SSS Project Complete - One major issue (Strat-X)

[JohnH]

Hi shogen

These kind of pops sometimes happen, particularly on designs with a lot of switch contacts. Pieces of the circuit build up some charges while disconnected, and then cause a small pop when they get switched in. It can also be related to atmospheric conditions (e.g. low humidity), and what other electric things like lights, amps pc's etc are around.

Does it happen in all modes? and is it when operating the 5 way, and/or when operating the 4pdt? or between certain modes or settings?

Can we assume that each setting really is working as intended in the design?

Sometimes these issues can be alleviated by putting some very high-value resistors within the circuit, to drain these charges but without affecting tone.

Also, please note that this and other Phostenix designs are hosted here because we think they are great and worth preserving, but we haven't worked on the designs here on GN2 and in most cases I doubt if our members have built them before.

[shogen]

Hey John,

Thanks for the reply!

It happens in all modes, while using the 5-way switch. It doesn't happen when toggling the 4pdt, but it does happen when using the 5-way switch regardless of the 4pdt position.

Essentially, jamming the switch between 1 and 2, for example, causes the signal to completely cut out (position 1.5). So when quickly switching between 1 and 2 (and all other positions), the signal cuts out for a millisecond causing a pop. Sort of like unplugging the guitar with the amp on.

[JohnH]

Its probably an issue that others may recognize, even with other superswitch designs

Any comments from others?

I think, as you have worked out, the superswitch is 'break-before-make' meaning that it disconnects as it leaves one setting to get to the next. Can anyone confirm if this is as usual?

To suppress the crackles, it might help to connect some high-value resistors between lugs or lug to ground, maybe around 5M, but you can try the idea with lower values eg 1M (with small tone affect maybe)

Has anyone tried that?

[shogen]

I think you've figured it out. The Superswitch may be a break-before-make switch universally. That's interesting. I'm not a huge fan.

Here's a comment I found on another forum:
"The really big con in use is that a Superswitch has a drop-out between the positions if you move it slowly or accidentally knock it slightly so it sticks in just the wrong position. A traditional 5-way is actually a make-before-break 3-way with two extra mechanical detents, so it doesn’t. A Superswitch is a true 5-way switch. This causes extra switching noise, and if you’re unlucky, silence!"