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Post by sumgai on Jul 27, 2006 16:12:57 GMT -5
Gang, Most of you know that I have at least on foot firmly planted in the MIDI world (and the other on a banana peel. ). The following link is to a company that is going through some growing pains vis-a-vis their website (the nav frame doesn't always work). So, I'm pointing directly to their Guitar Electronics page to show you some switches they sell that are direct replacements for a standard Strat-style 5 way blade switch. Ignore the first item on the page, it's not even worth bad-mouthing, just cruise down the page a bit, and you'll see some nice altermatives to the standard switches we all know and love. ;D Plus, they have some very small circuit boards that will go into most guitars quite easily. I've spoken with a few other afficiandos, and they say that the circuits work as advertised, nice, clean, no hiss or noise, etc. But I do caution you that nothing on this site is cheap by any means. Take a look around the rest of the site, they have some rather different ideas about how to make music. sumgai
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Post by dunkelfalke on Jul 27, 2006 16:39:21 GMT -5
yep, have seen it a year ago, thought about it. while i like the idea i don't like the price.
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Post by ChrisK on Jul 27, 2006 21:04:47 GMT -5
I saw these a while ago. While their EQ's have use, I haven't decided if their Star switch is neat or just a solution looking for a problem.
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Post by sumgai on Jul 27, 2006 21:56:04 GMT -5
The main drawback with these switches is that they require battery power. Until recently, I've been blatantly anti-battery anything inside of a guitar. After all, I reasoned, how can you use it under normal circumstances if you need battery power, and said battery bites the bullet?
Not anymore. For one thing, I'm not investing in batteries, nor in battery holders. But that's because of the other thing...... I'm now using an externally-powered piezo system, complete with plus and minus 7 volts coming up the wire from my Roland gear. The available power (amperage, or wattage if you're really picky) is more than enough to drive a switch from Starr Labs, or a couple of JFET amps, or.......
The obvious downside here is that there's no way to do serial. Using the 4th switch (optional), we could institute a limited phase-reversal scheme, but that's about it. Still, if one was planning on adding other switches anyway, this would simplify the overall operation, no?
And you wouldn't have to "slap" at it, either...... just gently press a button (or any two, or even all three at the same time), and you get what you're after. With that low profile, I can imagine that it would be harder to accidentally change one's selection of pups. I know that I'm beginning to re-think my choices, for this very reason. (They don't call me ham-handed for the helluva it! ;D)
sumgai
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Post by CheshireCat on Jul 28, 2006 0:06:21 GMT -5
Ignore the first item on the page, it's not even worth bad-mouthing What first item? The lucite strat body or the "star switches"? The main drawback with these switches is that they require battery power. Until recently, I've been blatantly anti-battery anything inside of a guitar. After all, I reasoned, how can you use it under normal circumstances if you need battery power, and said battery bites the bullet? Not anymore. For one thing, I'm not investing in batteries, nor in battery holders. But that's becaues of the other thing...... I'm now using an externally-powered piezo system, complete with plus and minus 7 volts coming up the wire from my Roland gear. The available power (amperage, or wattage if you're really picky) is more than enough to drive a switch from Starr Labs, or a couple of JFET amps, or....... Well, funny thing: I'm all about having batteries onboard, and will, in fact, have three myself when all is said and done, but, that being the case, I can't see how that switch is any more practical than just putting three mini-toggles in the same place. It's nifty looking, but, as was suggested, perhaps it's a solution in search of a problem. And, as was pointed out, you can't do series, afaik, so that's a big drawback right there, and nothing that three simple SPST toggles couldn't handle. Now, that said, if it could be used to trigger other things, then that would definitely be a possibility, say, used in conjunction with circuits of my own design. But, beyond that, for simple switching, well, nothing beats a good ol' SuperSwitch (except maybe Gunter Eyb's UltraMegaSwitch). Incidentally, I'm also a big proponent of battery boxes, and, additionally, the answer to how you deal with a battery going dead . . . lo-bat indicators!! Have you seen these? It's less than a square inch, has a little LED, and tells you when your battery is going to go out. I'm going to get two . . . one for the dedicated battery for my Sustainiac, and one for the double battery set for the rest of the electronics. The obvious downside here is that there's no way to do serial. Using the 4th switch (optional), we could institute a limited phase-reversal scheme, but that's about it. Still, if one was planning on adding other switches anyway, this would simplify the overall operation, no? Indeed, but, even then, looking at my UUSS, and the work of MickeyR, ChrisK, JohnH, and JohnnyA as well, well, let's just say it's impressive what one can do with some simple toggles, push/pulls, and a SuperSwitch. And you wouldn't have to "slap" at it, either...... just gently press a button (or any two, or even all three at the same time), and you get what you're after. With that low profile, I can imagine that it would be harder to accidentally change one's selection of pups. I know that I'm beginning to re-think my choices, for this very reason. (They don't call me ham-handed for the helluva it! ;D) Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm . . . that is an interesting aspect to it. Debating it . . . Chesh
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Post by dunkelfalke on Jul 28, 2006 1:44:06 GMT -5
there is an easy way to deal with batteries. first of all it is important to know that guitar electronics (except of sustainers) doesn't eat much. second: use rechargeables. buy two or three of them with at 200 mAh. third: just change the battery everytime you change the strings (you do change strings at least every month, right?)
this way your batteries won't run dead ever.
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Post by CheshireCat on Jul 28, 2006 2:06:28 GMT -5
there is an easy way to deal with batteries. first of all it is important to know that guitar electronics (except of sustainers) doesn't eat much. second: use rechargeables. buy two or three of them with at 200 mAh. third: just change the battery everytime you change the strings (you do change strings at least every month, right?) this way your batteries won't run dead ever. Excellent suggestion! Also, one caveat to that: make sure your kids don't discover your secret stash and "borrow" them for another other gadgets.
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Post by gumbo on Jul 28, 2006 6:47:09 GMT -5
Hmm...great idea, particularly the 4+, but I wonder if it's just something else to go wrong (usually when you can't afford it to!)...although I fully concur about not having a bank of toggles to accidentally belt with your pinky just when everyone is listening..
I also have a problem with too many blinken lights, and making a strat look like something Mr.Vox decided would be a good idea in 1963....:-)
The jury's still out though, given my Roland connections...thanks for the link, Sumgai!
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Post by dunkelfalke on Jul 28, 2006 13:08:18 GMT -5
Excellent suggestion! Also, one caveat to that: make sure your kids don't discover your secret stash and "borrow" them for another other gadgets. heh heh neither a girlfriend/wife nor kids here, but 8 or so 9v rechargeables ;D
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