[sdiy] Semi OT: Silent Switching Solution?

[DCMagnuson at aol.com]

In a message dated 4/4/01 12:52:37 AM Eastern Daylight Time, CasioRZ1 at aol.com 
writes:

> 
>  A friend of mine is trying to replicate a "slicer" effect w/a pushbutton 
on 
>  his guitar... pushing the button makes the volume go in/out, like a manual 
>  tremolo.  The problem is that the pickups "pick up" the sound of the 
switch, 
> 
>  producing an audible popping that is absolutely unacceptable if used 
>  w/distortion.  I'm sure there's a way around this, but I don't know what 
it 
>  is... if anyone knows of a solution and they'd be good enough to elighten 
me,
>  
>  I'd be eternally grateful. :-)

Find out how he wired the switch.  If he's opening the circuit between the 
pickups and output it will definitely pop.  Have him try grounding the output 
with the switch, it should be quieter.... but I'm still not sure if it'll be 
silent (you're talking about a LOT of gain through a high distortion guitar 
amp, so any little pop will become quite exaggerated)

My Les Paul clone will do this pretty quietly with the pickup selector 
switch.  I do this by selecting one pickup, and turning the volume off on the 
second.  Put the 3-position pickup switch in the middle, and rock it towards 
the pickup that's "off" to mute the guitar.... Doesn't work with a 5-way 
switch (like a Strat-style guitar) since there generally isn't a volume 
control for each pickup

Dave Magnuson