How good can a switch switch?

[Don Wiklund]

For all you mod guys out there. Please forgive my ignorance but I've been wondering about this. I keep hearing folks suggest that it's a good idea to change over to a "Switchcraft" switch if you don't have one. Common sense tells me that all a switch does is turn things on and off. Is it really worth the effort to make the change?

[TT100]

In what?

JMO, but reliability is the reason for the switch.

But what are we really talkin'? 1,000 cycles or 100,000 before failure? Really, don't switch until you need to if what you have works.

I'll buy (or pull out of my stash) Switchcraft and other quality parts if I'm making something from scratch, otherwise, what works is good enough.

Until it doesn't.

I'll leave you with this bit of wisdom from my 9th grade science teacher and former Alaskan tug pilot.....

"Every time you use something, is one less time it's going to work."

Words to live by.

TT

[Kap'n]

Switchcraft stuff is good. Not as good as it used to be - the tooling is getting worn out, but it's not made from pot metal and other garbage.

It's stuff designed in an era when things were meant to be repaired rather than everything fail at once, and you chuck it.

Both viewpoints have their merits - who wants to pay for a cell phone that lasts 50 years, but I want my amps, guitars and fx to last my lifetime.

[stratcat33511]

IMHO, its either on or off, right?
Care and feeding in my experience.
Lube your stuff and take care of it and it will
last as long as its gonna last,
Until it breaks!
Then get the best quality you can afford

[Don]

There is some benefit from replacing a switch that functions fine.

The Jimmie Vaughan Strat that I used to own had an Oak Grigsby switch with small detents and it had a very vague feel. I could hardly tell when it was in position and it move accidentally.

My other Strat has a CRL switch- the type with an extension spring on the side of it and much more positive detents. I can always tell that it's in position.

When I built my USACG T-Style, I made sure to put a CRL switch in it for feel.

If I had kept the JV Strat I would've put a CRL switch in it.

[stratcat33511]

I just put a megaswitch in my showmaster and it IS better, to me anyways
Who Knew ?
YMMV

[Offshore Angler]

Unless you are looking at transient responses in milliseconds and micro or even pico Ohms of resistance, a switch is a switch.

For a guitar it's about reliability and longevity.

[stratcat33511]

It just feels better to me, really, and that's what matters.
I think the better sound, and yes, more clearly defined transients, are due to the new CTS pots and new bone nut recently installed along with the switch
Its a tri-fecta major mojo in the right direction for me and my Showmaster HH

Unless you are looking at transient responses in milliseconds and micro or even pico Ohms of resistance, a switch is a switch.

For a guitar it's about reliability and longevity.