Dumb Q about pickup selector switches

[paraedolia]

Got a crappy 3-way selector switch in a cheapie Dano guitar right now -- it's a little box with three lugs on one side and another on the opposite side, which I think is ground -- does it matter what I replace it with?
Two single coil lipsticks wired in series. But I see all these different switch designs. I don't want to replace one cheap crappy switch with another cheap crappy one...how to choose?
The one that's in it now looks like this:
http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/7211/xfip2na7.jpg

The Switchcrafts that I've found look like this:
http://www.stewmac.com/product_images/pp/1217/3-way_Pickup_Switches.jpg

Looks like less lugs? Would one of those switches be OK? How to wire it up?

[EADGBE]

I think you'd like this one the best provided it fits.

http://www.stewmac.com/product_images/1lg/1217/Straight_Toggle_Switch_Detail.jpg


Maybe this wiring diagram will help:

http://www.stewmac.com/freeinfo/i-1217/1217_1802.gif

[Chiba]

Ok if it's a 3-way switch for two pickups you don't hook any ground wires to it.
Not true. Everything in the circuit path should be grounded, including this style switch. There is a lug specifically for grounding the switch, it's on the back where you can't see it in that pic.

Ground the switch.

Now if you meant don't ground the PICKUPS to it, that's fine - but you can, if you want to, as long as you continue the ground path to something else that is then connected to the ground wire coming off the bridge.

--chiba

[mike80]

If it has a metal casing(which most, if not all switches do), it should be grounded.

It prevents hum, and also protects the player from any voltage that may find it's way into the guitar.

[David Collins]

I can't remember the wiring style of modern Dano's off-hand, but you may not be able to use a standard LP-style switchcraft without changing the wiring a bit. I don't have any schematics around, but if I remember right the Dano switch is an On-Off-On. To run in series, it would have the series joint between the two pickups to the center, shorting to ground on one side and skipping to output on the other - I think - really don't recall.

Anyway, you can't use an LP-style Switchcraft to switch between two pickups in series. If running parallel in the middle you'll be fine, but it's an On-On-On switch and you need an On-Off-On for series. You can find cheap toggles of the Danelectro size and style at most radio supply houses (not that there are many of those left), or through Allparts. Actually you can often find them at your local hardware store, usually sold for forward-off-reverse applications for motors. They won't feel as smooth as a Switchcraft leaf switch, but finding an On-Off-On short leaf switch may be a bit trickier.

And the switch you pictured above has 5 lugs. That's a cheap version though, and if you were going that route you might as well get a real Switchcraft with the welded contacts instead of the cheap stamped ones like that.

[Jef Bardsley]

If you need an on-off-on switch, you can make one from a Switchcraft switch by undoing those two big screws and swapping the leaves around so there's no contact when the lever is centered.

[EADGBE]

Now if you meant don't ground the PICKUPS to it, that's fine - but you can, if you want to, as long as you continue the ground path to something else that is then connected to the ground wire coming off the bridge.

--chibaThat's what I meant. I probably misread the question.

[Thames]

Anybody has a diagram for the series wiring with that on-off-on switch ? I need one.. pls!!!

[walterw]

If you need an on-off-on switch, you can make one from a Switchcraft switch by undoing those two big screws and swapping the leaves around so there's no contact when the lever is centered.
that's what i did for my jerry jones. feels much better than the hideous amp on-off-on switch it came with.