickup selector.

[TheJarve]

teh secksi, i am stealing your guitar

[Teh Secksi]

Good luck.

/changes location