MOD GARAGE
DIrk WaCker
The (In)famous Stratocaster Kill Switch, Part II
Hello and welcome back to “Mod Garage.”
Last month we talked about kill switch basics
and how to wire one up using a 2PDT (on/
on) switching device, like a push/pull pot or
a toggle switch. This month we’ll discuss the
benefits of setting up a momentary kill switch
on a Stratocaster and how to do it.
As you may have discovered, the standard
Stratocaster pickguard with three controls
and 5-way switch is not the best place for a
toggle kill switch. It’s hard to find a spot you
can reach to wiggle it back and forth to shut
down the guitar—without messing around
with the other elements on the pickuard, anyway. You can rewire your guitar for a master
volume/master tone configuration and take
out one of the tone pots to make space for
the toggle switch, but this is still a compromise. Ultimately, an additional toggle switch
or a push/pull pot isn’t the perfect solution
for a kill switch on a Strat. It will do, if your
intention is only to use it to shut down the
guitar while on a break during a gig or in the
studio. But if you’re looking for the staccato
on/off effect (the “machine-gun” sound), this
setup tends to work poorly on a Stratocaster.
A better solution is to use a so-called
momentary switch as a “musical kill switch.”
returns to its normally open (off) position
when you release the button, like a doorbell. When you press the switch, you make a
connection between the two contacts. The
second type is the “push-to-break” ON-(OFF)
momentary switch (aka “N.C. contacts” or
normally closed contacts). This switch returns
to its normally closed (on) position when you
release the button.
using an additional treble bleed network, so
connecting the switch to the output jack may
be easier and you won’t have to mess around
with tons of wires. It’s an equivalent circuit,
just a different physical arrangement.
Wiring diagram courtesy Seymour Duncan Pickups and used by permission. Seymour Duncan and the stylized S are
registered trademarks of Seymour Duncan Pickups, with which Premier Guitar magazine is not affiliated.
A momentary switch sports a button you
have to push in order to open or close the
contact, rather than using a toggle or normal switch. The momentary switch is only
engaged as long as you press the button.
This has the advantage of allowing you to
alternate between off and on even faster than
with a typical throw-type toggle switch. It’s
also much easier to operate in places without
much space—like the typical Stratocaster
pickguard. There are two different types of
SPST momentary switches available, so you
have to be careful about what type you buy
in order to wire the mod correctly. If you
mess things up at this point, the guitar will
be shut down when you’re not pushing the
switch, and it will only be engaged when
pressing the switch (though this would be a
great practical joke you could play on your
fellow guitarists).
It’s possible to use either type to set up a
momentary kill switch, but I highly recommend you use a “push-to-make” (ON)-OFF
type. Decide where to place the momentary
switch on your Strat pickguard, drill a hole
and install the switch. Then solder two short
wires to the contacts of the switch and connect the other ends to the output jack as
shown in the diagram.
Some words about the second type, the
“push-to-break” ON-(OFF) momentary
switch: with this switch you’ll have to make a
break in one of the lines to make it work like
a kill switch. But remember the basic rule:
never break the signal! If you wire such a
switch in-line of the signal wire or the ground
wire, chances are good that you’ll get a bad
hum instead of silence when pressing the
button. So, the two ways shown above are far
superior and highly recommended.
This way, it will short the complete circuit,
creating a loop from input to output that
bypasses the signal when the button of the
switch is pressed. As soon as you release the
button, the loop is disabled and your guitar
is roaring again. Try to install the switch near
the output jack so you can keep the wires as
short as possible to prevent it from picking
up any hum, radio stations, etc.
Alright, that’s it! Stay tuned for more Strat
mods coming next month when I’ll show
you the so-called “Blender Strat” mod; a
fine modification for players who want to
be able to dial in virtually endless combinations of their three pickups. Until then ...
keep on modding!
The first type is the so-called “push-to-make”
(ON)-OFF momentary switch (aka “N.O. contacts” or normally open contacts). This switch
An alternative way to wire the same switch
is to insert it between the middle lug of the
Strat´s master volume pot and the right lug of
the same pot, connected to ground. Usually
there are already more than enough connections at the volume pot, especially when
Dirk Wacker
Dirk Wacker lives in Germany and has been addicted to
all kinds of guitars since the age of five. He is fascinated
by anything that has something to do with old Fender
guitars and amps. He hates short scales and Telecaster
neck pickups, but loves twang. In his spare time he plays
country, rockabilly, surf and Nashville styles in two bands,
works as a studio musician for a local studio and writes
for several guitar mags. He is also a hardcore DIY guy
for guitars, amps and stompboxes and runs an extensive
webpage www.singlecoil.com about these things.
