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This instructable covers how to make an A/B switch (designed for a guitar).
The whole instructable is split into three main sections:
Step 1 looks at my research and prototyping.
Steps 2-3 look at the simple switch – the basic concept which can be modified to fit many situations.
Steps 4-5 look at mounting the simple switch to a guitar - only a Gibson-style is shown, but others could be used.
Each main section will begin with the necessary equipment and parts for itself.
I hope you like it! Please feel free to comment!
The whole instructable is split into three main sections:
Step 1 looks at my research and prototyping.
Steps 2-3 look at the simple switch – the basic concept which can be modified to fit many situations.
Steps 4-5 look at mounting the simple switch to a guitar - only a Gibson-style is shown, but others could be used.
Each main section will begin with the necessary equipment and parts for itself.
I hope you like it! Please feel free to comment!
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Signing UpStep 1Research and Prototyping
If you just want to get straight in to making it, check the intro for your pages. Otherwise...
First I decided to work out if I could connect two amps to the one guitar simply by connecting the cables. I had a very crude, but effective working test for this. The tips were all hooked up with the guitar lead in the middle and a bit of metal wire linking it to one amp lead on each side. This was on top of a lump of foil, which connected the sleeves of the connectors together in a similar fashion.
I tested that this definitely worked by plucking a string on the guitar, and turning one amp off at a time.
(I hadn't got the right equipment, so I had to postpone it at this point, and in that time I gained more equipment, knowledge and experience)
Next, I needed to find a way to switch between them. I tried connecting the sleeves directly and the tips through a SPDT switch. However, while this worked for whichever was active, there was feedback from whichever wasn't. After a tiny bit more testing, I discovered that the feedback didn't happen if the tip was connected to its own sleeve. I then decided to use a DPDT switch. I connected it up as shown in the diagram (A=Amp G=Guitar S=Sleeve T=Tip). I also connected all the sleeves together.
This worked, so on with the first part of the instructable!
---
The second part didn't really require any extra research.
---
The third part - the first footswitch. I looked into various types of switch and quickly discovered the existence of DPDT buttons . This erased any need for research.
First I decided to work out if I could connect two amps to the one guitar simply by connecting the cables. I had a very crude, but effective working test for this. The tips were all hooked up with the guitar lead in the middle and a bit of metal wire linking it to one amp lead on each side. This was on top of a lump of foil, which connected the sleeves of the connectors together in a similar fashion.
I tested that this definitely worked by plucking a string on the guitar, and turning one amp off at a time.
(I hadn't got the right equipment, so I had to postpone it at this point, and in that time I gained more equipment, knowledge and experience)
Next, I needed to find a way to switch between them. I tried connecting the sleeves directly and the tips through a SPDT switch. However, while this worked for whichever was active, there was feedback from whichever wasn't. After a tiny bit more testing, I discovered that the feedback didn't happen if the tip was connected to its own sleeve. I then decided to use a DPDT switch. I connected it up as shown in the diagram (A=Amp G=Guitar S=Sleeve T=Tip). I also connected all the sleeves together.
This worked, so on with the first part of the instructable!
---
The second part didn't really require any extra research.
---
The third part - the first footswitch. I looked into various types of switch and quickly discovered the existence of DPDT buttons . This erased any need for research.
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