killswitch

[rage f*****g rule]

i want to customise my bass with a killswitch but i am, being unfamiliar with guitar wiring etc, not sure as of the best way to go about this...
any help would be greatly received.
thanks.

[purple_hazer]

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/erockcronus/killswitch-1.jpg

[rage f*****g rule]

ok. could you put that into words please. as i say, i'm not exactly an expert at wiring bass etc so more info would be handy.

if i wired it like your diagram, using a less paul style 3 way switch, would the sound but cut while it's in the central position or what? thanks.

[Son of Magni]

It's a spdt switch, I don't know what kind of switch the LP uses.

And maybe I'm wrong here but shouldn't the two red wires on the switch be reversed. The way the diagram shows it you're shorting out the instrument and leaving the jack unterminated, which will probably hum real bad. Also it could be bad for the electronics if it's active.
- SoM

[rage f*****g rule]

excuse my ignorance but what's an spdt switch and where would i find one? i assumed, as they look exactly the same, that the les paul style pick up selector switch would do the trick... i'm obviously a million miles away from being right, in which case i'm glad i asked before i ventured into trying this...

[zhyla]

rage, the idea is you're inserting a switch on that red wire. In one position the switch connects the two parts of the red wire together and the circuit acts as it did w/o the switch. In the other position the switch connects the jack-side red wire to the black wire, causing there to be a voltage of 0 across the jack terminals. Magni thinks this may a bad thing but I'm 95% sure this will be completely silent (0 volts => no hum).

SPDT = "single pole, double throw" (or single position? I always forget). Basically it means the switch has two states (like a light switch) and has 3 terminals. A DPDT is similar but has 6 terminals. I think your average pickup selector switch is SPDT but don't quote me.

And where you get them: http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?sofocus=bs&sbrftog=1&from=R10&satitle=SPDT+guitar&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC6&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D2&sadis=200&fpos=92130&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&fsop=1%26fsoo%3D1&fgtp=

[Son of Magni]

rage, the idea is you're inserting a switch on that red wire. In one position the switch connects the two parts of the red wire together and the circuit acts as it did w/o the switch. In the other position the switch connects the jack-side red wire to the black wire, causing there to be a voltage of 0 across the jack terminals. Magni thinks this may a bad thing but I'm 95% sure this will be completely silent (0 volts => no hum)...

What you're describing is the correct way, that's just not how the drawing shows it. Unless you have some freaky switch the common pin is in the middle.

I didn't notice where threadstarter lives, but Radio Shack is also an easy place to get mini switches for things like this. Just ask for a single pole double throw switch and they'll know exactly what you want.
- SoM

[zhyla]

What you're describing is the correct way, that's just not how the drawing shows it. Unless you have some freaky switch the common pin is in the middle.

Yeah, looking at it again I think you're right. I'm home sick today, so that's my excuse :).

[purple_hazer]

What you're describing is the correct way, that's just not how the drawing shows it. Unless you have some freaky switch the common pin is in the middle.

I didn't notice where threadstarter lives, but Radio Shack is also an easy place to get mini switches for things like this. Just ask for a single pole double throw switch and they'll know exactly what you want.
- SoM

idk if this is what your getting at but, i used the same exact diagram and my K/S is 100% silent

[rage f*****g rule]

rage, the idea is you're inserting a switch on that red wire. In one position the switch connects the two parts of the red wire together and the circuit acts as it did w/o the switch. In the other position the switch connects the jack-side red wire to the black wire, causing there to be a voltage of 0 across the jack terminals. Magni thinks this may a bad thing but I'm 95% sure this will be completely silent (0 volts => no hum).

SPDT = "single pole, double throw" (or single position? I always forget). Basically it means the switch has two states (like a light switch) and has 3 terminals. A DPDT is similar but has 6 terminals. I think your average pickup selector switch is SPDT but don't quote me.

And where you get them: http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?sofocus=bs&sbrftog=1&from=R10&satitle=SPDT+guitar&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC6&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D2&sadis=200&fpos=92130&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&fsop=1%26fsoo%3D1&fgtp=


Thanks for your help it's helped clear things up for me. :)

[moghes69]

What you're describing is the correct way, that's just not how the drawing shows it. Unless you have some freaky switch the common pin is in the middle.
- SoM

thats odd... i always thought the common pin is supposed to be in the middle. at least all of the ones i've seen have been.

[Son of Magni]

thats odd... i always thought the common pin is supposed to be in the middle. at least all of the ones i've seen have been.

Um, I thought that's what I said, but if I add a comma it's more clear.

Unless you have some freaky switch, the common pin is in the middle.

idk if this is what your getting at but, i used the same exact diagram and my K/S is 100% silent

Ok, I guess it won't necessarily hum, but I still think it should be wired the other way. You want to ground the output jack, not the pickups.

[purple_hazer]

it does ground the jack?

[moghes69]

SOM: sorry, my bad... that makes more sense now.

[HELLonWHEELS]

I added a kill switch to my Squier and if i remember correctly i broke up the ground wire and i have absoulty no humming when in the off position.