5-way blade switch with 1.25" (32mm) screw spacing

[nmgdad]

I have a late 1980's Charvel Model 3 guitar, and need to find a replacement 5-way pickup selector switch. The problem is that everywhere I've looked the screw spacing for 5-way blade switches is 1 5/8" (41mm).

From what I gather, since these Charvels were Japanese-made, there are other guitar manufacturers who used the same 1.25" (32mm) screw spacing on their 3- or 5-way switches. However, I haven't been able to find anywhere to buy a replacement switch, or even the manufacturer of the switches.

Where, or where, can I find one of these switches?

[Yogi B]

I think you're looking for an Electroswitch SMLR switch or some variant thereof (note that spec sheet only says up to four positions are available, though that may only apply to switches that have a 'true' throw per position — if they're like their full-size brethren, a 5-way switch is just a 3-way switch with shorting contacts and two additional 15° steps between the 30° steps).

Unfortunately, knowing what it is doesn't help all that much, I don't recall ever seeing a new, 5-way, one of these for sale. Surplus Sales of Nebraska have for sale what appears to be a 3-way (3P3T) version (with non-threaded mounting holes).

And there is currently the guts of another Charvel Model 3 on Reverb from a seller in Japan. Here's a cropped image of the switch from that listing, for reference:

Also, whilst I don't recognise the triangular symbol/logo, that switch just might say 250 on it (upside down) i.e. possibly as in Type 250 of the SMLR switches.

[reTrEaD]

nmgdad , I've never looked inside a Charvel Model 3 but if the switch looks like this, you might contact the vendor in the link below and ask about the mounting hole spacing.



texastourgear.com/products/gotoh-5-way-selector-switch

[newey]

reTrEaD-

Those sealed white Gotoh switches are 41mm standard spacing.

There was a thread on Strat-Talk forum about this issue:

www.strat-talk.com/threads/switch-for-mij-greco-strat.459601/

No one there was able to find a new one as of 2018. The suggestion was to try Yahoo Japan for a used one. Apparently the Aria Pro II guitars from the early 1980s used the same switch, as did some Grecos (which was what the OP in the Strat-Talk thread had).

[nmgdad]

Nice find--thanks! I saw that harness on Reverb, but it's a little pricey (although not compared to the value of the guitar).

Those Electroswitch models are close--they have the 1.25" screw spacing--but not the 5-way switching.

[ssstonelover]

Ah...I actually have that spec, an old 5-way switch that came on a Samick. Looks like this and has that 32mm hole spacing.



In other words it is really, in my case anyway, a peculiar Korean spec, more than a standard spec, but who knows. where Charvel Korea (or Japan) got the switches they used and which facorty built the actual guitars, but Korea is really just next door to Japan so it might have been there....especially if they were contracting to some OEM supplier at a budget price point which is what I suspect.

Unless the pickguards has sentimental value you could re-drill and re-slot it for the wider spacing. These Samick switches are OK but certainly not great. I use them only if they come on the guitar, are still working, and I am too lazy or cheap to make/make a replacement pickguard.

The switches are still out there....if you have to have one.

[newey]

nmgdad

Nov 1, 2022 21:00:13 GMT -5 ssstonelover said:

Unless the pickguards has sentimental value you could re-drill and re-slot it for the wider spacing.

Or, if it does have value, either sentimental or for being able to put things back to original, take the pickguard off, make a tracing of it, store the original in a big plastic baggie between two sheets of cardboard for protection, and send your tracing off to have a pickguard made with the more-usual spacing. There are a number of places that will custom-make one for you and the cost isn't as bad as one would think. Warmoth used to do pickguards from tracings, not sure if they still do that or not, but there are others as well.

That will give you a nice clean look, no extra screw holes, no cutting of slots, should just screw right back on.

[nmgdad]

I ended up buying a harness for a Charvel of the same year from a seller in Japan--it was kinda pricey ($70, which included shipping)--but was exactly what I needed. Plus, I now have 2 extra pots, and a jack that I can use as spares.

That said, I think the easier, cheaper, & quicker route would be to buy a pickguard that matches the dimensions on the body, since the standard 5-way switches are dirt cheap ($10). Plus, a pickguard is probably $30-40, so the total cost would be $50. The advantage of going this route is that the pickguard & switch are easy to find; in contrast, it took me hours of searching to find the actual replacement part.