Parts source: Submin. toggle switches

[Mini-Strat_Maine]

I think I found the right Allied Electronics (Ft. Worth, TX?) but haven't yet found the right toggle switches in their online (.PDF) catalog. I'd like to start acquiring the parts for an eventual Tone Monster mod, but Allied doesn't seem to list a 757-3423 (for the three 3PDT subminiature toggle switches [on-none-on]) listed.

John's TM page also suggests there might (somewhere) be a cheaper source for those switches, and any suggestions would be appreciated.

I just checked Small Bear Electronics, but he doesn't list a 3PDT. Will also search some of the other suppliers I've got bookmarked, but any shortcuts to a "good find" would be very much appreciated.

--
Doug C.

[wolf]

We were supposed to have a page somewhere in this message board that would be updated.
Anyway, this should help you off to a good start:

www.stewmac.com/
www.allparts.com/
www.guitarpartsresource.com/guitar_index.htm
www.warmoth.com/
www.guitarnucleus.com/gnstore/elec.html
guitarelectronics.zoovy.com/

I have ordered from guitar electronics and they seemed pretty good. No doubt some other guitranuts will be adding to this posting.

[Mini-Strat_Maine]

wolf said:

We were supposed to have a page somewhere in this message board that would be updated.
Anyway, this should help you off to a good start:

www.guitarpartsresource.com/guitar_index.htm
www.guitarnucleus.com/gnstore/elec.html

Thanks, Wolf. Those are the two I didn't have yet. (I'm also familiar with Mouser, mentioned in the ongoing Tone Monster thread, but I don't think I've gotten their catalog for awhile. Sometimes a paper copy is easier to search through than a .PDF is, y'know what I mean?)

I have ordered from guitar electronics and they seemed pretty good. No doubt some other guitranuts will be adding to this posting.

Excellent. Thanks much.

[Runewalker]

I like this guy for reasonable prices:

www.cablesandconnectors.com/220001.HTM

He is sometimes backordered but comes through.

Universal Jems also has it I think but you have to que for them.

guitar electronics is comprehensive but pricey, a little like Stewmac.

I notice the thread is about Sub minitures, which are truely tiny. Don't you mean just miniature, which have the 1/4" bushing?

RW

[Mini-Strat_Maine]

runewalker said:

I like this guy for reasonable prices:

www.cablesandconnectors.com/220001.HTM

He is sometimes backordered but comes through.

I did see your mention of it in another thread, but I thought you said you bought him out of all on hand.

I notice the thread is about Sub minitures, which are truely tiny. Don't you mean just miniature, which have the 1/4" bushing?

I'll check again, but I think the Tone Monster page said Subminiatures. That may have been just to facilitate lining everything up in the slot of the former 5-way switch. Since I was thinking of getting a custom, "semi-blank" pickguard anyway, it might not be an issue, and I could use switches that are easier to find. (As in both finding a supplier and finding them when it's time to blast into Lead Mode.)

While the subject of a pickguard has come up, I'll mention that I've been considering one of the metal pickguards. Not necessarily diamond plate, but something that wouldn't have the potential of cracking (like acrylic, etc., might) when drilled for the new switches. (Unless of course I incorporate those into the custom creation at time of order.) It couldn't hurt as far as additional shielding, either.
Still researching materials, sources, and so on, and tracking down all the necessary parts, so it could be awhile before I get to that point.

[Runewalker]

On metal pickgaurds. I liked that idea, but have heard some talk about ground loops between it and other ... stuff ... then they talk about fixes being insulating the attaching screws, and that seemed a little much.

On finding the switches. I am deferring to what are called "bat" toggles (because they look like a baseball bat, not because they fly and eat bugs), because these are cheaper thatn what I prefer. On my first wiring project, I antied up for minis that had a flattened and large toggle, and these are much easier to find and manipulate.

but more expensive.

RW

[ChrisK]

Don't forget www.digikey.com.

They're a general electronics supplier that have a 1,000+ page catalog that they'll send free. It's also on their site, but paper is easier IMHO (and free).

[mike]

I bought my mini switches at Radio Shack. You may want to give them a try if you have one close by. The guitar shops I went too had 3-way mini switches for $9, and Radio Shack had the mini on/off switch for $2. I'm not saying they are best, just another source.

[Mini-Strat_Maine]

mike said:

I bought my mini switches at Radio Shack. You may want to give them a try if you have one close by. The guitar shops I went too had 3-way mini switches for $9, and Radio Shack had the mini on/off switch for $2.

Again, I'm just going by what was specified on the Tone Monster page at GuitarNuts.com, which was the 3PDT subminiature toggle switches (on-none-on).
I have a pretty good idea why the switch should be at least on/on (either/or), but not why on-none-on rather than on-off-on or some other combination.
It didn't take me long to learn which end of the soldering iron to hold (or not hold), so maybe I'll be able to grasp some of the more technical aspects of all this, too. ;D

So if there's a less-expensive and more easily-found alternative that will do the same thing, I'm all for it.

[mike]

Again, I'm just going by what was specified on the Tone Monster page at GuitarNuts.com, which was the 3PDT subminiature toggle switches (on-none-on).

[glow=red,2,300]Sorry, I wasn't clear. My manual called for a simple SP/ST on/off switch and no guitar store had them. My last try was Radio Shack and they had the exact switch it called for. [/glow]

[Mini-Strat_Maine]

Part Two:
I just entered "3PDT subminiature toggle on-none-on" into Allied's search engine, and it returned "Allied Stk#: 250-3113." That's the Alectron 8311, and I had previously found a spec sheet for that at Alectron's site. (They call it a miniature, I think. The dimensions are on the spec sheet, a PDF.)
Allied lists them for $3.77 each, for quantities of 1-49.

Re a mini vs. a submini, if a mini is

• easier to find (as a product and when in use ;D)
  
• easier to wire
  
• is not so much larger than a submini that it requires routing the guitar body
  

then a mini would be just fine with me.

Thanks to ChrisK for reminding me about Digikey.

[JohnH]

Runewalker and I have been busy building mini-toggles into our monster design. See the Tonemonster thread on this forum - different to the original GN tone monster.

Ive recently installed 5 minis into an old Hondo Strat
The minis are fine, with a nice click when you flick them, and work very well. They are plenty small enough for me to peer at when soldering. Ive seen the sub-minis - they dont look to me that they would stand up to some serious clicking

John

[Mini-Strat_Maine]

johnh said:

Ive recently installed 5 minis into an old Hondo Strat
The minis are fine, with a nice click when you flick them, and work very well. They are plenty small enough for me to peer at when soldering. Ive seen the sub-minis - they dont look to me that they would stand up to some serious clicking

Argh; I'm several days late on seeing John's reply.
I have three subminis on the way as of this afternoon (found them at a very attractive price), but I will certainly consider minis if I can find the right ones.
Now I gotta go check that other thread, and make myself a note to check the messages here more frequently.