Toggle switchable volume cut?

[jm1681]

Can a toggle switch be used to lower output volume? Not necessarily kill it altogether, but maybe lower it 1/2 way or more?

Basically, I'd like to be able to flick a switch and go from dirty to slightly dirty clean.

[ibanez2005]

Put a switch and a resistor in line with the output jack.

[ChopTart]

If you use a LP or similar 4 control guitar where a volume is wired to individual pups, you can set the volume and use the pickup selector to kill or dampen depending on how much. Just don't do it too much, because rapid selection with the switch overtime will overheat it and ruin it. Easy enough to replace though.

[jm1681]

Originally Posted by ibanez2005

Put a switch and a resistor in line with the output jack.

Thats along the lines of what I was thinking.

What kind of resistor should I use?

[elcid]

Originally Posted by ChopTart

If you use a LP or similar 4 control guitar where a volume is wired to individual pups, you can set the volume and use the pickup selector to kill or dampen depending on how much. Just don't do it too much, because rapid selection with the switch overtime will overheat it and ruin it. Easy enough to replace though.

I never heard about it overheating like that, how does that work? (Im nhot being sarcastic here, Im being serious, after installing a bunch in my LPs I dont see how it would overheat)

[C.Thep]

Originally Posted by elcid

I never heard about it overheating like that, how does that work? (Im nhot being sarcastic here, Im being serious, after installing a bunch in my LPs I dont see how it would overheat)

friction? jk

[elcid]

no, that wouldnt do it

[ChopTart]

Originally Posted by elcid

I never heard about it overheating like that, how does that work? (Im nhot being sarcastic here, Im being serious, after installing a bunch in my LPs I dont see how it would overheat)

It was in some article I was reading about creating that stutter effect that said that the switch for the pups wasn't meant to take that kind of abuse for extended periods and gets messed up from the heat generated by quickly switching back and forth. Dunno if it's true, but it makes sense to me.

[elcid]

no it doesnt, the thing that makes and breaks the connections doesnt really rub on anything. I can see the switch going bad because the part it pivots on wearing out, but not overheating

[ChopTart]

Originally Posted by elcid

no it doesnt, the thing that makes and breaks the connections doesnt really rub on anything. I can see the switch going bad because the part it pivots on wearing out, but not overheating

That's probably it then.

[ibanez2005]

Originally Posted by jm1681

Thats along the lines of what I was thinking.

What kind of resistor should I use?

Find out the value of the pots on your guitar, probly 250K or 500K and get a resistor thats half the value.
Or try rolling off the volume to where you'd like the volume to cut down to when you switch and if its about 33% down then get a resistor thats a third of the value of your pot. Might be worth buying a few different value ones anyway just to see which you prefer, they dont cost alot anyway.

[jm1681]

Thats what I was looking for, thank you

Should a capacitor find its way into the mix somehow as well?

[ibanez2005]

Not really, a capacitor will only create a low pass filter. If this is what you want, there is a formula to work out the values and mathematics of it, its complex though.

[Racerx2k]

Originally Posted by elcid

I never heard about it overheating like that, how does that work? (Im nhot being sarcastic here, Im being serious, after installing a bunch in my LPs I dont see how it would overheat)

I'd pose that question to Tom Morello. He tends to abuse the toggle switch!

[ibanez2005]

Overheating, seriously? Man you would need some seriously powerful pickups to overheat a switch. Dont listen to that Jm1861, a switch and resistor is the way to go.